Just two beings hustlin' to deliver what’s what and when’s where of la crème de la crème. The Best. The End.

Keep Posted

Showing newest 16 of 18 posts from December 2009. Show older posts
Showing newest 16 of 18 posts from December 2009. Show older posts

Wednesday, December 30, 2009

True Blood

I haven't been blogging because I've been obsessing.
True Blood is amazing and I have no shame in it.
I love the way Vampire Bill (hehe) says Sookie's name.
and it's SOOKIE NOT SNOOKIE!
[We'll talk about Jersey Shore another time.]


Ready Set Mix #2

It's that time again! yup! Ready Set a.k.a Brad hit us up with another mix and it's pretty rad. Rad enought to get Miley Sirus. So instead of playing awkward inspirational pop songs at ur NYE pre drink, PUT! THIS! ON!!!!!!!!

Download it Here!

Track Listing:
Chuckie vs. LMFAO - Let the Bass Kick in Miami - (DJ Inphinity Mashup)
Audio Bullys - Flickery Vision (Jamie Anderson Remix)
Busy P - Protect and Entertain (Crookers Remix)
Jackbeats - Get Down
Gigi Barocco - Play With It
AC Slayter - Bassline Time
Laidback Luke & Lee Mortimer - Blau! (LA Riots Remix)
Strom - Darum (Autoslide Remix)
FuckJack - MC Wobblin (The Funk Out Remix)
Magik Johnson - The Boy Blew (Calvertron Remix)

Megan E. Mitchell Design










I'm a huge fan of Megan E. Mitchell's collection of old 7" factory sleeves, and I feel a bit sad that our generation has lost touch with the whole aesthetic of vinyl (Not that I'd rather be lugging around a crate of records instead of using an iPod). While I'm definitely not advocating that people buy a gramophone, some of my favourite memories of listening to music when I was young are based on listening to records while looking at their covers & casings. Especially "Ghost Riders in the Sky" by The Outlaws, that record cover kind of had my four year old self tripping balls back in the day, all terrified of the ghost cattle on the cover.

Part of me hopes that with the internet so full of bedroom producers cranking out painfully ear-shattering electro, we might take things in another direction and 2010 might mark a bit of a return to self-produced & distributed vinyl, like back in the era of White Labels. For example, my brother Mike's band, Mockingbird Wish Me Luck just got picked up by an Australian label to do an exclusive 7" vinyl EP, let's hope it becomes a trend so I can go back to ogling vinyl covers (and so my brother will become rich as a musician and never have to get a 'real job')

Thursday, December 24, 2009

Xxxmas Wishes!

Photobucket

Wouldn't life be worth the living
Wouldn't dreams be coming true
If we kept the Christmas spirit
All the whole year through?
~Author Unknown


Photobucket

Tuesday, December 22, 2009

shooting stars



Hidden Cat- Shooting Stars (Bag Raiders Cover)

Growing up in a 'dog' kind of family, I really don't understand how a cat thinks, why they're so moody, why they're all aggro one minute and flopping over on their stomachs the next. They seem untrustworthy, especially because there's been a cat wandering the hallways of my apartment for the last month and a half (who belongs to my neighbour) who has taken to meowing loudly outside my door until I let him in so he can stalk around my room and get freaked out at the smallest of noises. I honestly don't understand how their tiny brains work, but that doesn't prevent me from absolutely loving the latest effort of Hidden Cat, who've done a superb cover of my favourite Bag Raiders slowjam of all time, "Shooting Stars". Though there's no vocals in this version, that perfect 'last song of the night' vibe remains.

Saturday, December 12, 2009

DECEMBER 18TH: CLAUDE VON STROKE / MOD CLUB / GUELPH PARTY BUS!!

Photobucket

ARCADE FRIDAYS @ MODClub have arranged a bus that is taking everyone from Guelph to Toronto [and back after the show], in a package that includes a Ticket, Line-ByPass & Guestlist for $20!

HOSTED BY: The RIOT & Matthew Mihok
ORGANIZED BY: Matthew Mihok

For more details on the event follow the link to the FACEBOOK EVENT PAGE

Hot Chip On 420 and Other Concert Listings!

Photobucket


18-DEC-09 CLAUDE VON STROKE (MOD CLUB) 19+ $15.00

26-DEC-09 DEADMAU5 (GUVERNMENT) 19+ $??

12-JAN-10 FINAL FANTASY (MOD CLUB) ALL AGES SOLD OUT

15-JAN-10 THE CRIBS (PHOENIX) 19+ $19.50

27-JAN-10 DOOM ft. MOS DEF (KOOL HAUS) 19+ $39.50

28-JAN-10 GUNS N' ROSES (ACC) ALL AGES $39.50

01-FEB-10 WILCO (HAMILTON PLACE) ALL AGES $32.50

16-FEB-10 EDITORS (PHOENIX) 19+ $25

4-MAR-10 YACHT (WRONGBAR) 19+ $15.00

11-MAR-10 RJD2 (MOD CLUB) 19+ $23.50

24-MAR-10 THE BIG PINK (MOD CLUB) 19+ $18.50

3-APR-10 MIIKE SNOW (PHOENIX) ALL AGES $18.50

20-APR-10 HOT CHIP (KOOL HAUS) 19+ $25.00

Friday, December 11, 2009

Boutique Hotels

Maybe you were that kid that mixed ketchup into poutine, coke with 7up and syrup on just about everything. Don't worry, just like you, I believed fusion has always been the better option (bland -is- bland). The merging of different elements into a union, whether it works or not, is always a curiosity too hard to resist. More than ever in art culture, different mediums have joined forces. One that slapped me across the face with envy and desire to explore how far it could go was the world of boutique hotels. Boutique hotels are usually non franchised, "lifestyle" themed, intimate, and full of quirky elements. I chose to simplify it down to two hotels that are successful not only in using art as inspiration, but independently prestigious at what they do.

ACE HOTEL

Ace Hotel New York is a 12-story hotel that opened a year ago in the heart of midtown Manhattan. It has 260 rooms, and is located near the Theater District. Rooms begin at $199 a night, a very reasonable rate for New York, especially given the prime location, at 29th and Broadway. The Ace Hotel chain has been lauded in the design press for its hotels in Portland, Seattle, and Palm Springs. It exemplifies a design approach that has become quite hip among a new breed of travellers. A-trak claiming this as his favorite hotel, describes it as having "smartass all over it"; Very much "take a picture, it'll last longer". Also, by far the best mini bar any hotel could offer a hipster, fully equipped with trendy root beer.




COLLABORATIONS

Beyond offering affordable comfort and style, Ace Hotels distinguish themselves by integrating into the culture of their home city. The Ace perspective on NYC style shows up in their staff uniforms, compiled from iconic New York staples and thoughtful designer collaborations. Standard issue footwear is either drab green monochrome Chucks created by Converse exclusively for the Ace or classic black Doc Marten's embossed with a skeleton key. The jeans are by Levi's and Newark-based L. Gambert created custom fitted shirts, handcrafted from patterning to production and overseen by second and third generation family artisans. L. Gambert also created the housekeeping uniform, a utilitarian shirt-dress. The vintage Glen-check Coto tie and blackened silver Surface 2 Air tie chain complete the look.

Working closely with the newly opened Ace Hotel in New York City, creative duo MINT&SERF helped curate a special project where a selection of hotel rooms became giant blank canvas. For the duration of 6 months, invited artists such as Brian Procell, Enjoy Banking, Faust, Machine (Team Facelift), Mosco, PegLeg, Pork, Pablo Powers, Jordan Seiler, Stephen Holding, Sean Vegezzi, Tristan Eaton, and of course MINT&SERF decorated the interior to their own liking. In turn the rooms also become a narrative for each artist to tell their story through their works and tried their hands on interior decorating. Unfortunately, you must book into the hotel in order to see each of the work in person, but here's a sneak peak .




HOTEL ON RIVINGTON

The Hotel on Rivington is a sexy 20-story luxury hotel on Rivington Street between Ludlow and Essex Streets in the Downtown Manhattan. It can't be stated enough that the best architectural feature dreamed up by the team behind the building, Grzywinski+Pons, are the floor-to-ceiling windows wrapping most rooms, including the bathroom. Completed in 2005, the hotel's expensive rates, ultramodern design, upscale bar, and trendy clientele have made it a trademark of urban renuawal in the Lower East Side. Rooms range from about $275 to over $700 per night. The hotel's restaurant and bar, cleverly named "THOR", attracts a young and fashionable crowd, which can be seen lounging behind floor-to-ceiling windows at most hours of the night.




COLLABORATIONS

DC has teamed up with the Hotel on Rivington in New York for a limited edition of the DC LIFE Admiral Sport. This is the fourth time DC has laced the staff with shoes from the DC LIFE Collection with the first pair being a solid black dress shoe and the second all red high tops. Not only are the staff lavished with sick kicks but they also get clothed by Ted Baker. The Perfect Compliment.

Photobucket


Klein to Skarbakka; The Art of the Fall

“A man in space! The painter of space throws himself into the void!”
Le Saut dans le Vide (Leap into the Void) by Yves Klein [1960]

So a few years ago in an Art History class, we were shown this work Yves Klein work where he created the illusion of leaping of a building and 'into the void'. Although the picture may appear rather bland by today's standards; the effect created by Klein is astonishing (in both terms of originality and technique) when considering this picture is almost half a century old. Apparently, to create this work Klein actually leaped from the building and was caught by a group of friends below. Klein then took a second picture of the lower half [without the presence of his friends] and then spliced to the two photos to create a cohesive image. Following in a similar [albeit more complex] tradition... photographer Kerry Skarbakka's recent series entitled 'The Struggle to Right Oneself: A Survey" has managed to create a catalogue of equally awe-inspiring images. The sense of wonder and amusement that this series evoked in me is truly a testament to the artist's skill and vision. Due to my familiarity with 'Photoshop' and my love for mixed media and art history; I often find myself desensitized to even the best effects and alterations. However, after viewing this series, I felt as if I was in the 1960s inspecting Klein's canonical work for the first time. So whether your an art aficionado, a photographer, or you just love watching people bail... you should be able to appreciate some of my favourite images from this series..... for more of Skarbakka's works be sure to follow the link to his site.

On a quick side-note, Skarbakka received some heat about the images of people falling off buildings. Apparently some felt they were an off hand reference to the World Trade Tower jumpers... but I'm pretty sure these people just need to lighten up or (as DJ Ready Set would suggest) Suck it!
























Thursday, December 10, 2009

r&b guerilla

(youtube - embedding disabled, it's stoops)

Okay, let's talk about who's going to be on my 'best producer of the year 2009' list. THIS GUY UP HERE (and nah, not Snoop). When I first heard that Snoopy Double G was putting out another album, making it his 147th pretty much, I winced. Even though he's recruiting Diplo & Mayer Hawthorne to produce some of the beats, it still seems to me like he's falling into the same game Jay-Z is: Old rapper recruits new young talent to renew interest in themselves and continue to connect their 'personal brand' with a new generation of kids who don't really remember 1994 or Death Row or Suge Knight, etc. etc.

So anyway, I was prepared to get my hate on for this video until I listened to it and realized how The Dream just pulled the rug out from Snoop on this one and made the chorus infinitely more likeable than anything that Boss Dawg could fit into his sixteen bars. If you have not listened to one of the best albums of the year, Love Vs. Money, consider this a personal invitation from myself.

Tim Nackashi



The original idea was to create a video in which every frame remains on the screen, building and building. Needless to say, the band ran with the idea. The video was shot in one take- primarily using sticks and tape.
- Tim Nackashi [Director]



I couldn't post any of his other videos but if you take the time to visit his site you'll find some cool projects he's done with Radiohead, Gnarls Barkley, and many more.




Tupac says Keep ya Head up

It’s almost 2010! A new decade is upon us… are you nervous? New beginnings are always anticipated with a bit of terror: new jobs, new cities, new relationships. The beautiful thing about new beginnings though is the hope that lies beneath that feeling of anxiety, a hope that say’s “this is going to go just right.”

That same attitude existed in the late 90’s when the new Millennium was fast approaching, and along with it the promise of change. And when the clock struck 12 to kick off the 2000’s and the world didn’t end, we thought we were off to a good start. However, when looking back at the last decade we can see that things haven’t gone as smoothly as we might have hoped. Andy Serwer’s article “The Decade From Hell…” was Time magazine’s cover story last week, and after following the past ten years events, it’s easy to see where he got the title.

In the second year of this unfortunate decade (2001), the U.S. was witness to one of the most controversial elections in recent history, resulting in Bush’s inauguration. Crowds of people watched as a president was ushered in that no one was quite sure earned the title. But regardless a president was named, and an era begun. Later that year the tragic events of 9/11 took place. That day claimed the lives of nearly 3,000 civilians, and some 300 police and firefighters. Those terrorist attacks shook not only the country of the United States, but the entire world. It catapulted wars in several different areas, and caused a drastic change in the way America and other nations handled many aspects of liberty.

While this event may have seemed like enough to cast a shadow over the decade all on its own, the future was relentless. Midway through the first decade of this millennium we saw the largest natural disaster in America’s history. By this I of course refer to hurricane Katrina, which attacked the New Orleans area that summer taking more than 1,500 lives and causing nearly $100 billion in damages.

The next few years were filled with the talk of an ever warming globe, an increased number of violent outbreaks like the shooting at Virginia Tech in 2007, the ongoing wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and the biggest financial scandals in the nations history… until finally, it all came crashing down. Sky rocketing oil prices, a crumbling housing industry and the exposure of high level financial theft led to an economic recession. This recession has caused the bankruptcy of huge financial as well as manufacturing corporations, possibly ending the long run of such giants as Chrysler and General Motors. The last few years economic crisis has caused the unemployment rate to increase drastically to 10.2%, and we’re not out of the woods yet.

Andy Serwer cites over-optimism and a general sense that procrastination was a tolerable approach to dealing with the future, as the leading causes of most of the countries issues. Surely this is an understandable claim when we look at the economy, which crashed as a result of unsustainable growth and irresponsible management finally hitting its breaking point; but when it comes to natural disasters and terrorist attacks, we might think America was off the hook. Serwer however, sees otherwise.

Looking back at 9/11 Serwer suggests that better attention to detail and an increased understanding of America’s international reputation may have alerted the nation to the chance of such an attack. He feels that the signs were perhaps clearer than some people would have liked to believe.

Serwer also says hurricane Katrina was as catastrophic as it was because of outdated infrastructure that was ignored for far too long. He claims that there was more than enough evidence that the levees in New Orleans needed to be repaired. “For years they had been warning the Army Corps of Engineers, which oversaw the city’s 350 miles of levees, that its system was inadequate” (Serwer). He notes that the U.S. spends just 2.4% of its GDP on infrastructure, while Europe spends an average of 5% and China puts out nearly 10%. “Katrina wasn’t even as bad a storm as had been feared, but the levees weren’t as good as had been hoped,” Serwer writes. He claims lives could have been saved by, again, better attention to detail.

The good news about this decade is that America (which whether you like it or not means us too) can learn from it, and according to Serwer and many others, they plan to. Serwer says that America’s pessimism at this point may not be a bad thing, and will lead to more careful investments, and a more assertive approach to dealing with what the future has in store.

He makes no guarantees about this millennium’s second decade being any better than the first, but he is hopeful, and as the new decade fast approaches, there are plenty of signs that say things will go nowhere but up. So take some advice from Tupac Shakur, and keep your head up.

That in Mind... Anybody got new years plans?

Wednesday, December 9, 2009

Colourful and Akward

Monday, December 7, 2009

free Gucci



Hells yeah! Too-cool-for-school-Philadelphia-DJ Diplo has announced that he will remix Gucci Mane’s acclaimed Cold War mixtape series, the first track of which just leaked.

“Gucci Mane is an underdog, and a divisive artist,” says Diplo. “I thought it would be cool to have a bunch of kids and weirdos do some mixes of his songs, we all are fans and we are from different scenes. Gucci is a rapper that doesn’t try and be anything he is not, he’s straight up. Maybe it’s ironic and all, but I’m just a fan and have been since day one. Gucci Mane is the cool uncle I never had even though I’m pretty sure I am older than him.”

As far as context goes, that "Free Gucci" t-shirt which you can grab here is referencing Gucci Mane's 12 month sentence in Fulton County Jail on November 12, 2009 for violating his probation conditions. We're rooting for you, Gucci.

Beer Cans.... Cooler Than Tea Cups






'Tee Trinken' by Xue Lei, 2007

Although this project by Xue Lei gathered a great deal of attention (at least in the online world) over the past year, it is kinda funny to discover how little is actually known about the artist... or the work for that matter. It seems that the relatively low amount of background information surrounding 'Tee Trinken'
can serve as a reflection of both the barriers of language and the overall nature of blogging and reblogging. Since these porcelian cans were displayed in Frankfurt's 'Galerie Detterer', Xue Lei's work received the German title 'Tee Trinken' ('to have tea' in English). However, the work's German title has drawn many to simply assume the title refers drinking beer or soda (as the presence of the cans would initially imply). Furthermore, due to the nature of reblogging, many websites just didn't bother doing any research and instead continued to make the aforementioned assumption and simply post the picture and credit another website. Anyways... I'm beginning to realize that beyond its exquisite craftsmanship; the work's subject-matter is actually quite bland and offers little in terms of philosophical contemplation. Even after discovering that the cans reflect ancient motifs that traditionally adorned porcelain tea cups... its still more enticing to just go with the flow and simply post the pictures and pretend they are crushed porcelain beer cans. In fact, you should probably ignore this whole paragraph and just enjoy the title and the corresponding pictures.

Wednesday, December 2, 2009

Designer Speakers

After the Santa-Claus parade I wrote a letter to Santa asking to be a vampire and where I can rent a puppy[........]. Patiently waiting for Santa's reply, I turned to the parental units since I'm in need of speakers to listen to dirty beatz and spice up my space. I put together a wish list with hopes of giving them a bit of direction (they need it...). Although the selection of speakers are out of my reach, they're definitely eye catching and unique; mixing pop culture and sound systems.

Wish List:

" Bring it on" Designed by Ben Collette is 1 meter high.


Jacob Mathew's Stereo Stilettos.


Remix Object by Bob Turek.


The 20" "Woofer" speakers by Bruno Vormkrijgers.


"Hive" a design by Oskar Daniel.

Hope one of these come down the chimney this year. Happy holidays.
CcB