design, music, random dumb stuff

sam cooke, ken meier and a messed up cat

2008-06-30T19:52:00.000-07:00

MUSIC
Sam Cooke

Just listen to "Sam Cooke Live at the Harlem Square Club, 1963." It is music at its best and most exciting.

DESIGN
Ken Meier

I have been seeing Ken Meier's work around quite a bit lately. He has some great typographic material as well as some really nice conceptual work. One highlight is the "Fascination" where he printed statistics of LastFM over the Digital Millenium Copyright Act. Beautiful.

DUMB
Angry Cat

Its been a long long time

2008-06-24T22:14:00.000-07:00

hey there.

Its been a long time since I've added anything to this. Just been working a bunch. No long apologies. Noone reads this!

anyways, here's a post.

DESIGN
Phillipe Apeloig

Phillipe Apeloig is one of the designers whose work was often shown in my undergraduate classes. His Chicago poster of the typography weaving itself around a corner in downtown chi-town is probably his best known work. But, I have found his other, more experimental typography work is what really excites me. He seems to do what all my favorite designers do, and that is something completely different and refreshing with each job.

MUSIC
I'm From Barcelona

They're not. They are from Sweden. And there are 29 of them. And they make me smile.

DUMB

I'm not sure why I think that is so funny.

my apologies

2007-12-27T15:39:00.000-08:00

holy hellfire its been a long time since i've posted. Work has been fairly crazy along with trying to squeeze in time for some freelance projects as well as my own portfolio site (be patient, it will hopefully be up soon), so I haven't had the time to give that good stuff you come to this blog for.

There has also been a new update to my bloglife. I will be contributing to bbqchickenrobot, so from here on in all new music or reviews of shows will be on bbq, while older music or random bands not as bbq friendly will be going up on here. SWEET.

MUSIC

At a bar in portland I recently saw a skinhead (not a racist skinhead, obviously) spinning some awesome old rocksteady and reggae music. I have long been pretty anti-reggae (thanks to trustifarians and people selling handmade glass pipes at saturday markets) but this stuff is incredible. The music was popular among mods and skinheads in the 60's, and was heavily influenced by American soul and R&B, so it has that heartfelt clarity and punch of old soul records, but with a heavy steady beat. check it out! I can't link you to any specific artists, but I can give you a compilation album that has guided my education of this music here

DESIGN

I love the Dutch! I recently found these sites while surfing for inspiration during my lunch break at work. All of these designers have an incredible grasp on typography, but never forget that good design can be also be fun. All you serious types might not like it, but who cares, you're boring. here's a few of the designers I wish I was (were?).

lennartwolfert
hellowman
baster

Good luck getting any work done. It's like finding someone with hot friends on myspace, once you start looking through these I guarantee you'll waste a good couple of hours.

DUMB

Why you should always be nice to kids

mum, ace hotel, halloween

2007-10-31T21:26:00.000-07:00

MUSIC

Mum

So.. my friend Derek and I went to see Mum, the Icelandic whateverthehellyouwanttocallit pop band. It was absolutely incredible. Between the adorable dancing, thick multi-instumentation, and crisp electro/sound beats I could barely contain myself. I nearly sold all my earthly belongings and moved to Iceland to become an elf and swim in hotsprings with mum.

Oh yeah, and the opening band Talk Demonic was the second best band I've seen in a long long time. Guess who was first.

DESIGN

Ace Hotel

Two weekends ago I had the joy of staying at the Ace Hotel in Portland. I could talk about all the fun I had drinking beer at night and watching "Mindfreak" all morning in an ubermodern hotel room in the heart of one of my favorite cities ever, but I'm going to stick with design. The Ace just seemed to take everything into account. The design throughout the experience was clean and professional, but still retained the personality and innovation of the city it resides in. Even the shampoo looked badass, although I'm not too keen on peppermint shampoo. Mints for your mouth and/or pillow, not hair. I could go on forever but I'll leave you with something that should make you want to drop what your doing and get a reservation... Leonard Cohen lyrics on the wall in the lobby! What?!?!

DUMB

"Happy Halloween, now get me out of this f***ing costume."- dogzilla

roanne adams, twilight sad,

2007-10-15T21:38:00.000-07:00

MUSIC

The Twilight Sad

The twilight sad piss me off. Mainly because they are making mature, soulful music and are still in their teens. When I was nineteen I was playing crappy metal riffs, eating too much candy, drinking too much Maddog2020, and spending 10 hours a day on AIM. These young gentlemen are creating unique songs with atmospheric guitars, punchy drums, and unconventional instruments, toeing the line between arty and honest punk rock. Oh yeah, the lead singer's accent doesn't hurt either.

DESIGN

Roanne Adams

I honestly just stumbled upon Roanne Adams a couple of minutes ago at Under Construction. In the few short minutes I clicked through her portfolio, I was impressed by her beautiful sensitivity to type, emphasis on a straightforward concept, and ability to create compelling, stylistic design without having her own distinct style. The site in itself is also a nice example of simpe working better than flash (pun intended).

DUMB

check out that form!

as per derek's request

2007-10-07T22:34:00.000-07:00

MUSIC

BBQCHICKENROBOT.com

Because I've been listening to music that most of you have already heard (and therefore telling you about it doesn't make much sense) i've chosen to redirect you to another blog. Hopefully you don't just look at this one instead of mine, even though its much better. This is a blog my friend Johnny Lee made and I just rediscovered. It covers indie/underground music and is not only full of good information, but its well written. Everyone who doesn't know Johnny should know Johnny.

p.s. sorry I stole your photograph from facebook John. (He's the cute little bastard on the right)

DESIGN

GHAVA

GHAVA, previously Graphic Havoc, is one of those firms that first inspired me in design, and has continued to do so. They started out as a grass roots company in Atlanta doing alot of work for friends in the music scene, and have progressed into working for large clients such as Sprite, while continuing to work with people in art and music. One of the most inspiring things to me about GHAVA is they put on their own exhibits, such as the Job #36:1 Exhibition which gave a corporate idenity redesign to none other than The Man Upstairs. Although they are landing big deals, they always return to their roots, and that seems to give them a creative freshness that alot of companies, I feel, are lacking.

DUMB

This one is also old but one of my favorite internet videos ever. I can only hope when I have a kid he or she is this entertaining.

Baby Goin Crazy - Click here for this week’s top video clips

I'm feeling lazy: No Long Descriptions

2007-09-30T13:45:00.000-07:00

MUSIC

J. Tillman

DESIGN

Wow

DUMB

Old but good

Sorry

2007-09-29T13:23:00.000-07:00

I haven't had much time to post. I just moved to Salem, Oregon and don't have internet. The internet in this coffee shop is also slow, but the place is nice. So yeah, I'll get on it when I get the internet at my apartment or whenever I get some free time.

Matthew

p.s.

Jonathin Harris

2007-09-14T15:24:00.000-07:00

I'm departing from the tri-awesomeness to show you this. It really blew me away.

two of his interactive works
We Feel Fine
Universe

colour revolt, syrup helsinki, and the UD

2007-09-13T15:49:00.000-07:00

MUSIC

Colour Revolt

These fine young men from Mississippi are well beyond their years. Swirling guitars and punchy drums create vivid atmospheric noise, while the lead singers transitions from soft melodies to wails that resemble a fairly pissed seasoned smoker (but in a good way, trust me). "Mattresses Underwater" and "Circus" are my favorites on the album, but for very different reasons. You'll see what I mean.

DESIGN

Syrup Helsinki

Every now and then you find designers who just don't seem to give a rats ass about other designers. I don't mean they are the type who never go to a design conference because they "just don't want to see a bunch of mac loving, black wearing, wire rimmed glassed yuppies who think they will save the world with a logo." They are the type of designers who don't strive to break rules, but seem to never have known they were there. They end up with beautiful, original design that is fun, clever, and powerful. Hire me, Syrup Helsinki.

DUMB

University District's Finest

The other day I was at a coffee shop, sitting on a bench and was lucky enough to hear something that doesn't happen much in the University District. Two crazy people yelling at each other. I know what you're thinking. You're thinking, "I can't walk from one coffee shop to the coffee shop next door without hearing crazy bum rant." BUT, this time it was different. They were actually conversing in fairly sane english with one another. This isn't exactly word for word, but it went something like this.

Woman with indiscriminate accent who's always yelling at the trash can while sifting through it for recyclables: "Get your shoes off the bench, people have to sit here. You're disgusting, leaving your disgusting shoes on the bench!"

Guy with a lot of gadgets he's always listening to even though most of the time they aren't radios: "I'm moving them, You crazy old woman."

Woman: "You're crazy! You're 75 and a bum! Look at you, you look like a bum!"

Guy: (smiles)

Woman: "You, you're crazy. Get a life, bum."

Guy: "Why don't you get a life? Why don't you get a job?"

Woman: "I have a life. I'm going to Cuba!"

Guy: "Well then go! Get out of here! We'll be happy to be rid of you!"

(4 other people watching this spectacle giggle)

Woman: "I am going. They love Canadians in Cuba."

Guy: "You're not Canadian!"

Woman: "I will be when I get my money! Then I'm going to Cuba! Are these Marlboro? These are my favorites. (at that time a man bummed her a cigarette, pun intended)I smoke Cuban cigars too, I love 'em."

I wanted to stay outside for longer and hear this continue, but the bathroom was beckoning after 2 tall iced coffees. I need to buy a tape recorder.

introduction 2.0 (or is it 1.2?)

2007-09-10T19:05:00.000-07:00

Ok, so just now I had a good idea for this blog, seeing as that right now its pointless. Here's my idea. Each post will include a link or article on design (graphic, industrial, intelligent), a music artist or article I find interesting, and one dumb thing that either occured in my life or found on the information super highway. word? alright.

post number 1...

MUSIC

St. Vincent.

She's a multi-instrumentalist that has played with Sufjan Stevens and the Polyphonic Spree, and right now my current obsession. Her songs move from layered choruses to noise rock to beautiful pop, yet remain cohesive and original throughout the whole album. My favorites are "now, now" "paris is burning" and "apocolypse song", although if I was able to write any of songs on the album I'd probably wet myself in glee. Live (and by live I mean youtube videos) she's just as impressive. Using only a guitar and stomping on a box that is triggered to a drum machine thing, she breaks the songs down, yet composes them to have the same fullness and atmosphere as the album. I'm done with this. check her out.

DESIGN

Open Studio

Socially concious, and creative. WORD. I'll add to this later.

DUMB

I think he's drinking that new Coke Black drink.

its official

2007-09-05T10:52:00.000-07:00

I'm that guy. I'm that guy with a facebook, myspace, youtube, and flickr account... and now i have a blog. feel free to hate me, because if you did I would have to agree with you.

Matthew

p.s.

thanks to st. vincent's old blog for that wonderful documentation of the awesomelyhorribleness of what was the 80's.