Random Ramblings

Dj Shadow’s view on music and what I’m enjoying right now

admin — Sun, 17 Jan 2010 08:21:11 +0000

Dj Shadow

I just wanted to comment about a few things I’m really enjoying right now. And bring a recent rant/excellent outlook on music, to your attention , from Dj Shadow. I’ll get to the latter first. If you receive emails from Dj Shadow then this isn’t news to you. But he started a new blog posting off with “WARNING: RAMBLING TIRADE FROM A 37-YEAR OLD TECHNOPHOBE BELOW”, so I knew it should be good. He went on to say that many of the past music greats did most of their best work while getting compensated. And if you take away the money, the art stops. The internet isn’t helping all artists. He says that if he puts his heart and soul into something, he’s not going to just give it away for free. I can’t blame him there. It’s a great post. Read the whole thing at his BLOG.
————————————————————————————————
What has been getting the most listens from me lately is Empire Of The Sun. Their record, Walking on a Dream, is fantastic. It’s full of catchy, fantasy lyrics, synths, guitar, great production, pop, and even a few ballads. I think its really fresh and unique, but some do compare them to MGMT. Which isn’t a bad thing, but I don’t agree 100%. EOTS is led by Australians Luke Steele (of The Sleepy Jackson) and Nick Littlemore (of PNAU). Both of which I highly recommend as well. Pnau’s track “Embrace” is amazing and I have no idea how it isn’t bigger than it is. The Miami Horror remix of “Embrace” actually makes the song even more epic. He did an awesome job with it. Hear it on Youtube. But getting back to Empire Of The Sun. I guess the rumors are starting that they are already not going to continue as a group. According to the British Magazine NME Nick Littlemore has returned to PNAU and they have a forthcoming album this new year, with ‘musical guidance’ by none other than Elton John! Luke Steel insists that EOTS is still going and have worked with Adelaide band The Swiss. ‘Some of it is like Mylo and a bit more Prince’.
————————————————————————————————-
I predict that Marina and the Diamonds will be HUGE! I have been listening to her for over a year now. I was made aware of her by the great NEON GOLD music blog. They released her 7inch single, “Obsessions” which is amazing and super catchy! Her full length record is due out soon and can be pre-ordered now. Again, I expect big things for her! At least I hope so.
————————————————————————————————-
In the last two years or so I have really gotten away from most heavier music. I was listening to a lot of metal or metalcore, as some would call it. Don’t get me wrong, I still like it, but a lot of bands just started to sound the same. Well I have really enjoyed August Burns Red’s latest album, “Constellations”, which has been out for a while now. I was “recommended” that I listen to a band called In Fear And Faith the other day, by Last.fm. A great online music service. They will recommend other bands you might like based on your music plays. It’s not always perfect, but I’m glad I checked these guys out. I wouldn’t say there is anything groundbreaking here. But they’ve got some pretty solid vocals and great guitar work. Here is their latest video for “The Road To Hell Is Paved With Good Intentions”, which features guest vocals from Craig Owens!
————————————————————————————————–
The music blog RCRD LBL frequently releases great music. Usually remixes. Which I’m a fan of, most of the time. Definitely check it out. Here are a few tracks from the past few weeks that I would recommend.
Miike Snow-Animal(Mark Ronson Remix)
Editors-You Don’t Know Love(Caged Baby Remix) The editors are perfect for remixes!
Simian Mobile Disco-Cruel Intentions(Heartbreaks Slow Action Remix)
————————————————————————————————-

Go HERE to check out NME’s list of most anticipated albums of 2010!
It includes Interpol, Empire of the Sun, MGMT, Arcade Fire, New Young Pony Club, and 45 more!
————————————————————————————————-
Ok well I guess I will stop rambling on for now. I will end it with Mysplice 4. Once a year Stereogum and Team9 put out a mashup album. Mashups aren’t for everyone. I know this. I did listen to a few of these so far and they’re not bad! I’m Liking the “22 Nights With Lily”! Anything with Chromeo is amazing and Lily Allen is underrated in my book.

Tiago Hoisel - Insane Photoshop Illustrations

admin — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 20:55:58 +0000

Photoshopped dog by Tiago Hoisel

Stallone!

Amazing artist from Brazil. He uses photoshop and a digital drawing tablet for these! Check out his website for a lot more! Keep in mind it will have to be translated though.

Runaway Nightmare Halloween Mix

admin — Sat, 03 Oct 2009 01:04:16 +0000

I’ve had a lot of people ask for this throughout the year actually. I wanted to make sure and upload it again in time for Halloween! Enjoy.

Grab it HERE from Zshare

Interesting ways of Music Distrobution

admin — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 01:00:19 +0000

Here is a great article from Wired magazine about some interesting ways to get new music to the masses!

I’m pretty much a fan of every band on Domino Records, so it’s fitting that Max Tundra’s Soup mp3 is #1.

1. Max Tundra’s Limited Edition Kosher Chicken Soup

Purchasers of Domino Records artist Max Tundra’s 2008 album, Parallax Error Beheads You, have four formats to choose from: compact disc, vinyl, digital, or as a $19 soup can that comes with a download code. Domino calls this “the new kosher format,” due to the nature of the chicken soup contained inside the customized label. In addition to a food item that can be consumed in the event of lapsed fandom (or nuclear winter), fans who choose the soup can format also get an exclusive digital compilation of Max Tundra’s friends covering his songs. All of the songs are in the 320 Kbps DRM-free Mp3 format. Soup cans were assembled by the artist in some sort of sweatshop (video).

3. Interactive (Remixable) Albums

The first artist we spotted to sell an interactive version of an album that allows fans to customize it differently each time they listen was Deadmau5, whose iPhone app for that purpose blew us away in February. Another, more popular artist whom we agreed not to name plans to offer three songs in remixable iPhone app form Tuesday, and we expect the trend to continue. But then again, we would say something like that, having been first (that I know of, anyway) to predict that iPhone apps would change the way music is sold. Note to record labels: It’s more difficult to pirate a remixable iPhone app album than it is to pirate an unprotected CD. One variant of this idea is selling music as a videogame (Beatles: Rock Band; Tap Tap Revenge: Nine Inch Nails Edition).

Head over to WIRED to see the rest.

Dan Witz - Dark Doings - Art

admin — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 03:25:32 +0000

Awesome stuff here. Dan’s newest project, “Dark Doings” is inspired by Amsterdam’s Red Light District.
He has “tagged” door windows with some realistic artwork.

You can see more at HIS WEBSITE and FLICKR.

DAYBREAKERS Trailer

admin — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 02:58:10 +0000

“In 2019, a plague transforms the world’s population into vampires. With fewer humans to provide blood, the vampires seek to farm the remaining humans and to find a way to continue their existence. A secret team of vampires uncover a way that would rescue the human race.”

This actually looks pretty good to me! I’m a big fan of Ethan Hawke and Willem Dafoe. Directed by Peter and Michael Spierig, who also did the 2003 movie Undead. See below for the Undead trailer and HEAD TO YAHOO to see the Daybreakers trailer.

I HATE You Internet Explorer!

admin — Sun, 07 Jun 2009 00:49:10 +0000

Well I thought I was just about ready to get the new site officially launched. I then opened the dreaded Internet Explorer 7 to view what I had been working on the past few days. Wow, what a mess! Divs moved to the right, divs on top of divs, divs completely off the page etc etc. I’m ready to scream! Back to the drawing board.

I don’t know if I will ever get this done.

Here are some useful links involving problems with the glorious Internet Explorer.

CSS Hacks from Webdevout

Javascript code that attempts to make IE WORK!

The legendary Eric Meyer on how javascript can help us.

THE ROAD - Early Review!

admin — Tue, 12 May 2009 23:55:08 +0000

I cannot express enough how much I want to see this movie! It keeps getting pushed back. Some were saying because of money issues and then supposedly it was because John Hillcoat hadn’t finished it yet. I’m not a huge reader, but I literally could not put the book down. I love post apocalyptic stories and Cormac McCarthy has written an absolutely amazing story about an American wasteland after a nuclear winter has set in. A father and son make their way to the coast. Not sure what they will find, but are certain that better times await there.
************************************************************************
Esquire Magazine’s Tom Chiarella was lucky enough to sit down with Bob Weinstein and see an early version! Apparently it is true that the movie just wasn’t ready to be released last year, and has been set to be released this November instead. The studio is worried about how to market this film, since it is just such a dark and depressing story. Tom has written up a great article which is up at ESQUIRE.COM now. Highly Recommended!

“They want them to say, perhaps for reasons they cannot consciously fathom, to everyone they know: You have to see it. Really.

You do. Not because it’s grim, not because it’s depressing, or even scary. The Road is all of those things, both acutely and chronically. But there was not a single stupid choice made in turning this book into this movie. No wrongheaded lyric tribute to the novel. No moment engineered simply to make you jump.

The terror of it is in a normal world made vacant.”
*************************************************************************
Grab the book from Amazon!

**************************************************************************

Mike Mitchell - Fantastic Illustrator!

admin — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 03:05:34 +0000

No really, this guy is amazing!

Visit his site to see his work and buy prints/tees.

Follow him on Stumbleupon.
Check him out on DeviantArt.
Even more awesomeness on his Myspace page!

9 - Animated Movie -Tim Burton, Shane Acker, Elijah Wood

admin — Thu, 26 Feb 2009 05:23:56 +0000

Wow this looks fantastic! I was completely unaware of the original 2005 short that this new feature is based on.

The original 9 directed by Shane Acker was released way back in April of ‘05 and was nominated for an Academy Award. You can check this out below. Disregard the odd added sounds that somehow made it into to the beginning of this clip.

The new full length produced by Tim Burton and featuring the voice talents of Elijah Wood, John C. Reilly, Crispin Glover, and Jennifer Connelly will be released in September. I’m really looking forward to this. If the short is any indication, then this is going to be great. Here is the trailer:(extra points for using The Knife in it!)