Where restaurants once just had a five-disc changer on an iPod on shuffle, The New York Times reports on the sophistication of music at fine dining destinations (aka pricey music consultants being brought in). How do I get this job? Attention restaurants. I’ll offer this service for trade. First thing I’d do? Ban that nondescript, faux Kruder & Dorfmeister crap played at every Thai restaurant (and Morimoto) in the city. The article mentions Babbo, and how it remains at the whim of Molto’s taste. Last time I ate there, they were blaringUB40‘s Rat in the Kitchen, which seems more like a Mesa Grill album to me.
Former Creation Records honcho now Guardian blogger Alan Mcgee — the man who gave us the Jesus and Mary Chain, My Bloody Valentine, Primal Scream and Oasis — picks his top new bands for 2007, including The Horrors, Glasvegas and Viking Moses. Take these with a ramekin of salt, though — he also gave us Heavy Stereo, 3 Colors Red, and the Ping Pong Bitches. He’s still cooler than Tony Wilson, though.