Friday, June 26, 2009

New Yeti. Aim. Fire!

New Yeti.Aim.Fire. by e.h.

Hail the King of Pop


It's no secret that Michael Jackon has influenced people in every corner of the world and his music and signature dance style has permeated pop culture relentlessly since he danced on the floor, in the round. Here is the latest homage to the King of Pop: the music video for Peter, Bjorn and John's It Don't Move Me features a random MJ impersonator practicing his moves in an array of unlikely locations while his soft and scruffy man-friend tags along and watches. The video is definitely strange but you have to admit the kid's got moves, and the funky indie pop style of PB&J compliment the video very well (or vice versa). Below are links to some other MJ homages, impersonations and tributes in pop culture over the years:


Weird Al - Eat it / Fat | Pepsi Commercial early 80's


Adidas - Break Up Service (Japan)


Kosai Sekine directs this funny new ad/short for Adidas out of of TBWA/London. To promote Adidas' new Originals Safety Collection, this piece give you a look inside the life of Akira, a man who runs the No Sad, Big Smile Break-Up Service. His heart grows cold as he delivers bad news to not-so-significant others all over Tokyo. A clever campaign executed beautifully.


Thursday, June 25, 2009

Farewell Smooth Criminal

Michael Jackson has passed away. Truly a sad day. MJ was my childhood idol and the pinnacle of cool. He will live on as the King of Pop and a legend unparalleled by anyone. Goodbye Michael, you will be missed.

B-boys–Ichigecki (Nippon)


Video of Ichigecki, Japanese b-boy troupe, competing at the 2005 Battle of the Year (BOTY). This is one of the sickest b-boy routines I've seen (keep in mind that I'm no expert on 'B-boy routines'). These boys devote their lives to these moves, competing against the worlds best B-boys for a purse of nickels and dimes. They won 1st place in show for this routine but took 2nd place over all, losing in the final battle to the b-boy masters Last 4 One out of Korea. Ok, I know I'm talking 2005 here but regardless it's some next level shit. Just watch.

Bach's Mighty Little Fugue in Crumb minor


This is, to date, my all time favorite piece by J.S. Bach. His Little Fugue in g minor was named 'little' not because of it's importance (commonly misconceived) but to differentiate it from his Great Fantasia and Fugue in g minor. The fugue is in four voices, nicely illustrated here in this simple, MIDI file animation. It's a beautiful, complex and very powerful piece (in this humble crumb's opinion) and interesting to see each voice visually represented. Check out the links below for more J.S.B.

1987 hair band plays a face-melting guitar solo rendition of Little Fugue in g minor (2:00 in)

A shout out to Wex: "the the music of Rationalism" Bach's Well Tempered Clavier:





Wednesday, June 17, 2009

Stella ala Godard


Director Fredrik Bond out of Sonny, London, does a fantastic job on this ad for Stella Artois. He has successfully resurrected that French new wave cinema look in the spirit of Godard's Le Mépris, complete with a Bridgitte Bardot look-alike and a 007 style protagonist who's victoire écrasante ends in sartorial success with a cold beer in hand and garnished with humor. Bravo!

New Yeti. Aim. Fire!

New Yeti.Aim.Fire! by e.h.

Tuesday, June 16, 2009

Intelligent Design

This is the cover of the latest issue of Boards Magazine, an industry publication about "the creative edge in commercial production. What makes this particularly interesting is the intelligent design that went into the making of this cover. Designed by the the UK based creative collective of artists, designers, musicians and writers known as Tomato, this cover represents, in my opinion, an exemplary instance of intelligent graphic design and conceptual creation in what they describe as a world where "the 'Now' very quickly becomes the 'Then.'" The thought process for this is described:

The Boards 'IT List' cover is a stream of consciousness. That was the brief: A collection of cultural signifiers that influence and affect our thoughts and actions. It's what's around us all, overlapping osmosis, familiar confusion. The ever-changing moment. We've made a multi-layered response. Each word stands for itself, but juxtaposed with others, takes on multiple meanings. How you read it, how far you look inside is what we're interested in. Visually. Don't call it a style, call it a process. - Tomato

MUST READ article on Boards behind the scenes here.

check out Tomato here and here.

Friday, June 12, 2009

The Elevator to Heaven (and Hell)


Imagine stepping into an elevator and witnessing your ascension to Heaven, or your descent to Hell–if you happen to be taking the elevator down to the street level. For those staying at the new Standard Hotel in NYC, prepare for a trip to eternity! Video artist Marco Brambilla answers the question on every mortal's mind, "what's it like?" with his video mural "Civilization," taking guests on a satirical journey to Heaven or Hell (depending on if you're going up or down). Based on Dante's Divine Comedy, the mural incorporates over 400 different video sources, several of which you'll recognize as samples from well known films. The installation is comprised of around 500 looped HD clips. Keep a sharp eye and you'll see which eternal kingdom the King of Pop himself inhabits. I knew it!

See more images and watch a larger HD Quicktime here.

We Have Band - "You Came Out"


A very interesting and creative (albeit creepy) stop-motion animation music video for the song "You Came Out" by British pop act We Have Band. Directed by David Wilson (Blinkink) out of W+K London. Credits here.

Wednesday, June 10, 2009

26

Today marks the 26th anniversary of this crumb's existence. Another year has passed and I am now entering the aft-end of my mid 20's - or as father crumb might say, the back of the front. I'm very comfortable and satisfied by this; aging bothers me not. Aside from the probable physical complications I'm very much looking forward to becoming an old man- a ways to go. The picture above is of a tree that my parents planted when I was born. It too started as a little crumb and is now well on it's way to becoming a mighty timber. If I could talk to this tree I would tell it about all of my adventures and travels in the past 26 years, and I suppose I could listen to it tell me what it's been like being in the same front yard for the past 26 year. I would hope my stories would be more interesting. My one birthday wish is for nature to be as kind to me (and the tree) for the next 26 years as it has been thus far. If you asked me how many years I would like to live my answer would be exactly enough. 

Tuesday, June 9, 2009

Professor Wexelblatt

Professor Robert Wexelblatt (Wex) is a novelist, poet and Humanities professor at Boston University's College of General Studies (tMc '06), and this crumb's sophomore professor. Wex is a true modern day scholar and exemplary lover of education and thought. He is brimming with knowledge, enthusiasm and wit. I would not be posting this if I did not deem it important to share him with those who are unaware. Furthermore, those of you who have an interest in philosophy, metaphysics, erudition, and fantastic story telling I urge to you pick up one of his books and give it a read. You can find them here. His latest, Zublinka Among Woman is outstanding (in this humble crumb's opinion). You can see the man himself reading an excerpt from it here.

Beastie Boys - Hold It Now Hit It

Some vintage Beastie Boys to liven up your day. 

New Yeti. Aim. Fire!

New Yeti.Aim.Fire. by e.h.

Friday, June 5, 2009

Phish Lights



Ok ok, enough with the Phish, I know. I couldn't resist putting these beautiful shots taken at their show in Jones Beach the other night. Those of you who have been undoubtedly know the stunning light show that comes with seeing Phish live, all due to Chris Kuroda (often referred to as the 5th member of the band) the lighting designer/operator for Phish. Best in the biz, I'd say. Thanks "Toph!" To see some more stunning pics click here.

WATCH THIS!! Decide for yourself


A well put together documentary on what really happened on 9/11. Sickening. Give it a watch, decide for yourself. 

Thursday, June 4, 2009

MGMT- KIDS (remember summer '08?)


It's not everyday a band waits this long to release an official video for such a mega-hit song. Oh how it would have changed last summer to have these visuals in the thousands of hipster heads bopping and dancing at McCarren Pool (RIP) in the pouring rain. I like this video. Aside from the band's 1980's cosmo-nymphic performance on the edge of the forest, this video is quite cool. The monsters are reminiscent of 'Fangoria Magazine' in the mid 90's, the tortured little boy is adorable and the animation very 'Day N' Night' meets 'Paranoid Android.' Good work MGMT. Will you retain the title for mega-trendy hipster hit this summer too, or relinquish it to a new joint reaching even hipper heights (possible?)? Can't wait to find out. 

Wednesday, June 3, 2009

Mother F'ers droppin' the Pressure


This song is like 4 years ago but I just gotta say, it's my JAM! Can't get enough of those mother fuckers droppin' the pressure. Thanks Mylo. 

Tuesday, June 2, 2009

Return of the Hippie Crumb





tMc headed up to Boston this past weekend to relive a little of his hippie past and took in the Phish show at Fenway Park. He and brother crumb caught one hell of a show. Great set list, lots of rocks and jams and a packed stadium full of hippies, spinners, fogies, wookies, space cadets and human peacocks (many of whom were probably visiting a baseball stadium for their first time ever). Phish sang the National Anthem a cappella on the mound to start things off and then proceeded to do what they've done for the past 25 years. I must say it was good to reconnect and feel a sort of comforting validation for the time/$/brain cells spent following the Vermonters in years past. I guess you can take the Crumb out of the hippie but you can take the hippie out of the Crumb. Namasté  bitches. 

Uncle Karl's 'Dying Swan'


I'll be the first to admit that I do not make it out to the ballet that often (never), nor do I own a single piece of Chanel (I'll leave those acquisitions to my Lady). However, I will also proudly shed any masculine barricades long enough to proclaim that this private ballet performance for Uncle Karl in his Chanel Couture Salon is a thing of real beauty. That's all I really have to say about that, it's pretty self-evident. Note however that the music in this clip isn't the appropriate music for the performance, though it adds some real drama, you can see it to the music of 'The Dying Swan' and check out the details here.