Jun/100
Broken Bells.
Ever since 2006, and his release with Cee-Lo entitled St. Elsewhere, Danger Mouse has been blowing my mind. St. Elsewhere went platnum in 2006 and for good reason, that whole album was plastered with some dirty, heavy tracks. Even The Odd Couple of 2008 held ground to almost out do St. Elsewhere. In my opinion it was the writing, as Burton (Mouse), garnished some epic quotable lyrics like, "anyone that needs what they want and doesn't want what they need, I want nothing to do with. And to do what I want and to do what I please, is first off my to do list." Damn, that's solid. Gnarls Barkley's sound is definitely original and 
thanks to Cee-Lo's incredible vocals and Danger's chronic ability to lay out killer melody, baselines and sounds to meld together, you would be a fool not to be excited for anything that Danger comes out with next. Well, Danger Mouse is back, and quite well it seems. Broken Bells is his newest collaboration. James Mercer of the Shins has teamed up, and I'm impressed with the new album, eponymously named Broken Bells. Tracks like High Road and The Ghost Inside nail down how well Danger Mouse can meld his sounds with talent and great vocals coming from another fertile mind in Mercer. I highly recommend this album, its excellent for a SHINdig (no pun intended), complete with a patio, some beers and good people. Here is High Road, my favorite new track.
Jun/102
LAND.
I recently had the pleasure to view a debut screening of a documentary by local Toronto director and friend, Julian Pinder. The film is called Land, and tells us an intimate story of recent neocolonial issues in Nicaraugua. The film deals with themes of power and corruption, as former revolutionaries clash against gringo land developers from the north, vying to construct luxurious condominuims and hotels in a quiet town along the coast as they seek to transform it into the "Nicaraguan Riviera."
But the tables turn, and the political battles that took place in the elections of 2006 bring about land reform and power is returned back to the people. But it is the corruption of this power that ironically renews itself in the hands of the Nicaraguan natives.
LAND trailer for feature documentary from Julian T. Pinder on Vimeo.
Power corrupts, and the 28 year old director captures the essence of this fact with some ballsy documentation and filming with almost no budget, yet with great ambition. This film has garnished rave reviews, including a rare 4/4 stars in the Globe and Mail. It screens this week on Wednesday the 9th at 9:00 p.m. and Thursday the 10th at 7:00 p.m., at The Royal Theater on College Street in Toronto. I highly recommend this film to anyone who supports Canadian film and for those of us who can appreciate relevant, provocative and informing media from an entrepreneur like Julian. With a potent mix of the eye opening truths that can be compared to those of Noam Chomsky, and the raw vision of a budding new director, I too give this Canadian Doc a 4/4 stars. Big ups, yo.
Jun/100
Shad.
Canadian Hip Hop cat Shad released a new video and song from his latest album, TSOL. He big ups Sauga, Brampton and calls out Glen Beck like a true muffugin' poet, yo! Turn it UP!
Produced By DJ T Lo.
Jun/100
Helmut Newton.
A German born Jew in the 1920's, Helmut Newton or Helmut Neustädter, began his work from the age of twelve working in the fashion industry in Germany. The war and Nuremburg caused his family to flee the country and he soon found himself working as a reporter in Singapore. Eventually, Helmut made his way to Australia after being comissioned by the British army where he joined and served as a truck driver, constantly working on his film as he served. Helmut created his own studio in Flinders Lane, a fashionable area in Victoria, Australia. He quickly rose to fame sharing success in the affluent post-war years with Wolfgang Sievers, a fellow German refugee and architectural photographer. Helmut eventually left Australia for London, and in 1956 landed a publication in Vogue Magazine, the rest is of course, history.
The vanguard of women in this first photo wear their skin as if it is a costume to which they are more or less indifferent, having removed themselves from their personalities, they become "specimens." Fine ones at that. Newton's portrait skills from 1930's Germany showcase well, and even Andy Warhol, the veritable king of pop art, new age, 1960's portraits, was a subject of Newton. These photos above and below, represent "Big Nudes," an erotic urban style that pinnacled in the 1980's.
Apr/101
Hitchcock.
In loving memory of that crazy, rotund, and incredible filmmaker, Alfred Hitchcock. 30 years this month since his death, and his legacy has only grown larger and more profound each year. A tribute video and some film stills here from his classics, kudos to you if you can name each film. It took quite a while for the world to appreciate his work as much as they do now, and no one can deny that his movies are among the most creepy and disturbing you'll ever see.
Apr/105
Little square dot.
A very good friend, colleague and aspiring DJ, Rob Quinn, AKA Little Square Dot, has been up to his old tricks and his new mix is definitely worth a listen. Best served with friends and wine and some cocktails and who knows what else.... Just press play and enjoy.
Mar/101
David Hockney.
David Hockney is an English painter, draughtsman, printmaker, stage designer and photographer, who is based in Bridlington, Yorkshire, England. An important contributor to the Pop art movement of the 1960s, he is considered one of the most influential British artists of the twentieth century.
Bricollage and collage art is a staple of the post-modern, as in a lot of avante-garde art, and the Semprematist movement and even in Dada. Hockney's images are incredible and I plan on making use of a decent 50mm lense and a load of prints, like these.
PH0T0ADAY.
FLICKR TAG W0RD.CA.
