Pretty Much The Best Thing Ever

Slaraffenland filmed by Vincent Moon in Copenhagen

2009-10-19T21:37:00.000-07:00

Temporary Slaraffenland from vincent moon / temporary areas on Vimeo.

I went on a Scandinavian and German vacation with my friends Marc and Kevin this past summer. On our journey we ended up in Berlin, Copenhagen, Stockholm, Oslo, Voss and Bergen. There was something special about Copenhagen that left us all with a great respect for the city, and a little big of nostalgia for the three days there.

Recently I stumbled across Slaraffenland from Copenhagen. They are an interesting Danish band that use layered vocals, tons of interesting instruments, and are quite fun to listen to. I'd maybe compare them to a Scandinavian (and more serious) version of Beirut.

Anyways, Vincent Moon of La Blogotheque Take-Away Shows fame filmed at roughly 40 minute video of Slaraffenland performing their new LP We're On Your Side in various locations in Copenhagen. I therefore MUST recommend that you check this video out!

New painting by David G

2009-09-06T15:47:00.000-07:00

Hot off my easel! This is the first in a series of paintings I am doing that considers what defines an image being sexual. I've painted a woman who is in the act of sex, but with everything else from the scene removed, including the man. The lines wrapping around her body are supposed to convey the feeling of an orgasm.

Acrylic on canvas, 12x16

Wild Beasts "Hooting and Howling"

2009-09-02T14:11:00.000-07:00

Wild Beasts new record Two Dancers has been on steady repeat on my iPhone for the past couple days. Killer record. For some reason the following bands come to mind when I listen to it: David Bowie, Antony and The Johnsons, The Knife. Check out their video for "Hooting & Howling."

Killer new Hlaska bags

2009-08-20T10:40:00.000-07:00

Hlaska has just launched a new line of nautically inspired bags. I've always been a fan of Hlaska for a few reasons: they are based in San Francisco, design great leather goods, and they have a really cool retail store on Fillmore Street. I've become a huge fan of waxwear canvas bags, and love my Jack Spade Industrial Field bag. Waxwear looks phenomenal as it ages. If I didn't already have a killer bag, I would certainly buy the Hlaska Oceanist Large Messenger, in black of course. In fact, many of the design cues on the bag come straight from Jack Spade designs, but that's a good thing. There are tons of great features in this bag:

Waxwear canvas body.
Leather accents on the flaps.
Locking metal closures.
Magazine pocket.
Most importantly, the cool little metal emblem that is inside all Hlaska bags.

Found on acquire

The Walkmen "On The Water" official video

2009-08-20T10:36:00.001-07:00

My favorite song by The Walkmen, "On The Water," gets an official video. I was skeptical when I read that it was a CGI video about rabbits. Once I watched the video I was rather impressed.

Found on Pitchfork.TV

The Antlers "Two" video.

2009-08-19T13:52:00.000-07:00

Disclaimer: this video is not filmed live in South Park, Colorado. Just wanted to mention that. Awesome video for "Two" from The Antlers record Hospice.

Found on Pitchfork TV

The Antlers in concert for NPR Music

2009-08-14T14:06:00.000-07:00

I just recently started listening to the LP Hospice by The Antlers. It's one of those rare LPs in indy rock that falls into a special group. Records that consist of aural strata, layers of sound, that require multiple listens to digest. These type of records age over time like leather, growing with you, but always there to depend on. Records that you can't help but listen to from start to finish, in the original order. Records that must remain complete albums. I strongly feel that this is one of those epic indy rock records that will require a set aside amount of time each year to appreciate it's timelessness. To prove just how great this record is, here is a 20 minute set by The Antlers on NPR.

Since i'm on the topic of timeless indy records, full of depth, here is a list of just a few, in order of my discovering them... This could possibly be the start of a list of my all time favorite indy rock epics, but only just a start. Which would you add?

Modest Mouse The Moon & Antarctica
Interpol Turn on the Bright Lights
The Dears No Cities Left
The Frames Burn the Maps
Guillemots Through the Windowpane
The National Boxer

Great video of Deerhunter live on "We Have Signal"

2009-08-07T16:18:00.000-07:00

We Have Signal: Deerhunter from We Have Signal on Vimeo.

Just saw this fantastic link on Stereogum. Deerhunter playing live on "We Have Signal."

Julian Plenti is... not putting these two great songs on his LP

2009-08-03T13:28:00.001-07:00

Interpol has always been one of my favorite bands, and might even warrant the "all time favorite" label. When I heard that lead singer Paul Banks was working on a solo record under the name Julian Plenti, I flipped. The LP Julian Plenti is... Skyscrapper hits stores either this week or next. Sadly, I don't think two of my favorite Julian Plenti tracks didn't make the LP. Luckily someone has uploaded them to Youtube, complete with photo montages (due to lack of video). I highly recommend giving them a listen.

Girls on Bicycles!

2009-07-29T11:24:00.000-07:00

I've seen various pics float around on the web of girls on bicycles. Looks like they are being aggregated by the Girls on Bicycles! blog. Here's a sample of a cute redhead on the site. Did I mention I have a thing for redheads? Especially redheads on bicycles.

Empire of the Sun's Solar Eclipse Broadcast

2009-07-24T19:28:00.000-07:00

I've mentioned Empire of the Sun before a few times, so you've likely heard of them. They recently recorded a webcast that was aired during the solar eclipse last week. Great music and great cinematography. Reminds me of Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory. Enjoy!

Thanks Stereogum for the tip.

Klipsch Image S4i for iPhone

2009-07-24T10:38:00.000-07:00

I've recently read a ton about the Klipsch Image S4 headphones. They cost around 80$, but apparently sound like they cost 250-300$. CNET also gave them an editor's choice award. However, the S4 lacked the iPhone playback controls, and that kept me from ever purchasing them. Klipsch just put the S4i on sale today, for a 99$ price point. These earphones add the three-button playback control and mic that is a necessity for my 3GS iPhone. Hopefully the reviews don't steer me wrong, and these turn out to be a great pair of eaphones.

I've tried out just about every earphone I can get my headphones, with 99% of them sucking. Here's what i've learned:

Anything with over-the-ear cables won't stay in my ears.
Anything with a narrow "speaker tube" doesn't have any bass.
Anything over 100$ seems to break.
I don't like white earphones.
My Klipsch computer speakers are freaking loud.

Based on my previous research, these seem like they might be a pretty darn good pair of buds!

Sam Flores Kid Dragon (Special Colorway)

2009-07-23T09:20:00.000-07:00

Looks like Sam Flores is releasing a special color way of his Kid Dragon figure. Given the history of Sam Flores' figures, you should expect many colorways. The first two are sold out, but there could be more to come.

Keep an eye on Upper Playground!

Norse Projects

2009-06-28T11:53:00.000-07:00

I'm currently on vacation in Scandinavia. I've checked out lots of great shops over the past week or so. One of the two best lines I've run across on my trip is Norse Projects. It's a great label from Copenhagen. They are currently putting out some great t-shirts with artsy photos of nude women which I really like. They also have a few nice shirts worth checking out.

Also visit the Norse Store where you can mail-order their clothing internationally. By the way, I think their sizes run slightly larger than expected.

The Ride Journal

2009-06-18T09:27:00.000-07:00

I just picked up issue 2 of The Ride Journal at Pushbike in San Francisco a few days ago. It's an incredibly well crafted cycling journal, focusing on cycling art, photography, and writing. It also spans across all types of cycling. Anyways, get your hands on the physical copy of issue 2 if you can. If not you can download issue 1 as a PDF at their site.

The other day I called it the "Believer" magazine of cycling. My roommate wanted to kill me. HAHA!

2009-06-11T09:26:00.000-07:00

Check out this great new video for "Fangela" by Here We Go Magic. I've been listenting to their new self-titled LP, and can certainly say this is my favorite from the record.

Empire of the Sun "Standing on the Shore"

2009-06-07T18:36:00.000-07:00

Empire of the Sun's album was definitely one of my favorites from 2008. "Standing on the Shore" is also one of the top tracks from their LP. Anyways, enjoy this solid video.

The Glass "Wanna be Dancin"

2009-06-07T18:32:00.001-07:00

I heard a DJ spin this great track from The Glass last night, so I hunted down the video. Enjoy!

Solid Gold "Bible Thumper"

2009-05-27T20:32:00.000-07:00

In my eternal quest to find new music, I recently stumbled across Solid Gold. They are an up-and-coming indie-dance group from Minneanapolis. I recommend given them a listen if you dig bands such as Cut Copy, Black Ghosts, or Faunts. Here's a video for their song "Bible Thumper" off of their new Bodies of Water (not the band) record.

Monocle X Comme de Garcons "Hinoki"

2009-05-17T15:40:00.001-07:00

I just picked up a bottle of the Comme de Garcons men's cologne "Hinoki" that was produced exclusively for Monocle. The scent is woodsy, and quite distinct. The more I smell it, the more I like it. It's a special edition cologne, and can only be purchased in a few locations. (I snagged mine at Colette). You can also get it at the Monocle website.

Now I just need to decide whether I should snag one of those Porter bags...

Little Boots covers "Day n Nite" by Kid Cudi

2009-05-17T15:34:00.000-07:00

I love "Day n Nite" by Kid Cudi. I can't wait for his first LP to drop. An artist name Little Boots, who I admit I know very little about, has just covered this great track. It's a great bedroom recording complete with sexy vocals, and great piano. Excellent!

Thanks Hypebeast for the tip.

Giro Lusso cycling gloves

2009-05-02T18:51:00.000-07:00

I've been wanting to buy some leather vintage-looking cycling gloves for a while now. I really like the Rapha Grand Tour gloves, but they run a large 160$. I just ran across these fancy new Giro Lusso gloves. These look to be exactly the style of glove I want, and they also only cost 65$. I definitely will be picking a pair of these up. Oh yeah, on a side note... my Castelli gloves started to tear after only 1 month. Watch out!

Moderat = Modeselektor + Apparat

2009-04-29T23:15:00.000-07:00

The Moderat record is finally out! For those not in the know, Moderat is Modeselektor + Apparat. Both are techno artists on Bpitch Control from Berlin, and have collaborated on this new project. The album is pretty solid, though I want to get the special edition with a second album of tracks. I'm the kind of person where I have to hear ALL the songs.

I digress. The record is pretty dope, especially on the tracks "Rusty Nails" and "Out of Sight" which feature more of an Apparat sound, complete with vocals from Sacha Ring (Apparat). The more Modeselektor like tracks are decent. Maybe I'm just dying for another Apparat record. Walls is still an all time favorite.

So check the link to see the cool trailer for the Moderat record, then pick up a copy. See if you notice a little Kid A nostalgia.

Suicide Girls does Fight Club tribute photo shoot

2009-04-29T22:36:00.001-07:00

Suicide Girls just did a photo shoot tribute to Fight Club. I really enjoyed the concept, partially due to the fact that Chuck Palahniuk is my all-time favorite writer.

1. The first rule of Suicide Girls Fight Club is only girls with tats can get in.
2. The second rule of Suicide Girls Fight Club is that no shirts are allowed.

This is NOT SAFE FOR WORK IN ANY WAY.
Photo shoot

Thanks to The Cult for the tip

James Jarvis video for Nike

2009-04-25T18:43:00.000-07:00

James Jarvis animated this great video for Nike. It's of a Jarvis character running all over creation. Great stuff!

Onwards from akqa on Vimeo.
Thanks Citrus Report for the tip.

My new bicycle tag for Caltrain

2009-04-02T16:48:00.000-07:00

I regulary commute via bicycle on Caltrain, where everyone uses yellow tags to identify start and end destinations. Instead of using their template, I decided to create my own tag. Here are some iPhone (aka low quality) pics of my San Francisco <-> Mountain View tag.

A Taste of the Toast

2009-03-30T20:42:00.001-07:00

A Taste of The Toast from Michael on Vimeo.
As you all know, I don't blog much these days. It's usually due to me being outside on my bike. Well, I just saw this trailer called A Taste of the Toast by MikeL and his crew of Denton, TX fixed riders. This is without a doubt the best cycling film I have ever seen. The tricks are amazing and the cinematography is well, mind blowing! I only wish I could do a fraction of the amazing tricks these guys can pull off. I guess this is how good you get when you spend time in Denton. UNT is the only thing there!

Thanks to Prolly is not Probably + ATXFixed for the tip. (Both had the post in my reader)

Phoenix "1901"

2009-02-23T22:31:00.000-08:00

I really want to write a blog post right now where I flip out, write lots of curse words, and generally convey a sense of disorder and lack of control in my writing. I'm not. However, getting wind of a new song from Phoenix makes me really want to do just that. Breath slowly. Count backwards from 10.

....

Ok. So it looks like Phoenix has just released a new track called "1901." I'm not going to try and describe it to you, as this isn't that kind of blog. I'm just going to say that it kicks ass and that you need to download it from Phoenix's site.

The Whitest Boy Alive "Rules"

2009-02-23T22:25:00.000-08:00

Looks like The Whitest Boy Alive is releasing a new record in March entitled "Rules." Their previous record "Dreams" was enjoyable from start to finish. It was one of those rare records where every song is great, and there's no reason to skip ahead. Word on the street is that "Rules" will be just as good if not better. Here's a video of TWBA performing the first single from the record "Island" live. I hope you enjoy.

You know... I have to say it. Erlend Oye is the shit. He produces so much great music!
- The Whitest Boy Alive
- Kings of Convenience
- DJ Kicks mix (one of my two favorite DJ mixes of all time)

Mars-1 "Nuclear Mystic" at Jonathan Levine Gallery

2009-02-23T22:18:00.000-08:00

Mars-1 is one of my two all-time favorite artists, alongside Doze Green. The style and skill shown in his art continues to blow my mind. It seams as if Mars evolves and refines his style with each show he has. His latest is "Nuclear Mystic" at Jonathan Levine Gallery in NYC. Here are a few pieces.

Thanks Hi-Fructose for the tip.

MashSF Tour of California jersey

2009-02-20T20:26:00.000-08:00

MashSF is a collective of crazy track bike riders that center around SF. They recently put a team in the Tour of California, and this jersey commemorates the ride. I love the design, and hope to get my hands on one. you can pick up in the Mash storefront.

San Francisco cycling cap by Pace

2009-02-20T20:22:00.000-08:00

Being a resident of San Francisco, and a big fan of cycling couture, I felt it appropriate to post the pic of this Pace hat. It's a little too busy for my tastes, but is still pretty cool. I like how it has the GG Bridge on the side!

The Presets "If I Know You" video

2009-02-13T18:30:00.000-08:00

Fuck yeah! I love this song! I'm glad to see The Presets release a video for "If I Know You." This was certainly one of my favorite tracks of 2008. I always get really pumped up whenever I hear this song. It somehow manages to bring out the frustrations I sometimes have in others, and channel that into the urge to dance. It's kind of like getting pumped up and angry at a punk show. By the way, I feel like the kids doing there serious rock out dance is a metaphor for that emotion I feel when I hear this track. Very appropriate. ROCK!

Thanks Pitchfork for the tip.

Billionaire Boys Club - Formal Cycling Jacket

2009-02-02T19:49:00.001-08:00

Billionaire Boys Club just released this formal cycling jacket. Pretty sweet tuxedo design, with reflective accents. this would be perfect to wear on the Sexy Saturday bike rides I've been discussing with friends. The only problem is that it costs $880. Why in god's name would I ride around in something that costs that much money. I could buy a real vintage tuxedo jacket for far less. I also am not really a fan of the little ray guns on the bottom front of the coat.

Thanks Notcouture for the tip.

The Walkmen "On the Water" live on La Blogotheque

2009-01-27T23:03:00.000-08:00

I recently started listening to The Walkmen at the recommendation of two friends. Somehow they alluded me for all these years. I've been really getting into their new record You & Me, particularly the song "On the Water." Well guess what, Vincent Moon recorded The Walkmen playing that song in the back of a van for La Blogotheque. AWESOME!

The Walkmen - On the Water from La Blogotheque on Vimeo.

Thanks Pitchfork for the tip.

Track Bikes + Tweed Jackets in London

2009-01-27T22:35:00.001-08:00

I saw this post today on A Continuous Lean about fixed gear riders getting dressed up in tweed jackets then riding around London. I think it's time to organize a similar ride in SF, with our own style. Tech nerds? Beatniks? Hippies? Hopefully I can get something going soon.

Telefon Tel Aviv: New record, Tragic loss

2009-01-27T22:08:00.000-08:00

I've always wanted to get into Telefon Tel Aviv. Anytime I mentioned listening to bands like Junior Boys, Apparat, Hood, or Album Leaf I was quickly reminded by my friend Kevin that their sound was largely influenced by Telefon Tel Aviv. TTA put out two records back in the 2000-2004 window titled Fahrenheit Fair Enough and Map of What is Effortless. Given that they were older I delayed hunting them down, but finally did a few months back. I was hooked.

Fahrenheit is a largely instrumental record full of blips, clicks, pops, etc mixed with some chill hip-hop vibes. Map of What took that sound, added some orchestral sound, and then threw in some dope vocals for good measure. Each of these records were far ahead of the curve, and are highly worth buying.

I recently came across their new single "Helen of Troy" on either Pitchfork or Stereogum. I really dug the song, as TTA again was re-inventing their sound, again in a good way. I also found out Bpitch Control was releasing their new record Immolate Yourself, and became even more excited. Well, it just came out today on iTunes so I had to buy it. Already I love it. Everything about this record catches my attention. the vocals, the glitches, the sweeping sounds, the beats. The flaws that were programmed in the sound are super cool to. Hearing a synth bend is rather interseting.

It seems that TTA is once again going to step into the limelight for electronic music. However, it seems a tragic event has occurred last week. Charlie Cooper, one of the two memebers of TTA, has mysteriously passed away. It's also strange how the new album's title is about suicide by setting yourself on fire. Strange coincidences afoot. It's tragic to hear about the loss of a great musician, especially as TTA has again released an incredible work of music.

Thanks Pitchfork for the tip.

Denim Aversion

2009-01-21T09:27:00.000-08:00

I’ve been afflicted by this complex for years. I realized that I needed to write about it for a few reasons. First, I bet others have fallen victim to this strange phenomenon. Second, the more I delve into denim culture, the worse it gets. Third, I can’t seem to rid myself of this complex. Please let me know if I am going crazy.

I guess I should take a moment to define what exactly Denim Aversion is. Some people don’t really give a damn what jeans they are wearing. These people are not afflicted. Wait. Maybe it’s better for me to define D.A. by personal example. A case study if you will.

I used to wear boot-cut jeans for years. At some point I noticed that folks were starting to migrate from boot-cut to straight leg. Up to that point I had a pair of boot-cut Diesel jeans that I wore all the time, and could not fathom replacing them with another pair of jeans. Well, eventually I decided that maybe I should buy some Diesel straight leg jeans. For the first month or so, I couldn’t stand the look of the straight leg jeans. All I wanted to do was wear my ruined boot-cut jeans. Then, after about a month of wearing my straight leg jeans, I tried on my boot-cut jeans. They fit horribly! I could no longer stand wearing the jeans that I used to love for at least a year. It’s as if I had an aversion to my old jeans!

Sometime later I decided to buy a pair of raw denim, as I learned about the interesting culture that is the selvedge / raw denim scene. I never in a million years would have bought raw denim in the past, but now I was ready. I picked up a pair of A.P.C. New Cure which is considered a skinny jean. Reasonably skinny; not hipster vacuum-sealed skinny. I thought they would be cool to buy, though I was a little worried about how skinny they were. Sitting down, among other things, was tough for a few weeks.

I’ve been wearing my A.P.C.s for about two months now, and I’ve completely fallen in love with them. The fit is perfect. I never want to wear any of my other jeans anymore. It’s like I’ve moved past that part of my life, and feel strange going back. A few times I wear other jeans, and I can’t wait to get out of them and get back into my A.P.C.s. WTF? How am I actually bothered by such trivial things? And how is it that this complex doesn’t apply to shoes, shirts, etc? I’m perplexed.

So that’s Denim Aversion. If anyone can help me cope with the complex, I’d like extend my thanks. If anyone can validate that I don’t have a complex, and that this article makes perfect sense, I’d like to extend my thanks two-fold.

Friendly Fires "Skeleton Boy"

2009-01-18T19:08:00.000-08:00

Looks like Friendly Fires have released a video for "Skeleton Boy" off of their new self-titled record. Also one of my favs on the album.

Thanks Stereogum for the tip.

Empire of the Sun "We are the people"

2009-01-18T19:03:00.000-08:00

I've been a fan of Empire of the Sun since I first heard their song "Walking on a Dream." They sound like a dancier version of MGMT, which isn't a bad thing by any means. Anyways, they just released a video for my favorite song on the record "We are the people." Check it!

We Are The People

Thanks Antville for the tip

Fever Ray (aka The Knife)

2009-01-15T09:22:00.000-08:00

Karin Dreijer Andersson and Olaf Dreijer are the brother and sister combo who make up The Knife. Karin did all the vocals (even the male sounding ones) and Olaf produced the beats. Karin has recently completed a new solo project as the artist Fever Ray, releasing a self titled record. Each listen to the record draws me further into the sound. The beats still sound very much like those from The Knife, and the vocals are the signature sound of Karin. I do however feel this record is more on the chill side than Silent Shout. It's more like older works from The Knife. The record is not out yet in physical format, but can be purchased online.

Ed Ruscha towel for Artware Editions

2009-01-09T19:04:00.000-08:00

This towel is freaking genius. I love it. GENIUS! Artware Editions is doing a line of artsy beach towels designed by various artists. "The study of friction and wear on mating surfaces" was designed by Ed Ruscha. The background image on the towel clearly represents a sunrise or sunset on the beach. Perfect time for mating. :) As blunt as it is, I find the phrase on the towel to be rather clever. The towel is 60 x 70 so it's clearly meant for umm... use... by two people. I feel though that one who owns this must be in a healthy relationship, because if you're at the beach by yourself, you'll probably remain by yourself. But if you are with someone, consider it performance art!

H(Y)R Collective issue 9 out!

2009-01-08T09:56:00.001-08:00

H(Y)R Collective is quickly becoming one of my favorite sites for sophisticated men's fashion and culture. The online magazine is published monthly, and the Jan 2009 issue (#9) has just been published. So far the issue looks great! Good photography, great articles, and discerning taste. In particular I liked the "Best of 2008" article. Lastly, make sure you check their blog.

Jack Spade pencil case

2009-01-06T22:49:00.000-08:00

I always carry the necessities in my bag for sketching: pencils, sharpener, eraser, and a sketch book. I figure that a cool idea might pop up at any time, and I want to be able to get it on paper while its fresh. By their nature pencils make a mess in anything you put them in. Anyone who is into sketching will understand the benefit of a pencil case. I myself have been quite a fan of pencil cases for the past few years, though I've had one that I've used exclusively for some time now.

I recently ran across this new pencil case by Jack Spade and instantly fell in love. There are a few elements that really catch my eye. The rubber dipped bottom looks incredible on top of the black canvas case. Notice how the vinyl covers the lower half of the Jack Spade logo. Very slick. I'm also a fan of the shiny / flat black color scheme. Lastly, I love the Jack Spade zippers. They are very well made. Of course, I ran across this at Blackbird. Who knew?

Special edition MAKR wallet for Blackbird

2009-01-06T22:35:00.000-08:00

I've been dying to get my hands on a MAKR wallet for some time now. I love the simple, yet beautiful desings of their leather wallets. In particular, i've been a fan of the vertical slim pocket and hoziontal flap wallets. They allow you to carry a few cards and some folded cash in the most minimal way possible (besides in a pile in your pocket.) I've had problems time and again with cards cracking in traiditional wallets that layer the cards for easy access (read J.Fold). A subtle advantage of the card case type wallets is that all cards are in a stack, reinforcing one another. This is a major selling point for me.

I just noticed on the Blackbird blog that MAKR has designed a special edition of the vertical flap wallet as a Blackbird exclusive. Only 30 of these wallets were made, all by hand of course. I am super excited to get my hands on one of these as I keep hearing rave after rave about MAKR's products! I am also excited to see how the leather will age over time with use. I can't wait for mine to arrive. Only 29 left!

de Young Museum Bookmark

2009-01-06T22:26:00.000-08:00

I have an obsession these days with things that age with use. Items that develop a patina are of particular interest. It's interesting to see something visually change due to you using it. I saw this copper bookmark at the de Young Museum in San Francisco some time back. I picked it up for a few different reasons including:

It uses the same dot matrix structure and copper material as the museum exterior.
It's copper.
It would likely age with use.

Sure enough I was right! the bookmark hasn't changed much yet, but is starting to show the signs of use. I bet it will look really interesting in a few years.

Sky Doll

2009-01-04T22:24:00.000-08:00

I can't remember where I started to hear talk of it, but apparently Sky Doll is the new hotness as far as comic books and graphic novels are concerned. Issues 1-3 sold out in a flash when they were first released in the US. Why would it sell out so fast? Because Sky Doll is a French comic, and has been selling like hot cakes in France, Italy, and Germany. Marvel wised up and brought the series stateside. Alessandro Barbucci and Barbara Canepa are the writers / artists of the comic.

I wont give anything away, but the story revolves around Noa, a "sky doll," who is essentially a robot designed for erotic pleasure. She meets two guys Roy and Jahu who work for the current religious and political leader of their planet Papathea. The three end up on an interesting journey that revolves around the fact that Noa had more to her than looks and mechanical parts.

The story is interesting as it focuses on religious faith, and the impact that has on society. The story is extremely compelling, and I can't wait for more issues to be translated. Given that I like to draw, I have to mention the artwork. The colors are beautiful, the lines are very clean and modern. Top notch. If you are ok with sexual aspects to a graphic novel, I strongly recommend you pick up Sky Doll volume 1.

Cannondale Stealth Concept

2008-12-15T00:07:00.000-08:00

Cannondale apparently has been working on a concept bike inspired by the F-117A Stealth Fighter, that has sadly been retired by the US Air Force. I personally was obsessed with the plane as a kid. But I digress. The bike looks absolutely incredible! I'm not the hugest fan of their single-armed fork, but I think the frame design is on the money. I would love to have this available as a track frame + fork. Awesome!

Thanks Core77 for the tip.

Knog Lights

2008-12-14T23:50:00.000-08:00

I decided to pick up a pair of Knog lights for my bike over the weekend after thinking about them for a while. These little guys boast an incredible design. Knogs are made of silicon rubber, and so you wrap them around your handlebars or seat post, then attach the Knog to itself. They are small so you can easily fit them in your pocket. You can also pick from 12 or so colors to ensure you get the right look to match your bike. The coolest aspect of Knogs are the fact that they look like little creatures holding onto your bike once attached. I bought the Frog model, due to their small size and color options. However, since they only have a single LED I am not sure of how useful they will prove at night.

The "Long Ride South" to Tierra del Fuego

2008-12-12T13:26:00.000-08:00

My good friend Levi is embarking on a motorcycle trip this weekend with his father. They are riding two motorcycles to Tierra del Fuego, the southern tip of South America. I highly recommend everyone add his blog Long Ride South to your reader. It's going to be interesting! And no, Che Guevara will not be joining them.

Parenthetical Girls: "A Song For Ellie Greenwich"

2008-12-12T10:42:00.000-08:00

I recently stumbled across Parenthetical Girls due to the remix that Deerhoof did of their song "GUT Symmertries." I quickly picked up the new P.G. record Entanglements, which turned out to be pretty good. Pitchfork.tv just premiered the first video from the record, which also happens to be my favorite song on the record. Check out the video for "A Song For Ellie Greenwich."

Pretty much the 20 best records of 2008

2008-12-10T00:14:00.000-08:00

Year after year I jump online and read the Top 50 / Top 25 / Blah lists on the various music sights I read. Usually it's to ensure I go back and listen to any good recordings that I might have missed that year. Most of these lists are kind of weak since they lack commentary. I do however feel that Pitchfork and Popmatters mostly get it right as they provide commentary that explains why they chose what they did. Well, I'm going to try and take it a step further. I've created a list, complete with commentary, but... the commentary isn't just about the music. It's about how these records have related to my life in 2008. I hope I am doing something new and different with this list. If you feel that I am, please share this with your friends.

1: Bon Iver: For Emma, Forever Ago
This record is the #1 record of 2008 without a shadow of a doubt. I just heard Bon Iver's upcoming Blood Bank EP, and I feel it again. This feeling I had back in January when FE,FA came out. It's a swelling surge of excitement, paired with an emptiness or longing. It makes me feel some of the same emotions that Justin Vernon must have felt when he and Emma split ways. This record captures the highs I've felt the times in my life when I've met my own "Skinny Love," and also the lows when I've lost her. Also, I want "Wolves Act 1 and 2" to be the soundtrack to the end of the movie about my life (that will never be filmed.)

2: Cut Copy: In Ghost Colours
Cut Copy deserves the #2 slot for 2008. Bright Like Neon Love is a four year old record that I still listen to regularly. I never thought Cut Copy could pull that off again. Well, they did, and far exceeded my expectations. IGC is absolutely incredible. There have been so many times when I'm walking around San Francisco on my way to a house party, concert, cafe. I put this record on and I start walking faster... my head starts bobbing... next thing I know I'm singing and dancing in the street! Somehow this record always gets me pumped. Also, this is an awesome soundtrack for riding your bike around the city.

3: Yeasayer: All Hour Cymbals
Damn Chris Keating. I heard Yeasayer's set on Daytrotter before their LP was even announced. "2080" blew my mind. It had harmonized vocals, cool background instrumentation, dystopian lyrics, what more could I ask for? I soon after saw Yeasayer at Bottom of the Hill with MGMT, and heard one of the best live performances in years (by Yeasayer, not MGMT!) Well, after about 2/3 of the songs on the record were played, Chris announced they were about to play their last song. I was in the front, so I yelled "Play the whole album!" Chris somehow thought I called them Fallout Boy, and a small amount of shit talking was sent my way. WTF? I love their record, but damn it sucked that they were asses at the show. I still have to give the record #3 since it's so damn good! Internal conflict!!!

4: Pattern is Movement: All Together
These guys probably won't make any one's end of the year lists, which is a tragedy, as All Together is an amazing record. They have a cool minimal, repetitive sound, often referred to as Math Rock. I heard their record for the first time, and wasn't feeling it at all. Then, I noticed myself humming "Trolley Friend" while riding the cable-car in SF. I guess that planted the seed in my head. Next thing I was hooked. It's as if the repetitive rhythms and lyrics sort of imprint themselves in your mind. This is a record that should be experienced while doing certain acts. Listen to "Trolley Friend" while riding a trolley or cable car. Take big steps as if you weighed 1000 pounds while listening to "Elephant." Listen to "Peach Trees" while strolling around in Golden Gate Park in a "The Sound of Music" manner.

5: Shearwater: Rook
I think I first heard about these guys when the single "Leviathan, Bound" was released. Little did I know that Jonathan Meiburg was from Austin, not to mention a past member in the band Okkervil River. Once I got my hands on the LP, I was hooked. This is the perfect record for walking around SF during the thickest of fog, and the heaviest of winds. I feel as if this record should be the soundtrack to the films 13Th Warrior, or Braveheart. Every time I listen to this record I feel as if I am sitting atop the rocks in Corona Heights, about to march right into battle, before an untimely death that lands me in the halls of Valhalla. This record is THAT epic.

6: Foals: Antidotes

I'll probably get flack for putting this record in my top 10, but who cares. These guys have received comparisons to the likes of Bloc Party, but I don't think that's doing them justice. I've always had an appreciation for line and angle in my life. Over the past year or two I've been obsessed with re-interpreting various items using hard lines and angles, in my artwork. I feel Foals is trying to re-interpret post punk in the same way. I guess I really relate to this record for that reason. And the lyrics! I love their expressive quality. It's extremely hard to decipher what the hell lead-singer Yannis Phillippakis is saying, but maybe that's what keeps me coming back to their music. Or maybe its walking down the street like a spastic robot, listening to my headphones.

7. The Presets: Apocalypso

Electroclash is dead. So? I love electroclash, electro, EBM, dance-punk. The Presets brought the whole slew back this year with their new record Apocalypso in a huge way! I feel that "Anywhere" perfectly captures the sound that DJ Hell and the International Deejay Gigolos crew have been putting out in the past few years. "Together" sounds like the result of splicing DNA from Miss Kitten, The Hacker, Nitzer Ebb, and Front 242. "If I Know You" might be my favorite club track of the year. Every time I hear this record I get so pumped. It's perfect before going biking, climbing, or any adrenaline infused activity. :)

8: Crystal Castles: Crytal Castles
A few years back I went to Boston to kick it with my buddy Matt, and his friend Chris. We saw a show at the Enormous Room by a bunch of 8-bit game boy musicians. We got really tanked at the show, then ended up running around the streets of Boston causing drunken havoc. Every time I hear this record, it's like a flashback to that trip. It's glitchy, raw, full of bass, awesome! Though the 8-bit scene predates Crystal Castles, I feel they created a record that took all of the best elements of punk, electro, and 8-bit and rolled them into one. Plus, it's so fun to try and pretend like you know the lyrics to their remix of "Crimewave," even though you clearly don't.

9: MGMT: Oracular Spectacular
Please note: This is a top 10 RECORDS of 2008 list. If I was factoring in live shows, I would remove MGMT in a second. Both times I have seen them perform I wanted to die. That's certainly not the case with their record. I was hooked on this thing for months! It's so much fun to sing along with this album. I remember going to see their show at Bottom of the Hill, and being in the car singing "The Youth" with my friends Marc, Levi, Esme. That moment exemplifies why this record is so good. For some weird reason it kind of reminds me of listening to Crosby, Stills and Nash. Don't ask why. I feel like I need to go dance on Haight Street with a bunch of hippies and American Apparel models (no Dov you're not invited) every time I hear this record.

10. Cold War Kids:Loyalty to Loyalty
Damn this is so tough! I debated for a long time about who to give the #10 spot to. For some reason I just feel this is the right place for this record. I find each song so interesting. "Relief" makes me think of a young kid singing soul music to his girlfriend on a street corner in New Orleans. "Cryptomnesia" boggles the shit out of me. Is this a song about a lost motorcycle or bike? An old girlfriend? "Avalanche in Apartment B" makes me think of a drunk person complaining to their empty whisky bottle in a dilapidated old apartment in the north east. "Welcome to the Occupation" sounds like some strange theme song to a political rally in the 2008 election. I love records that create visual imagery like that.

11:Deerhunter: Microcastle / Weird Era Continued
I've only been listening to this record for about a week now, but I can't put it down. I can tell this is going to be a favorite. I walked past Bradford Cox in Portland this past winter. He looked sad and frigid... as if his parka couldn't shake the abrasive elements. "Agoraphobia" captures that look on his face, while he was at the train station. "Nothing Ever Happened" makes me think of classic Sonic Youth. "VHS Dream" is just f'ing awesome and I don't know why. This whole record makes me think of my love for old 60's pop bands such as The Zombies, paired with my love for late 70's post-punk.

12: Metronomy: Nights Out
Everytime I hear this record, three things come to mind. Fun, driving, surprising sounds Listening to this record makes me feel as if I am on a road trip back in the mid 80's, heading to a concert where Gary Numan, New Order, and The Cars are all playing together. Also, this is the perfect record for speeding down highway 280 at 3 in the morning.

13: The Dears: Missiles
Oh The Dears. Such much relevance in my life. A favorite band of a few friends. A concert where I met a girlfriend. An acoustic set at a favorite record store. A rush trough the desert heat to attend a show. A solo performance under a flashlight in a venue sans-power. Where do I even begin? I guess I should with their new record Missiles. I love the orchestral-pop sound these guys have always improved upon. Each record is both heartfelt and epic. I feel this record is somehow captures the economic crisis that we are falling into. "Dream Job" and "Money Babies" talk about the implications of a crisis. "Crisis 1 & 2" and "Meltdown in A Minor" are just fucking amazing. Honestly though, I think these guys are a guilty please for me. Their music speaks to all the stress and drama that doesn't actually exist in my mundane existence. Maybe it's the act of pretending that draws me to them?

14: Sebastien Tellier: Sexuality
I just saw Sebastien Tellier in person last week. I've had his record for a few months now, but after seeing him live it all made sense. His music makes me think of what Blade Runner would have been like if it were a French porno starring Audrey Tautou and Robo-cop. The beats are most certainly Daft Punk (which is a given since they produced it.) But the lyrics sound like they come from a sketchy, dirty French guy. And they do! Sebastien has long hair, a huge beard, sunglasses, and a tendency to hump the microphone. It all makes sense.

15: No Kids: Come Into My House
I bought this record on a trip to Seattle/Portland, so it is loosely associated with the Pacific Northwest. This makes sense to some degree as these guys are from Vancouver. This record would have ranked higher on my list, but sadly I only like parts of it. The parts I do like are incredible though! I feel No Kids are at their best when they sound like a couple of Ivy League-ers trying to recreate Hot Chip's Coming on Strong. "For Halloween" and "The Beaches Are All Closed" are nerdy white person soul music at it's best. "Bluster in the Air" makes me want to pour out a glass of fine wine for an ex-girlfriend, while at a party at Gatsby's house (yeah like in the book). "You Looked Good to Me" makes me picture the high school band leader getting dumped by his girlfriend at home-coming. Classic! (The rest of the record just doesn't do it for me.)
16: Broken Social Scene Presents: Brendan Canning: Something For All Of Us
Even though there are like 20 people in this band, their music is certainly not designed-by-committee. The first few times I heard this record I actually wrote it off as unimpressive. I assumed that Kevin Drew must be the sole creative force behind the band. Boy was I wrong. This record is classic BSS, and proves the importance of Brendan Canning in the band. "Hit the Wall" and "Churches Under the Stairs" make me think of classic You Forgot it in People days. "Love is New" reminds me of seeing these guys do a dance music remake of "Hotel" when they played in SF. Could "Possible Grenade" be the new "Cause = Time?" "Take Care, Look Up" is a personal favorite to listen to before calling it a night. How did I ever write this record off as unimpressive?
17: TV on the Radio: Dear Science,
This one is going to top lots of lists this year. In my opinion, this is another instance of a record that sometimes reaches greatness, and sometimes looses my attention completely. "Dancing Choose" is sort of a post-post-punk anthem in my mind. "Stork and Owl".... seriously? How could someone write such amazing lyrics? "Turn from the fear. Of the storms that might be. Oh let it free." DAMN! This record boasts some of the best individual songs of 2008. No doubt about that. And don't even get me started on"Love Dog." I absolutely love the lyrics. Tunde Adebimpe you are a genius. I just wished that songs such as "Golden Age" actually resonated with me.

18: Fleet Foxes: Fleet Foxes
This band is a weird one. When I first listened to the Fleet Foxes LP I was severely disappointed. Especially after their Sun Giant EP. At some point I rediscovered the record, and it all started to make sense. I used to be obsessed with Iron & Wine's Our Endless Numbered Days as it was the perfect record for sitting around a campfire at night. Well, Fleet Foxes now has that accolade. Songs like "White Winter Hymnal," "Quiet Houses," "Your Protector" and "Blue Ridge Mountains" exude a warmth, a floating melody, a satisfaction. I keep thinking about sitting in Zilker Park, during the 95 degree heat of Austin City Limits, listening to Fleet Foxes. That time and place just makes sense.

19: Portishead: Third
Portishead might be one of my top 5 bands of all time. (Most sensual band of the last 20 years?) I saw them in Austin on their tour for the self-titled Portishead record back in 1997. They have always been a special band both due to their sound, and their lyrics. I'm such a trip-hop fanatic. I didn't know what to expect with Third, but the record certainly exceeded whatever expectations I had. I feel it's an interpretation of their previous music, in the parlance of our times. I would have put the record much higher in my top 20 list, but for some reason I find myself adverse to listening to it. I will say though that this might be one of my favorite records to listen to when painting at 4 in the morning.

20: Department of Eagles: In Ear Park
Yellow House by Grizzly Bear is one of my favorite records of the last five years. Therefore I had high expectations for In Ear Park. For some strange reason they weren't met. "No One Does It Like You" is an amazing song, and I love to sing along with it. There's something creepy yet beautiful about "Classical Records." I feel it's like a song recorded in Technicolor, whatever that actually means. "Around the Bay" gets really close to what I've previously love about Grizzly Bear. "Phantom Other" reminds me of old school Department of Eagles (back before I even know about Grizzly Bear.) But overall, I was hoping for more.

Krink NYC mailbox

2008-12-09T20:00:00.001-08:00

Krink is a renowned graffiti artist who is gaining more and more popularity in the urban pop-art scene. He is known for taking various objects and bleeding paint markers over them. The paint runs, creating bold streaks on the original object. Horray gravity! He is most known for his painting of mailboxes in NYC. Kid Robot is going to be releasing a replica of a Krink painted NYC mailbox (dents and all) on Dec 18th. It happens to be a black mailbox with silver paint, which looks absolutely stunning. This would be a great desktop Christmas gift for your urban pop-art loving, vinyl collecting, young guy (I.E. myself. Send me one!) By the way, this would go great sitting next to your matching Incase X Krink laptop sleeve.

Common designs clothing line for Microsoft? WTF?

2008-12-04T15:08:00.000-08:00

Is this for real? Am I really thinking about wearing these shirts? Am I ... a ... PC? So confused.

Anyways, Microsoft (yes the software company) asked Common (yes the hip-hop musician) to design some t-shirts in an effort to bring the software giant's pop-culture image from "fail" to "win." The label is called "Softwear" and will be in stores Dec 15th. The Microsoft company store? Fry's? Urban street-wear boutiques? Your guess is as good as mine.

The line is a throwback to the mid 1980s DOS era, back when Windows were only a portal out of your home. There will be 9 shirts launched, 5 designed by Microsoft, 4 designed by Common. Honestly, i'd maybe wear the "I used to love her" shirt with song lyrics typed into a DOS prompt. I recommend checking out the video interview with Common on the site.

Oh yeah, Common just dropped a new LP called "Universal Mind Control." Strange timing eh?

Thanks to Complex for the tip.

David G: Custom Qees "Stratos" and "Atmos"

2008-12-03T00:16:00.000-08:00

I've been a huge fan and avid collector in the urban vinyl scene for sometime. I've always thought it would be cool to create my own figure, or at least create a custom. I recently ran across the do-it-yourself blank Qee figures by Toy2R. The blanks are 3.5 inches tall, so they are relatively affordable due to their size. I decided to pick up a Devil Qee (square head with pointed tail), and Angel Qee (round head with wings). Given the devil and angel concepts, I decided to de a heaven and hell themed design for both of them .

The first Qee is "Stratos." He is the square head Qee with the Devil's tail. Starting at the bottom, you can see he consists of multiple layers of Earthen strata (hence the name). Seeping up through the rock strata is moulten lava. I felt this linked to the devil notion in the blank figure. The strata can be seen going up a slanted slope, with a layer of grass, and a single japanese tree on top of the hill. Though it's subtle, the tree trunk wraps around the indentation that is for the figures left eye. I wanted to use the details of the blank Qee as part of my design. Behind the tree, the right eye contains the sun. Lastly, there is a blue sky and clouds wrapping around the figure.

The second Qee is "Atmos." He is the round head Qee with Angel's wings. Starting at the bottom, you can see the same blue from the sky on Stratos. The idea being that Atmos picks up where Stratos leaves off. The layers of teal and white were an attempt at representing the edge of our the Earth's atmosphere. Once you have moved past the atmosphere, there's just open space. On Atmos' left arm is a meteor, and on his left arm a shooting star. Atmos' left eye contains the Earth's moon, and his right contains Saturn. Scale isn't as important in my design as was utilizing the components of the blank Qee, such as his eye indentations. My favorite aspect of Atmos is the black hole on his back. I used the grooves in his wings to convey the notion of rays of light being drawn into the black hole.

Well, that covers my first urban vinyl project. I hope to do more customs in the future. Here's a pic of Stratos and Atmos linked together creating Earth, Atmosphere, and Space.

Jon Rose Photography

2008-12-02T20:27:00.000-08:00

Jon Rose is one of my two best friends from growing up in good ol' Austin TX. I still remember Jon's days as a barrista, trying to figure out what to do with his life. Well, he's clearly found his calling. Jon now resides in Denver, CO where he is making a living as a fine art photographer. He recently had a solo show in Denver, and also launched a new website. I can't recommend enough that you check out his site. As the site is recently launched, most of his work hasn't been posted yet. However, his new series of found obejects (the focus of his recent show) is online, and the pics are amazing! I love the bright, bold images set against the stark minimalism of a black background. I'll definitely have to pick up one of his pieces soon. Personal favorites include the yellow balloon, and the red pencil. I hope this doesn't degrade his work in any way, but I recently finished playing Fallout 3 for the Xbox 360, and these objects seem like they came right out of the post apocalyptic Capital Wastelands. Where did he find these things??? Here's a photo from his solo show for ya!

Blackbird opens online store. I go broke.

2008-11-26T10:04:00.000-08:00

My favorite clothing boutique in all of North America is Blackbird based in Ballard (Seattle) WA. It's the top item on my list of things to do whenever I head to Seattle, and I read their blog religously. These guys have continually proven to be one of the best boutiques in the US. Everytime I go up there, the staff remembers who I am, which is rediculous given i'm not up there that often. Anyways, Blackbird just launched their online storefront today, and I am incredibly stoked. You should be to. Also, make sure to add their blog to your reader.

O'Riley Factor... The upper echelon of SF citizenry

2008-11-19T10:34:00.000-08:00

The O'Riley factor decided to send Jesse Walters down to San Francisco to see what life would be like under an Obama administration. Apparently SF is the archetype for liberal America. AWESOME! This video might be the funniest thing I have ever seen in my entire life. Walters somehow hunted down the upper echelon of SF citizenry for the video clip. I'm not going to deny that these folks don't exist in SF. Sure, there's tons of drug users, homeless, and insane folks. But seriously? How did they find such a great cast? I think this video captures what my Texas friends and family see whenever they visit me in SF. Hilarious!

Sole and The Skyrider Band tonight!

2008-11-07T15:07:00.000-08:00

Sole & The Skyrider Band are performing tonight at Cafe du Nord! This is easily the most compelling hip-hop release of 2008. Come on out! Here's a video interview + sampler of S&TSB.

The Skeletons: Money released

2008-11-04T16:04:00.000-08:00

The Skeleton$ aka The Skeletons and the Kings of all Cities aka The Skeletons and the Girl Faced Boys just released their new record Money this week. I'm giving it a first listen as I just picked it up. Based on previous records of theirs, I recommend picking it up. I hung out with Matt (lead singer) at 12 Galaxies in SF last year when they were in town, and he's a cool dude.

Oh yeah, they're performing in SF on my birthday, Nov 13.

As for past records by Skeletons, I'd describe them as:

1. "Git" = instant classic

2. "Lucas" = complex and interesting

3. "Life and the Afterbirth" = great pop music

Here's a link to a performance of "Boom! (Money)" off their new record.

Best iPhone scenario ever

2008-11-03T20:18:00.000-08:00

I'm writing this as I stand in The Independent waiting for The Dears
to play. Some great song starts playing on the PA. I rush to the
iPhone app store and download Kazaam. I sample the song and find it's
Besnard Lakes "Disaster." all before the song ends. F'ing awesome.

Sent from my iPhone

Microsonging: Parenthetical Girls "A Song for Ellie Greenwich"

2008-11-03T09:16:00.000-08:00

I want to start a new idea called Microsonging. It's sort of like Microblogging, but for music I'm currently hooked on. Right now it's "A Song for Ellie Greenwich" by Parenthetical Girls. Here's a YouTube link!

Mash SF riding with Lance Armstrong in Austin, TX

2008-10-20T22:11:00.000-07:00

Mash SF is a crew of track bike riders in San Francisco. (I see the shirtless dude with the Heineken keg in the Mission all the time.) These guys are on a whole different level when it comes to ballsy. It's analogous to a kid who hops off a curb on a skateboard, versus a dude who does a 30 stair gap. Anyways, these guys fly down to Austin, Texas (my home town) for a day of riding with Lance Armstrong. For the first half of the video, the Mash crew is riding around downtown Austin, then next thing you know Lance rolls up in a white t-shirt and starts racing with them. It's impressive to see these guys keep up with the king of cycling. Anyways, go to Mash SF's site, and scroll to the bottom of the home page. The video should start playing automatically.

Empire of the Sun "Walking on a Dream" video

2008-10-13T23:13:00.001-07:00

Empire of the Sun has just released the video to their amazing new track "Walking on a Dream." I've been digging this song for a while, as it seems to blend the vocal sound of MGMT with the production of Cut Copy. After hearing more of their record, I feel it is even more like MGMT than previously thought. They are from Australia, so I doubt there was any influence, as MGMT is from Brooklyn. Anyways, their LP has been released in Australia. Something tells me that Modular will bring their record stateside shortly.

Empire Of The Sun - Walking On A Dream

Thanks Notcot for the tip.

The Dears: Missiles

2008-10-13T19:34:00.000-07:00

The Dears are a "hate then love" band, and this isn't a bad thing. My friend Jon first turned me on to their music ages back (~2002?). At first I just couldn't appreciate their sound. I listened to their first LP No Cities Left over and over, it didn't catch my attention, so I gave up.

Somehow I thought about the record from time-to-time, often when mentioned by my buddy Jon. Some months later (6-12?) I decided to give the record a second try. Somehow it started to make sense. A few songs started to get stuck in my head. It's as if I was beginning to chew the crust around a rather unappealing sandwich. Eventually I had come around to the entire record, and absolutely loved it. Their sound (dark, orchestral pop) had finally caught me. Songs such as "We can have it," "Lost in the plot," "22: The death of all the romance" made perfect sense to me. I couldn't stop listening to the record. How is it that the hardest records to adapt to are always the most profound once you do?

Since then I have become a major fan of The Dears. I met someone who later became a girlfriend at one of their shows. I saw Murray Lightburn destroy Amoeba Records in SF while performing solo and accoustic. His performance was as vulnerable and dark as any lyrics on their record.

Well, their third record Missiles is about to be released on October 21 on Dangerbird Records. Everyone in the band has been replaced with the exception of Murray Lightburn and wife / bandmate Natalia Yanchak. I've heard some of the music from the new record, and it's already growing on me. This time however, this sandwich looks tasty before even the first bite. I think this is one you'll need to check out. But make sure you give it time.

Two last items:

The Dears are playing The Independent on Nov 3rd with Secret Machines.

Here is that amazing acoustic performance at Amoeba by Murray.

[The Dears - Ticket to Immortality]

[The Dears - Whites Only Party]

Miss November 1978 for Kidrobot by Paul Pope

2008-10-13T19:29:00.000-07:00

Kidrobot has collaborated with Playboy on creating an urban vinyl figure / designer art toy based on a Playboy Magazine cover. To tackle the job they commissioned comic book artist Paul Pope, who has done a lot of amazing artwork. After going through every single Playboy cover ever, Paul decided on the cover from November, 1978. I can't blame him.

It looks like Miss November 1978 has already sold out on the Kidrobot web store, so hopefully I can find one on Haight St. tomorrow!

Riding a motorcycle with TRON

2008-10-12T12:21:00.000-07:00

Mare Street, E8 — Digital Club from Digital Club on Vimeo.
I have finally figured things out. I first though Digital Club was an actual night club. I now found out that they are a creative / design agency. This clip "Mare Street, E8" is a clip that was made for a creative review. I assume this is essentially like a show-off of skills.

Thanks to Lovelife for the tip.

Time to get a new computer...

2008-10-09T09:24:00.000-07:00

I've been interested in purchasing an Apple Macbook Pro for about a year now. I keep holding off as I hear rumor after rumor of a massive redesign to the Macbook family. Apple has finally just announced a media event focused strictly on notebooks, and it's next week! All the rumors seem to be coming true. Time for me to finally snag a new Macbook Pro!!!

Thanks Gizmodo for the heads up!

Breathtaking photos from Yann Arthus-Bertrand

2008-10-07T08:22:00.000-07:00

Yann Arthus-Betrand is a photographer who focuses on images of our world on a very large scaled, with a focus on sustainability. His work reminds me of Edward Burtynsky, but in a polar opposite way. I feel Arthus-Betrand focuses on the beautiful features of our fragile world, whereas Burtynsky focuses on the scars left by humanity on our world.

(Gotta get down from meta-land now...) Ok, so Arthus-Betrand is having a show of his work in NYC in 2009, and then in California in 2010 (San Francisco not L.A. please.) The Boston newspaper has a large amount of his photos online, with great commentary!

Tunde Adebimpo + Dose One + Mike Patton = new band!!!

2008-10-06T23:04:00.001-07:00

When reading Pitchfork today I noticed an announcement about a new band in the works. Tunde Adebimpo (lead singer of TV on the Radio), Dose One (lead singer of Subtle, 13 & God), and Mike Patton (lead singer of Faith no More, Lovage, Peeping Tom) are all going to form a band together. I assume this is going to really kick ass as all 3 of these guys are great singers.

I recently heard about a new project that Mike Patton is working on with Dan the Automator (producer of Lovage, Dr. Octagon, and others) called Crudo. Could this be the amazing new colaboration mentioned above? Dan the Automator and Dose One both live in San Francisco. Gotta find these guys and ask em!

Osborne

2008-10-06T09:53:00.001-07:00

Everybody, take heed... Now's the time to go buy Osborne's (Todd Osborn) self titled album, available on Ghostly International. I've been listening to this record for a few weeks now on shuffle without getting too excited. Then, a few days ago it dawned on me that I like get excited everytime an Osborne song ends up coming on. I then realized that his music subtly sneaks up on you, and next thing you know you're really digging it. Very cool.

His sound is rather interesting. It runs the gammit from House, Techno, Electro, Afrobeat. All in all his tracks are really good, and are also very varried. The record feels very diverse. Speaking of his music, check out "There." This song is a sonic metaphor for his sound. It starts out subtle and mellow, then really opens up and builds a lot of momentum. Also, make sure your sound is turned way up, and the bass maxed out.

Fleet Foxes "White Winter Hymnal" video

2008-10-02T09:24:00.000-07:00

I stumbled upon Fleet Foxes a few months ago, and have really enjoyed their music. I saw them perform at Austin City Limits last weekend, and they have been upgraded from enjoyable to freaking addicting. Anyways, check out their video for White Winter Hymnal. It's really interesting.

Now that you've seen it, did you notice the subtle progression in the lives of the band members?

Strangest commercial ever for Nike Women

2008-09-28T09:42:00.000-07:00

I am absolutely blown away by this video for Nike Women that was made by director Luis Nieto for Wieden+Kennedy. The video features the various body parts in a runner's body discussing the pros and cons of running a hurdle race. Weird as hell, but incredible.

Thanks Laughing Squid for the link.

Un-freaking-believable pictures of hurricane Ike

2008-09-18T11:48:00.000-07:00

My father's family was born and raised in Galveston, Texas. A few of my relatives have lost their homes to hurricane Ike. I knew things were bad for my folks, but I truly had no idea until viewing these hi-res pics on boston.com.

Brand new 100 year old SIGG bottle

2008-09-18T11:15:00.000-07:00

I've been meaning to get my hands on a metal water bottle after reading a few articles about BPA that may/may not be in my plastic water bottle. While at REI the other day I ran across this limited edition SIGG water bottle that mimics the design of their original bottle from 1908. It's called the SIGG 100 year bottle. I immediately had to pick one up. They are also available from REI.com. Make sure you check out the "excalibur" version. The other two suck.

Sick new Peter Saville shirts for DC Shoes

2008-09-18T10:29:00.001-07:00

I just saw these incredible new shirts designed by Peter Saville for DC Shoes while browsing High Snobiety. Peter Saville was the graphic designer in charge of all album covers for Factory Records, including the infamous Unknown Pleasures album art for Joy Division... which is certainly an influence to this shirt. The shirts are available now from Black Rainbow in France. Sadly no American retailers have the shirt yet, so be prepared to pay in Euros!

White version
Black version

Stream the new Cold War Kids album!

2008-09-18T10:22:00.000-07:00

MTV.com is streaming the entire new Cold War Kids album Loyalty to Loyalty. I heard a lot of their new tracks at the Outside Lands Festival a few weeks back, and they are really good. Give it a listen here!

(Thanks Stereogum for the tip)

The Dears: Meltdown in A Minor

2008-09-10T14:30:00.000-07:00

I just saw that The Dears are playing at The Independent in SF on Nov 3rd. Nice! Even better, I just went to their website, and saw that they have a new song streaming "Meltdown in A Minor." F*ing nice! Check this one out, and let me know ANYTHING about a new album if one's in the works.

Just for a lil something extra, here is one of Murray's rediculous acoustic shows from the time he played at Amoeba Records in SF.

Daedaulus + James Pants @ Elbo Room tonight!

2008-09-05T15:33:00.000-07:00

I already picked up a ticket to check out Ellen Allien + Modeselektor tonight at Mighty. However, Daedalus and James Pants are playing tonight at Elbo Room for the B.OD.Y.H.E.A.T. I recently saw Daedalus at 111 Minna and he was pretty dope. It's James Pants that I would LOVE to check out! Damn conflicting shows! Even more, it's only 6$!!!!!

Ellen Allien + Modeselektor @ Mighty tonight!

2008-09-05T14:35:00.001-07:00

Ellen Allien and Modeselektor will both be performing live at Mighty tonight for the Jetlag Tour! Ellen in support of her new album "Sool" and Modeselektor in support of their somewhat recent album "Happy Birthday." Come out and check out two of the best artists on the Bpitch Control label.

Pretty much mobile: Shuffle premonitions?

2008-08-21T09:26:00.000-07:00

So I'm occasionally going to be posting from my phone. Whenever I do
I'll preface the post with the "Pretty much mobile" title.

So this morning I was walking around my apartment singing the lines
"Next in line, next in line, get on, get off." These are lyrics from
"Trolly Friend" by Pattern is Movement. Such a great song to listen to
on a trolly or cable car in SF! Anyways I jumped into my car to head
to the train and plugged in my iPhone. I used the double-tap to
automatically start playing something on shuffle. Guess what came on
first... "Trolly Friend." Coincidence or premonition?

San Francisco City and Arts Lectures "Talking Music"

2008-08-19T23:41:00.000-07:00

The San Francisco City & Arts Lectures group is hosting a series of events this fall that center around a night hosted by a song writer and literary writer. The series is called "Talking Music" and will feature some pretty interesting duos:

09-11: Stephen Merritt + Daniel Handler
12-17: Will Sheff + Andrew Leland
01-28: Neko Case + Callie Khouri
02-24: John Darnielle + Tobias Wolff
04-27: Laurie Anderson + Michael Azzerad

The events will take place in Herbst Theatre, at the Palace of Fine Arts. I saw the Eels do something along these lines there and it was a real blast. Sadly I am not well versed in most of these artists. However, Will Sheff is the writer / lead singer for Austin, TX band Okkervil River and is one hell of a songwriter. JOY!

Patent Leather Pillow

2008-08-19T23:37:00.000-07:00

A little something for the fetishist in all of us....

Ever remember when you fall asleep, and start drooling all over your pillow? Remember how the pillow kind of sticks to your face? Well, to make matters worse, think about what it would be like if that pillow was patent leather. CB2 did, and it costs 20$. Not a bad deal if I do say so myself.

Thanks cribcandy for the tip

Y: The Last Man... read it now!

2008-08-19T23:21:00.000-07:00

I just decided to start reading Y: The Last Man (by Brian K Vaughan and Pia Guerra) after hearing about it in just about every comic and book store. I've finished 2 of the 10 books, and I am officiall obsessed. The story (no spoilers) is as follows:

One day every single male mammal on earth dies except for Yarick Brown, and his pet monkey Ampersand. Shit hits the fan. Women go crazy. Yarick embarks on a quest to find his girlfriend in Australia with a geneticist and a secret agent.

Seriously though, this series is amazing! Great plot, well defined characters, tons of cliff hangers. And no, it doesn't go into all the cheesy things that a comic book about a world of all women could.

I am obsessed with Metronomy

2008-08-19T22:56:00.000-07:00

I recently ran across Metronomy when I saw their video for "Heartbreaker" on Pitchfork TV. After hearing some of their tracks, I am completely obsessed. These guys are great! Their tracks sound like a mix of Klaxons, Hot Chip, Foals, and maybe even The Cars? (Wow that's a lot of U.K. influences.) Regardless their music is rather fun, and suprisingly contains a lot of layers.

Apparently these guys are originally from Brighton, and now reside in London. Just like how every American band moves to NYC. Their LP Nights Out will be Sept 8th so make sure you pick it up.

Here's the video for "Heartbreaker" which is certainly the best track of theirs that I've heard to date.

Bloc Party Intimacy out Aug 21

2008-08-19T22:40:00.000-07:00

Bloc Party has just announced they are releasing a new album Intimacy. If you pre-order the album which officially drops in October, you get access to a digital copy on August 21. Two singles "Trojan Horse" and "Mercury" are playable on their myspace.

Thanks Stereogum for the tip!

Also, here's the video for "Mercury," which I have never actually watched. (Thouogh the song is good!)

Bon Iver: Blood Bank (Live)

2008-08-15T08:25:00.000-07:00

Bon Iver is profound. I can't stop listening to "For Emma, Forever Ago." This record is without a doubt my favorite record of 2008 (atleast up to now.) I just saw on Stereogum that Bon Iver has recorded a new song called "Blood Bank" that he's been playing live. You should check it out, because this song is intense as hell! Think of a song that starts with the crescendo in "Wolves Pt. I and II."

New York Times: Olympic Medal Count

2008-08-14T14:26:00.000-07:00

The New York Times has launched a site that allows you to view the amount of medals earned by each country in the 2008 Beijing Olympics. The size of a country's circle conveys the amount of medals won in that particular year. There is also a nifty slider that allows the user to view results from previous years. A friend mentioned how you can see the correlation between number of medals, and a certain coutries world dominance (Russia).

The National "A thousand black cities"

2008-08-14T10:11:00.000-07:00

I just saw on Stereogum that The National performed a new song titled "A thousand black cities" in Copenhagen a few days ago. This recording is kind of crappy, but still is worth a listen. I'm not sure if I really dig the sound of the song, but I certainly like the dystopian lyrics. Anyways, see for yourself.

By the way, The National's "Boxer" is without a doubt the best album of 2007.

Redman "Run my block" ... in a Smart car!

2008-08-14T09:50:00.000-07:00

A friend of mine just sent me this music video by Redman fro "Run my block." He's cruising around in a Smart car in the video, which is absolutely hilarious. I doubt that he really appreciates the Smart car, but who cares. I think this is cool because the hip-hop community might actually start to embrace the Smart car now that it has appeared in a music video. This can only have positive outcome.

Incredible new Grizzly Bear live songs

2008-08-13T08:28:00.001-07:00

"Yellow House" by Grizzly Bear has been one of my longest running favorite albums over the past few years. It pretty much always stays on my iPhone. "The Cold Nose" / "Whitey on the Moon" by Department of Eagles (Grizzly Bear off-shoot) is also a favorite. Imagine my excitement when I ran across a few new songs that Grizzly Bear has been performing live in 2008. These are all new tracks, none of which are officially released. Enjoy!

"While you wait for the others" on KCRW

"Two weeks" on David Letterman
(The volume is high on this recording)

"Fine for now" at All Points West Festival

V-Moda Vibe Duo: Quality FAIL

2008-08-12T15:15:00.000-07:00

Do not buy V-Moda headphones. I repeat. Do not buy V-Moda headphones. Tell your friends.

I wanted to love V-Moda! Their headphones look rather nice, fit like a charm, and sound amazing. Plus they are only 99$. However, as many a friend know I have had to warranty my V-Moda headphones numerous times. This is just unacceptable. I treat all of my personal possessions with the utmost care, yet these guys keep failing on me. It must be said that V-Moda customer service is very kind and promptly replaces my headphones for me every time they break. However, when you consider the downtime without headphones, plus the cost to ship my broken pair back, the opportunity cost is not worth the benefit. I give up, and I wish I could trade my headphones back to V-Moda for my 99$.Here is my history with my V-Moda headphones:

May 07: Order V-Moda Vibe
Sep 07: My V-Modas fail and I get a warranty them.
Oct 07: I buy a pair of V-Moda Vibe Duos for my iPhone, and sell my other V-Modas.
Dec 07: My V-Moda Duos fail and I warranty them.
Apr 08: My V-Moda Duos fail and I warranty them.
Aug 08: My V-Moda Duos are starting to fail again.

Here's a few issues with their design. (Two of which account for the failures I encountered.)
- The cable on the V-Moda Duos is made of fabric and doesn't protect the wire as it enters the plug.
- The glue used to attach the metal plug sheath to the 2.5mm jack doesn't hold.
- The answer / skip button on the mic is tiny and rather hard to press accurately.

Sebastien Tellier "Sexuality"

2008-08-06T08:19:00.001-07:00

This record is almost addictive as sex! But seriously though, you all have to check this record out. Sebastien Tellier is a french pop singer from Paris. His sound is best described as Junior Boys with a french accent singing all about sex over Daft Punk beats. Speaking of which, his record is produced by Guy-Manuel de Homem-Christo who is 1/2 of Daft Punk. Go figure! By the way, this guy makes great music but looks like he's in ZZ Top.

Anyways, check out the record. It's the best music to make love to your lady by since Lovage!

Favorite tracks:
- Kilometer
- Look
- Fingers of Steel
- L'amour et la Violence

This might be my least favorite track on the album, but here is the first video from "Sexuality."

Skull Candy "Holua" wooden earbuds

2008-08-06T08:13:00.000-07:00

Skull Candy is progressing nicely as a headphone brand. Their original line was geared at the skate/snow community, but is now branching into the designer market. Skull Candy just dropped these "Holua" earbuds which are encased in actual wood, with a little metal accent. Not to mention, you also get a wooden carrying case.

Stats:

- 8mm speaker
- Frequency range: 20 – 20K Hz
- Impedance: 16 ohms
- Max input power: 200mW
- Cable type: Aluminum foil
- Cable length: 1.3 M
- Plug type: 3.5mm gold plated

Thanks to Acquire for the tip.

Barbie Doll Porn?

2008-08-04T20:55:00.001-07:00

I recently ran across the art of Alex Sandwell Kliszynski on Design Boom. He takes nude photos of men and women, and then photoshops them to look like Barbie dolls. I love this concept, especially in the way that he "removes" the main aspects that people admire in nude pictures.

Delta keychains for Stussy

2008-08-04T20:24:00.001-07:00

I was just at the Stussy store on Haight Street yesterday, and saw all the new shirts that Delta has designed for the label. Honestly I was not all that impressed. Sadly I didn't take the time to look into the display case. Delta also just designed these amazing keychains for Stussy. They remind me of the Radar figure that Delta came out with a year or so ago (I have the black!) Anyways, I really need to get my hands on one of these. GID or black?

(Thanks High Snobiety for the top.)

Amazing plush figures by Mr. & Mrs. Muju

2008-08-04T20:14:00.000-07:00

I just saw these incredible felt figurines by Mr and Mrs. Muju on NotCot today. I have to admit that I was blown away by these figures. Absolutely incredible. They remind me of a cross between a Studio Ghibli film and a Mars-1 painting. I really wish I could own the blue / green creature, but it was a one-of-a-kind and is long gone. I would definitely love to see some of these figures re-interpreted in vinyl. I can't believe these guys sell for only around 15 - 35 pounds!

Here is a description from the Mujuworld site about the project:

Mujuworld is another dimension brought to life by artists, Mr & Mrs Muju. Since 2002 Mujuworld characters have been appearing around the world. Muju plush toys have been exhibited worldwide & the graphic work continues to develop through painting, screenprints & photography.

Team Muju work across many different mediums, creating hand crafted items which they hope will inspire a positive response from the viewer. A resistance to mass production also limits the quantity of work produced. This helps us keep to the highest quality in all that we make.

A love for the creative process & continual exploration of the mujuworld dimension guide the way.

"The Teeth Project" by Biser

2008-07-31T10:14:00.000-07:00

Biser is a mysterious artist that is working on a project called "The Teeth Project" which is part of a show called "Addicted to Details." I wasn't able to find any information about the artist, except what was mentioned on Vinyl Pulse. I am incredibly impressed by his custom made tribal figures, and also by his three dimensional graffiti pieces. I wish I lived in Germany so I could check out this show!

Paper AK-47

2008-07-25T11:43:00.000-07:00

I was browsing the StrangeCo site today to see if they had any info on their new SDCC releases. while browsing I ran across this rather interesting item. German designer Martin Postler has created a 1:1 replica of an AK-47 made out of paper. I have always loved paper crafts, and this sounds incredibly interesting. So many ideas! It would be interesting to paint this sucker to look exactly like the real deal, then tote it around in conspicuous locations. Oh wait, wouldn't it suck to be arrested for a paper assault rifle!

Fonzworth Bentley + Kanye + Andre 3000 + Sa-Ra

2008-07-23T23:06:00.000-07:00

Here's the video for "Int'l Player's Anthem (I Choose You)" by Fonzworth Bentley from his upcoming album C.O.L.O.U.R.S. This guy used to be Puff Daddy's personal assistant, but now is rocking it on his own (with a lot of talented friends). Remember the "I like the way you move" video by Big Boi? That was Bentley dancing with the umbrella. Nice!

Thanks Pitchfork for the link.