“I for instance do not lust for scat but I have nothing against shitting in one’s mouth as long as one wants it, I just do not feel like kissing right after.” GERMANS! Basso in New York! All week. Go spend some time with them.

Remember mix tapes? Remember those? How great was it putting together a bunch of weirdo songs on a tape for you’re crush that said, “See, I told you I’m not just cute. I’m kinda smart too.” (Sigh)? If you’re too young to remember, then you’ll just have to take my word for it. They ruled. Well, sad to say, those days are long gone. But through some divine miracle, Parisian uber-duo Justice has attempted to make one. But unfortunately, it was for an unappreciative lover. That “lover” in this case is legendary London club Fabric.

The story goes, Fabric had asked the Ed Banger main boys to eh, “bang” out a mix for Fabrics’ on going mix CD series. Justice did what they wanted, took the freedom that should be allotted to all musicians and made a wonderful mix of songs that challenged any preconceived idea of what makes a dance mix dance-y. Well, Fabric didn’t like it. In fact, they disliked it so much that it became the first Fabric mix that was rejected by the club.

What happened? Was it too “mix tape-y” for them. Too campy? Too gay? I’ll leave those theoretical squabbles for you to mull on while I’m enjoying this great rejected mix of theirs. When you come up for air, you should make your day a little brighter and listen.

Enjoy!

Sparks – Tryouts For The Human Race – Virgin
Rondo Veneziano – La Serenissima - Universal
Goblin – Tenebrae - Cinevox
Daft Punk – Ouverture - Virgin
Surkin – Next Of Kin – Institubes
Symbolone – Love Juice - SymbolOne
Korgis – Everybodys Gotta Learn Sometimes – Angel Air
Midnight Juggernauts – Ending Of An Era – Mindight Juggernauts
The Paradise Ft Romauld – In Love With You – Vulture
Justice – TTHHEE PPAARRTTYY (Acapella) – Ed Banger
Chic – Everybody Dance – Atlantic
Frankie Valli – Who Loves You – Warners
Das Pop – Underground – Das Pop
Julien Clerc – Quand Je Joue – EMI
Daniel Balavoine – Vivre Ou Survivre – Barclay
Richard Sanderson – Reality - Barclay
Zoot Woman – Grey Day – Wall Of Sound
Fucking Champs – Thor Is Like Immortal – Drag City
The Rave – Mother – The Rave
Fancy – You Never Know - Fancy
Frank Stallone – Far From Over - Universal
Sheila – Misery – Warners
Todd Rundgren – International Feel - Warners

I used to be a sneakerhead, but it all just feels a little over…no? Once upon a time you could find a tasty pair of Ltd. edition sneaks (or trainers for our British friends), that were actually Ltd edition i.e not available in every Footlocker in the land. Now every neighborhood has a ‘rare’ sneaker store, and every banker to be found in the Meatpacking on a friday night is wearing them. So the search for individuality has become ever more strenuous. I can’t be paying $350 for a pair of Dior sneaks that look no different to All Stars, but I will pay $35 for these rather lovely Kung Fu shoes. Exclusively available at the Shaolin Temple in NYC’s Chinatown these sneaks are perfect  for all us boys who need encouragement to  ‘Train Harder!

This post was supposed to be Goldfrapp and their new single, A&E. But in my explorations of the various remixes, I unearthed my first official obsession of 2008 (*sigh* I <3 the internetz). I can’t help replaying Hercules & Love Affair’s new track Blind - over and over and over again. Featuring an invigorating horniness and distinctive vocals from Antony Hegarty of Antony & the Johnsons, it is an exciting taste of what H&LA’s Andrew Butler has to offer on his forthcoming full-length, expected from DFA in March.

Blind – Hercules & Love Affair (featuring Antony Hegarty) (DFA)

It needs a remix. That was my first thought of A&E when Goldfrapp’s new album mysteriously leaked eons ago. And while the song has definitely grown on me over time, I’m happy the remixes are upon us. It’s probably not hard to guess which remix I liked best based on the preceding selection. But don’t overlook excellent reworks from current Brazilian wonder boy Gui Boratto and the much buzzed about Maps.

A&E (Hercules & Love Affair) – Goldfrapp (Mute)

Earlier this week East Village Boys dropped in backstage at the Buckler show to check out the hot clothes and the hot boys. In a lot of ways, Buckler is to Rock and Roll in 2008 what Vivienne Westwood was to Punk in the 70’s, and the Fall 2008 collection is one of his best. Buckler describes it as inspired from “…the Dalinean concept of delirious phenomena; a delusional fabrication of irrational logic with hallucinating undertones… The designs are narrated as a Grimm fairytale; eccentric and visually deceptive…” and he describes the print themes as “ominous, almost sadistic… mocked by classic bowties.” Fucking hot.

If you want to see the clothes, check out the Buckler stores - one in the meatpacking district at 13 Gansevoort, and his new store that just opened in Soho this week at 93 Grand, but if you want to see what was going on backstage, check out our pics.

Design and show concept by Andrew Buckler. Styling and casting by Gino Tavernaro. Make up by Mark Edio for The Smashbox Cosmetics Team. Hair by John Warren at Rizzieri Salon with the RUSK artistic team. Photography by Weston.

Not sure how this slipped past the editors at Marvel, but is seems in 2005(ish) there was a ball-gagged “miscreant” (love it) named Leather Boy. Apparently he joined some superhero gang but “was quickly dropped after his teammates realized he was merely a non-powered leather enthusiast who had misunderstood Mr. Immortal’s personal ad.” Seriously, thats a direct quote from Marvel.

Stuart Sandford is an artist from the UK working internationally. His work has been described as “like Nan Goldin meets MySpace” and “a queer-Brit Terry Richardson”. As well as hot boys, his practice is concerned with modes of representation, public/private dualities, authorship and the role of the image-maker. We caught up with Stuart and posed him with some probing questions.

You are from Sheffield England, what’s that like? How are the boys there? Is there a “scene” is it mixed, gay etc?
Well, I have a lot of love for Sheffield, it’s my hometown. It used to be world-famous for it’s steel but more recently it’s trying to redefine itself as a city of culture, like most post-industrial UK cities. It has a pretty good music scene, the art scene is interesting and, yeah, some of the boys are hot because it’s quite a big university city but, for the fifth biggest city in the UK, the scene is pretty much non-existent. I think there’s maybe three gay bars now and one on-off club. Pretty poor.

What’s your story… so far?
I was born, I grew up. I discovered cocks and asses and started to take pictures and make videos about them… I also studied fine art, politics, philosophy and psychology, did some acting, wrote some scripts and books and stories, co-edited a gay zine, made some short films, travelled as much as possible and have lived in Finland, the Netherlands and Germany.

Where are you at the moment, and what are you wearing?
Right now I’m at my lovely mum’s place looking out of the window at a very grey and rainy day and wearing some comfy old clothes.

You have been spending time in Berlin, is this because of the boys, the bratwurst?
Oh the boys AND the bratwurst. Actually my Polish friend Lukasz and I have this idea that Berlin is the final frontier, anything goes there. Where else can you see a bunch of hot international boys sticking their dicks through glory holes onstage with Vaginal Davies singing along? And in agallery too.

Who are your photographic idols?
Robert Mapplethorpe would be the first one. Wolfgang Tillmans, Terry Richardson and the Bechers too.

How important an issue is sexuality in your work?
Sexuality is important in my work and specifically gay stories do need to be told. However, I don’t look at my work as gay, I don’t even look at myself as a gay man. I identify more with queer and with all the connotations that word holds and like to think of the work as omnisexual rather than homosexual.

Do you think there is an alternative gay culture emerging, that rejects some of the traditional gay stereotypes?
Sure and it’s been emerging for a number of years. Taking Berlin as an example, there’s a huge scene there of the scruffy gay guy, you know the kind, stubble, messy hair, the kind of gay man that would never dream of dancing with their tops off to Madonna, the kind that drinks 10 beers and gets a kebab on the way. My kind of guy.

Digital or film, which do you prefer?
Well, it’s whatever’ s right for the job at hand. I use film for my photographic work and digital for my video work. Both have their benefits.

Who would you most like to photograph, and why?
Right now, Patrick Wolf. I’m a fan of his music, especially his last album, The Magic Position. I think we could come up with something interesting together so, Patrick, if you’re reading this, get in touch. Oh yeah and he’s pretty damn hot too.

In your recent publication ‘Cumfaces’, (which we love!) How did you select your subjects? Are they ex’s or on your ‘wish list’?
They were all selected via good ol’ MySpace. Most of them were either linked to me already as friends or came to me through other friends. I asked them to take a photo of themselves, or get someone to give them a hand, and then on the brink of orgasm take the photo. There were three requirements. 1) the final image had to be landscape 2) it had to take place on your bed and 3) it had to be just head and shoulders. In a way I wanted to have this distance from them and, even though I asked a few close friends to do it as well as my boyfriend, and even did one myself, they didn’t really work as well.

What’s your favorite band at the moment?
Fave bands of the moment (and always) are The Knife and Carter the Unstoppable Sex Machine.

What’s your new year’s resolution for 2008?
I didn’t make one, I never do. I always think that if there’s something you want to do or need to do, you should go out and do it now. Why wait another year you lazy bastard?

To get a copy of Stuart Sandford’s limited edition publication ‘Cumfaces’ visit the EVB store.

Dave Gahan, lead singer of Depeche Mode, is straight. And married. With children. A matter of public record for decades, you say? I don’t care. Boyhood crushes die hard. But the married daddy persona is working for Dave. His vocals have matured in suit, craggy yet romantic all backed with signature darkness. The second single from his second solo album, “Hourglass”, is said to be “Saw Something” but the package seems to pay more attention to “Deeper and Deeper” featuring remixes by The Juan MacLean, T.Raumschmiere and Sebastien Leger. It’s Gahan at his sexiest. He’s gonna have you when he wants to. He’s gonna take you. That’s what he likes. He’s going down now.

Deeper and Deeper (Shrubbn!! Single Version) (Mute)

Shrubbn!! is a side-project of T.Raumschmiere and Schieres that’s taken about 12 years to release their first 12”. They say they’re here for good.

Shrubbn!! – Molly Rhubarb (Shitkatapult)

Tom Ford has never shyed away from the controversial, carefully trolling the thin line between art and porn. You may have checked out the viral for his recently launched mens fragrance; Tom Ford, that takes inspiration from, among other things a ‘tit fuck’. Well some cheeky web boy has decided he’s had enough of the tits, and would prefer to see some ARSE!! Check it.

And now looking ahead, the year 2008 seems to be an impressive basket bulging with expectant goodness. New Hot Chip, Ladytron, Fischerspooner, Zoot Woman – it’s enough to get down on my knees and unzip sound unheard.

The new Fischerspooner track “The Best Revenge” doesn’t disappoint and opens up the new Kitsune Maison compilation (Kitsune France), apparently out on January 14th.

The new Zoot Woman album (Wall of Sound) finally allows Stuart Price to work rather than sadly utilizing him to rework old standards for, well, old standards. Here’s “We Won’t Break”: