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March 29, 2007
People. Hypnotic Brass Ensemble
People. Hypnotic Brass Ensemble: Every once and a while you get smacked in the face with inspiration. This happened to me a few weeks back. I was catching the train and I heard these dudes playing music. The sound was so raw - hearing those trumpets and gritty drums, forced me to stop where I stood and listen. After they performed an older, thugged-out fellow yelled: "That's what I'm talking about! That's what hip hop is missin' right there!"
The Hypnotic Brass Ensemble hail from Chicago, Illinois. They're a family band, 7 of the 8 members are brothers, and they have firm roots in music (their dad, Phil Cohran was Sun Ra's trumpet player). Their goal is to touch people who don't want to be touched, that's why they call themselves hypnotic - they want to get into your head. If you live in New York be sure to look out for them.
You can find more info on the Hypnotic Brass Ensemble [Here]
Check out War by the Hypnotic Brass Ensemble:
These guys are no joke! This is a video of them rehearsing with the Mighty Mos:
Posted by james at 08:47 PM
Film. Grindhouse
Film. Grindhouse: You have to give Quentin Tarantino credit, he knows what he likes. There might not be another person as passionate as he is about exploitation films. Grindhouse is his homage to the low-budget '70s exploitation film. In an interview for the latest issue of Wired, co-director Robert Rodrigueuz talks about how they came up with the concept for Grindhouse.
From Wired: "I would go to Quentin's house, and he'd screen several old trailers from the '70s, like Vanishing Point, Rolling Thunder, some sexploitation and zombie stuff. Then he'd play a feature — all scratched up with missing reels and things — then more trailers and then a second feature. It's a great experience to watch movies this way. I told Quentin, "We should do a double feature. I'll do one, and you do one." We came up with most of the movie right there."
Read more about the process of creating Grindhouse [Here & Here]
Posted by james at 07:28 PM
March 28, 2007
People. Spike at 50
People. Spike at 50: It's no secret - we love Spike Lee. He's an inspiration for anyone who wants to make nice coin and high-integrity art, at the same time. Whether it's his video for A Tribe Called Quest's Scenario, the MJ/Mars Blackman commercials or Do The Right Thing, Spike has been at the center of everything provocative, hip and smart for close to 25 years. He had one heck of a bash for his 50th birthday.
From New York mag: "The night before he turned 50 last week, Spike Lee was fêted with a blowout birthday party at Daniel, but despite the festivities, being a half-century old didn’t sit too comfortably with the filmmaker. “Fifty is the new 30! Jay-Z said that,” he said. Lee’s Summer of Sam star John Leguizamo rebutted, “Nah, Jay-Z said 30 is the new 20. You don’t get twenty years. Give them back!” Spike replied, “Okay, 50 is the new 40. I only need ten years.” So, how did he plan to spend his birthday? “I’m going to treat myself. I’m going to the Mandarin Oriental hotel and getting a deep-tissue massage for two hours, and then I’m getting a pedicure and just relaxing and going to the game. The Knicks are playing the Dallas Mavericks.” Does Lee get to go into the locker room and tell them to win for his birthday? “No. No. Ain’t got nothing to do with me. Coach Isiah knows they’ve got to win to make the playoffs. It has nothing to do with my birthday, but that would be a great present.” The scoreboard flashed happy 50th birthday wishes for Lee after the first quarter, and the Knicks lost, 92-77."
Posted by james at 04:39 PM
People. Phonte Remakes A-Ha
People. Phonte Remakes A-Ha: When A-Ha's classic Take On Me hit decades ago, we internalized their rhythmic architecture. Even though genres swirl, change and get reduced to isolated categories, influence runs deep. This is best evidenced by Phonte's take on A-Ha's classic. Mental note: add Phonte to the emcee list of surprise singers - much like Black Thought. [photo credit. the amazing Rich Louissaint*]
For those not familiar with A-Ha, allmusic reports: "Pal Waaktaar and Magne Furuholmen, formerly of Bridges formed a-ha in the early '80s. Morten Harket joined the duo, and they left for the now 'legendary London flat' (so called because of its state of disrepair) to make it. By late 1983 they had achieved part of that goal by signing to WEA. "Take on Me" took three times to become a hit in the UK, eventually hitting #2 in November 1985. Going one better in the U.S. mainly due to the wide exposure of its stunning video on MTV." [Read]
Listen to Phonte's remake of an A-Ha classic [Here]
Posted by taj at 01:55 AM
Art & Design. DefGrip!
Art & Design. DefGrip: There are a lot of sites out there. There are a lot of sites talking about the same things. But so few say something original and contextual while being accessible. DefGrip is one of our all time favorite sites. We don't ride bmx bikes but we used to, and that's the beauty. DefGrip uses their lifestyle of riding as a channel that halos out to include art, travel, design and creative influence. Flat out - these guys are contributing. They certainly contribute to our daily inspiration. Just check the pic above from their photo section.
From their site: "Defgrip was created by Harrison Boyce and quickly Rich Hirsch and Andrew McMullen were brought aboard. The premiss behind the site was to create a community for the BMX world and to promote the creative side of the sport. Since the launch in the summer of 2005 Nuno Oliveria and Mike Ardelean have joined the family. We all have roots in BMX, but don't be scared when the content of the site steers from bikes. We are Defgrip. Hope you enjoy." We do holmes.
Dork recommends DefGrip. One of our favorite online destinations [Here]
Posted by taj at 01:12 AM
People News. Homeowner stares down wreckers
People News. Homeowner stares down wreckers: Sometimes you have to take a stand. When your home is on the line, how far would you go? For many, redevelopment moguls, gentrification, transient communities and local governments are a constant pressure. The NY Times had an interesting article about a citizen's stand in China.
From the New York Times: "For weeks the confrontation drew attention from people all across China, as a simple homeowner stared down the forces of large-scale redevelopment that are sweeping this country, blocking the preparation of a gigantic construction site by an act of sheer will. Chinese bloggers were the first to spread the news, of a house perched atop a tall, thimble-shaped piece of land like Mont-Saint-Michel in northern France, in the middle of a vast excavation."
Read more about the homeowner who stares down wreckers in China [Here]
Posted by taj at 01:07 AM
March 26, 2007
Art & Design. WK Interact & Shepard Fairey
Art & Design. WK Interact & Shepard Fairey: Supertouch's coverage of the art scene runs through the web like an addictive substance. They don't miss a beat. Once you've checked out an entry you're instantly hooked. Recently they captured Tokyo's latest installation presenting two of our favorites, WK Interact & Shepard Fairey. Their coverage is superb with pictures galore.
As reported by Supertouch blog: "Artistic brothers-in-arms WK INTERACT & SHEPARD FAIREY joined forces in a full-frontal Franco-American assault on Japan last week titled “THE EAST/WEST PROPAGANDA PROJECT“ when they took over the Tokyo Wonder Site with a little help from legendary clothier AGNES B. After running wild in the streets for several days launching a full-scale bombing campaign on the walls of the city, the pair got down to business, creating an epic collaborative installation at TWS in Shibuya, as well as a smaller exhibit at the Agnes B shop where the pair were on hand to meet and greet their fans and sign just about anything the crowd put in front of them. The show remains on display in Tokyo through April 22nd, after which it will travel to the Galerie Du Jour Agnes B in Paris for an opening on May 16th."
Read more at Supertouch about the Propaganda Project [Here]
Posted by taj at 10:31 PM
People & Habitat. The Other Side of LA
People & Habitat. The Other Side of Los Angeles: Genius! It's a new travel guide for the nomad in all of us. Books are good, but audio and visuals can enhance the intimacy of a traveler's city-insight. The Other Side is the perfect combination of all-things habitat and people. It's the fusion of a city's inspiration and an artist's process. Time Out Magazine has done it again! On May 8th they'll release The Other Side LA - the fifth installment in the Other Side series.
The Other Side Series boasts two key elements: a mixed CD compiled by a native audio pioneer and a DVD guide that acts as a visual handbook for both the seasoned traveler and armchair adventurer alike. While some travel guides aim to be comprehensive, The Other Side isn't concerned. It simply wants its user to enjoy and discover the very best and coolest in sight and sounds. Consider it an innovative twist on the typical travel guide format. Madlib and Peanut Butter Wolf take you on a journey through LA. It's a gritty DIY look at their city. You'll want to jump on a jet and get there as fast as the wind will take you. The video hits all the best vinyl, sneaker and food spots. The audio gives you the soundtrack. You gotta love that. We've listed the tracklisting after the jump.
Track Listing:
1) The Lightmen Plus One - Energy Control Center
2) Cybertron - Clear
3) Dabyre feat. Jay Dee and Phat Kat - Game Over
4) Steve Grossman - Inmate Man
5) Prince Jazzbo - Blood Dunza
6) Sun Ra Arkestra - Nuclear War
7) Quasimoto - Greenery
8) Outlaw Blues Band - Deep Gully
9) Madlib - Infinity
10) Leroy 'Horsemouth' Wallace - Herb Vendor
11) Rhythm Machine - Freakish Love
12) Mark Murphy - Sly
13) Harris & Orr - Spread Love
14) MED feat. Poke - What It Do
15) Beat Konducta - Smog Theme
16) Jaylib - Survival Test
17) Freestyle Fellowship - Park Bench People
Posted by taj at 10:31 PM
Art & Design. Great Spring Video
Art & Design. Great Spring Video: GOOD Magazine recently completed their video for the Wooster on Spring event. Just when you thought you've seen it all, they come with more heat. GOOD is a fantastic publication - they claim it's the magazine for those who give a damn. Look for it at your local bookstore.
As reported from the Wooster Collective: "Amongst the various documentary crews that covered the 11 Spring project was a terrific team from GOOD Magazine. They've just completed their short video and put it up on YouTube." Check it out at the link below.
View this great spring video by GOOD Magazine [Here]
Posted by taj at 10:21 PM
March 22, 2007
Art & Design. Furni's ALBA
Art & Design. Furni's ALBA: MocoLoco hips us to the groovy wonders of modern living. This time their reporting focuses on Furni's latest time piece called ALBA. We love the clean lines and simplicity of the clock. Its contemporary elements blended with a throw back twist make it an interesting addition to any home.
As reported: "Furni's got a new wood and acrylic LED clock called ALBA. It's a last minute addition to their spring 2007 lineup and "is the epitome of good things coming in 'small packages' and 'last but not least' all rolled up in one.". More after the jump. I met furni principals Devin and Mike at IDS '07 (see below right) last month and we had a good chat. I got a better idea of what they're about and where they're going. It's an interesting mix of culture, craftsmanship, minimalist design and materials."
Read more from MocoLoco about Furni's ALBA [Here]
Posted by taj at 11:58 PM
Habitat. Philadelphia Film Festivel
Habitat. Philadelphia Film Festival: Dork loves films. Especially those that capture social interactions while keeping the audience interested. Unfortunately, these type of films are like hidden treasures that you have to search high and low for. Spike and Woody are the top two film-makers that we love and thoroughly enjoy watching. I think Spike is better - but don't tell James and Taj - they are die hard Woody fans. Spike Lee rocks! HA!
If you enjoy discovering great films as much as we do, and will be in Philadelphia, come hang at the Philadelphia Film Festival from April 5th to 18th. The Film Festival will have 300 films and 7 different venues to choose from. You can buy specific tickets for the film you want or buy passes for full access - either way you can't lose. So grab some treats, call some friends and enjoy!
Buy your tickets for the Philadelphia Film Festival [Here]
Posted by marsha at 11:58 PM
Gaming. Back in Black. XBOX 360
Gaming. Back in Black. Xbox 360: The console wars heat up by the day it seems. Recently Endgadget has confirmed the rumors of a black version of Microsoft’s XBOX 360 console. The new XBOX 360 “Elite” is reportedly going to be limited and will feature the long awaited High Density Multimedia Interface (HDMI) jack, run cooler than the current gen 360s and possess a 120 gigabyte hard drive unit.
Endgadget also states that the standard hardware featured in the upcoming XBOX 360 Elite model such as HDMI and the 120 gigabyte hard drive, will eventually be phased into future Premium XBOX 360 packages, only the hardware will appear in the signature white XBOX 360 color scheme. The cost of the forthcoming Elite is believed to be $476 USD. Quick question: Is it wrong to want to buy this “Elite” after just recently purchasing a Premium packaged XBOX 360? …Because this new XBOX 360 Elite is a beauty.
Read more about Microsoft's "souped up" 360 [Here]
Posted by Vaughn at 11:58 PM
People. The Virgins
People. The Virgins: The Virgins' Rich Girls made the office's Top 25 Most Played list. There's just something singularly amazing about a song with a funky disco bass line and tongue-in-cheek lyrics.
We listened to some more of their music (Radio Christiane and One Week of Danger) and were equally wowed. It's refreshing to hear The Virgins' blend of melody, grit, and wit. Their sound is catchy and poppy, but it's also smart. Seeing this band grow is going to be interesting. They're currently on tour in the US, opening for Jet.
Listen to The Virgins' Rich Girls [Here]
Posted by james at 06:57 PM
People News. Locally Localized Gravity
People News. Locally Localized Gravity: Philadelphia is the place to be! Well, it's not hard for us to be over the top and complementary of our hometown. It's nice to see it get some long overdue props. The music, art and people are making noise which provides continual inspiration for Dork Mag.
Recently the New York Times wrote a piece on the Philadelphia art community and a new exhibit entitled Locally Localized Gravity. We had the pleasure of checking out Daydreamer Mag's launch party at the exhibit - too fresh! If you're in Philly be sure to check it out. As reported in the Times: "The city of brotherly — and sisterly — love is home to an unusual number of art collectives, specialized communities of shared interests in which groups of artists work and, often, live together under one roof. And there are more of them than ever in town at present, thanks to “Locally Localized Gravity” at the Institute of Contemporary Art, an exhibition in the form of a series of events that brings four homegrown collectives together with others from cities around the country."
Read more about Locally Localized Gravity [Here]
Posted by taj at 03:05 PM
Habitat. Furniture from Weapons
Habitat. Furniture from Weapons: Furniture has been the long standing champion of form and function. Now a few innovative minds are using it to inspire peace. We recently came across this great article on Freshome.
As reported: "After more than 30 years of civil war, ending in 1998, the Cambodian government destroyed 125,000 weapons across the country. In this time Neil Wilford, a small arms specialist with the European Union, and British artist Sasha Constable, saw an opportunity, and decided to create The Peace Art Project Cambodia (PAPC) in November 2003. The Peace Art Project Cambodia was a sculpture project turning weapons into art as expressions of peace. In Cambodia this is the most beautiful way to get rid of weapons - transform them into furniture."
Read more about Furniture from Weapons [Here]
Posted by taj at 02:37 PM
March 21, 2007
Link Heavy. Nothing Like This
Link Heavy. Nothing Like This: Daniel Garcia's video for J Dilla's Nothing Like This is beautiful. We've been watching it for months and it's still fresh. It's kind of like, Finding Nemo with a Tim Burton twist. You gotta love that.
Stones Throw posted a series of Ruff Draft related interviews on their YouTube page*. They feature Dilla's mom, Illa J, Dave New York, J ROCC, Rhettmatic, Karriem Riggins, and Peanut Butter Wolf. There's nothing better than people sharing great stories about their friends. Check out Nothing Like This and the Ruff Draft interviews after the jump.
Posted by james at 04:00 PM
March 19, 2007
People News. More SXSW Coverage
People News. More SXSW Coverage: It's musical madness. All the interwebs are buzzing with coverage of SXSW. Some of the best updates have come courtesy of the NY Times and The Fader (Don't forget to download the latest issue*). As we tracked the news, our soundtrack was tuned on Swizz' latest beat triumph. Here's the audible picture of Dork central - beat queues up, bass flows in, insane sample repeats, and while mining the web all you're hearing is, "Chillin' in my beamer, listening to ether!" Ha! That is our jam! SXSW had that much energy. Whether it was bands, deejays, interactive computer artists or films, the event was artistically epic. Everyone was trying to get the word out on their expression and separate themselves from the din.
As reported by the NY times: "At South by Southwest, a music lover is also a target market. We presumed early adopters and tastemakers have been inundated not just with music, but also with whatever -- through research or, just as likely, free-association -- that marketers happen to think we'll tout to friends after the convention ends."
Read more from the Times and the Fader [Here & Here]
Posted by taj at 11:31 PM
Art & Design. DQM & Trackstar
Art & Design. DQM & Trackstar: FixGear bikes are like performance art. They live in simplicity and gracefully transcend form and function. Two wheels, one gear, one fresh frame, a seat and some funky colors - Bam! Even though the genre seems to be co-opted by hipster (whatever that means) you can't deny the impulsive gravity of a FixGear bike.
Dave from DQM and Dork of the Week fame* partnered with Trackstar to build 12 bikes for your viewing and (possibly) riding pleasure. The RazorApple has some great flicks from DQM's bike show. Be sure to stop by the shop and check them out.
View more pics of the DQM x Trackstar bike show [Here]
Posted by taj at 10:55 PM
Artist. David Ryan Harris
Artist. David Ryan Harris: The Bittersweet is an important album. It's also one of the best in the last five years. David Ryan Harris understands what it means to be a lyricist in an increasing age of catchy pop hooks and infectious instrumentals. He's not fabricated, he is indeed real, and all you have to do is listen to any of the eleven songs off of his album to come to the same conclusion.
David's work is one of the most important albums because it represents hope. Hope that in our lifetime we might have another artist by the likes of Donny Hathaway or Otis Redding grace us with their ability. It would be foolish of us to place David Harris in the same league as those amazing artists based off of this one album that I love, but if he keeps this up, one day it'll be more than a notion. Armed with a dangerously smooth voice, amazing range, and mean guitar playing abilities, Harris’ The Bittersweet is “the sweetest berry on the vine.”
Buy the Bittersweet Album [Here]
Posted by dechazier at 05:08 PM
March 14, 2007
Art & Design. SXSW Webdesign Tips
Art & Design. SXSW Webdesign Tips: This year SXSW kept its tradition and rocked out with creativity. Whether it was about film, music or design - people came together to share ideas, display their work and collaborate. You gotta love that.
CenterNetworks captured an interesting panel on Webdesign and business by James Archer of Forty*. In his presentation he discussed a 40 step plan for success as a webdesigner. Allen from CN was kind enough to post his notes on the panel: "I just sat in one of the "quicky" panels here in the afternoon. This one was presented by James Archer of Forty and I give him a 8.75/10 in score. Really quick and to the point, quick blips, no silly ppt animations and clear speaker. Very good job all around!"
Read more about the business side of Webdesign from SXSW [Here]
Posted by taj at 12:03 AM
March 13, 2007
Film. The Namesake
Film. The Namesake: Cultural identity is rarely explored in American cinema. The characters almost always have the same suburban/middle-class background and the story usually revolves around a male protagonist coming of age and getting the girl. How is this coming of age complicated when the man is from a culture with diametrically opposite values, tastes and traditions?
The Namesake is the film adaptation of Jhumpa Lahiri's bestseller. It explores assimilation in the modern context. Kal Penn plays Gogol, a first-generation Indian-American, who struggles to reconcile the duality of his background. Watch a conversation between the director Mira Nair and the novelist Jhumpa Lahiri, after the jump.
Dork recommends The Namesake. Trailer and Kal Penn's blog [Here & Here]
Posted by james at 06:33 PM
Film. How to Eat Your Watermelon in White Company (and Enjoy It)
Film. How to Eat Your Watermelon in White Company (and Enjoy It): Melvin Van Peebles made his directorial debut in 1968 with The Story of a Three-Day Pass. He used a grant from the French Cinema Center to tell a story based on his novel La Permission, set in the throes of World War II. When a black American GI cashes in a three-day pass for the weekend, he meets a beautiful young Frenchwoman and falls desperately in love - only to find that a racist superior has demoted him for mixing with a white girl.
Since then, Van Peebles has been a defiant voice, challenging an unjust system, with his art as his only weapon. How to Eat Your Watermelon in White Company (and Enjoy It) is an inspiring documentary about Melvin Van Peebles, the renaissance man. He has been a French novelist, actor, director, screenwriter, playwright, composer and even a stock broker. Melvin is currently working on a double album with Madlib, Brer Soul Meets Quasimoto and a new film, Memories of an Ex-Dufus Mother.
Dork Recommends How to Eat Your Watermelon in White Company [Trailer]
Posted by james at 05:35 PM
Film. Mutual Appreciation
Film. Mutual Appreciation: I can't decide if Mutual Appreciation is a zeitgeist defining masterpiece or a huge piece of prententious crap. So, what's Mutual Appreciation about? It follows the lives of aimless twentysomethings, living in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. But that's a misleading description of the film. Mutual Appreciation is truly a film about nothing.
Obviously, that's Andrew Bujalski’s (the writer-director) point. The film is a comedy of manners - a satire that's taking aim at the behaviors and attitudes of an indifferent, self-absorbed, emotionally unavailable generation. True to form, the film is uninterested in telling the story about a guy who finds himself attracted to his old chum's girlfriend. Mutual Appreciation is concerned with conversation and mood. There's a lot of talk and all of it all feels authentic and natural. The characters in the film are intellectual but emotionally stunted and with all their enlightened chatter, the most important things go unsaid.
Dork recommends Mutual Appreciation. Watch the trailer [Here]
Posted by james at 04:50 PM
March 12, 2007
Art & Design. The Stockholm Metro
Art & Design. The Stockholm Metro: Put art everywhere. Why not? As we travel to various cities, the best places incorporate art, functionality and public space in unusual and thoughtful ways. From Tokyo to DC's metro systems, art is rampant. The design and engineering is refreshing - perhaps a little get away from the daily grind.
We recently came across pictures of Stockholm's Metro system. At the intersection of modern and prehistoric, they've created a cool underground experience. Definitely check it out.
View pics from the Stockholm Metro [Here]
Posted by taj at 11:56 PM
Habitat. The Jonathan
Habitat. The Jonathan: The reconstruction of Dwell's website is epic. It's grown into a dynamic resource for readers interested in innovative housing and interior design. The site serves as a great example of what magazines can do on the web. Rather than posting a virtual parking lot, they've made the web another channel to communicate with folks. Big up to Dwell and their redesign. We love what they've done with the space. Recently we came across this article on Jonathan Segal - a fresh architect with a distaste for red tape.
As reported on Dwell: "Tired of waiting for innovative architecture to come to San Diego, this proactive architect added developer to his job description, and brought it there himself. Jonathan Segal’s message is clear: Keep it simple. Segal’s cut-the-middleman, screw-the-red-tape philosophy is straight out of Ayn Rand, and his fervor for urban infill development is flat-out evangelical. After a few minutes of listening to the 43-year-old architect/developer’s spiel, whole new vistas open up: You know that weed-choked lot across from your favorite coffeehouse? With a little imagination and elbow grease, it could be a gold mine."
View pics and read more about The Jonathan at Dwell [Here]
Posted by taj at 11:49 PM
Art & Design. Mother Nature's Design
Art & Design. Mother Nature's Design: The other day we were stumped by a particular design project. So, we retreated to watching hours of 30 Rock, flipping through art magazines and looking at old vinyl covers to find something that would spark creativity. Nothing was working. Noooo! But, we happened to come across this link. It's a bit cliche, but wow - mother nature is a serious designer.
Tiny Vices posted up pics from various storm formations from across the country. The clouds, wind tunnels and rain falls create something that is so beautiful, yet so destructive. We're always humbled by pictures like these.
Check out Tiny Vices' pics from storms across the country [Here]
Posted by taj at 10:44 AM
People News. Neuroscience Law
People News. Neuroscience Law: There's art in everything. The creative process is one of those universal skills that permeates the core of our existence. We came across this interesting article about Neuroscience and the Law in the NY Times. What did the forefathers envision when they were crafting the nation's legal components? What does science envision the future to be? The intersection of these two questions made for a great read.
As reported by the NY Times: "When historians of the future try to identify the moment that neuroscience began to transform the American legal system, they may point to a little-noticed case from the early 1990s. The case involved Herbert Weinstein, a 65-year-old ad executive who was charged with strangling his wife, Barbara, to death and then, in an effort to make the murder look like a suicide, throwing her body out the window of their 12th-floor apartment on East 72nd Street in Manhattan. Before the trial began, Weinstein’s lawyer suggested that his client should not be held responsible for his actions because of a mental defect — namely, an abnormal cyst nestled in his arachnoid membrane, which surrounds the brain like a spider web."
Read more about the Brain on the Stand [Here]
Posted by taj at 10:42 AM
Art & Design. Troika
Art & Design. Troika: Ping Magazine keeps us informed on the latest in art & design. Their interviews are compelling and inspirational. Recently they wrote a piece on Troika and their street projections. We love the guerilla style communication.
As reported on Ping: "Jealous picture frames? Machines with feelings? Protests conducted from the comfort of an armchair? Absolutely! London-based art and design practice Troika have been playing with our perceptions of what technology, art and design can be for the past four years. From their small studio in south London, Conny, Eva and Sebastien take design and make it art, they communicate through design and make art out of communication. Sounds confusing? That’s why PingMag took a trip to Troika to find out more."
Read more at PingMag on Troika [Here]
Posted by taj at 07:46 AM
March 09, 2007
People News. A YouTube Round up
People News. A YouTube Round up: In journalism, hyperbole is inevitable. It's provocative. So it becomes hard to not say things like "music is dead" or "30 is the new 20." But in the end, it's just talk.
After spending the afternoon on YouTube, we've decided to make our own gross overstatement - music is alive and kicking. Dork offers the following clips as evidence.
A Mos Def sighting: If any of the writers from 30 Rock are reading this, you should consider adding Mos Def to your show. His rendition of Poison is inspired.
The Arsenio Finale: A bunch of rappers on stage together, giving props to Arsenio. This was back when VH1 only showed Robert Palmer videos. Ghostface is thinking, "I should rap over this beat."
The Roots Tribute to Bono: If Oprah and Bono got married, I think they could change the world.
Posted by james at 05:06 PM
Film. Stranger than Fiction
Film. Stranger than Fiction: The universe is a crazy place. People are connected in peculiar ways - affecting each others lives whether they realize it or not. Stranger than Fiction peers through the looking glass of interconnectedness. It's the story of two people stuck in a rut, a novelist with writer's block, and an IRS auditor who is fastidious to a fault.
As the story unfolds, it's clear that they aren't only connected by similar condition, they are literally connected. The novelist's words are affecting the auditor's life and the only thing keeping the auditor alive is the writer's inertia.
Dork recommends Stranger than Fiction. View the trailer [Here]
Posted by james at 02:37 PM
Art & Design. From Gaudi to Dali
Art & Design. From Gaudi to Dali: It's interesting to watch contemporary art build off of the old school. As we look at the latest exhibit from the Metropolitan Museum, it's clear to see the influence - directly or indirectly - artists of the past have on our modern day heroes. If you are in New York anytime between now and June 3, be sure to check out the Gaudi to Dali exhibit.
As reported in the NY Times: "In Barcelona there is no need to prepare the revolution, simply because it is always ready. It leans out of the window on the street every day. That was the city’s governor talking in 1909, in the midst of the half-century or so of tumult surveyed by the fascinating, but not perfectly satisfying, “Barcelona and Modernity,” now at the Metropolitan Museum."
Read more about Gaudi to Dali [Here]
Posted by taj at 07:47 AM
March 07, 2007
Audio. Dork Magazine Rootdown Show #5
Audio. Dork Magazine Rootdown: Ken Peebles has done it again. Show Number 5 is ready for your listening pleasure. For all of you jamming in your office remember they say music is one of the best ways to find your creative muse. Ken never lets us down, and he's brought you another banger. Be sure to check it out!
[Music & Words by Ken Peebles] Show number five seems like the straight from tape dub edition. It’s actually a strange affair for me to physically play these tracks out on vinyl when much of my first exposure to them was playing a tape recorded from radio. As a bit of a throw back I hope you enjoy these five tracks that I feel don’t get enough light.
Listen to Dork Magazine Rootdown Show #5 [Here]
1. Blackalicious – Fabulous Ones
See, the matter of the fact is that I’m so gifted. I hear a lot of new artist’s and a lot of new music, but when the sounds of Gift of Gab and Chief Excel came over the airwaves it was something special. Futuristic and yet old school, Blackalicious manages to capture a fun party vibe while maintaining a serious dedication to musicality and lyricism. The first tune I heard from these guys was the lyrical mind bender Alphabet Aerobics. I immediately copped the album and took the opportunity to grab a ticket to see an upcoming show. To this day even though it was hotter than hell in a nasty, dirty sweat box about the size of your shoe closet that was one of the best Hip Hop shows I’ve seen.
2. Afu-ra – Whirlwind Through Cities
There’s just something about DJ Premieres sound. For those in the crowd brought up through the mid 90’s you know how Primos programming not only seems purely hip hop but simultaneously sounds so New York. Afu-Ra was somewhat of a Jeru protégé and this album actually came and went for a few months before I really got a chance to hear it. Once the needle dropped on this piano laden affair though I was sold. My man DJ Res put me up on this back at Dr.Disc and we pretty much rocked the entire album while discussing the current hater topic of the day ( it probably had something to do with shiny suit rap ) Ride the bus with this and the urban landscape will begin to make sense. Beautiful hardcore.
3. Natural Resources – They Lied
Someone lied! Wow. Although I’m actually a huge fan of the classic A-side Negro League Baseball, the B-side is just as dope. I remember going to this backroom record store in London called Heavy Rotation and requesting that record about baseball. My man Mike emerging out of the back with this little gem. I had to flip this since I don’t think I’ve heard or even played my own copy of this since ’98. A rare slice of hip hop that should be served up more often. Enjoy the delicacy.
4. Reflection Eternal – The Express
The perfect balance, I’ve found it. Back to my short lived emcee career, I remember using that line on the hook of a tune I wrote for my girl. This track is so smooth. Hi-Tek was just killing me with every new production I heard. This is one of those available on 12 inch, but never made it to the album affairs. It’s such a great tune and yet I don’t recall anyone playing it very much if at all. This purchase was sort of serendipitous. It was in my buying anything with a Rawkus logo phase, plus I was heavily checking for this kid Talib Kweli since his Lyrist Lounge appearance. Jump on the train of thought.
5. Wyclef John – John 3:16
Wyclef is such an interesting cat. I remember being more hooked on what Lauryn had to say after The Fugees debut though. That was before I heard this outing on the classic Muggs Presents: Soul Assassins. A quiet string laced affair with a great hook. This is one of those songs that had me glued to the radio when I first heard it. That isn’t from Carnival! After no track announcement I actually freaked out and had to call up the station to ask what it was. The DJ let me know and went on to drop the equally dope Third World track from the same comp. It took me a minute to get this on vinyl copy, but once I did I was extremely satisfied. A sweet and buttery treat.
--el fin.
Posted by taj at 10:28 PM
People News. The Death of the News Industry
People News. The Death of the News Industry: Death of the traditional news industry seems imminent. With newspaper readership diminishing, is orthodox journalism on the downward? There is a swelling popularity among alternative and opinionated news outlets. For instance blogs and parody news programs such as The Daily Show and The Colbert Report seem to be increasing the source for day to day happenings. In a four-part series produced by PBS' Frontline and the UC Berkeley School of Journalism entitled News War, an examination of this very question and the situation that the news industry currently faces is discussed.
As Dean Baquet, former editor of the Los Angeles Times, explained in an interview for the four-part, four hour series: “There's a tremendous amount of anxiety right now about newspapers and the threat to newspapers. I think there is such a threat, but I'm convinced -- and maybe it's because I believe in the reader, and I believe in the people who care about news -- I'm absolutely convinced that even if they don't survive on paper, though I think they will, ... there will always be an appetite for what's going on in the world...I think what's under threat is not the journalistic model. What's under more threat is the business model for what a great newspaper is. ...”
To watch the entire four-part series online [Here]
Posted by Vaughn at 08:02 PM
Fashion. N4E1
Fashion. N4E1: (Not 4 Everyone) is exactly right. We know you've seen people wearing clothes that don’t really fit them or their personality more so. This is a common problem that affects every street corner in America, but this brand’s selling point is America’s problem.
N4E1 is stepping into the whole limited street wear arena with a different strategy in mind, recognizing a common problem and basing their whole Brand about what they are not. Interestingly they've recognized that the best way to beat a game so heavily saturated is to go against the grain totally. We also think this is smart because they have recognized that there are only so many ways you can stand out visually, and that a strong foundation from the Brand up is the best way to go. Respect goes out to N4E1 for recognizing what their not.
Visit the N4E1 Site [Here]
Posted by dechazier at 12:12 AM
March 05, 2007
Habitat. Street Art vs. The Splasher
Habitat. Street Art vs. The Splasher: Public debate can be healthy. Recently, Gothamist has been tracking the Street Art vs. Splasher Wars going down in NYC (It appears the splasher is throwing paint over notable street art). We applaud Gothamist's coverage of the story and it's everything that this techno-journalism should be. Although the Times and a few other papers have covered it, these guys have been writing from a very personal yet observant role. Their process started with noticing the splasher and wondering what the heck was going on. Then they drilled deeper until they unearthed a really interesting debate. We highly recommend checking it out.
The Gothamist's posts include input from Swoon, and other folks. As reported: "If you've been following along with Gothamist, you'll know that the Splasher has been defacing streetart around the city recently. While many in the streetart community are upset with the Splasher's actions, Swoon has come up with her own solution - redo the pieces the vandal defaced. Sam Horine caught Swoon's pieces in Prospect Heights (around 5th Ave and Flatbush Ave), where you can still see the paint drippings from before she redid the pieces."
Read more about NYC's public debate [Here]
Posted by taj at 04:45 AM
Audio. Adult Swim's Definitive Swim
Audio. Adult Swim's Definitive Swim: Adult Swim is the closest thing to a lifestyle programming block on television. It’s a subtle realization by Dork. There are of course full-on channels directed to cultures and lifestyles, but there is not a comparable alternative adult-themed entertainment block like Adult Swim. From their association with Stones Throw to their programming, there is a definite method to their irreverent, hip-hop friendly, Boston up-roar creating marketing schemes. Chrome Children is their most notable foray into beats and rhymes, inevitably followed by Chrome Children 2, both released in conjunction with Stones Throw.
Now having established the clear association with the Left Coasts’ marquee, art-house hip-hop label, the minds at Adult Swim have decided to team up with Definitive Jux to bring a little East Coast indie hip-hop label flavor and perhaps, a little balance. The album - Definitive Swim - is a ten track compilation of Def Jux artists featuring everyone from the established underground giants EL-P, Aesop Rock and Mr. Lif, to the label's rising stars Cool Calm Pete and Cage. What’s more, the album is free! Free and downloadable! Ahh… yes, another reason to love Adult Swim.
Download and enjoy Definitive Swim [Here]
Posted by Vaughn at 03:23 AM
Film. Before the Music Dies
Film. Before the Music Dies: B4MD is a limited edition movie about the state of the music biz in America. It answers questions about the business through interviews with musicians such as ?uestlove, Eric Clapton, Elvis Costello, Erykah Badu, Doyle Bramhall, and many more. It also answers questions through a pretty funny but all too true experiment.
The movie, written by Andrew Shapter and Joel Rasmussen who have the unfortunate and ironic bond of having lost loved ones that were musicians, uses quotes from both of their lost loved ones to help set a pretty strong foundation. I don’t want to give too much away but If you are a music fan you need this DVD in your life period.
Visit the Before the Music Dies site and buy it [Here]
Posted by dechazier at 01:56 AM
Art & Design. MWM Graphics
Art & Design. MWM Graphics: Utterly ridiculous. Matt from MWM Graphics puts in work. He is one of the leaders of the youth school when it comes to quality and consistency. His work is both graphical and organic in nature and has a crisp clean feel to it. The amount of work he has done is astounding.
What is even more amazing is the self-published book series titled “Bangers” that he puts out every fall without fail. The book series is a collection of his personal work that is always monochromatic. He does this to take time away from all other projects and focus on himself and his art. He currently has his third installment out and it is the best yet. We own the second and third edition and we are glad we do!
Check out MWM Graphics [Here]
Posted by dechazier at 12:20 AM
March 02, 2007
Art & Design. The Royal & Stanley Donwood
Art & Design. The Royal & Stanley Donwood: The Royal continues to show and prove. They're a great indie mag published by our friend Gensler. His sharp eye toward art, fashion, culture and where it all collides make them a step ahead of the rest. They recently featured an online article on Stanley Donwood.
In Stanley's words, as reported by the Royal, "I was born in Essex, a typical English county north of London, and I became a typical representative of that bleak region. Essex is essentially a flat land that slopes almost imperceptibly into the grey waters of the North Sea, and the people of the county can frequently be seen standing on our crumbling sea defences, staring silently out at the mudflats. It is not a place that the Tourist Board mention often in their paens to the variegated beauty of Britain. When I was quite little I vaguely remember drawing pictures of flat horizons, drawn again and again on layer after layer of tissue paper, and then glued together. These ended up looking like a sort of foggy nothingness. And I drew huge housing estates on lengths of discarded computer printout paper."
Read more about Stanley Donwood at the Royal [Here]
Posted by taj at 09:43 AM
March 01, 2007
Link Heavy. Gladwell's So Predictable
Link Heavy. Gladwell's So Predictable: Five years ago, a software engineer bought 30 albums at random, all of them had just been released that day. He was testing a new program that measures the mathematical relationships of all the structural components of a song (melody, harmony, beat, tempo, rhythm, octave, pitch, chord progression, cadence, sonic brilliance, etc.). Based on this measurement, the program comes up with a song's mathematical signature. This mathematical signature can be used to predict the likelihood of a song becoming a hit with a success rate of about 80%.
After the program is run, it absolutely loves one album. The album: Come Away With Me by Norah Jones. It went on to sell 22 million copies. In this video from The New Yorker Festival, Gladwell discusses an emerging movement to predict and ultimately engineer hits in music and film. If this movement is successful, what impact will it have on creativity?
Watch Malcolm Gladwell's So Predictable [Here]
Posted by james at 09:29 PM