Blog
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Cass McCombs’ “County Line”
Cass McCombs’ album “Wit’s End,” came out back in April, and it’s been a slow burn for me. My apathy had nothing to do with how laid back, quiet, reserved and melancholic it was, because I rather like all of those qualities in an album. I think it may have been the general coating of malaise spread over top of everything, a suffocating feeling like sleeping with a garbage bag for a blanket.
However, in returning to the album a couple of months later—and a couple of months wiser—I now find beauty in the despondence, comfort in its distance. And the above video for lead track and single, “County Line,” expresses that tone perfectly. What I first construed as depressed alienation I now embrace as the echo of a comforting voice across a windless field.
I intend to wrap myself up in this album for a little while, and see how it fits. The good news is that it’s not a garbage bag for a blanket after all, more like a coarse but cozy wool. Hard to sell that to you as Summer breathes down our neck, but the nights can get chilly.
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Stick Figures and Sunbeams
The art of my four year old daughter Grace.
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Grace Says “Hi, Daddy… it’s me.”
Last night, my daughter left me her very first voicemail. She is three years old, almost four (in May), and she’s definitely spoken on my VM in the past, but it’s usually… “Ohhhh… daddy’s not there mommy,” as she pulls the phone away and hangs up. Last night, however, the concept of talking into a telephonic device, waiting for a beep, then delivering a “message” all fell into place. Here is the transcript:
“Daddy? Hi, Daddy its me, um… I’m having a nice day and… Rosie fell down, and… I can’t wait to see you and… what’s, um… think… thing… uh…” [CLICK]
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Five Song Mixtapes. 008.
“Indie Waltz”
The waltz is a time signature we are all familiar with (ONE two three, ONE two three), but it’s connotations are mostly with baroque ballrooms and high school dance classes. However, musicians continue to utilize the unique rhythm to this day, and here are a few examples that take the waltz into a new place. These aren’t your typical brush kit plus piano waltzes here.
1. Arcade Fire Crown of Love
2. Iron & Wine Flightless Bird, American Mouth
3. Bright Eyes False Advertising
4. Josh Ritter The Curse
5. Radiohead Wolf at the DoorDownload Mixtape.
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Block, Steal & Rebound All-in-One
Washington’s Javale McGee does the unthinkable to Wesley Matthews of the Trailblazers. How would a statistician log this play?
Thanks, Elz.
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Ghetto Friday…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Rv1W9A2L80&w=500&h=300
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Creep On Creepin’ On
Timber Timbre are back on April 5, 2011. I was a big fan of their self-titled debut, and hope the trend of macabre folk creations continues.
It also look like they’re coming to a town near you, so if you haven’t heard them live, or at all for that matter, get out from under your dusty blankets and go!
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Ghetto Friday…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b-jIBHI3U6Y
Thanks, Manny!
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Verizon “Flight”
Director: Ryan Dunn
Editorial/Compositing: CharlexA man leaves a Verizon store, takes an escalator into the sky, rides a cloud over to a toy plane, then hops into a miniature hot air balloon before parting the clouds and floating off into his Verizon utopia.
So cliché, I know.
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Macy’s “Million Dollar Makeover”
Macy’s “Million Dollar Makeover”
Director/Designer: Ryan Dunn
Editorial/Animation/Lighting/Compositing: CharlexI directed this promo, starring Clinton Kelly — of TLC’s What Not to Wear — for a Macy’s Facebook sweepstakes. I filmed Clinton on greenscreen with two RED cameras mounted to a single Fisher dolly car (one covered the close-up and one covered the wide-shot), then the team at Charlex edited and composited the footage into a 3D environment.
Details about the sweepstakes at www.facebook.com/Macys.
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Rite Aid “Numbers”
Password: numb3r5
Director/Designer: Ryan Dunn
Editorial/Animation/Lighting/Compositing: CharlexThis project was designed and directed by yours truly, in collaboration with the team at Charlex. It is noteworthy as the first commercial for Rite Aid to be done entirely using design and graphics. Every frame of what you see was created in 3D using Maya, and composited in Nuke.
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The Indie Music Alphabet! – 2010 Edition
I’ve decided against my lesser judgment to omit letter-by-letter descriptions, because honestly, this is all about the music. I’m not trying to give you color commentary here, people. The list is a little late in the month, but better late than never.
I’m sure some of you will agree with certain letters, disagree with others, and hopefully have not heard of a few of these bands. It was a great year for music, and unexpected letters ran deep, making the selection hard in places (the letter “W” for example).
So, Merry Christmas, and enjoy the list!
Arcade Fire – Mp3
Beach House – Mp3
Clogs – Mp3
Deerhunter – Mp3
Karen Elson – Mp3
Fang Island – Mp3
Gayngs – Mp3
Hot Chip – Mp3
Interpol – Mp3
Jónsi – Mp3
Klaxons – Link
Local Natives – Mp3
Memoryhouse – Mp3
The National – Mp3
Oneohtrix Point Never – Mp3
Owen Pallett – Mp3
Qua – Mp3
Real Estate – Mp3
Sufjan Stevens – Mp3
Twin Shadow – Mp3
Underworld – Mp3
Sharon Van Etten – Mp3
Kanye West – Mp3
Xiu Xiu – Mp3
Yeasayer – Mp3
Zola Jesus – Mp3
Complete Alphabet. Download
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Quote of the Week #053
“When you were a baby, you used to scare me when I was a witch.” – My Daughter Grace
