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Trailer Park: Robin Hood
Not sure about you, but I have a pretty specific idea of a what a Robin Hood movie made by Ridley Scott/ Russell Crowe might look like.
Here it is.
16th Dec 2009 - Add Comment - Tweet
Websites of the Year
Creative Review have a run down of fancy websites featured in the FWA Site of the Year competition.
16th Dec 2009 - Add Comment - Tweet
Men's Health Issues
Gawker noticed a few similarities with the strap-lines on the cover of a recent copy of Men's Health, so they did a bit of checking. Turns out it's not that uncommon at all. In a response to Daily Finance, the publishing house essentially said "If it ain't broke...".
Don't even mention the rotating cast of buff black and white cover-stars.
16th Dec 2009 - Add Comment - Tweet
Biggest Big Pictures of 2009 (UPDATE: and the 00s)
Here's part 1 of 3 from The Big Picture's photo round-up of 2009.
UPDATE: If that's not enough, here's the whole 00s.
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15th Dec 2009 - Add Comment - Tweet
Ad Nauseum: Google Out of Office
Clever clip pulling together the many assets of Google, in a National-centric way.
15th Dec 2009 - Add Comment - Tweet
Goo.gl
Google has thrown it's hat in the URL-shortening arena - launching goo.gl
While all these bitly / tr.im etc services are pretty handy, they have all seemed a little shaky in terms of a business model - promoting concerns about millions of lost links if one went bust...
15th Dec 2009 - Add Comment - Tweet
Killing In The Name of Christmas
Somewhat surprisingly, the campaign to secure the Christmas #1 spot for Rage Against The Machine is working. They're currently at #2, with only 10% to make up in order to topple current leader Joe from X-Factor.
Not sure I like anyone telling me what to buy though. "@£&% you, I won't do what you tell me!"
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15th Dec 2009 - Add Comment - Tweet
Mr Beaks' top 100 movies of the decade
Mr Beaks of AICN has been running through his top 100 movies of the decade. Here's the final 25. Some interesting choices (good and bad), but Songs From The Second Floor sounds particularly interesting.
15th Dec 2009 - Add Comment - Tweet
Tiger Tweets
Real time mapping of mentions of Tiger Woods on Twitter...
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15th Dec 2009 - Add Comment - Tweet
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Oscilloscope Laboratories
Aint it cool have a great interview up with Beastie Boy MCA. They touch on his health issues (recovering well), but the main drive of the article is about his blossoming film production and distribution company - Oscilloscope Laboratories.
The company produced the Gunnin' For That #1 Spot documentary, but have also had lot of success with their distribution, notably with The Messenger with Ben Foster and Woody Harrelson.
Their approach mirrors that of the indie record label, pushing more interesting projects than the majors, using innovative techniques. Check out their Circle of Trust program, which gets you their next ten upcoming release DVDs (ahead of time), plus a 50% discount on their back catalogue for $150.
14th Dec 2009 - Add Comment - Tweet
gPhone 2.1
Google seem to be stepping up their mobile phone business, with Google Voice finding its feet in the US and the company now releasing its own unlocked, network-free handset - allegedly in January 2010.
The company has unofficially confirmed that it has given out handsets to its employees - which are built by HTC and are running a pumped up, unreleased version of Google's own Android operating system.
Meanwhile, Apple seems to be lining up to by VOIP provider iCall, which would give them a Google Voice of their own.
14th Dec 2009 - Add Comment - Tweet
X Factor Insider
Here's some great insight into the money-making skills of genius producer Simon Cowell. Before last year's X-Factor winner recorded her hit cover of Leonard Cohen's Hallelujah, Cowell bought the rights to the song, meaning he benefitted (to the tune of $250,000 a day) from Alexandra's version at number one, as well as Cohen's original and Jeff Buckley's cover - both of which zoomed back into the top 10. Genius.
Remember that when you're buying the first Joe McElderry single.
14th Dec 2009 - Add Comment - Tweet
Invasion of Privacy
It's not just you that's been compromised by Facebook's recent change in privacy settings. Chief Facebooker Mark Zuckerberg's wasted-in-Tahoe photoset popped up, and Valleywag spread the word....
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11th Dec 2009 - Add Comment - Tweet
Conchords Grounded
To coincide with their new website, Twitter feed, Flickr group and Facebook page, the Flight of the Conchords have announced that there will not be another series of the HBO show.... basically, because it's too much work.
"While the characters Bret and Jemaine will no longer be around, the real Bret and Jemaine will continue to exist."
Hopefully that doesn't mean it's the absolute end however. I Told You I was Freaky is sitting high in my best of 2009 list.
11th Dec 2009 - Add Comment - Tweet
Star Wars Hoodies
Can't say I'm a big Ecko fan, but my 10 year old self would have loved these Star Wars hoodies. Boba Fett in particular.
11th Dec 2009 - Add Comment - Tweet
Stephen Malkmus & The Jicks
Electric Ballroom, Camden
While the Pavement reunion is hogging the column inches, no one has really stopped to consider if we actually need a Pavement reunion. Sure, they are one of the defining bands of the 90's, but unlike the Pixies, Pavement perhaps reached the dizziest heights they are likely to within their own life span. And let's not forget, main man Stephen Malkmus has had a consistently successful solo career since Pavement fell apart.
His self-titled debut was solid, building the Pavement style towards a more polished production. Pig Lib formally introduced The Jicks and is likely to feature in my albums-of-the-decade list. Face The Truth unleashed his inner guitar hero, while recent entry Real Emotional Trash disclosed Malkmus' love of The Wire. Can this guy get any cooler? Apparently there's no need, as he quickly re-establishes himself on stage tonight as the ultimate 90's indie rocker.
Tonight's gig is part of a three show warm-up tour in preparation for an appearance at this weekend's ATP festival - which seems to be the band's first live outing sine May. I've often wondered what the band gets out of a warm-up show and tonight I found out. The track list was mostly a little foreign to my ears - and I consider myself pretty well revised. Less known album tracks got a dusting off, while the 'hits' were largely overlooked. When stand-out It Kills kicked off, the crown soared for perhaps the first time of the evening - but that quickly passed as the band worked the song, re-finding their feet.
While the sound was crisp and clear - making the most of Malkmus' guitar virtuosity - the deafening volume didn't help and songs were drowned out. The band creaked and shuffled, re-started and re-tuned, with stage banter often making the gig seem more like band practice. So that's what warm-ups are for then. A lesson well learnt, I just wish I was there to see them at ATP.
11th Dec 2009 - Add Comment - Tweet
Read more 2.5 star reviewsLynch talks Return of the Jedi
Interesting info coming through from a recent David Lynch event, where he talks about being offered the Director's chair on Return of the Jedi.
Very interesting, if a little revisionist. For one thing, he was a big shot director back then who had Elephant Man in the can and Dune on the horizon. If that hadn't been a turkey (and thank god it wasn't ROTJ), who knows where he'd be now.
10th Dec 2009 - Add Comment - Tweet
iTunes Album of the Year: the Invisible
Good news for our friends at Accidental Records, iTunes has names The Invisible's debut album as their album of the year.
9th Dec 2009 - Add Comment - Tweet
Monster Waves
It might not be Bodhi's dream of the 40 year storm, but 40ft waves are pounding Hawaii following some extreme weather - and the surfers are out.
The BBC have video.
9th Dec 2009 - Add Comment - Tweet
A Merry Lytle Chrismas
Jason Lytle has knocked out a piano-only Xmas Album, available for free on his bandcamp page...
9th Dec 2009 - Add Comment - Tweet
Promo Promo: Vampire Weekend - Cousins
Nice low-budget promo up for the new Vampire Weekend track, Cousins.
Directed by Garth Jennings of Hammer & Tongs. Check out his rough mock-up from the pitch below.
8th Dec 2009 - Add Comment - Tweet
Not just for directions: Sharks on Google Maps
Check out this school of sharks spotted on Google Maps while cruising around Bondi Beach. Zoom in for the gory detail...
8th Dec 2009 - Add Comment - Tweet
Mini Hulkmania
Another great faux stop-motion miniature from Keith Loutit. Check out Hulkmania.
7th Dec 2009 - Add Comment - Tweet
This Year in Tech: 1999 - Napster
Ten whole years have passed since the record industry finally had enough of those Napster chaps, and started to sue. Where are we now?
VIA: Wired
7th Dec 2009 - Add Comment - Tweet
Promo Promo: OKGO
Great one take promo up for OKGO's track WTF?
Directed by Tim Nacksashi
4th Dec 2009 - Add Comment - Tweet
Jackass 3D
A movie that might actually benefit from the inanity of 3D is the stupidest movie of them all - Jackass. According to Variety (via AICN) the possibility of Jackass 3D is highly likely. Can't be worse than Jaws.
Previously on Jackass:
3rd Dec 2009 - Add Comment - Tweet
Fugazi: Ice cream eatin' muthaf$£%as
Great piece up at Chunklet features a 40 minute edit of Fugazi stage-banter (minus music). Anyone who's seen Fugazi live will appreciate this, as it features much of the not-taken-any-crap awesome righteousness often displayed by the band. As noted, an Fugazi-curated ATP would be an instant "yes".
The album of the year has arrived.
3rd Dec 2009 - Add Comment - Tweet
Spoon vs William Egglestone
Spoon have unveiled the cover for new album Transference, and this time they're using a photo from chimp favourite William Eggleston.
Via Stereogum
1st Dec 2009 - Add Comment - Tweet
Death To The Pixies: The Vans
80's-College-Rock-Legacy website Slicing Up Eyeballs points out that the Pixies have entered the al.rock/skate show mash up genre, taking on the No Age Emerica shoe with their own range for Vans. A slip-on and a high-top, no less.
25th Nov 2009 - Add Comment - Tweet
The Babelfish is Nearly Here
WIRED has the story. Get the App here.
25th Nov 2009 - Add Comment - Tweet
New Shearwater Album
Shearwater have another album on the way. The Golden Archipelego is out on 15th February. Check out their website for more data.
24th Nov 2009 - Add Comment - Tweet
Telly Savalas looks at Birmingham
Telly Savalas looks at Birmingham. I'll be looking at New Cross later.
23rd Nov 2009 - Add Comment - Tweet
Stooges: James Williamson Interview
Following the death of Ron Asheton, Raw Power guitarist James Williamson is back in the Stooges, and Mike Watt has an interview on his Watt From Pedro Show podcast.
Williamson had previously retired from the music business in 1980, after falling out with Iggy pop - who he didn't talk to for a further 18 years...
17th Nov 2009 - Add Comment - Tweet
RIP: Derek B
The original Bad Young Brother, Derek B has died - aged 44.
16th Nov 2009 - Add Comment - Tweet
RIP: Edward Woodward
Depending on your generation, Callan or The Equalizer has finally met his match.
16th Nov 2009 - Add Comment - Tweet
Promo Promo: Themselves
Nice n freaky promo up for Themselves' track Roman Is As Roman Does.
12th Nov 2009 - Add Comment - Tweet
Trailer Park: Kick-Ass
Trailer up for Matthew Vaughn's post-Guy Ritchie superhero movie: Kick-Ass
11th Nov 2009 - Add Comment - Tweet
Trailer Park: Clash of the Titans
"Titans Will Clash" Heavy-metalacized trailer up for the Clash of the Titans remake.
11th Nov 2009 - Add Comment - Tweet
MMJ vs American Dad
In one of the wackier mash-ups that we've seen for a while, My Morning Jacket will be appearing on snarky animated sit-com American Dad. The episode seems set to revolve around the band, with baby-carrying drunkard Zach Galifianakis from The Hangover also starring as a super-fan.
The show will feature six MMJ tracks, which will then be released by ATO as a kind of 'best-of'. I'd expect an MMJ best of to be longer than that.
11th Nov 2009 - Add Comment - Tweet
Free Pixies
The Pixies reunion reunion is still rumbling on ....and you can get a slice of the Live-Doolittle action with a free EP they are giving away.
9th Nov 2009 - Add Comment - Tweet
Land Art
Way better than corn circles..... check out Jim Denevan's land art.
6th Nov 2009 - Add Comment - Tweet
IMDB
Some new features popping up over at IMDB - including sorting results by date, box office and rating. They also seem to have cut back on the nightmarish pop-up ads that have dominated the site this last year.
6th Nov 2009 - Add Comment - Tweet
This Day In Tech: The Flux Capacitor
According to archival footage, Brown was standing on his toilet seat on the evening of Nov. 5, 1955, attempting to hang a clock in his bathroom, when he slipped and slammed his head on the side of the sink. Upon regaining consciousness Brown reported having “a revelation, a picture, a picture in my head.” A picture which he crudely scrawled down on a piece of paper and subsequently spent 30 years of his life and family fortune to build.
WIRED have the story
5th Nov 2009 - Add Comment - Tweet
Spoon Transfer
Transference is the name of the new Spoon record, and it's arriving January 25th. With Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga still riding high on the Chimpomatic Last FM page, this one is pretty hotly anticipated.
The track Mystery Zone is playing over at Hype Machine.
Read our interview with Spoon here.
5th Nov 2009 - 2 comments - Add Comment - Tweet
NYC Surveillance Data
Tons of surveillance up from me and Marmot's recent NYC op. Highlights include the tailing jumbo (above), plus numerous dead (landmark) record shops.
5th Nov 2009 - Add Comment - Tweet
Mr. Brown Arrested
Ian Brown has been arrested on suspicion of wife beating, which is obviously not a very cool situation for anyone. The BBC article also notes that he's working on an album with Johnny Marr. Probably going to be Johnny Marr's 'best work for the last 25 years' as they all turn out to be....
5th Nov 2009 - Add Comment - Tweet
Halloween Outfits
Some great costumes knocking around this Halloween (check out Twitter for my Invisible Man effort).
An iPod silhouette was a highlight (sorry, no picture) and CJ has pointed out this excellent Big Head.
4th Nov 2009 - Add Comment - Tweet
Trailer Park: Avatar
Full length trailer up for James Cameron's Avatar movie. I'd like to tell you this one doesn't make it look so much like "Jar Jar Bink's National Vacation".
30th Oct 2009 - Add Comment - Tweet