Monthly Archive for July, 2008

The Weekly Check In - with Shaun Koplow

Published
by
Rubin
on July 25, 2008
in The Weekly Check-In
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(Part of The Weekly Check In series)

I met Shaun because he runs one of my favorite labels, anticon. It’s an amazing label and I hope it never stops. Shaun lived in San Francisco when I first met him and has since moved to Los Angeles. He did supply me with a FULL list of places I should eat to get me started.

Visit anticon.

RR: What are you currently working on or just finished that you’re excited about?

Koplow: anticon’s keeping me quite busy these days!  we have new records from alias, restiform bodies, and tobacco (of black moth super rainbow) coming out in the next couple months.  in november we’re also putting out a limited genghis tron remix 12” featuring telefon tel aviv, flying lotus, lucky dragons, odd nosdam, and subtle.  it also looks like we have a few new signings on the way which i’m very ecstatic about.

RR: Where have you traveled so far this month?

Koplow: i just got back this week from a trip up to san francisco.  i can’t tell you how much i miss that place.  less driving, more art happenings, the food…  civic living really isn’t the same in southern california.

RR: What’s your favorite music right now?

Koplow: i’ve been listening to:

french no wave comps (bippp, des jeunes gens modernes)
anything and everything arthur russell
paavoharju - laulu laakson kukista
megasoid - speed knots
omd - dazzle ships
sebastien tellier - sexuality
matmos - supreme balloon
turf talk - west coast vaccine (the cure)
karl blau - am
lucky dragons - dream island laughing language

honorable mentions: kim hiorthoy, masta ace.

RR: Best food you’ve had in your neighborhood lately or while you were traveling?

Koplow: it’s not “food” in a conventional sense, but i was bit by the phillz coffee bug while in sf.  i’m not a huge coffee kid, but their coffee and mystery cream were just too good a combination.  i’m glad i escaped before complete conversion.

honorable sf mentions: cancun, beretta, weird fish.

RR: Anything Else You Want To Mention?

Koplow: i would like to mention that it was nice to see you at zeitgeist.  take care of my former city and it will take care of you… and man!  go to sushi zone and park life already.

Passion Pit - Chunk Of Change EP

Published
by
Rubin
on July 24, 2008
in Music
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Passion Pit is from Cambridge, MA and “their” EP Chunk Of Change will be released on 9/16 on Frenchkiss Records.  I’m enjoying it a lot can’t wait for a full length. You can listen to more at Myspace.

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Download the MP3
Pre-order at Amazon.

Bon Iver - Daytrotter Session

Published
by
Rubin
on July 21, 2008
in Music
. 0 Comments

Bon Iver stops by the Daytrotter Studios.

Crumpler - 5 Million Dollar Home Photo Bag

Published
by
Rubin
on July 18, 2008
in Photography and Products
. 0 Comments

Crumpler’s 5 Million Dollar Home Shoulder photo bag is PERFECT for what I needed to simply carry my camera EVERYWHERE now that I live in a city I walk around in. (thanks to Day19 for showing it to me.)

It’s built out of tough fabric, waterproof, lightweight, fits a film camera or DSLR, Lens, and Flash comfortably. Inserts are movable, has extra pockets for film, and randoms.

Purchase at Amazon for $75.00.

Darker My Love - Two Ways Out Video

Published
by
Rubin
on July 18, 2008
in Music
. 0 Comments

Loving this Darker My Love video/song for Two Ways Out from their upcoming full length out August 5th on Dangerbird Records.

Aaron Farley - Launches New Photography Portfolio

Published
by
Rubin
on July 18, 2008
in Photography
. 0 Comments

Aaron Farley launched his new portfolio site yesterday. I picked the photo of PJ Ransone cause I am currently on the last episode of Season Three of The Wire.

http://aaronfarley.com

Sony A200 - An Affordable DSLR Camera

Published
by
Rubin
on July 17, 2008
in Photography and Products
. 0 Comments

The Sony Alpha 200 (or Sony A200)
(Update 7/25/08: This is a good simple review of the camera here.)

I’ve wanted a DSLR for awhile now just to learn the ways of digital photography and get back in the game. I really wanted the Canon 5D of course because that’s what most of my friends were shooting with but since that’s really around $2500 I had to figure out a more subtle first step.

In came Davey who sold me on the size / features of the Sony A200. It’s a lightweight small DSLR that gets amazing reviews and has the price tag of only $499 on Amazon right now. That is the kit with an 18-70mm 3.5-5.6 lens.

In closing I think it’s a great start to using a DSLR. I’m very happy with it and I don’t have any urges to upgrade to another camera yet. Also has many lenses to choose from if you’d like to upgrade that part.

I’ve taken lots of photos with it, you can view them on Flickr. Look for the “shot with Sony A200” exif data when looking at the photos (so you don’t think my iPhone photos are from it.)

Simple specs, learn more at Amazon.

  • 10-megapixel CCD captures enough detail for photo-quality 18 x 24-inch prints
  • Kit includes 18-70mm lens
  • Super Steadyshot image stabilization; Bionz image processor
  • 2.7-inch ClearPhoto LCD; Eye-Start autofocus system
  • Powered by lithium-ion battery (supplied); stores images on CF I/II and Memory Stick Pro Duo cards

Purchase at Amazon for $499.00 (with free shipping)
Read reviews of the A200.

Dr Dog - Fate

Published
by
Rubin
on July 16, 2008
in Entertainment and Music
. 0 Comments

Since I’ve loved every record they’ve put out, I was anxiously awaiting the new Dr. Dog record. Fate (releasing July 22nd) is even better than I imagined and the perfect soundtrack to my new San Francisco home. It sounds like The Band mixed with… just get it.

Listen to:

Dr. Dog - Old Days:

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Dr. Dog - The Ark:

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Purchase at Amazon
Visit Park The Van Records for many different purchasing options for Fate.
View their Myspace page.

Hospital Ships - I Want To Get Out

Published
by
Rubin
on July 3, 2008
in Entertainment and Music
. 0 Comments

Hospital Ships a project of Jordan from Minus Story. I’m VERY excited that I got to hear this today (via Stereogum) The album Oh, Ramona will be out 10/21 via Graveface.

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(MP3 Link)

Myspace

Sub Pop Singles Series

Published
by
Rubin
on July 3, 2008
in Music and Products
. 0 Comments

When I was in highschool I subscribed to the Subpop Singles Club mainly because I wanted The Anniversary / Superdrag split. I got many gems during that time. Death Cab for Cutie, etc…

They stopped doing it and now they’re BACK new and improved for one year only.

Here is all you need to know about the club. It’s going for one year only and there are a lot of new additions.