February 22, 2008
First, a bit of explanation. Got the backstory straight? I guarantee you, on multiple listenings you would never ever ever have figured out any of the mythology regarding Ouija boards, the demon Goliath, or anything else resembling a cohesive narrative. Which, to be honest, is never the point of a Mars Volta record. The point […]
February 20, 2008
Breakneck speed. Throat-tearing vocals. More repressed anger than a Republican with confiscated guns. UK’s Gallows bull-rushed my future hearing levels late last year when I heard their Live BBC Sessions. I searched everywhere for their Epitaph album, and holy crap does it impress. I place this album’s adrenaline level somewhere between a donkey punch to […]
Noise rock should never sound this happy, having mostly been the realm of biting sarcasm (McLusky), shoegazer mumbling (Jesus and Mary Chain, My Bloody Valentine), and vitriolic bile (The Jesus Lizard). But Times New Viking somehow manage to marry sugar-sweet singalongs at volumes that could collapse buildings. Cheery female vocals and infectious chord progressions blasting […]
February 15, 2008
Helping save the world – well, New York City, anyway – from frustration and overcomplexity: Kickmap. Proof that good information design can make all the difference.
Even though it lost to a dog-and-pony show, I feel the most original Super Bowl commercial was the Tide Stain Stick spot (video). Tide created a fun website too. The concept was one of the most original of the entire event. This spot (no pun intended) gives the product some fun and personality.
