12.27.2010

Fiona Apple covers Elvis Costello's "I Want You"

I can't believe that this hasn't come up before, but aside from Rilo Kiley's Jenny Lewis, Fiona is my musical goddess.  The angst, the power, the glory; nobody does it like Fi.  She does no wrong.

Now, I'm not a huge Elvis Costello fan, so I wasn't familiar with the original version of this powerhouse ballad before hearing Fiona's take on it, but I know for a fact that his couldn't hold a candle.  The raw emotion in her voice is astonishing.  Visceral.  I can say that this is definitely my all-time favorite cover, if not my favorite song.



I can't say any more that I love you. Everything else is a waste of breath.

Notes From Chris

I guess you would refer to Notes From Chris as a guerilla art project of sorts.  Writer/Director Todd Lamb writes up random letters with weird requests from a guy named Chris and post them all around NYC.  It's funny and intriguing in the strangest way.  Watch Lamb reading some of the notes below.



Here are a few other good ones he didn't read.



If/when I learn an instrument and get a band together, I want all of our show's posters to be this dope.


via Karl Kwasny


via Banksy

12.26.2010

Me In My Place

Me In My Place is a blog that posts photos of, as the site describes, "real girls in their own place." It's a very simple concept. Basically, a photographer invites especially self-assured everyday girls to contact him so that he can take pictures of them. I know it sounds a tad bit rape-y (did I mention most of the girls are in their underwear?), but trust me, it's not like that.



There's something so sexy about the fact that these girls aren't models.  I like to think it's the confidence that these everyday girls must have in order to put themselves out there like this.

Note to self: must date a girl who paints in her underwear.  Or nude.  I'm not picky.

12.25.2010

Favorite Tracks of 2010

It's been a pretty good year for music.  Album after album has knocked me off my feet.  So, I figured why not run through a list of a few songs I've loved this year?  I'm not saying these are the best of the best, or even that all of these songs are from this year, but they have all kept me going over the last 12 months.  So here they are, in no specific order.  Dig it.

Two Door Cinema Club - "Something Good Can Work"

  TWO DOOR CINEMA CLUB - Something Good Can Work by Pias France

At a time when everyone seems to be trying to reinvent the wheel, someone needs to go the other way, do what they know, and do it well.  In my book, nobody did that better than TDCC this year.  It's just danceable pop-rock meant to soundtrack the carefree days of youth.

Arcade Fire - "Sprawl II (Mountains Beyond Mountains)"

  15 Sprawl II (Mountains Beyond Mountains) by penguinandpanda
I'm not the only one who will tell you that The Suburbs was one of the years best albums.  I always thought the Arcade Fire was a tad overrated, but then I heard this album and started to understand what the hype was all about.

Florence + The Machine - "You've Got The Love (The XX Remix)"

  Florence + The Machine - You've Got The Love (The XX Remix) by AntiRebel 
Florence hit the mainstream this year with Dog Days Are Over being played the world over.  It's always great to see a truly talented artist get their due.

Cee-Lo Green - "What Part Of Forever?"

  Cee-Lo Green - What Part of Forever by uristocrat
It actually pisses me off quite a bit that one of my favorite songs from Cee-Lo this year wasn't on his stellar album "The Lady Killer", but was instead featured on the soundtrack for a shitty vampire/werewolf/all around retarded love story.  Come on Cee-Lo, you're so much better than that.

More after the jump.

12.20.2010

She & Coco & Him sing "Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas"

Conan O'Brien is a ginger God.  There's a million reasons to be happy he's back on the air, but my favorite one is his pull with indie artists and his penchant for doing things like this with them:



I love Zooey Deschanel.


(I don't really have anything else to say about that, I just though it would be a nice excuse for a picture.)

Kanye West - "Christmas In Harlem"


Kanye West's well seemed to have run dry after the release of the phenomenal My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy, with G.O.O.D. Friday's tracks completely halting prematurely.  And just when we all stopped expecting new tracks, we get this little surprise.  Holiday spirit, Yeezy style.  Grab "Christmas In Harlem" below.

Download

EDIT:  Had to pull the download link, but here's a vid so you can still enjoy the song.  Just in time for the big day.

Kanye West - Christmas In Harlem from Nicklas Andreas Helberg Larsen on Vimeo.

No idea why, but I really love the line: "Pour some more eggnog in your drank Mami"

Ellen Wong

I watched Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World again recently, and I couldn't help but think that sure Knives Chau was suppose to be 17, but come on.  Look at Ellen Wong.


Wong is actually in her mid-20s, so don't judge me.


You were after the wrong one, Scott.

...then again...

12.08.2010

Most Wanted 2010

Well, it's that time of year again.  They say that the true reward is in giving, but who the hell are we kidding?  It's all about the getting.  So, if you were looking for a little inspiration for your personal wish list, here's a few of the things I can't take my eyes off of.


Belstaff Leather Jacket



I don't think I need to point out why this jacket is on the list.  It's gorgeous.  Come on.  Look at that beautiful caramel color, and that belt, and so on and so on.  However, I could have just as easily chosen just about anything from J. Crew's catalog.  I love you, Patrick Robinson, but you seriously need to take some notes Jenna Lyons.  Homegirl's bringing it.

-J. Crew, $1489


'Inception' Blu Ray Special Edition


Pictured is the UK collector's edition, an American version of which has yet to surface.  But when it does, I'm so in that it's not even funny.  This edition includes the film in 3 version (Blu Ray, standard, and digital copy), a motion comic prologue, a PASIV Device User Manual, collector's briefcase, and that spinning top that we all watched so intently.  Gimme.

-N/A


HP Envy 14 Laptop with Beats by Dr. Dre Technology


Laptops, by nature, sound like shit.  It's the sacrifice you make for portability, but no longer.  First, Dr. Dre revolutionized music.  Then, he revolutionized the way we listen to that music.  Now, he's taken that technology and crammed it into a top of the line laptop.  Not trying to be funny, but this is probably the best thing Dr. Dre has ever done.

-HP.com, $1249.99


More after the jump

12.07.2010

The Most Serene Republic - "Heavens To Purgatory"

Great song with a great video (and, *ahem*, title).  That's right, this is my blog's namesake.  A fun little pop gem that uses the word "gadzooks" in the chorus without flinching.  Enjoy.

The Most Serene Republic - Heavens To Purgatory from Arts & Crafts on Vimeo.

11.30.2010

Frieda Pinto

I totally stole this from I Am Donald, but I don't even care.  The second I saw Frieda in "Slumdog Millionaire", a crush object was born.




How do you say "love of my life" in Hindi?


Via GQ

11.29.2010

Apollo Run - "Stars"

Dope video.  Hadn't heard of Apollo Run before, but they're pretty mellow and their album is titled Here Be Dragons, Vol. 1, so I'm pretty sure I'm gonna do some exploring.


Thanks for the randomly awesome suggestion, Vimeo!

11.27.2010

Of Montreal - "Our Riotous Defects (Alternate Version)" feat. Janelle Monae


Of Montreal featuring...Janelle Monae?  Sounds strange because it is.  But it's also dope.  And when you really think about it, Janelle's all about being different, so if any R&B singer would pair up with the weird-rockers, it would most definitely have to be her (or maybe Solange Knowles).  Enjoy.

Of Montreal - "Our Riotous Defects" (Alternate Version) f/ Janelle Monae by Pretty Much Amazing

Side note: Who the FUCK throws a beta fish out a window?  What kind of sociopath are you?  That is all.

11.25.2010

Happy Thanksgiving!


via Banksy

Write A Bike

Want.  Not sure why, but I do.


These are still in the conceptual phase, but can you imagine riding through town sporting one of these?  Does it get anymore narcissistic?  The answer is no, but it's in the most awesome way possible.


images via Behance

11.23.2010

TV On The Radio - Golden Age


Not gonna lie, I really just wanted an excuse to post this picture, so take this awesomely batshit insane video.


TV on the Radio "Golden Age" from drew king on Vimeo.

11.19.2010

Arcade Fire - "The Suburbs"

No matter how hard I try, I cannot stop listening to Arcade Fire's latest album "The Suburbs", and I'm pretty positive that I'm not the only one, as it's sure to hover around the top spot of just about every music blog's AotY list.



The title track, in particular, gets me every time.  The instruments lure you in with this upbeat tune as lead singer Win Butler laments about a world that just isn't as bright anymore.  It's beautiful.  Watch the Spike Jonze directed video below.

11.17.2010

'Neil Young' & Bruce Springsteen cover Willow Smith!!!

Fuck the what!?  On last night's Jimmy Fallon, Jimmy, dressed as Neil Young, covered Willow Smith's "Whip My Hair".  That's all well and good.  The part that makes this really noteworthy is when he's joined by THE Bruce Springsteen.  Not really sure how to feel about it.  Watch for yourself below.



I really just have one question in mind: Is there anyone who dare deny that Jimmy Fallon has sold his soul to Satan?  I mean think about it.  First, he managed to get hip-hop demigods* The Roots as his personal house band and now he gets Bruce Springsteen to humiliate himself on his shitty late night show.  Come on.


*The statement excludes ?uestlove, because you would have to be a full blown deity to work a bass drum the way he does.  Seriously, listen to the end of "You Got Me".  There's no way the dude's ankles aren't pneumatic.

11.15.2010

Girl Talk - "All Day" -- For Free!

What a great day for free music.  Mash-up extraordinaire Girl Talk released his new album All Day bright and early this morning and, just like  his other two albums before, is giving it away.  Download it below, that is, if you can.  The internet has been going banana ham sandwich for it and the album has crashed just about every site it's appeared on.

Good luck!


For those of you who live in VA, the man himself will be playing shows at The National and The Norva at the end of January.  Dude's concerts are insane.  He invites everyone to bum rush the stage, he starts mixing, and sexy magic happens.  Damn right I'll be there.  Get your tickets now.


**EDIT** - Here's an alternate link.  Happy downloading!

Mike Relm - "Harry Potter and the Remix of Death"



In honor of the release of the new Harry Potter flick this weekend, Mike Relm, who happens to be one of my favorite DJs, has made this crazy track, "Harry Potter and the Remix of Death" that is oh so dope.  Watch the vid below.




True shit.

11.11.2010

New Lupe Fiasco!


Lupe Fiasco is the greatest thing to happen to hip-hop in the last decade.  There.  I said it.  I mean, come on.  What other rapper has written a concept album, let alone one as deep and insightful as "The Cool"?

Anyway, Lu announced his new album, the once titled "LupEND", now retitled "Lasers" is dropping March 8 and gave us two new tracks to celebrate.  Listen.

"The Show Goes On" is slated to be the first single from the album.
Lupe Fiasco - The Show Goes On by Hypetrak

"S.L.R. (Super Lupe Rap)" comes with a pretty funny story.  In this month's XXL magazine, Soulja Boy (who is the embodiment of everything that's wrong with the world and the musical Antichrist) was quoted saying "I don't want to be super-Lupe-Fiasco-lyrical and niggas don't know what the fuck I'm talking about."  This is Lupe's rebuttal.
Lupe Fiasco - Super Lupe Rap (Produced by Soundtrakk) by Hypetrak

Hot shit.  While we're at it, check out the other three tracks that were dropped a few months back.  Also fire.

 Lupe Fiasco - I'm Beaming by cartelradio

 Lupe Fiasco - Go To Sleep by drewboat

 Lupe Fiasco ft. Matthew Santos - Shining Down by tuneintoting


11.09.2010

Gnarls Barkley - "Who's Gonna Save My Soul?"

Old, but still dope.


Gnarls Barkley - Who's Gonna Save My Soul from Chris Milk on Vimeo.


I still haven't gotten around to listening to "The Lady Killer" yet, but I've been listening to a lot of GB in anticipation.  I always love thinking about a particular interview that Cee-Lo and Danger Mouse did not long after St. Elsewhere came out where a reporter asked them to comment on how Charles Barkley felt about there name being an obvious play on his and they both looked at him with blank stares and pretended like they didn't know who he was.  Classic.

11.07.2010

Inked Girls

I have a weakness for girls with tattoos and piercings.  Not sure why, but it's incredibly sexy to me.  Thought I'd share.


Photo by my friend Joseph Berhosky over at JOESHOOTSME.com.

*Side note: try not to ogle, that's his wife you're looking at!*

11.05.2010

Give and Get is Here!

Gap Inc's Give and Get is Here!

Special for all my wonderful readers! Come get 30% off from November 11-14 at Gap, Banana Republic and Old Navy plus we'll make a 5% donation to the (RED) Global Fund to help fight AIDS, TB, and Malaria around the world. It's a definite can't lose situation.

DO IT!

11.02.2010

Stream Cee-Lo Green's "Lady Killer"



Yooooo!  NPR is letting everyone stream Cee-Lo Green's highly anticipated (by me, at least) new album "The Lady Killer" in it's entirity a week early!  Guess who's pumped?

Follow the link below to listen.

GO!

Sleigh Bells - "Infinity Guitars"

This is my shit.


Sleigh Bells "Infinity Guitars" from Phil Pinto on Vimeo.


One of the shows at Fashion Greenville was set to this song and none of the models walked with the same badassery.  Unacceptable.

10.26.2010

"If The Fire's Out, Baby, How You Gonna Keep Me Warm?"

Last night I fulfilled one of my long time goals and saw one of my favorite bands, Canadian pop-rock sensations Metric, in concert.  It blew my mind.  Emily Haines sounded exactly the same live and had great stage presence, which made me love her all the more.


Afterwards, I found this fan-created animated music video for "Collect Call" that I fell in love with.  Check it out.



I love that "Collect Call" and wish they would have played it, but they did however play an acoustic version of one of my all time favorites, "Combat Baby" that was just incredible.  I just found out that this song is on the Rock Band 3 track list.  Ugh.  Watch the original below.




Love her.

10.25.2010

Daniel D.

Over the weekend, I attended Fashion Greenville, a two night fashion show that featured local retailers, with my friend Jacob of Friends, Fashion & Food.  The second night's show was opened by a guy named Daniel D., who refers to himself as "The Hip-Hop Violinist" (which is a title I thought Miri Ben-Ari had copy written, but whatever), performing an incredible rendition of Billy Jean.



A little Googling shows that he has tons of videos of him covering current hip-hop songs.  It's definitely worth checking out.

I think my favorite thing about his performance/videos is that subtle smile he gets on his face.  You can really see that he loves what he's doing.

10.24.2010

K. West Presents: Runaway

I'm sorry that I post about Kanye West all the time, but come on.  Whether you like him or not, you can't deny that what the guy has been doing is pretty innovative.  This film is probably the most interesting yet.  Say what you want about the video itself (which I love, by the way), at the very least we get a preview of the new album.

Enjoy.