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January 31, 2007
Film. Alone With Her
Film. Alone With Her: We live in an age of surveillance. Technology has made it incredibly easy to stalk someone. You can buy a tiny video camera, a digital telephone recorder, and a lock pick gun, for about $150 from a spy shop. A particulary brazen sociopath, could conceivably break into your home, hide a bunch of cameras in household items, and watch your every move from his laptop in Starbucks.
Alone With Her is a modern psychological thriller. The film is shot from the perspective of the stalker, it forces you to identify with him. This empathy is bolstered by the film's naturalism. You know how the movie is going to end but that doesn't stop you from being completely engaged in the story. Alone With Her is definitely worth seeing, even if it makes you never want to go to a coffee shop again.
Alone With Her is in theatres and on video-on-demand. [Trailer]
Posted by james at 02:48 AM
January 30, 2007
Artist. The Rapture
Artist. The Rapture: For as long as I can remember, I've been creating the ultimate playlist. What makes a playlist excellent? Some say, "it's about taste, not obscurity.*" That's debatable, but we can all agree that any good playlist needs an intro song -- a song that jazzes you up and gets you ready for hours of audible goodness. Something with, COWBELL!
The Rapture are back, and they're ready to partay. Their jam, Woo Alright, Yeah U-Huh, has been the leadoff song on the office playlist for like, a week. The lyrics are hilarious, the drumming is wicked, and we already mentioned the cowbell. Enjoy.
Listen to Woo Alright, Yeah Uh-Huh and watch the video [Here & Here]
Posted by james at 07:30 PM
People. David Lynch on Creativity
People. David Lynch on Creativity: I remember watching some of David Lynch's short films and wondering where he got his ideas from. The imagery was bizarre, evocative, and moody. The films conveyed ideas that are hard to explain.
Lynch believes the creative process is a lot like fishing. His new book, Catching the Big Fish: Meditation, Consciousness, and Creativity, is a personal account of his methods of capturing and working with ideas, and the creative benefits he has enjoyed from the practice of meditation. In a recent interview for NPR, he talks about how meditation has influenced his filmmaking.
Listen to David Lynch on Creativity [Here]
Watch the trailer for Lynch's latest film, Inland Empire:
Posted by james at 06:48 PM
January 29, 2007
Habitat. Mac Collector
Habitat. Mac Collector: Convert your home into a mac lab. Not just a few macs - we're talking about a whole bunch of macs. Personally we've never seen anything like this. The dork crew could be mildly (actually wildly) considered mac addicts, but we've got nothing on this cat.
Check out how one fan converted his basement into an ode to all things apple. He's got posters, vintage macs, and interior design all coordinated to make one big apple statement. This gets a dork thumbs up even though it may be a bit much.
View more pics from this Mac collector's home [Here]
Posted by taj at 11:52 PM
Artist. Malajube
Artist. Malajube: One of these days, I'm going to learn French. I've been saying that for years, but this time I mean it. For me, it would be like having magical powers. I'd never have to wonder what French people were saying about me. This skill is especially handy when dining at a French bistro.
Canadian indie-poppers, Malajube's Pâte Filo has been getting massive spins in the Dork office. The song and video are reminiscent of A-Ha's Take on Me and that is a good thing. If you're in NYC, be sure to see them perform at the Mercury Lounge, February 18.
Malajube tourdates:
02.16 Montreal, QC Café Campus
02.18 New York City, NY Mercury Lounge
02.20 Philadelphia, PA Johnny Brenda's
02.21 Washington, DC The Rock And Roll Hotel
02.23 Chicago, IL The Subterranean
02.28 Seattle, WA Neumo's
03.01 Seattle, WA Dante's
03.02 San Francisco, CA Independent
03.06 Tucson, AZ Plush
03.09 Denver, CO Larimer Lounge
03.10 Kansas City, MT The Record Bar
04.13 Sorel/Tracy, QC Marine Cabaret
04.14 Joliette, QC L' Azile
Listen to Pâte Filo [Here]
Watch the Montreal - 40 C video [Here]
Posted by james at 04:39 PM
People. Amy Winehouse
People. Amy Winehouse: We're slowly but suddenly falling in love with Amy Winehouse. There's a coarse sincerity flowing through her sound. Besides, she's soulful! Anyone who does duets with Ghost, flips a band and maintains all of her femininity is all right by our books. You gotta love that.
We recently wrote about her show and now we have a bit more news. Ms. Winehouse was #1 in the UK for two weeks, was nominated for best album and female vocalist in Britain, and has been lighting up things state side for the last few! With all that goodness we have to throw up some tracks. Check out her music, some pics and a video after the jump. Also read our review of her show [Here]
Listen to Rehab [ Here]
Listen to You Know I'm No Good [ Here]
Watch the Rehab video [Here]
Visit the following sites for more info:
Official Site: [Here]
Amy's myspace page: [Here]
Posted by taj at 10:23 AM
Art & Design. All Gone
Art & Design. All Gone: Whoever coined the term “There’s power in numbers”, and argued “Quality over quantity“ probably never thought about what the combined power of those two ideas might actually be. Not in the way collectors do, anyway. In comes “All Gone”, the first book assembled by La MJC, Indesignwetrust and Colette, celebrating 180 collectors products launched in 2006.
Being hailed as a “bible for the streewise”, the hardcover will boast 178 pages of Sneakers, Designer Toys, Tees, Skates – each item to be accompanied by a short story, either explaining the concept or describing the design. The tribute will pay homage to nearly every mover and shaker of the limited edition movement, including brands and designers such as A bathing ape, aNYthing, Clot, Crooks & Castles, DC Shoes, Dr Romanelli, Futura Laboratories, Huf, Ice Cream, Jordan, Married to the Mob, Nike, OriginalFake, Twelve Bar and Vans, as well as brand-stores like Stüssy, Supreme, Undefeated, and Alife to name a few. All Gone will also feature original artworks from KAWS, Futura, Michael Lau, the photography of Karl Lagerfield, Ricky Powell and Marcus Gaab and include interviews from the likes of Nigo, Hiroshi Fujiwara, James Jebbiah, KAWS, James Jarvis, Edison Chen, Madsaki, and Christian Hosoi. So as not to out do itself, each book comes with its own poster and stickers. All Gone is limited, of course, to 500 copies and can be found at “We Sold Out.” In stores now!
Check out All Gone at We Sold Out [Here]
Posted by catzie at 10:11 AM
Habitat. The Complex List
Habitat. The Complex List: Their name is Complex, but they make lifestyle look so easy. Although most magazines disguise promotional marketing with photo shoots and layouts, Complex has no problem with calling itself a straight up Buyers Guide. The esteemed establishment of founder Mark Ecko, has long been cataloging sneakers and articulating the art of seeking out selvage denim since the t-shirt became an outfit necessity. It’s no surprise then that the guide that gives out the golden approval to cool stores, has also announced the 27 best street wear boutiques in North America for 2007 – the first name mentioned was the 32-foot cubed-glass entranced Apple Store on Fifth Ave in New York. That’s all we Dorks need for our approval.
Talk about perfect timing, the list also includes the newly opened D.C. location of Commonwealth store and the re-opened, re-named G1SA - a hybrid of its original name, Grey One, and its partnering company, Soul Assassins, in Pasadena. Rather than follow the footsteps of other stores for bi-coastal supremacy in La and New York, the folks at Commonwealth have decided to keep it close on the east coast to its first store in Norfolk, Virginia. And a new look for the new year was all the reason G1SA needed to remodel and renovate, complete with an online site soon to come.
Check out the Complex List [Here]
Posted by catzie at 10:06 AM
January 25, 2007
People News. Q-Tip
People News. Q-Tip: It was so low key that you probably missed it. That's what happened to Kamaal the Abstract. We played the life out of that unreleased album. Legend has it, it inspired much of Andre 3000's sound. How does an album with so much critical acclaim, influence and innovation slip through the cracks? I guess industry rule #4080 is crazier then many imagined. None-the-less, Tip worked to stay relevant on the music scene. Whether deejaying, producing or making guest appearances he's stuck around. His new solo album The Renaissance is much anticipated.
As reported on Billboard: "Having toured last year with his A Tribe Called Quest mates for the first time since 2000, Q-Tip is back on the solo beat. The Universal Motown artist is gearing up for the spring release of "The Renaissance." Q-Tip put together a hip-hop band for project, but, according to the New York-based rapper, it's not a band simply in the sense of everyone just playing an instrument. "I wanted a hip-hop sonic feel, something pure to the sound of hip-hop with real drums, real emotion and people taking solos," he tells Billboard. "In that sense this record feels like we're moving in a new direction ... something hip-hop should do."
Read more about Q-Tip and his new album [Here]
Posted by taj at 08:30 PM
People News. Daydreamer Magazine!
People News. Daydreamer Magazine: Sincere media can change the world. The only problem is there isn't enough of it. As "Buyer's Guides" and other consumer focused print saturate the market, it's nice to see a publication come along and challenge the status quo. Daydreamer Magazine is smart, relevant and most importantly sincere. If you're in Philadelphia on February 28, be sure to check out their launch party at the Institute for Contemporary Art. The insanely fresh festivities begin at 7pm. [118 South 36th Street]
Also check out this snippet from their introduction article: "It's the eternal question that drives what some of us do every day, or it's the question that we lose in our day-to-day activity – how do I want to be remembered? This is an inquiry that many people, young and old, have been either too busy or afraid to confront. But once the willingness to face this question is realized, countless hours are spent negotiating the needs to survive and fit within the framework of American society, while trying to figure out how to 'leave our mark' in the most meaningful and passionate way possible." Word up!
Read more about Daydreamer Magazine [Here]
Posted by taj at 06:32 PM
Artist. Clima
Artist. Clima: Myspace is a wonderful thing. Especially when you love to seek out new music thats below the radar. I guess this is attributed to the fact that we love being up on our music game. Recently we came across a band named Clima.
Equal parts soulful, funky, exotic, and jazz inspired - the lead singer Fátima Eiras’ voice is intoxicatingly sensual and comparable to a Sade like voice and tone. The stand out tracks on Clima’s EP are the title track “Gossip” and the slow tempo “My Call.” The song “Gossip” is an up-tempo jam that has an infectious hook and the band has the incredible ability to meld funky jam band instrumental break-downs with rock infused riffs. “My Call” has an almost urban lounge feel to it. Rich percussion mixed with the depth of Fatima’s voice make this song memorable. Dork is looking forward to Clima's full length.
Take a listen for yourself [Here]
Posted by dechazier at 10:20 AM
January 23, 2007
Art & Design: Creative Spaces
Art & Design. Creative Spaces: We usually kick-off our brainstorming sessions with a little MF Doom. How do you call your muse? Inspiration can be difficult to find so when we come across articles like this one, they're keepers.
Recently, Gapingvoid published an article entitled How to be Creative. It's pretty insightful. Written in a self account format, it reads easy and leads off with a list of tips. As GV reports: "The more original your idea is, the less good advice other people will be able to give you. When I first started with the cartoon-on-back-of-bizcard format, people thought I was nuts. Why wasn't I trying to do something more easy for markets to digest i.e. cutey-pie greeting cards or whatever? You don't know if your idea is any good the moment it's created. Neither does anyone else. The most you can hope for is a strong gut feeling that it is. And trusting your feelings is not as easy as the optimists say it is. There's a reason why feelings scare us."
Read more about How to be Creative at Gapingvoid [Here]
Posted by taj at 10:11 PM
People. RIP Disco D
People. RIP Disco D: Dave "Disco D" Shayman passed away yesterday. Having cut his teeth as a DJ in Detroit's ghettotech scene, Shayman added the role of producer to his resume (50 Cent "Ski Mask Way"), and mixing records for the likes of Dabrye ("Game Over" featuring Jay Dee & Phat Kat).
Disco D was discovered in his apartment on January 22nd, dead from an apparent suicide at the age of 26. He revealed to URB Magazine in 2006 that he suffered from manic depression and had attempted suicide before. We will miss Disco D. Dork extends our sympathy to all his friends and family.
Read more about Disco D at Urb Magazine [Here]
Posted by bill at 05:13 PM
Audio. Nire
Audio. Nire: Easily the slickest chick in the game. When it comes to beat making she is one of hip-hop's freshest young talents. We came across some of her music while watching MOB Living episode one on Riottt.com. Her refreshing sounds were acting as the soundtrack. As we watched we were taken over by the music. You know the feeling - “I need to hear more of this right now!”
Luckily, at the end of episode one there was a URL to her Myspace page. There we found full tracks that we also liked. A standing favorite was the track titled “Sweet Toof.” The sound is innocent, playful, and flavorful. Not to take anything away from the other tracks, but this stood out to us. She is on point and we can't wait to hear more from her. Respect Nire.
Take a listen for yourself [Here]
Posted by dechazier at 10:00 AM
January 22, 2007
Op-Ed. Who Killed it?
Op-Ed. Who Killed it?: We've been faithful readers of Straight Bangin' for almost two years. The writing is strong. We usually don't like opinion-heavy blogs, but Joey's reasoning is sound and incisive. He doesn't present his opinions as facts. Besides that, the site is pretty dang funny.
We're excited to add Joey to the dork team. He'll be writing opinion pieces for us. His first joint is about the much-hyped demise of hip-hop. Also note the photos by Travis Ruse. His use of color, spontaneity and lighting is insane.
Op-Ed. Who Killed it?
words by Joey of Straight Bangin'
It's become hackneyed and backlash-inducing to complain about the sorry state of hip-hop. I know because I'm a card-carrying hater whose own friends wonder why he has to be so close-minded when it comes to the Lil' Waynes of this world. You need to let it go; hating is boring; this new joint is that crack, and you're crazy if you don't see it. And while it was once even widely welcomed to express one's disdain for the taste-making oligarchy that populates the rosters of critical outlets from the Village Voice to Blender to The Source to Pitchfork, even enthusiasm for that has waned. I mean, tearing apart a hipster critic's encomium about the latest dope-boy rapper now elicits little more than a tepid "right on."
Times appear to be a little bleak for the hip-hop-loving hip-hop hater, but the actual root cause has nothing to do with the weakened intensity of critique or the diminished appetite for dissension discussed above. Rather, the distaste for the zeitgeist that informs the objections that suddenly arouse a countervailing defense of the trends that makes the hater somewhat more self-conscious can all ultimately be traced back to a hater-validating source: the general absence of creativity.
Hip-hop in this era of singles-driven "albums," million-download ringtones, and marketing-trend music is about imitation and derivation. We hear "Grindin'," we later get "Wait," and everyone wants to go minimal. We see the ascendancy of Lil' Jon, we listen to Pharrell on damn near everything that he produces, and everyone is calling out producers on every song. We still can rely on nearly every R&B starlet to lace a remix with some one-verse-at-a-time rapper. There are few large-scale chances taken in rap music.
The end result is a mindset in which notable music--that is, memorable singles, well-promoted artists, and so forth--is met by the benevolent as a welcomed extension of a catalogue with just a few styles and by the haters as more of that reliable bullshit. It's also made the rare instances of inspiration moments during which the senses are titillated and the emotions heightened. People can't get enough of Kanye West--lovers and hater--because whether the music sounds good or not, he at least tries new sounds and ideas. The bad part is that dull lullabye rap such as his collabo with Maroon 5 can get caught up in a wave of hyperbole, but that's a price that even the most jaded hater will pay if it keeps us immersed in a "We Major" or even something as seemingly pedestrian for West as "Wouldn't Get Far." This entire circumstance also helps to explain why Justin Timberlake can penetrate hip-hop precincts and why Hip-Hop Is Dead's weak moments can get excused: in a marketplace awash with recycled, superficial ideas, anything that challenges the prevailing order, through innovation or criticism, garners attention. And I ain't mad at that.
Posted by james at 02:59 PM
People. Hiroshi Fujiwara
People. Hiroshi Fujiwara: This guy's quiet influence is unmatched. We've been following HF's work for a while and it never ceases to amaze. He bleeds inspiration. The short list of his resume includes brand building, mentoring (notably nigo) and publishing (honeyee). Recently Bobby Hundreds was in Tokyo and spent some time with HF. He also snapped some fantastic shots. The pics range from HF's store to his low key studio.
Here's a sample of Bobby's behind the scenes look: "Tonight, I had dinner at Eric Clapton’s favorite restaurant in the whole world. No, really. Ever since he wrote that on his Honeyee blog, apparently people have been traveling hours across Japan just to partake in the katsu. And yes, it really was that good. [I had] dinner with Mark (Fatlace [yes, it’s back!!!!]), Hiroshi Fujiwara (speakin’ of Honeyee), Afro, and Kenta (Tokyo Drive)."
Read more from Bobby's behind the scene look at HF on The Hundreds [Here]
Posted by taj at 12:54 PM
January 19, 2007
Travel. Laos
Travel. Laos: We had a contest to see who could name the most countries with two adjacent vowels. I lost. A friend named Jarrett took the prize. Rats! But the difference between him and the second place candidate came down to one country. That country was Laos. It was a sweat induced battle of geo-agility, so we all decided that we needed to improve our global-geographic-knowledge! Check out our new category for travel. It's only right that it should be about Laos.
As reported in the NY Times: "The unmarked path twists off a dirt road and into the forest, and within a few seconds there is the surreal sight of pale white bodies swathed in colorful sarongs, milling around a wooden house on stilts. Up the stairs, a woman named Noi greets guests, sends them to a ramshackle changing room and then into a windowless cell where three benches are barely visible through the dense steam infused with eucalyptus, citrus, rosemary, lemongrass, basil and mint. She offers weak tea to sweat-drenched survivors, who are encouraged to take a fresh sarong and lie down on one of six beds for a slow but powerful massage in the open air."
Read more on Laos at the New York Times [Here]
Posted by taj at 03:47 AM
Habitat. Eugeni Pons
Habitat. Eugeni Pons: It's all about balance. You can just feel it. We first came across the work of Eugeni in an architectural book about minimalism. The dork folks are suckers for clean lines, balance and simplicity. For all these reasons we instantly became huge fans of his work.
While zooming the planet, Eugeni Pons photographs the best structures. His keen sense of color and composition brings out the bang in photos. Today we have some pics of his work. If you get a chance, check out more of his work. He's been featured in magazines such as Detail, Architectural Record and Wallpaper. [Photos after the jump]
View more architectural photography from Eugeni Pons [Here]
Posted by taj at 01:35 AM
People News. The End of Gangsta Grillz?
People News. The End of Gangsta Grillz?: Mixtapes are illegal. They always have been. It's a fact that's always been overlooked, even by record companies who often use them as promotional tools. Atlanta's DJ Drama was just reminded of this recently when he and his partner, DJ Cannon were arrested for bootlegging.
Drama's extremely popular mixtape series, Gangsta Grillz, has featured many popular MCs ranging from Young Jeezy to underground heroes Little Brother. This unfortunate circumstance has even gotten the attention of the New York Times. As reported: "In the world of hip-hop few music executives have more influence than DJ Drama. His 'Gangsta Grillz' compilations have helped define this decade’s Southern rap explosion."
Read more about DJ Drama and his legal woes [Here]
Posted by bill at 12:32 AM
January 17, 2007
Art & Design. Steven Harrington
Art & Design. Steven Harrington: Steve Harrington’s work is more than refreshing, it’s GONZO! I've seen his work around, but yesterday I really took the time to check out his site at the suggestion of an iChat friend. When looking through the extensive prints section I was immediately and simultaneously blown away and saddened by the fact that the 18 x 24 peacock print had been sold (it is an amazing print).
The thing about becoming an artist and designer is you become jaded. You get visually overloaded everyday. It becomes hard to break through to a person “us.” I would give anything to be able to be visually stimulated again the way I was when it was all “new” but the laws of life won’t allow that. Steve has managed to catch my attention, hold it, and turn me into a huge fan and hopefully a soon to be customer because I need one of those peacock prints in my life and on my wall.
View more of Steven Harrington's work [Here]
Posted by dechazier at 04:25 PM
Events. Amy Winehouse @ Joe's Pub
Events. Amy Winehouse @ Joe's Pub: Amy Winehouse made a triumphant debut last night at Joe's Pub in NYC. Her first US public performances were greeted with much fanfare as she performed to two sold-out crowds who were as familiar with her music as the audiences in the UK.
With the fantastic Dap-Kings backing her up, Amy treated the audience to a heavy selection of songs from her second album, Back To Black, as well as a couple of choice songs from her debut, 2004's Frank. Fortunately the songs sounded as good, if not better than their studio counterparts. Her stage presence initially let on that she seemed a little nervous. The audience's encouraging shouts, and maybe those amaretto sours she drank, shooed away any butterflies fluttering around in her stomach.We look forward to seeing Amy perform again in the hopefully very near future. Photo Credit: Eric Nowels [View a clip of the performance after the jump]
Amy Winehouse's album Back To Black hits US stores in March [Watch]
Posted by bill at 11:32 AM
Artist. The Fader & Spank Rock
Artist. The Fader & Spank Rock: The Fader has been one of our favorite mags for a while - more so in their opening years. We were addicted when we saw the Sade cover. Remember when they had Mos, D' Angelo and Beck on the front and back!? They're pushing the envelope on many fronts, and it's good to see them rising back to form. We knew they were preparing for a resurgence once we saw DJ Lindsey became an editor. Word up!
The Fader's online presence is on fire too. In the last couple weeks they've been stepping up with tons of daily posts, interviews and all kinds of photographic goodness. If you're not checking out their site, be sure to stop by. We just wanted to take note. It's not easy to balance emerging-art-journalism with the need to financially survive. So big up to the Fader for doing a nice job. Also - while we're at it - big up to Spank Rock, just because! [Here]
Read more on Sweet Talk and Spank Rock at the Fader [Here]
Posted by taj at 02:50 AM
January 16, 2007
Art Conversations. Kozyndan!
Art Conversations. Kozyndan: The synergy of a fine duo can make art that makes a difference. It’s been a while since we’ve witnessed work with this much detail. It all made sense. It’s almost like the creative creatures that existed in our head escaped onto the panoramic pages imagined by Kozy and Dan. That’s where we met – the effusive collisions of robots, cute women, cityscapes and strange mini-monsters.
Kozy and Dan are a couple. They’re amazing artists. And, their work has decorated the halls of Dork since our existence. We’re not supposed to have a favorite interview, but if we were held at gun point by a voltron-like robot powered by a rabbit, we’d confess – this is our favorite. [photo by the great Sean Marc Lee*]
Read Dork's Art Conversation with Kozyndan! [Here]
Posted by taj at 01:41 AM
Audio. Dork Magazine Rootdown Show #3
Audio. Dork Magazine Rootdown Show #3: [Words & Music by Ken Peebles] Yow! It's another DM Rootdown for your listening pleasure. Show number three is a further tribute to the Godfather of Soul's influence. This edition features tunes with all James Brown samples.
With so many tunes to choose from it was hard to boil the show down to 5 simple tracks. This is by no means a top 5 list, just simply a few tracks I enjoy that would not exist without the funky soul of Sir James. You'll notice a couple of glaring omissions. One is there are no new tracks. I ended up deciding to stick to tracks from the JB sampling heyday ( late 80’s – early 90’s ) There are of course some great current uses and I highly recommend checking Where are They Now by Nas for an example. The other omission is the lack of a Funky Drummer track. To be honest because Funky Drummer has been sampled about gazillion plus one times I just couldn’t decide. Besides, that drum beat is so omnipresent you probably heard it while grocery shopping today. [Read a further breakdown after the jump]
Listen to Ken Peebles rock it on DM Rootdown Show Number 3 [Here]
1. Beatnuts Feat. Grand Puba - Are you ready
It’s always about the baseline and who couldn’t get hooked on this one. Da dum dum do doooo. This track encapsulates what’s so great about The Beatnuts' production. Unstoppable funky loops, great drums and well matched cuts. Are You Ready caught a lot of run in my walkman and all over London city.
2. Showbiz and AG - Soul Clap
You want your party to pump, then throw on the Soul Clap Back. Before I was able to transmit live through the internet and even before I had turntables I still loved playing DJ by manning the CD player at house parties. This track never failed to get people moving in a lull. Another example of a superstar baseline. The production could stop there, but it doesn’t and continues on with driving drums, out of control wailing horns and and undeniable old school party chants.
3.Ultramagnetic MC’s – Ease Back
Production being what it is today it’s hard to understand how ahead of the curve this record was when released. Ced Gee had some interesting drum patterns going on. This was one of those records that I missed when it was released and would continually hear about how amazing it was from different people in the hip hop community. For whatever reason I never checked it despite all the hype. It took, as it usually did a play at a record store to make me freak out, understand the hype and buy it on the same day.
4.Public Enemy – Welcome to the Terrordome
I had to include some PE. Aside from the fact PE borrowed from the JB sound innumerable times throughout their career one of the things they also did was really use vocal snippets as well. They were able to really capture the soul and spirit within JB’s voice on many tracks. You can’t really break down the insane bombsquad production into one piece but the influence of James is quit strong. PE is just one of those bands that changed everything. Much like the JB’s themselves these guys pushed the envelope and created what I can only describe as controlled funky chaos.
5. Big Daddy Kane – Wrath of Kane
Flow with the speed the wrath of Kane…This is defiantly that pose in front of the mirror and act like you’re the illest tune. I used to rock to this all the time wearing the fisherman hat pretending to be the flyest on the mic. The hard drums and the dizzying pace always keeps me on lock. For the kids this is what us grumpy old backpackers refer to as that raw. Another point of note. I love crazy scratches like everyone else, but I still enjoy the simplicity of Mister Cee’s scribble here. Let’s forget all that extra this year and get back to having flavor.
words and music by Ken Peebles.
+ Listen to Rootdown Show 002 [Here]
+ Listen to Rootdown Show 001 [Here]
Posted by taj at 12:18 AM
January 15, 2007
Artist. Black Milk and Broken Wax
Artist. Black Milk and Broken Wax: I have a confession to make, I am not a music writer. I'm not good at objectively describing what makes a song interesting. My reasons for liking a song are usually random and idiosyncratic. Okay, that isn't completely true. I like beats. There's nothing random or idiosyncratic about that. I'd wager you like programmed drums and filtered basslines too.
Black Milk makes beats and rhymes. So what? Who doesn't? I guess the difference is Black Milk makes the beats you imagine making when you sit in front of your MPC 3000. Or maybe you don't - maybe you like making wack beats. Anyway, enough of my nonsensical rambling - Black Milk has my attention. And, if you've heard his stuff, he probably has yours.
Listen to Black Milk's Sound the Alarm (featuring Guilty Simpson) [Here]
Posted by james at 10:23 PM
Film. Bukowski: Born into This
Film. Bukowski: Born into This: Charles Bukowski is one of the most prolific writers of the last century. His poems, short stories, and novels all come from a painful, honest place. Bukowski's words are free of pretense. He endured an abusive childhood and spent most of his adult life as an alcoholic.
Born into This is an intimate documentary about a troubled man. Like his writings, the film is no-holds-barred - showing Bukowski at his lowest points, as well as his most profound. It is an inspiration for anyone who has ever thought of picking up a pen and putting words on paper.
Born into This is available on DVD. View the trailer [Here]
Posted by james at 08:15 PM
Film. Fast Food Nation
Film. Fast Food Nation: The burger you had for lunch is contributing to the downfall of all humanity. That is the bold assertion being made in Richard Linklater's Fast Food Nation. The movie is based on the provocative book of the same name, and like the book, it brings attention to the dark side of the fast food industry.
Fast Food Nation traces the birth of an everyday burger through a chain of interlocked human stories - from a hopeful young immigrant couple who cross the border to work in a meat-packing plant, to a teen clerk who dreams of life beyond the counter; to the corporate whiz who is shocked to discover that his latest burger invention - The Big One - is literally full of manure.
Fast Food Nation will be out on DVD March 17, 2007. View trailer [Here]
Posted by james at 07:34 PM
Animation. Home Movies
Animation. Home Movies: We are surrounded by the truth. What is the truth? I don't know, but I usually see it when I watch cartoons. There is a generation, raised on cartoons, who are using the medium to explore interesting aspects of humanity. In a way they are cultural whistleblowers - exposing the things we ignore.
I recently discovered Home Movies, a brilliant but cancelled animated series, created by Brendon Small. It's about Brendon, an 8-year-old, who makes films with his friends, Melissa and Jason, in his spare time. He lives with his divorced mother, Paula, and his adopted baby sister, Josie. He is also friends with his alcoholic, short-tempered soccer coach, John McGuirk. Home Movies best feature is its strong, natural dialogue. There's something about good dialogue that warms the cockles of my cynical heart.
Watch a clip after the jump. You can find more info [Here]
Clip: A rock opera about Franz Kafka
Posted by james at 06:41 PM
Film. The Painted Veil
Film. The Painted Veil: When Walter discovers his wife's infidelity, he accepts a job in a remote village in China ravaged by a deadly epidemic, and takes her along. The Painted Veil explores forgiveness as a transformative act - an act that can help people rise above the worst in themselves.
The movie is set in 1925, but theme is timeless. Ed Norton gives director John Curran a great deal of credit in constructing this resonant vision. He says: "Most of the great directors that I've worked with, are all kind of interested in returning to the same theme. John Curran is really adept at observing relationships in dysfunction. He's got a beautifully nuanced eye for how men and women struggle with each other and he does it without judgment. He trusts nuance. He never asks you to paint things in big primary colors for him. He's one of those people who says less instead of more. He's able to look at relationships without needing to have easy foils. He doesn't need the woman to be oppressed by the man, for you to relate to the woman. He's happy to create a story in which your loyalties might almost shift, as you empathize with different aspects of each of the characters." [Quotes from Charlie Rose]
Dork recommends The Painted Veil. View the trailer [Here]
Posted by james at 05:12 PM
January 10, 2007
Film. Family Law
Film. Family Law: Daniel Burman has been described as the Woody Allen of Argentina. Like Allen, his films have dense dialogue, offbeat humor and are largely autobiographical. Burman doesn't like the comparison and is quick to reject it. I can understand that. Who wants to be derivative?
His latest film, Family Law, is about growing up and coming to terms with adulthood. Here's the synopsis: "Like his father before him, Perelman Jr. is an attorney. But rather than live in his father's shadow, Perelman Jr. chooses to work as a teacher in a law school. His life is good, if somewhat dull. Things change for the better when he pursues a beautiful former student, a pilates instructor named Sandra, and they have a son together. When his office is unexpectedly closed for several weeks, he doesn't tell Sandra, instead making visits to his son at school and his father at work. As his father begins to reach out to him with subtle urgency, he's forced to question his roles as father, son, and husband, and to contemplate what lies ahead."
Dork recommends Family Law. View the trailer [Here]
Posted by james at 08:22 PM
January 09, 2007
Events. J Dilla & Donuts are Forever
Events. J Dilla & Donuts are Forever: Sometimes we still can't believe that J. Dilla is no longer with us. Physically, that is. Fortunately, he left us with a ton of music that we'll be able to grow old with. It is this music that will keep his memory alive for years to come. Surely, this is a cause for celebration.
We've linked up with the fine folks at Rare Form Promotions and Stones Throw Records to present a tribute to a musical genius. Join us on February 10th at Galapagos Art Space in Williamsburg, Brooklyn for "Donuts Are Forever."
Visit the J Dilla website.
Visit Stones Throw's website.
Visit Rare Form Promotion's website
Posted by bill at 08:13 PM
Gadgets. Introducing the New iPhone
Gadgets. Introducing the New iPhone: We're jazzed about this phone. Apple continues to innovate at alarming speeds. Finally there will be a product that seamlessly coordinates our digital media, communication, contacts, calendar and other things we don't even realize are important yet. Steve Jobs and his team are nothing less than impressive.
Time Magazine's Lev Grossman, has a great article on the iPhone. He also does a brilliant job of describing what it's like to be a journalist trusted by Apple. As reported: "If you've ever wondered how it works, this is how it works: I don't call Steve, Steve calls me. Or more accurately, someone in Steve Jobs's office calls someone in my office—someone at a much higher pay grade —to say that he has something cool. I then fly to the metastasized strip mall called Cupertino, Calif., where Apple lives, sign some legal confidentiality stuff and am escorted to a conference room that contains Jobs, some associates, and some lumps concealed under some black towels. I stare at what was under the towels. Everybody else stares at me."
Read more from Time Magazine's article on the iPhone & Apple [Here]
Posted by taj at 07:59 PM
Art & Design. Supertouch @ Colette Art Exhibit
Art & Design. Supertouch @ Colette Art Exhibit: If you're not reading Supertouch, start! Much like A Different Kitchen*, Nah Right*, Catchdubs* and Brooklyn Vegan*, it's a blog where they've developed a relationship with the reader and their integrity never seems to waiver.
Recently they threw up a nice post on Colette's most recent art exhibit. The installation features a host of great artists ranging from Yoshitomo Nara to Futura! As they report: "Just opened is a beautiful group show for charity featuring nearly 100 artists including Yoshitomo Nara, Futura, Takashi Murakami, Mike Mills, Fafi, and KAWS, at Paris’ eternally hot Colette boutique and gallery. Titled 'My 2007', the show is a group vision of expectation for the year ahead with all works (save for the lawless Takashi Murakami’s) adhering to a uniform format of 8.3″ x 11″, and all proceeds from the sale of art are being donated directly to the World Wildlife Fund to aid in the protection of nature and the environment." [Photos included]
Read more about Colette's My 2007 at SuperTouch [Here]
Posted by taj at 01:19 AM
Link Heavy. New Products at MacWorld?
Link Heavy. New Products at MacWorld? The Mac addiction is in full force at Dork Central. Steve Jobs will be doing another one of his keynotes at 9pm PST. You know what that means! Whenever these events come up, it feels like the day before Christmas. The potential for an announcement on a new product that makes life more convenient is always thrilling. Hopefully something will be introduced today that'll make our access to art a little easier. Get 'em Steve!
Just in case you haven't been paying attention to the rumor mill, AppleInsider has a nice piece. As they Report: "An unusual level of uncertainty over product announcements expected from Apple Computer on Tuesday will likely to allow chief executive Steve Jobs more room to surprise, one Wall Street analyst says." [Here]
Read the live blog update at Engadget starting @ 9am PST [Here]
Posted by taj at 12:17 AM
January 08, 2007
Inquiringmind's Buyble: A New Testament to Style
Inquiringmind's Buyble: A New Testament to Style: As if being a dope online magazine about streetwear with a well-executed layout and top-notch writers contributing to articles wasn’t enough, the guys over at Inquiringmind have given themselves a site makeover complete with hip hop tracks for your listening pleasure and have just released a “Buyble.” Touted as being “much more than a buyer’s guide but rather a manual to modern day ‘cool’” the interactive catalog of hand-picked kicks and gear also includes a quirky section of miscellaneous called “Odds & Ends” which by the way, highlights Canadian maple syrup as a featured product. Although content coverage calls for them to venture beyond borders, they still keep it Canada. And even if you don’t end up buying anything, browse the Buyble for it’s fun flash navigation and enjoy the crisp photography.
While you’re at it, peep the previews of the New Era fitted hats in collaboration with fellow “Canuck” Goodfoot. The juicy color combos of the hats can only be described with a quote from their myspace blog: “I think they heard you when you said you wanted more colorways... we just never thought they'd take it as serious as this...”
Visit Inquiringmind and view their Buyble [Here]
Posted by catzie at 08:44 PM
Art & Design. Utility and Branding
Art & Design. Utility and Branding: PSFK is on target. We follow their writings and love their analysis on trends. They're especially effective when discussing the cross section of design, technology and branding. As usual, PSFK have another fantastic commentary entitled The Widget & The Branded Utility.
PSFK's article chronicles the web's ever evolving functionality. And, more importantly, they discuss what makes it work - why web 1.0 was destroyed by web 2.0. As reported: "If there's one thing that royally screwed Web 1.0, it was the rush to build mountains and then bring the people to the mountains, rather than the mountains (and their message) to the people. If you wanted to be online (and you wanted to get some $ from a VC or two), you had to build a site with a cool name. The problem was (a) there weren't that many people online in the dial-up internet age and (b) they had enough trouble getting past things like ISP closed gardens to get through to you. Everything was about getting people to come to you rather than you going to them. Of course, the great Google came and oiled the wheels. It worked out a clever equation that got people to go places. The world seemed to love it, but it wasn't what they really wanted." [Note - the above pic caught our eye because helio's creative marketing attempts to blend in with the niche of the Wooster crowd.]
Read PSFK's article The Widget & The Branded Utility [Here]
Posted by taj at 03:56 PM
Art & Design. Transformer Patents
Art & Design. Transformer Patents: Who didn't love Transformers? I remember my Mom and I hunting down various models - Optimus Prime and Trail Blazer were two of my favorites. This year the movie Transformers hits the big screen. Hopefully it'll live up to the hype.
As we were reminiscing, we came across this early patent for MegaTron at the MAKE blog. As reported: "Jordan is having a lot of fun (still) with the new Google patent search... 'I really love this site. I love the splash pages that show random patents. I don't know if you were a transformer kid, but I totally had this guy megatron. Its awesome to see it in patent form, and the sketches are priceless"
Check out more information on MegaTron at MAKE [Here]
Posted by taj at 01:57 PM
People News. Google
People News. Google: Google is a creative company. A year ago we read a report about their hiring tactics. The article described an instance where a complex math equation was posted on a billboard that provided a clue to a website that had another equation that ultimately lead to another website suggesting that the person apply for a position at Google. They're looking for outside the box thinkers. With more than 3 thousand resumes submitted a day, the competition is steep. And, it can only increase because Fortune Magazine named them the number one place to work in America.
This morning the Today Show did an impressive segment on life at Google. If you're interested in a new gig, check out this article on their algorithms for choosing candidates. As reported by the NY Times: "Google has always wanted to hire people with straight-A report cards and double 800s on their SATs. Now, like an Ivy League school, it is starting to look for more well-rounded candidates, like those who have published books or started their own clubs. Desperate to hire more engineers and sales representatives to staff its rapidly growing search and advertising business, Google — in typical eccentric fashion — has created an automated way to search for talent among the more than 100,000 job applications it receives each month."
Read more about Google and their hiring tactics [Here]
Posted by taj at 06:54 AM
January 04, 2007
Art & Design. Format Magazine & Native Tongues
Art & Design. Format Magazine & Native Tongues: When I think about the Native Tongues, one thing immediately comes to mind - dopeness! I remember going nuts listening to Stakes is High and hearing Pos declare that the "Native Tongues has officially been reinstated!" Even though that didn't happen, I'm not mad. I still have the music and the memories.
Format has an intersting feature on the Tongues and their design ethos. As reported on Format: "The Native Tongues were laid back and unafraid to rap about a broader spectrum of life. And their album art was just as jazzy, sophisticated and playful - a stark contrast to the album art of then (and now), which often alternates between menacing and wealth-flaunting photos of an artist and his crew. The Native Tongues instead flaunted covers with concepts - ideas beyond the next drug deal or Benjamin-stacking. Though they’ve since grown with hip hop - those who have survived - it is their genesis that truly cements their rap legacy. De La, Tribe and the rest of the crew brought a relaxed vibe laced with jazz to a genre normally associated with alpha-dog aggression."
Read Format Magazine's article about Native Tongue cover art [Here]
Posted by james at 05:03 PM
Television. 30 Rock
Television. 30 Rock: So we like totally love 30 Rock. We think it's the funniest show on the telly. It follows the professional and personal life of Liz Lemon (Tina Fey), a lovable misanthrope and head writer of TGS (a variety show, loosely baesd on SNL). Her show is turned upside down when Jack Donaghy (Alec Baldwin), a new network exec, interferes, and makes Lemon add the wild and crazy Tracy Jordan (Tracy Morgan) to the cast.
Our favorite episode is The Break-Up. Tracy Jordan and Toofer (a writer on the show) get into a heated argument over racial sterotypes and use of the "N-word." I won't give the entire story away, but it involves Tracy's "boom-booms." 30 Rock airs Thursdays at 9:30 on NBC. Check for it.
Check out some clips after the jump and watch old episodes [Here]
Tina Fey gives a behind the scenes look at 30 Rock:
Liz talks to an assistant about dressing appropriately in the office:
Tracy Jordan being awesome:
Posted by james at 04:13 PM
January 03, 2007
Film. Scoop
Film. Scoop: Woody Allen's third act as a filmmaker has been most interesting. It began with Anything Else (2003), an antiromantic comedy, where an aging Allen guides a young protege through a messy relationship. Melinda and Melinda (2004) explores the similarites between comedy and tragedy, by telling alternating stories about the same protagonist. Matchpoint (2005), probably Allen's most ambitious film, is simply a drama about luck and class warfare.
Scoop is Allen's latest film. It deals with the same themes that were explored in Matchpoint, but it's a comedy. The most enjoyable part of this refreshingly inventive film, is the chemistry between Scarlettt Johnasson and Woody. The fact that the relationship is akin to that of father/daughter, makes it even more intriguing. It was like watching two good friends banter. I guess everyone's a sucker for a dork. [Out now on DVD]
We strongly recommend Scoop. View the trailer [Here]
Posted by james at 08:57 PM
January 02, 2007
Audio. Talib Kweli & Madlib's Liberation
Audio. Talib Kweli & Madlib's Liberation: Sound the horns. It's another invasion. Talib and Mad have joined forces to release a sonic boom on the hip hop masses. Our friend Ray was right, let's start 2007 off with a bang.
Brought to you by the good folks from BlackSmith and Madlib - the entire EP is free. Talk about embracing technology! The cover art and music is all available for download. Don't miss this opportunity. The bandwith usage for these guys must be insane. Thank you Kweli and Madlib for giving us a bit of inspiration for the New Year.
Download the Liberation EP by Talib Kweli and Madlib [Here]
Posted by taj at 07:54 AM
Link Heavy. Optical Illusions
Link Heavy. Optical Illusions: New Year's resolutions are a bit of a cliche, but who can avoid them? Some want to stay fit and others want to lose weight. But at Dork, we want to increase our brain's agility. Whether it's playing Soduku for three hours straight or figuring out logic puzzles, we're doing it.
In the latest issue of Wired Magazine, they have a great feature about the body and mind. It's focus is on maintenance and reaching peak performance. While reading the article, it dawned on us that we're not taking as good of care of our mind as we should. So today, as part of our link heavy we present a series of optical illusions. We'll be staring at these for at least an hour - training our eyes and mind not to be fooled. And in other news, we have some great clicks below. [Note: Optical illusions and architecture collide in the pic above]
View a bunch of Optical Illusions online [Here]
- John Calacanis is looking for the best Web Designer in LA [Here]
- Cool Hunting has a nice feature on the top 5 design bikes [Here]
- The web is driving technological change [Here]
- Free Will, Now you have it, Now you don't [Here]
Posted by taj at 05:49 AM
Habitat. Underwater Hotel Design
Habitat. Underwater Hotel Design: We're a little skeptical of the safety here. Viewing mock-ups of Bruce Jones' underwater hotel brings back memories of Jaws related nightmares. None-the-less, we approach the concept with an open mind.
As reported on PopSci: "Bruce Jones has spent much of his career designing underwater toys for the rich and famous. The 50-year-old president of U.S. Submarines is best known for building ultraluxe custom subs, $80-million vessels that feature private staterooms, paneled interiors made from exotic hardwoods, plush carpeting, and enough onboard oxygen to keep you and 10 friends breathing easy for three weeks of cruising at depths of nearly 1,000 feet. Now Jones is redirecting his expertise in undersea opulence toward the hotel industry. His plan: to open the Poseidon Mystery Island, the world’s first major resort at the bottom of the ocean, by September 2008."
Read more about the Poseidon Mystery Island Hotel [Here]
Posted by taj at 04:00 AM