Video | "Guillotine" by Phobia & Jubei

Yes, I haven't posted in a million years. New Years resolution #1? Blog more!

Moving on ...

Many of you know that when I win the lottery, I'll use the money to start up the greatest two TV channels, one focused on every amazing TV show that's ever run, from Star Search to Out of this World to Peep Show (just ... Jenne TV ... no concept here, people, other than stuff I like) and the second to bring back a version of the Box to American channels. It was the highlight of living in Amsterdam, and when I catch shows like "The Bridge" running on late night cable here in NY, it just reminds me of how great music videos can be. Growing up, you'd turn on MTV and see all kinds of videos from electronic to hip hop to rock, and I find it saddening that these days, music is so pigeonholed and separated. I was reminded of this recently while stumbling upon some amazing clips from Detroit's "The New Dance Show" that remind us of a time when "dance" music was the stuff falling out of disco that emcompassed everything from breaks to techno to synth-y funk. So below, there's a video from "The New Dance Show" that just brings joy into my heart, and below that, the kind of video that should just be on TV, even late night, amidst all sorts of other music from small bands, big bands, pop bands, deejays, etc.

Amsterdam, the Remix

My recent trip back to Amsterdam gave me the opportunity to catch up with our former neighbour/landlord Alex. It seems he's been quite busy since we shared a staircase. His big beat/electronica/trance alter-ego Geonaute has launched a summer of gigging at electronica festivals, including a trip into Iberian trivia-answer Portugal.

There's a good sampling of his stuff to get you in the mood for the coming weekend's festivities and, if you're in London in the coming weeks, you might even be able to take in an upcoming gig.

Moving Images | Pleix Films

A friend sent me a link to this very cool video from French deejay Vitalic called "Birds", made by the very cool people at Pleix Films who've been responsible for some awesome work over years by the likes of Groove Armada and Basement Jaxx. When I finally start my TV channel, this is the kind of programming you'll find.

Graphic Design | Alex Trochut

It's been a while since I've posted here and I have a backlog of a variety of artists and such to write up little blurbs for, but this illustrator's work just caught my eye at a portfolio review just held at work and it got me so excited I had to share. Alex Trochut is a freelance graphic designer from Barcelona -- he's done a variety of commercial projects, including cover art for a recent Rolling Stones album cover, and his work is so fun, inventive, and gorgeous that it makes me want to squeal with delight. Thankfully, he has posters for sale on his site so I might invest.

Blogs | I Believe in Advertising, Adliterate

I've been really enjoying these two ad blogs recently. I Believe in Advertising showcases some of the most cutting-edge work from around the world, sort of like what having a subscription Archive might be like, without a hefty pricetag (or any pricetag). Adliterate on the other hand specialises in commentary on branding in our big, wide, world o' capitalism with thoughtful insights on a range of topics from internal agency dynamics to creative issues.

Blog | A Strange Form of Life

I've been enjoying this collection of collages on A Strange Form of Life, which has led me to explore some really amazing collage artists. One of my favourites is Sean Mackaoui whose piece "Musa sin rumbo" is above, and also pasted on the outside of my cube.

Design, Illlustration | Candykiller

Love these bright, bold designs and illustrations from Candykiller, all circus-and-comic-inspired pieces that lean towards the weird, the eclectic, and the totally deranged.

Internet | Media | Link-hopping

Ah, unemployment. It suits me well. I have been able to while away many an hour since I arrived in Australia by playing the internet equivalent of word association.

To wit: I was listening to a recent episode of the Pandora podcasts, this particular episode involving the construction of a song from acoustic demo to multi-tracked final cut. In the podcast, they mention one of the millions of early electronic keyboard-type devices from the '70's called an Orchestron.

As a footnote to the Orchestron post on Wiki, I noticed a reference to Swiss duo AK-Momo. Lacking a website, and having a band name more reminiscent of a professional ice hockey club, I had to turn to the repository of all things media to find more about them and this Orchestron thingamabob. This video (and the vocalist's more interesting than average My Space site) was the fruit of my labours:

Media | Internet | Mood Ring for the 21st Century

Getty, stock image and audio provider to the world, has devised quite the new multimedia project at Moodstream. Billing itself as a source of inspiration, Moodstream polls you on your current or desired mood using a 5-parameter scale (or gives you the option of choosing one of the very Urban Yoga-esque presets) and then streams images and audio clips to match the mood.

Long has Getty been touting the power of imagery to impact people (as extolled in their Change Me initiative). With Moodstream they have gone an obvious step further and started championing steaming multimedia for it's powers of influence. While the presence of "moodboards" (think storyboards for the emo set) are consistent with the stated purposed of inspiring creatives who have hit a roadblock and need a kick-start, I can't help but think this would make a great background for a multi-media wine tasting party at my place (if they would only increase the duration of the audio clips to nightclub length and add some cross-fading).

Next Thursday, anyone?

Photo, Quote

Photo for the day, then I promise, no more star pictures unless they're really compelling.



"He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the hearts of men; yet they cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end."
Ecclesiastes 3:11

Blog | Allen AKA at 12ozPROPHET

Really, really enjoying Allen AKA's blog at 12ozPROPHET, which I was led to today from a link on
PSFK sharing some observations of drip graffiti in fashion trends. At his blog, I found awesome Nikes galore, beautiful black & white nudes (that ever-so-slightly hover towards porn, without losing their artiness), snowboarding pics, hommage to a classic Italian deli, a paella cook-out in Barcelona, and documentation of Terry Richardson's campaign of Kermit for Surpreme. In other words, the life I wish I was living. Go there immediately and soak up the goodness.

The end.

Music | Rockers International

photo by Yuri Shibuya

Seeing the above photo of Rockers International in Jamaica prompted me to do a little Googling, where I found a site with tons of excellent reggae mixes I can't tell if it's affiliated with the original label or is just a fansite, but excellent mixes nonetheless.

Photography | Yuri Shibuya

Oh, how I love the Internet. I was checking in with the sites and blogs I visit frequently, and was led from PSFK to 12ozPROPHET, dedicated to all sorts of amazing graffiti/street artists and designers, where I then discoverded the works of Yuri Shibuya. He's a Japanese photographer who has done some really fantastic work capturing the streets of New York City (with a particular emphasis on the streets and the skateboarders who roam them) as well as many other fascinating people and places worldwide. Some couple more I like, below.

Illustration | Eric Lister

Yes, I'm biased, because I went to college with Eric, but it's long overdue to give him a proper shout-out. Check out his awesome drawings at Ink for Brains or just go read his blog where lots of new sketches and such are on view.

Culture | Site | "See My Grill"

Yay! It's a "hot or not" for grills.

Illustration | Serge Seidlitz

I absolutely love the illustration of Serge Seidlitz. In looking over the vast array of drawings on his site, it's obvious many an ad agency and company does as well. Go there and enjoy lots and lots and lots of fun, detailed, quirky eye candy.

Website | Astronomy | Picture of the Day

I've been enjoying NASA's Picture of the Day site, where there's a lovely, compelling photo of our heavens posted along with some information and description. Looking at pictures of the sky always reminds me of one of my favourite poems, "Te deshojé como una rosa" by Juan Ramón Jiménez.

Te dehojé, como una rosa,
para verte tu alma,
y no la vi.

Mas todo en torno
--horizontes de tierras y de mares--,
todo, hasta el infinito,
se colmó de una esencia
inmensa y viva

(I took off petal after petal, as if you were a rose,
in order to see your soul,
and I didn't see it.

However, everything around-
horizons of fields and oceans-
everything, even what was infinite,
was filled with a perfume,
immense and living.)

Advertising | 1950s - 1970s Set

This fabulous set of 1950s - 1970s advertisements (posters, magazine ads, booklets, etc.) on Flickr is both fascinating and inspiring. Some of the ads are dated from a social perspective, but the design and much of the writing remains timeless and iconic.

Like this ad from Volkswagon ...



... I don't think its correct to use Native American stereotypes when selling cars anymore (thus the dated part of the ad) but overall the ad is striking and compelling. If I could write copy a fraction as 0s succinct, elegant, fluid and sharp as what's on this ad, I'd be a happy copywriter.

And this ad, from the Italian Art Directors' Club ...



... is not just visually a treat, but understandable to anyone, regardless of their mother tongue.

I think very often advertising creatives lose sight of the main task at hand -- communication. Deciding what needs to be said, and saying it -- through words, pictures or both -- as simply, singularly and memorably as possible.

These are old ads, but will you remember them? I will.

Blog | Ace Jet 170

I've really been enjoying design blog Ace Jet 170, especially for its devotion to found type and graphic images, all nicely collected in sets that showcase a the fine craftsmanship of these various disciplines, in all their slightly vintage glory. Such as this collection of stamps, shown above.

Blog | Ice Cream People

Yay, an entire blog dedicated to the arts and crafts of ice cream people. Like this yummy sculpture by Jenny Harada.