July 16, 2008

{      At The Gates @ Irving Plaza NYC: July 9th, 2008.      }    

The last time I saw anything Tomas Lindberg was involved with was in 2006 when Disfear played a show with Phobia at CBGB's. I broke my elbow on the way there in a bike accident. I wanted to see them so bad though, that I actually put off going to the hospital until after the show.

Totally metal or completely retarded? I'll let you be the judge of that. All I know is it was worth it (and hoodie pockets make good arm slings).

July 10, 2008

{      Brixton Ltd      }    

It’s around eighty-five degrees here with what I can only imagine to be the humidity of the African rainforest. The sun is beating down with not a cloud in the sky much the way an evil scientist’s death ray would hold a city for ransom. Instead of waiting for a break in the weather we are left with few options but to do our best to walk in the sun or stay in the shade. I chose to cap my lid and walk on with a hat from Brixton Ltd.

July 8, 2008

{      Tilly And The Wall - "O"      }    

I have been putting off reviewing this album because I really wanted to give it time to embed itself in my head permanently. I seemed to have had an epiphany, fuck reviewing this album. It seems to only take three listens at most to fall deeply in love so I am just going to give you this brief blurb and a few downloads. This album is a collection of 11 gems, only three of witch manage to break the 3 minute mark. I have been following this band for years now and it seems like they finally made the album I always hoped they would make.

The song "Pot Kettle Black" is an instant classic in my mind, the bands love for The Black Lips shows through a bit in that particular song. The rhythms in this album are second to none, I mean a tap dancer gives you something you just do not get in most modern music. I love 909 bass hits and snare drums, I also like drummers who still find ways to make 5 things to beat sound interesting, but the tap dancer makes me want to dance, and man, thats a fucking miracle. I offer you three cuts, do not pass this album up.

     » Tilly And The Wall - "Pot Kettle Black" (Zshare)
     » Tilly And The Wall - "Dust Me Off" (Zshare)
     » Tilly And The Wall - "Tall Tall Grass" (Zshare)
     » Tilly And The Wall Official Site
     » Team Love Website
     » Team Love Store

June 26, 2008

{      Air France "No Way Down EP" (Sincerely Yours)      }    

Ah, Sincerely Yours - oh, how I love you. The label created by one of my very favorite bands, The Tough Alliance, manages to occasionally place casual gems into my unexpecting hands that slowly become some of my most loved songs ever. The latest piece to do so is the too-short EP from Sweden's Air France titled "No Way Down". A colorful wave of beach foam pop soaked in rays of Boards of Canada sunshine, it's an automatic must-hear. Sprawling and epic in style, but warm and caressing in feel, this new EP from Air France is a welcome addition to my summer sounds.

Linked below is the title track, please do seek out the full EP.

     » Air France "No Way Down" (zshare)
     » Air France on Myspace

June 23, 2008

{      R.I.P. George Carlin      }    

Shit, Piss, Fuck, Cunt, Cocksucker, Motherfucker & Tits. R.I.P.
AP news report below:

June 18, 2008

{      Iron Maiden at Madison Square Garden 6/15/08      }    

If you had told me 20 years ago when I was in the midst of drawing one of many, many drawings of Iron Maiden's ubiquitous mascot Eddie in the back of Mrs. Overby's 8th grade English class, that I would go to Madison Square Garden in New York Fucking City and see Iron Maiden play a show to 19,000 some people in 2008 I would have thrown a spit wad at you. That I actually did just see them is still sinking in.

It was a completely pants pissing experience.

June 15, 2008

{      Cult of Luna "Eternal Kingdom"      }    

If any band can be said to encapsulate all that the "Neur-Isis instro-metal" universe has had to offer over the course of last decade it's Cult Of Luna. In their short history they have gone from being creators of the best fist pumping, roid-raging doom this planet has heard to a group whose musical curiosity has opened a vocabulary as progressive as it is minimal, as beautiful as it is brutal, and as organic as it is taut.

June 11, 2008

{      Mishka & Richard Kern Summer '08      }    

Quick note: the Mishka & Richard Kern capsule set, comprised of four portrait tees shot by internationally recognized photographer and culturally provocative filmmaker & video director Richard Kern, just landed in the Mishka shop, so get at 'em fast. And if you can't buy, then at least go check out the lookbook shot entirely by the sweet and super-talented Ellen Stagg and modeled by alt-porn lovelies Justine Joli, Ariel & Nicole.

From the Mishka site: "Born in 1954, Richard Kern is a widely acclaimed portrait artist who first came to prominence as a part of the underground cultural explosion in NYC’s East Village during the 1980s. Through his erotic films, featuring underground rock icons such as Lydia Lunch, Kembra Pfahler and Henry Rollins, Kern explored a deep interest in the aesthetics of extreme sex, violence and perversion.

Printed on 4 colors, the Kern for Mishka capsule illuminates the story of some of his most intriguing models including Lung Leg, a prominent scenster of the 1980s akin to Edie Sedgwick, that Kern can be accredited with discovering. To properly capture the collection, Mishka invited renowned erotic photographer Ellen Stagg – also a former Kern model – to shoot the special Look Book. Very much a disciple of Richard Kern, Ellen’s portfolio includes clients like VHI Publicity, I-D, Life, Mass Appeal, The Fader, MTV, Vogue, Interview and VICE Magazine to name a few. "

June 6, 2008

{      World's Largest Plush Show (or so they say)      }    

Ladies and gents who love plush dolls, plush toys and plush just about anything, you are in luck. If you're in St. Louis, Missouri or nearby tomorrow night (June 6th) or for the next four Friday nights don't forget to check out the World's Largest Plush Show: Crammed Organisms. It's four unique venues, four different shows and one massive collaboration from some of the best plush designers from around the world. There will be over 140 plush artist and more than 700 original plush creatures of all shapes and sizes that will be featured in a book published in limited edition especially for the show.

I took a browse through the line and chose a few of the many incredible plush dolls and designers. Very colorful Fluffels, absolutely adorable creatures from AbsolutelySmall, intriguing SpokSpok toys, original and squared, and a personal favorite crew of plushies from ThePixels, the super sweet Minu and way to many to mention. Seriously, if you can make these shows and love plush then do it, you will be glad you did!

June 4, 2008

{      Nike "Metal" Vandal Highs      }    

Yes please.

Peoples are starting to bang their heads to these new joints from Nike and I'm throwin' the horns as well. There is an accompanying pair of Terminators in this Metal Pack, but I ain't havin' 'em - these Vandal High Supremes though is what I'm all about. The pack will drop at Atmos on June 14th and the good news is that they're not going to be limited eds. They're set to be a readily available addition to the Nike Fall '08 collection, so the gettin' will be good. Bang yer head to more pics after the jump...

{      Threadless "Summer Blockbuster" Sale      }    

Threadless.com has just a few days left of their "Summer Blockbuster" Sale, launched June 2nd and running until midnight on June 8th. They've released 18 new designs and 18 reprints of past favorites, with all tees, hoodies and Threadless Kids products are on some serious sale (most priced at $10). Also of note is that Threadless' new line of limited-edition silk-screened prints are on sale as well, so now is the time to buy!

     » Threadless "Summer Blockbuster" Sale!

June 3, 2008

{      Lil' Wayne "The Carter III"      }    

Finally it leaked. Lil' Wayne's The Carter III is here and since you'll read about it everywhere, there's not much I'm gonna say. Here are the two heaters off it that I can't stop listening to. They're not the best tracks by far, but they're stuck in my head and everyone else is gonna be posting the Hova joint anyways. They are the instant summer jam "Let The Beat Build", an aptly named burner produced by Kanye West, and "La La", the so-bad-it's-good track produced by David Banner (featuring Busta Rhymes). "La La" is really hard to like with its strange beat and, well, just wait 'til you hear it, and Wayne's rhymes are just plain dumb in parts, however it's still a fun track that I've listened to many times over already today. "Let The Beat Build" is another solid piece from Kanye, set up to knock you down all summer long. "That's how you let the beat build biiiiitch. It goes boom, ba-boom, ba-boom. It go boom, ba-boom, ba-boom. Let the beat build biiiiitch..."

808 and a snare. It may be simple, but it works. You just wait.

     » Lil' Wayne "Let The Beat Build" (zshare)
     » Lil' Wayne "La La" (zshare)