Monthly Archive for September, 2008

Little Pictures - Owl + Owl

So thanks to my friend Nick I am really enjoying the record Owl + Owl by Little Pictures, a pop duo from Wellington, New Zealand. Sounds good today. Simple. Enjoy.

Favorite tracks: Tiny Gaps, This House Can Fit Us All, Eliot, Kaleidoscope, and, I Wish I Could Keep You.

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Listen to more at Myspace.
Watch the video for This House Can’t Fit Us All.
Order from Lil’ Chief Records.

Chris Buck - Photography

View the work of Los Angeles / New York photographer Chris Buck. I was looking at it all through photo school, inspired by his portraits, learning to get past who the people were, and still loving the photos because they were great. (picture above is Sufjan Stevens.)

Coudal Partners - Western State

Though this doesn’t have a date on it, I’m pretty sure the Western State video series was happening between 2001 and 2004. (I remember discovering it when I was in photography school.)

When I first saw the Andy Mueller video it was so inspiring to see his process from design to photography that it got me hooked on keeping up with everything he does.  Jason Gnewikow (of The Promise Ring) was another one, had loved his design, loved the music he made, so it was really cool to see a video showcasing all of that. Geoff McFetridge’s work I’d known and it was cool to see him speak about it. So go check all of these out. (In the Andy Mueller video you’ll see him taking the photo for the Pinebender album cover to the right.)

“Western State is an ongoing series of documentaries. Each examines an artist who approaches his work in a non-traditional way. The artists featured are difficult to categorize. Technology and media foster a rich, multidisciplinary approach. Western State, describes this culture of creativity through personal and engaging profiles of many of its leading practitioners.”

Todd Selby - Photos In Your Space

Photographer Todd Selby, has an ongoing project called “Photos In Your Space,” with lots of great photos of people’s homes and workspaces. You should check that out and also view his portfolio site as well.

The Weekly Check In with Jon Visger (of Mason Proper)

(Part of The Weekly Check In series)

Since I enjoyed Mason Proper’s last album There Is A Moth In Your Chest and now Olly Oxen Free, I wanted to do a quick check in with the singer, Jon Visger. This is what he had to say.

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

Visger: Olly Oxen Free!  It’s still fresh, and I’m still really excited about it.  Beyond that, I just finished my second solo EP, but I’m waiting until Olly Oxen Free is out to release that to the world.  I’m excited about that too, but it’s dwarfed by the MP album.

RR: Where have you traveled so far this month?

Visger: I took my girlfriend to the water park at Cedar Point for her birthday, but I enjoyed it so much I felt like I had given myself a present instead.  Not too many things make me happier than water slides.  How can anything be bad when you’re going down a waterslide?? You’re this creature, sitting in a tube, sliding down into a pool, where you get dunked, for no reason at all.  That is the meaning of life.

RR: What’s your favorite music right now?

Visger: It is cliche to say Bon Iver, but Bon Iver.  Also, King Tubby.  I suspect the new TV on the Radio album will occupy the spot.  And I don’t care what ANYBODY says, the Coldplay song “Lost!” is a pleasure I flatly refuse to feel guilty about.  And in the remix contest we’re running, this guy Low Scores did a really fantastic entry, and I’ve been listening to his other music, and this duo he’s a part of, 10k Cities.  They expertly wield my favorite sounds and styles.  Somebody read this, sign them, and you’ll have the hot new thing on your hands. Seriously, let it be said, I am calling it right now, you’ll all know their names someday.

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

Visger: Sushi, at this place…  I can’t remember the name.  I thought I didn’t really like sushi, but it turns out I really like sushi.  Next thing you know I’ll be snatching fish out of a river like a bear and eating them on the spot.  I feel so savage.

RR: Anything Else You Want To Mention?

Visger: I just want to say thanks to you and everyone else that listens to new music.  Specifically us, but also in general.  Ha ha.

Friday Flashback w/ The Van Pelt

The Van Pelt, oh how I love them and forever will. From Native Nod to the bands after, I’ve always loved what Chris Leo has done. Bryan Maryansky went onto Jets To Brazil, just great stuff, great photographer too. End Rant.

The Van Pelt formed in 1993 at New York University. They released two albums, Stealing From Our Favorite Thieves and Sultans of Sentiment, on Gern Blandsten Records in 1996 and 1997 respectively. They also had an EP on Artmonk Construction which you can find out about here. The band featured Chris Leo (ex-Native Nod, brother of Ted) on vocals and guitar, Brian Maryansky (who later joined Jets to Brazil) on guitar, Toko Yasuda (ex-Blonde Redhead) on bass, and Neil O’Brian on drums. The band broke up in 1997, and Chris and Toko went on to form The Lapse (and later Vague Angels.)

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Purchase The Van Pelt’s records Stealing From Our Favorite Thieves, The EP. and Sultans of Sentiment Amazon.
Learn more about each record at Gern Blandsten.
Chris Leo wrote a booked called White Pigeons that also comes with a CD of his band Vague Angels.

Michael Schmelling - Photography

(photo: David Berman of the Silver Jews who I am seeing tonight in San Francisco)

Enjoying the photography of Michael Schmelling. I just saw his book Shut Up Truth at Park Life over the weekend and I own The Wilco Book in which his photos appear, he’s great.

View his work here.

Dan Monick - Photography

Los Angeles based photographer, friend of mine, amazing guy, Dan Monick, just updated his website. Saw his work Anthem Magazine in 03, wrote him an email, met him in Boston, moved next door to him in Los Angeles, and now he’s stuck with me.

TW Walsh - Blue Laws And Others

I found TW Walsh while I was living in Boston (and ended up making him let me take his picture for school.) He is a Engineer, Songwriter and Musician who made music under his own name, played with Pedro The Lion, and had another project called The Soft Drugs.

He has made his albums Blue Laws (2001) and How We Spend Our Days (1999) and a 2008 song called “Drop The Bomb” and some others available for free download on his website.

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Purchase his records at Amazon.
Learn more at http://twwalsh.com.
(Thanks to It’s Hard To Find A Friend for mentioning this.)

Hilary Pecis - Artwork

The work of Bay Area artist Hilary Pecis. See her newest work at Receiver Gallery where she just had a solo show.