Like the idea of Muxtape, but feel held back by the reality that you’re a lazy bastard or don’t have the ability to make such important decisions like ‘what should i put on my mixtape’? Maybe like me, you struggle on both fronts. Try Favtape. Simply enter your last.fm (or pandora) username and a page will be generated with a playlist of songs you can listen through. Or force upon you friends. It uses javascript, flash and magic like all brilliant mashups on the web.
Time for a bit more fluid graffiti than we’re used to. Also comes without any of the lasting effects that are often rather unpopular. This reminds me a lot of a brilliant flash game called flOw which is so beautiful, so simple… whoops; there goes another hour floating round the ether.
This is about the band, not the international crime fighting organisation. Boom boom! I’m so lonely… ANYWAY, last week we went to see one of my favourite current bands for the 1st time. I love Interpol. I think ‘Slow Hands’ is one of the best rock tunes ever and I completely shrug off the common, “Joy Division did this already” comments. They’re on their 3rd (slightly disappointing, but still solid) album now and I don’t have much to say about the gig. It was technically spot on, but it felt a bit cold. Clinical almost. I’m not used seeing big bands I guess (last one of similar standing was Death Cab for Cutie). They were tight, almost too tight, and I felt myself becoming annoyed by the (again, very impressive) guitarists show-boating. Mark E Smith wouldn’t stand for this nonscence y’know. Anyway, I digress. The best thing about this gig wasn’t Interpol (good as they were) or the fact that it was my first visit to the new Sheffield Carling Academy. Oh, about that; they need to get some bloody fans. Just get the air to cycle. Bloody hell guys, c’mon *mops brow*. A decent venue, but you just know that in 6 months it’ll be the dirtiest scruffiest dump in town.
What I really enjoyed last Wednesday was Ladytron. I’ve been fond of their chirpy electro-pop from the days of ‘Playgirl‘ and their move to a darker sound on 2005s ‘Witching Hour‘ was almost jarring, but oh so acceptable. This years new album ‘Velocifero‘ is much in the same vein and tracks like my personal highlight,’Seasons Of Illusions‘, which sound so snarling, disgusted and aloof are very much welcome. In the end, Ladytron, who seem to try as hard as possible to come across as cold and clinical with their black dress, chant-like lyric delivery and complete inability to look even mildly amused actually felt a lot warmer than the more ‘bouncy’ main act.
In the same week that Gordon Brown tells us not to waste food, we learn of the massive piles of food being served at the G8 sumit. This year apparently they’re focusing on the food shortage crisis. Surely some PR guy somewhere would have said to one of the leaders, “Hang on guys, this isn’t a great idea”
For me it ranks alongside Kanye West performing at a ‘Make Poverty History’ show a couple of years ago wearing several kilogrammes of golden jewelery. I’m sure everyone is trying to help out, but they come away looking like they’re just rubbing peoples face in it. Sigh. I’m off to go break-dance in front of some kids in wheelchairs.
The agents from Improv Everywhere have pulled off another superb urban prank. This one involved getting identically-dressed twins to sit opposite each other in the subway car, creating a mirror-like effect.
I recommend spending a few minutes looking through the rest of their site. They’ve had some brilliant pranks (’missions’) in the past. My personal favourite was the much smaller scale suicide jumper mission.
Finally I can write about two of my favourite things. This owl was found making a home in a carrier-borne fighter aircraft. Anyway, the sailors who found him named him FOD (or Foreign Object Damage to non-propeller-heads) and nursed him back to health before releasing him into the wild. Awwww. Choice quote from the original article:
If this owl was hiding in a cockpit while a jet was on the catapult. It could possibly bring a jet down if the pilot freaks out because an owl is flying around in his cockpit
Your scope of influence has a lot to answer for, Mr. Cruise.
I like this photographers website very much. Some simple, very clinical photographs of some rather boring industrial things. However, the sharpness and colours make for some pretty pictures. I think that many shots from the ‘Garages’ and ‘Landings’ (time-lapse taken at the end of a runway) sets would make brilliant comptuer wallpapers.
A grassroots movement are pushing to rename a water treatment plant in San Francisco after George W Bush. The Times reports that over 8,500 signatures have been collected; something that probably wouldn’t happen anywhere else in America but San Francisco. I think this would be a fitting tribute after the last 8 years, but I feel a little sorry for the sanitation workers. Perhaps a ceremonial pile of burning tires would be even more fitting? Still, best of luck to the aptly named Presidential memorial foundation who put it like this:
“On matters ranging from foreign relations to fiscal and environmental stewardship, no other president in American history has accomplished so much in such a short time, We believe this is an appropriate honour for a truly unique president.”
Coldplay (aka “Radiohead for bed-wetters”) are getting a lot of radio play. Too much. Even on ‘alternative music station’; BBC 6music, they pop-up a surprising amount. Like they were/are with the iPhone, the BBC are currently in a multi-media Coldplay-luvy blitz (although the ‘toys out of the pram’ moment that Chris Martin gave Radio 4 is pretty funny). We’re told repeatedly how big they are. They’re so big because we’re constantly told about them! It’s a vicious circle. With the new album, ‘Viva la Vida’ (aka “The beginners guide to raising your bittorrent ratio”) it’s just more evidence of ripping off others for fun and profit (mainly profit, actually).
Now indie band the Creaky Boards are claiming that they wuz robbed. Sure, this could just be coincidence and a bit of cheeky publicity grabbing from the ‘Boards, but remember this is Coldplay we’re talking about. This is the band responsible for ensuring that any time Kraftwurks gentle Computer Love is played, the younger members of the beige-Mondeo owning public cry, “isn’t this a Coldplay cover?”.
It’s not just melodic piracy either, it struck me that the current visual style Coldplay have recently adopted closely parallels that of teenage-angst mongers ‘My Chemical Romance’. I’m not the only one to notice this.
In short: Music by the numbers (lead by what the market deems profitable, as opposed to musical integrity) : Still tedious.
I’m tempted to buy this tee-shirt. It’s mainly true, but not as true as it should be sometimes. Of course I would say that, I work in design (well, technically). In fact, I could very well be lying. Design is certainly lying if it claims that it’s not using overusing common typefaces with solid block backgrounds as an easy way to create a strong visual identity. I’m looking at you, Vodafone and Channel 4 OD!
Up in Glasgow, this thing is called a ‘Munchy box’. Looking at the pictures, it seems to be all the food one might pick up after a night on the beer, but in a massive pile. Looking at the pictures is, for me, a combination of initial disgust followed by a little voice at the back of my head saying that actually, it could be quite tasty (that little voice is the one that says ‘lets go to the pub’).
We don’t have them down in Sheffield, at least I don’t think we do. If you know where I can buy one, then please don’t let me know. I can easily imagine tucking into one with an equally disgusting friend and then suffering the consequences the following morning, if not for the rest of my life.
...to devolute.net. This is the webpage of Ian Parr; a UK based web designer.
About me
I enjoy the ramblings of MES, the color blue and people who move their hands around too much when they talk. I read the Guardian, go to gigs and play music on my record player. My interests include design and the comedy of Armando Iannucci.
Visit the about page to find more about me and this page or the work section to view a growing portfolio.
Like the idea of Muxtape, but feel held back by the reality that you’re a lazy bastard or don’t have the ability to make such important decisions like ‘what should i put on my mixtape’? Maybe like me, you struggle on both fronts. Try Favtape. Simply enter your last.fm (or pandora) username and a page will be generated with a playlist of songs you can listen through. Or force upon you friends. It uses javascript, flash and magic like all brilliant mashups on the web.
