Tag: 2010
Film Appreciation
Melancholia
Movie Review
Enter the Void
Album Review
Zombie EP
FYI
Taken From My Blackberry Device
Photo Essay
NEXT Art Fair
Artist Interview
Justin Gilman
Book Review
If You Could Collaborate
Artist Interview
Sam Trapkin of TUI
Personal Venture
35mm Photography
Artist Interview
Adam Okrasinski
Book Review
Studio Culture
Album Review
Monsters
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12.31.10
This is my first annual list of the top ten albums of the year that I just could not shake from my iPod. These bands either wrote the catchiest songs, composed the best album of their career, or went out with a bang this year (Daughters and Envy on the Coast, you will be missed). This list is restricted to only the albums released in 2010, and although Bring Me the Horizon should receive a special award for ‘Most Improved Band,’ I had Deftones’ masterpiece, Diamond Eyes on repeat for days at a time! These albums are each fantastic, so if you haven’t heard them yet, give them a chance in 2011.
1. Deftones Diamond Eyes
2. Circa Survive Blue Sky Noise
3. Four Year Strong Enemy of the World
4. Dillinger Escape Plan Option Paralysis
5. Circa Survive The Appendage
6. Periphery Self Titled
7. Envy on the Coast Lowcountry
8. Daughters Self Titled
9. Diamond Self Titled
10. Bring Me the Horizon There is a Hell…
Honorable Mentions:
1. A Day to Remember What Separates Me from You
2. The Devil Wears Prada Zombie EP
3. Wild Orchid Children …Are Alexander Supertramp
4. The Chariot Long Live
5. Linkin Park A Thousand Suns
12.25.10
I hope everyone is with family today, warm by the fire and surrounded with lots of presents!
12.08.10
If you’re a designer or creative professional in Chicago, you are obligated to attend [Merge presents] Reply All this Friday at Evil Olive! I can vouch for last year’s party—it was packed with every designer worth buying drinks for. However, this year there has been a number of upgrades: awesome sponsors, prizes, live DJs, original motion design pieces for the event, and guest speakers! People, design events don’t get more official than this.
And on the note of guest speakers, I’ve been graciously asked to be one of them! I’ll be telling an embarrassing story about a design project that went horribly wrong. I get chills just thinking about the Hell I went through producing it. You’ll just have to attend the event to hear all the sloppy details! And with 446 attendees who have already RSVP’d, my palms are already starting to sweat…
If your company’s dumb holiday party is on the same night (like mine is), seriously consider changing your plans. Or bring everyone with you!
Lastly, thank Mig Reyes for doing such a bang up job organizing this beast of a party. He’s the brains behind it all!
10.28.10
Deftones premiere their brand new music video for You’ve Seen the Butcher today, and have absolutely killed it! With the release of Diamond Eyes earlier this summer, and all the deftly-produced videos following, the Deftones have made it very difficult to ignore them. I’ve held a very special place for this band for quite some time, and I’m thrilled to see they are holding strong in the absence of Chi.
If you haven’t seen the other videos from Diamond Eyes, check them all out here.
10.21.10
As a long-time admirer of Die Gestalten Verlag, and proud owner of each of the four preceding Los Logos books, I’m thrilled and flattered to have five of my logos published in the newest installment of the series! Los Logos: Compass is an excellent publication, with tons and tons of top notch identity samples from around the world. Plus a taller, more bookshelf-friendly format!
Thanks again, Gestalten. A deal is a deal—I’ll continue buying your books.
10.15.10
The Social Net—what?
So listen, I’m not a huge theatre-goer, but I do love great film, and I love Gaspar Noe. I saw his French mind-bender, Irreversiblé in a film class a few years ago, and it left quite the positive impression on me. It was a wild, complicated, over the top contemporary film that pushed the boundaries of conventional cinema and what the average audience can truly handle—and stomach.
With his newest film eight years later, Gaspar Noe takes an enormous step forward.
Enter the Void is more than a movie; it’s an experience. I realize that might sound cliché, but never has a theatre experience inspired me to feel the entire spectrum of human emotion in one sitting. From the blazing opening credits to the final two gut-punching frames, the film analyzes life, family, the separation of family, fear, death, the consequences of death, and a paralyzing look into Noe’s concepts of afterlife. The entire human experience in 150 minutes.
I hesitate to even call Enter the Void a movie, but rather a demonstration. It is unrated because the MPAA would have a field day with the explicitly honest content, but each and every controversial scene of the film is dripping with meaning and purpose. The story is told perfectly, the camera work is the most inventive I’ve ever seen—yes, ever—and I was so pierced to my seat with awe, I didn’t even open my king size box of Junior Mints. And that never, ever happens!
Seriously, not a single Junior Mint. For real.
This movie will leave you absolutely speechless. You won’t even realize the it’s over until the film strip literally comes off the reel. It isn’t for everyone, in fact a number of people left the theatre during scenes that are borderline tasteless. But Gaspar Noe clearly has something to say about life, and he makes his stand loud and clear.
If you are at all curious about this film, I highly encourage a screening before it leaves theaters. Cinema experience of the year, hands down—and that’s an understatement.
—
The Social Net—what?
So listen, I’m not a huge theatre-goer, but I do love great film, and I love Gaspar Noe. I saw his French mind-bender, Irreversiblé in a film class a few years ago, and it left quite the positive impression on me. It was a wild, complicated, over the top contemporary film that pushed the boundaries of conventional cinema and what the average audience can truly handle—and stomach.
With his newest film eight years later, Gaspar Noe takes an enormous step forward.
Enter the Void is more than a movie; it’s an experience. I realize that might sound cliché, but never has a theatre experience inspired me to feel the entire spectrum of human emotion in one sitting. From the blazing opening credits to the final two gut-punching frames, the film analyzes life, family, the separation of family, fear, death, the consequences of death, and a paralyzing look into Noe’s concepts of afterlife. The entire human experience in 150 minutes.
I hesitate to even call Enter the Void a movie, but rather a demonstration. It is unrated because the MPAA would have a field day with the explicitly honest content, but each and every controversial scene of the film is dripping with meaning and purpose. The story is told perfectly, the camera work is the most inventive I’ve ever seen—yes, ever—and I was so pierced to my seat with awe, I didn’t even open my king size box of Junior Mints. And that never, ever happens!
Seriously, not a single Junior Mint. For real.
This movie will leave you absolutely speechless. You won’t even realize the it’s over until the film strip literally comes off the reel. It isn’t for everyone, in fact a number of people left the theatre during scenes that are borderline tasteless. But Gaspar Noe clearly has something to say about life, and he makes his stand loud and clear.
If you are at all curious about this film, I highly encourage a screening before it leaves theaters. Cinema experience of the year, hands down—and that’s an understatement.
—
10.03.10
I’m thrilled about this year’s collection of Young Guns winners—so much talent, its crazy! Super excited to attend the opening reception for the YG8 Exhibition this thursday, looking forward to meeting some great people.
ADC you soon!!
I meant to write about this earlier in the week and then totally forgot. And then totally remembered again just about a minute ago. I’m a huge fan I was a huge fan of My Chemical Romance in high school ever since I first heard This is the Best Day Ever on an old Eyeball Records sampler. Loved their first two albums, even when their single Helena started making its rounds on MTV. Then they released that damn Black Parade album, and try as I might I simply could not get into it.
And then the band went all m.i.a. for about four years.
So it brings me great joy to know they’re back with a new look, one new band member, and a super tasty new artistic direction! An awesome album title, and a few sweet promotional viral videos later, and I’m a happy boy.
Danger Days: The True Lives of the Fabulous Killjoys debuts November 22, on Reprise Records.
08.30.10
Just look at that beast.
Later this September, the fifth installment of Die Gestalten’s popular Los Logos series will be released in North America, and I am delighted to say that as a loyal reader and owner of Los Logos, Dos Logos, Tres Logos, and Los Logos 4, my work has been selected to be published in Los Logos: Compass! If this book is anything like it’s predecessors, it’s going to be the absolute must-have branding book for all graphic designers this Fall. I submitted over fifteen logos from the past year, and happen to know—based on the thumbnail views—a logo I produced for NYC fashion designer, Nuria Frances did make the cut! Now for the other sixteen pieces. Feelin’ itchy…
Thanks Gestalten! You’ve always ranked top three on my Christmas lists.