REM Rock on "Living Well Is The Best Revenge"

Living Well Is The Best Revenge

Oh, REM. To people in my generation, they will always hold an important place in our hearts. They seemed unique and exciting and literate in the midst of a massive sea of Poison and Slaughter and Trixter. But when Bill Berry left after the underrated New Adventures in Hi-Fi, they haven't made a good album since. A few good tunes here and there (Leaving New York), but mostly have carried on in a truly bizarre, soulless way. I call it an odd soullessness, because the one thing REM always had was soul. Apparently, when Berry left, the soul left too.

Anyway, here is a killer live version of Living Well is the Best Revenge, a killer track off yet another so-so record. But this crackles and kicks, so enjoy.

It Might Get Loud Looks Like The Coolest Thing Ever

It Might Get Loud is a new documentary featuring Jack White, Jimmy Page, ant The Edge. I can't tell you how great it looks!

Check it out here.

x/+ Show Opens Saturday Evening

On Saturday, August 22nd, I will have an opening at the Bang Salon in Greenville. The x/+ exhibition will present work found previously in the XTRMNTR series.

The opening will be around 5, and will feature 3 live bands. Bitterman, Feeding the Fire, and the Dixie Ramblers will all rock the Bang. Come out and check out some art and listen to some tunes.

Bang Salon is located at 1 Wade Hampton Blvd.

Sam Weber Paints Really Well

Sam Weber does a lot of work for the covers of graphic novels, and his paintings are fabulous.

Check them out here.

Lessons From Swiss Graphic Design Rules

Lessons From Swiss Graphic Design over at the superb Smashing Magazine is a massive collection of great stuff.

Take a look here because it will blow you away.

PS - Thanks again Nubby for the heads up.

Kevin Smith Superman Story Is True, Hilarious

Back in the mid-Nineties Kevin Smith was the indie film darling for a few years, having written and directed slacker classics like Clerks, Mallrats, and Chasing Amy. I remember hearing at the time that he was writing and directing a new Superman film, but it never came to fruition, and years later the unbelievably terrible Superman Returns came out. Anyway, in the clip above Smith tells the actual story of what happened to that project. It is hilarious. Trust me, it's worth the time to watch it.

Les Paul, Creator of the Greatest Object In Human History, Dies at 94

Les Paul, the guitar legend who designed the (duh) Gibson Les Paul guitar, is dead at 94. It's absolutely staggering to consider his legacy.

Without Les Paul, you don't have any of the following:

Jimmy Page
Slash
Pete Townshend
Steve Jones
Mick Ronson

Other famous Les Paul players include: Zakk Wylde/Randy Rhoads (Ozzy Osbourne), Frank Zappa, Paul McCartney, Billie Joe Armstrong (Green Day Sucks ed. note), Bumblefoot (Guns N' Roses), Lindsey Buckingham, Vivian Campbell (Def Leppard), Chris Chasse (Rise Again), Graham Coxon (Blur), Eric Clapton, Steve Clark (Def Leppard), Sheryl Crow, Al Di Meola, Andy Dunlop (Travis), Elliot Easton (Cars), David "The Edge" Evans (U2), Ace Frehley (KISS), Don Felder (Eagles), John Frusciante (Red Hot Chili Peppers), Noel Gallagher (Oasis), Jerry Garcia (The Grateful Dead), David Gilmour (Pink Floyd), Stone Gossard (Pearl Jam), Peter Green (Fleetwood Mac), Steve Hackett (Genesis), Kirk Hammett (Metallica), George Harrison, Jimi Hendrix, James Hetfield (Metallica), Noel Hogan (The Cranberries), James Honeyman-Scott (The Pretenders), Brian Jones (The Rolling Stones), Terry Kath (Chicago), Frank Lero (My Chemical Romance), Kerry Livgren (Kansas), Mike McCready (Pearl Jam), Bob Marley, Joe Perry (Aerosmith), Tom Scholz (Boston), Neal Schon (Santana, Journey), Earl Slick (David Bowie),Brad Whitford (Aerosmith), Nancy Wilson (Heart), Neil Young, Mick Taylor (The Rolling Stones).

Wow. Thank you Les Paul, you will be missed.

Johnnie Walker Clip Is Absolutely Stunning

This is incredible. My friend Eric said he heard it took like 40 takes to pull this off. And of course, Robert Carlyle rocks too.

Just watch it. Seriously, it's awesome.

Is Microsoft Dying?

Very interesting article from Daring Fireball about the current status of the computer sales market. Apparently recent figures have suggested that Apple owns about 91% of computer sales above $1000 dollars. This means essentially, if you bought a computer that cost over a grand, there is a nine out of ten chance you bought a Mac. Pretty fascinating stuff.

Take a look here for the entire story.

BTW - thanks again Nubby for the heads up.

Polaroid Vs. Poladroid: See The Differences For Yourself

As I've mentioned before, I love Polaroid. There is another digital option for artists that do not own a Polaroid, or don't have any film, etc. That option is Poladroid, a great free program which digitally creates the look of Polaroid. However, there are several differences between true, legitimate Polaroids and the digitally simulated Poladroid. The gallery above present both Polaroids and Poladroids back to back in order to better understand the differences between them.

From my flickr stream: A side by side comparison of an original Polaroid with a Poladroid version of the same frame. Poladroid automatically "Holga-izes" the images, adding a heavier vignette to the out edges of the frame.

The bottom line? As the song once said, "Ain't nothin' like the real thing baby" - it's Polaroid or nothing if you really want that legit Polaroid feel.

Take a look here for more information.

Josef Muller Brockmann Is Still the Mann

Josef Muller Brockmann is one of the greatest designers in history. Take a few minutes and enjoy this slideshow of his work. It will inspire you.

Thanks Woody

Take heed in this quote from Woody Allen. It gives me solace.

Nubby Twiglet's Media Kit Is Totally Rocking

If you read this blog very often, then you know that I link to a blog called Nubby Twiglet alot. She always has great links, layout, etc. Always, always, always has good stuff.

Recently she posted her 2009 Media Kit. And it is excellent, as expected.

Go take a look at it here.

The 25 Essential, Classic Typefaces Everyone Should Own

Spoongraphics has a nice list of the top 25 Essential Typefaces. I would have to agree with the vast majority of their selections. (No Gotham though, and that seems inexcusable!)

BTW - I in fact do not own DIN, pictured at left, which really grinds me as it is one of my favorite faces of all time.

Album by Jonsi of Sigur Ros As Good As You Might Think

The new album by Sigur Ros lead singer Jonsi has arrived, and it is exactly what you thought it would be. Orchestral, moving, glorious, amazing, and totally overwhelming. If listening to Riceboy Sleeps doesn't stir up places in yourself, then you should go to the hospital, because you may actually be dead.

Check out their great site too - Jonsi and Alex have produced alot of beautiful artwork as well. Go here to take a look.

Take a listen here - it will blow you away.

BTW - I absolutely love the cover as well.

Lomographic Society International Is One Stop Shop For Polaroiders

The Lomographic Society International website is an amazing resource for anyone out there interested in Polaroid, Holga, Poladroid, Diana, Instax, or Holgaroids. Sales, information, galleries, etc. - basically anything and everything that you need to know in order to get started, or to augment your experience.

Take a look here, it's fantastic.

BTW - the image at left is of DeNiro from the filming of Taxi Driver, shot on a Warhol approved Polaroid BigShot. Super cool.

Beautiful Losers Trailer Is Inspiring

Watch this. Then go work. Smile, and be happy.

Tilt Shift Photo Style Comes To Video

Fire (Jimmy Edgar Remix)-Codebreaker Feat. Kathy Diamond from Erik West on Vimeo.

Tilt shift photography has been the thing for awhile now, but this is the first time that I have really seen in done in motion. The results are spectacular. Check it out.

The Summer Polaroid Project

I absolutely am insanely in love with Polaroids, and am incredibly sad to find out that they no longer are being manufactured. So, so sad.

Anyway, I will be doing some epic post about them in the future, but for now check out some samples of my Summer Polaroid Project. I shot a bunch of stuff and wish I could have shot more. Check it out here.

BTW - while you are there, check out my Majestic Summer Beard Project as well.

The Dead Weather + Aesthetic Apparatus = Killer

My favorite band of the moment, The Dead Weather, have commissioned Aesthetic Apparatus (one of the very, very best gig poster designers in the entire world) to design several posters for their upcoming shows. Screened in the trademark band colors black, white, and yellow, the posters are, of course - knockout.

Do yourself a favor - go buy a poster (or all three for $100) and Horehound, the debut album from the Dead Weather. You won't be sorry on either count!

Buy posters here and records here.

BTW - I love it when great artists get together, and this is definitely a case of that. Awesome.

Young Monster Juxtapose With the Best of Them

Print collective Young Monster utilizes a combination of stark juxtaposition, collage, and traditional screenprinting in a fresh and unique way.

Check them out here.

Paperworks Laboratories Bring Cool People Together

Paperworks Laboratories is a great print collective which features Robert Pollard (yes, that Robert Pollard of Guided By Voices) as well as some other great artists.

Check out the work of The Mac (his piece is at left) and others, here.

Lars And The Real Girl Is Original, Moving

Lars and the Real Girl is an interesting film that is incredibly sweet without being cheesy or sappy. The film concerns a mentally delusional man in northern Wisconsin whom announces that he is in love with a "real doll" - the kind they sell on the internet.

The film works well, mainly due to the superb performances from Ryan Gosling in the title roll, as well as the vastly underrated Paul Schrader (who was excellent in The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford, one of the most under valued films of the decade).

This is an off beat little film, that is a feel good movie in the best sense of the term.

Give it a shot if you are in the mood for something a little different.

The Impossible Cool Is Impossibly Cool

The Impossible Cool is a blog devoted to real cool, be it new or old. It's a nice little refresher in terms of fashion too.

The site features photos intermingled with great quotes, like this one:

“Beauty and the devil are the same thing.” Robert Mapplethorpe

Film Title Screen Caps Are Beautiful

There is an amazing, amazing collection of screencaps from film titles. This group of images are moving, beautiful, and functional.

Check them out here.

Hello Hello (Said It's Good To Be Back)

Hello all - I am sorry for the silence - I've been on the road and off the grid for the past few weeks, but am finally back!

We now resume our regular broadcast. Thank you.