95total // cultural aggregation

Some developments.

2008-08-18T19:15:00.005-05:00

I've come to the brink of concession. Not for writing in general, but for this here establishment. I've lost a lot of the drive I had for 95total, stringing it along because of how much work I've put into it. For the past couple months I've struggled to find things to write about, often dealing with the pressure of delivering more diverse subjects to create a larger reader base. Couple that with having no other writers on the blog, and you have a lot of shit posts about stuff I'm not so sure I even cared about. But, for those who may have enjoyed my writing, a new blog will appear, and I will post it here once it's done. It'll be much more informal, more passionate, and hopefully more creative. I once read that a blog is only as good as the passion you have for writing for it. I'm taking that wisdom and hopefully spawning something much more enjoyable to read.

Thanks everyone for reading, and I truly hope you will migrate to my new brainchild. Cheers.

My Shitty Lolla Flickr

2008-08-05T15:13:00.004-05:00

If it were any good then it means I wasn't enjoying the shows.

Take a look at the general goings on.

Ed Phones by WeSC

2008-08-05T11:43:00.005-05:00

Ed Banger is collaborating with WeSC on a pair of headphones to be released later this month. As with everything else Ed Banger, the headphones are designed by So Me, the label's controlling force behind its image. These are pretty slick phones and, if it's like anything else WeSC makes, they'll sound great as well. You'll be able to grab a pair August 20 at We Sold Out and Mini Colette.

(Found via FRESHNESS)

Lollapalooza 2008

2008-08-05T09:47:00.004-05:00

Lollapalooza 2008 was like watching a David Blaine magic trick. It was, simply and crudely put, a gigantic mindfuck. There's really nothing more surreal than walking from a seizure inducing, big beat Kanye show to a seizure inducing, big beat Nine Inch Nails show. Here are some of the highlights and lowlights of my weekend in Chicago:

The Black Keys' set rocked out and was the best show I've seen them perform. This is sort of strange because I assumed these guys were better suited for a small venue.
Cat Power was disappointing.
Cadence Weapon, whom I'd never heard of, was a great surprise. Imagine MCing over House music.
The Cool Kids fucking tore it up. Their beats translate very well to the live sector, not to mention their DJ was impressive in cutting in outside music.
Radiohead blew me the hell away. I got a chance to see them back in May in St. Louis a couple rows back. However, this time I was much further back and got to see the light show a lot better and it added to the experience. Plus I finally got to see Dollars & Cents. I'm pretty sure I looked like I was tripping acid during this entire set.
Booka Shade was awesome.
MGMT somehow forgot that they weren't performing for Oakdale Retirement Community.
Explosions in the Sky maintained the most festival-like experience for me this year. My girlfriend and I just sat down and listened to an hour of relaxing post-rock. One of my top highlights this year.
Uffie, although late, stirred up a great dance party. She knows how to get a crowd going. I'm just sort of upset that she didn't bring the Ed Banger crew to do an after show.
I had heard so many great things about Broken Social Scene live, but it was forgettable. They are, though, without some of the talent that made them as good as they once were.
Rage Against the Machine was insane. I can't wrap my head around anyone seeing Wilco instead. Zach De La Rocha's continual requests for everyone to "take five to ten steps back" to save the poor people in the front from getting their ribs crushed is about the best way to describe what went on during their show.
I went to an after party at The Hideout to go see Oh Snap!!, Cadence Weapon, and The Hood Internet. I got there really early and, to my delight, got to speak with Steve and Aaron of The Hood Internet. They were very kind and put up with me being a drunken jack ass. If you haven't checked these guys out, do so. They are doing some of the best mash-ups on the planet right now.
Chromeo could've been so much cooler if they were on a smaller stage. Their sound just didn't translate as well on the big MySpace stage.
Franki Chan of iheartcomix is a fine DJ. He controls the crowd extremely well and uses that edgy French sound that has been kicking so much ass lately.
Saul Williams is a trip. The band sounded great and he commands the mic well. A true MC for a type of music you wouldn't normally think had MCs.
Girl Talk was the dance party of the weekend. Honestly, this guy puts on about as good of a show as you can for someone who only has to use a few mouse clicks an entire show. By the end of the set Gregg Gillis was crowd surfing on a raft.
Kanye West was supremely impressive. The lights, the sound, his MCing, everything. For anyone thinking a rap show can't be just as impressive live as it is on CD, you're wrong. His set was fresh and I especially loved his breakdown during the middle of the set when he did a little rap about his late mother.
The Nine Inch Nails light show was on par with Kanye's. Trent sounded great and, of the songs I saw, they put on a fantastic show. It was hard to pick between Kanye and NIN and, even though I would've loved to see more of NIN, I can't complain about my decision.

This was easily the best festival I've ever been to, and I'm wondering how or if they can top it next year. We'll see.

Stay tuned for a flickr set here today.

(Pic above courtesy of Brooklyn Vegan)

Dark Knight Illutsration by Frank Stockton

2008-07-31T07:44:00.003-05:00

This Dark Knight illustration, which is really bad ass, was done by Frank Stockton, a highly talented illustrator whose done work for publications such as ESPN the Magazine, GQ, and Forbes. His name's been floating around recently, but no one seems to be mentioning this specific illustration which I think is about as well done as you can get. It's also interesting to me that that a movie adapted from a comic book hero would inspire what the elite would call "high art". Get over to his blog and let him know how great he is. Oh, and ask him to give us a high resolution version.

Chic Beer Package Design: II

2008-07-30T07:38:00.005-05:00

Here's some more stylish beer packaging that I happened to come across. Slightly less design-ish and a little more artistic, these Beck's bottles are part of a new series created by students from the Royal College of Art. The project, called Beck's Canvas, features artwork by the students and will be around for a "limited" time. I wonder if these will make it stateside.

(Found via Material Interest)

Mattel Hover Board from Back to the Future 2 up for Auction

2008-07-29T13:34:00.005-05:00

McFly's the buzzword around town and it ain't because of that dashing life preserver. Another item from the Back to the Future 2 world has popped up and, unlike the Nike HyperDunks, it's an actual prop from the film. There's an auction on eBay for the Mattel Hover Board that the oh-so-charismatic McFly used to escape the menacing crew led by Biff's legally retarded grandson. For $30,000, now you can meddle with Griff and his lackeys!

Leatherman Argentum Collection

2008-07-28T10:18:00.002-05:00

I've been known to be a pretty gritty dude. Real rugged. You know, writing about fabulous design and touching music requires skills not unlike Bear Grylls. That's why I'm considering one of the Leathermans from the Argentum Collection. Nothing says hardcore ingenuity more than a $12,000 multi-tool. That way, even though I don't really know how to use one, I'll look legit.

(Found via Material Interest)

Chic Beer Package Design

2008-07-28T09:59:00.006-05:00

One of my roommates and I are huge beer enthusiasts. We've spent the past year or so collecting various bottles from all over the world, spanning everything from light lagers to coffee stouts to Trappist ales. We've accumulated close to 400 separate bottles, and the collection is growing. However, once you get that many bottles, it becomes less about finding the tastiest beer and more about finding an awesome package design. Design O'Blog has managed to track down a couple beers I've never seen or even heard of that have some great design. I especially like Tokaido and, although I don't collect cans, the Liten Ljus Lager, pictured above, is probably the coolest and most unique can of brew I've ever seen.

New Prints from Si Scott

2008-07-25T12:23:00.006-05:00

Si Scott has become one of my favorite graphic designers in the short time I've been keeping up on the art form. The guy is by far the best typographic magician right now, adopting a style that is highly intricate and elegant--and entirely his own. I obsess over it so much that it's inspiring my next tattoo. Anyway, Scott, in collaboration with Hype Type Studio, has some new prints for sale and, per usual, they receive my admiration.

(Found via Why Me?)

The Dark Knight

2008-07-19T13:42:00.000-05:00

Incredible.

Ghostco

2008-07-17T08:00:00.000-05:00

Matthew Woodson's portfolio, Ghostco, reminds me of a mix between A Scanner Darkly and some unnamed graphic novel. A lot of what I posted lately in the graphic design department may overload the eyes a bit, so this is a nice change of pace I think. There's something to be said for the beauty in his color schemes and thin lines. Seems as though others agree--he's racked up quite an impressive clients list including ESPN Magazine, American Express, and Wired Magazine. This from a guy who graduated two years ago.

(Found via Changethethought)

Nike HyperDunk

2008-07-14T12:02:00.003-05:00

Number one childhood movie: Back to the Future. Worthy follow-up: Back to the Future 2. Shit had sweet ass hover boards and vinyl neon hats. And even though the movie claimed to be doing design from the year 2015, they weren't fooling anybody--it somehow managed to be even more 80s than the 80s itself. It's not too surprising, then, that with all this 80s design and fashion making its way into current style, that someone's taking inspiration from the self-lacing sky-tops that McFly wore in his relative future. They don't look quite the same, if I recall them correctly (and I'm pretty sure I do), but it's such a ridiculous concept that it works. I'd never wear them, though.

(Found via FRESHNESSMAG)

MGMT - Electric Feel (Justice Remix) - Boy I should've posted this a while ago.

2008-07-10T17:13:00.004-05:00

Electric Feel is by far the best remix Justice has done, and it's incredible to see how well they are progressing as musicians. Their metal background (believe it) definitely gets into their sound, displaying tons of edgy synth and bass. I like a lot of electronica, but these guys are some of the most distinct in the genre. Keep in mind they've been only doing this stuff for a couple years. I've been trying nonstop to achieve that nasty bass sound they get running throughout this track. Unbelievable.

This may be my track of the year. It is featured on the newly released Electric Feel single by MGMT. The original is pretty awesome as well, and on that note, check out MGMT's debut album Oracular Spectacular.

Pablo Alfieri's Portfolio, "Playful"

2008-07-08T12:00:00.000-05:00

Pablo Alfieri impresses me much. I like that he isn't limiting himself either; even though his print work is pretty phenomenal, his venture into the 3d medium for his piece "The 90's" is about as awesome as it gets for us nostalgic types raised on Nickelodeon and Nintendo.

(Found via The Serif)

Timex proves style is cyclical

2008-07-08T10:00:00.001-05:00

I'm in the market for a new watch. As my girlfriend pointed out, my Kenneth Cole watch, although nice, just doesn't fit my style so much anymore. I tend to agree, and have been thinking about some new options for a watch that fits my aesthetic.

Though I'd probably get a decent amount of flak for wearing something like this, I think these Timex Black Collection watches look slick if paired up with the right attire. No, they probably don't make the same statement if you have a knack for Wrangler jeans, scrunched down tube socks, and over sized t-shirts (without an undershirt, of course), but I do think that this style is making a pretty decent come back. I imagine people like Pharell and Kanye wearing one of these and looking pretty bad ass. But then again, that's not my aesthetic, either. Maybe I should keep on looking.

(Found via Highsnobiety)

Things I learned from 80/35 in Des Moines

2008-07-08T08:00:00.002-05:00

80/35 was a festival highlighted by its surprising local acts and, of course, The Flaming Lips and The Roots. A lot, however, went on, and these are the things I learned from an altogether pleasant festival-going experience:

The Flaming Lips still put on the funnest show in the world.
Festivals always seem to attract its fair share of hippies.
Jakob Dylan drinks as if he were still relevant.
Yonder Mountain String Band drinks like they know they should.
Des Moines has some impressive DJ talent, as evidenced not by one, not by two, but by three separate occasions (more on this in some ensuing posts).
Des Moines drinks, and it drinks well (more on this later as well).
Des Moines appreciates typography as much as I do.

Check out the whole flickr set here.

long weekends and the midwestern lifestyle

2008-07-06T23:48:00.003-05:00

I'm back from my first ever trip to Des Moines, and am more impressed than I thought I'd be. The city's got the paradoxical juxtaposition of cleanliness and major city infrastructure not unlike Salt Lake City, for those who have been. I was very impressed with how nice everyone was, eager to befriend those who shared similar interests. It seems there is quite a good DJ scene as well, something I've longed to see in the area which I live. Not to mention some pretty good BBQ that takes advantage of Iowa's major hog supply. But I digress--I realize the apparent lack of excitement to the rest of the world that talking about Iowa can conjure--it's just that I feel the city deserves some recognition, and if you're ever passing through, maybe take some time to have a beer or two at Court Avenue Brew Pub, and then head over to Vaudeville Mews to see some impressive DJ sets.

Once I've properly relaxed and received adequate time, I will write up some stuff about some music you've heard of, some you haven't, a delicious stout from a local micro-brewery, and other various snippets of things I feel are worth showing to the rest of the world. Stay tuned for a flickr set as well.

happy birthday, you!

2008-07-04T08:00:00.002-05:00

Happy Birthday, America. In your honor, I am celebrating this occasion by doing something truly American: I'm going to guzzle the shit out of some gasoline. That's right, I'm taking myself and my car roughly 300 miles north to the ~~wonderful~~ state of Iowa. And then, of course, another 300 back the way I came, only adding to my already overloaded patriotism. What brings me away from my natural habitat? Well, a certain little lady whom I call girlfriend, a music festival featuring The Flaming Lips and The Roots, and, though this wasn't always an intention or a reason for going, an intriguing micro-brewed stout that sounds delicious.

The weekend should be full of some good times, even for reasons not listed, and hopefully the events will breed some ~~enjoyable~~ posts for you all to read. Hope everyone has a great weekend and, please, feel free to share what you plan on doing to celebrate the 4th.

the killing joke serves as a good source for the dark knight

2008-07-02T08:00:00.003-05:00

Now I know each and everyone who reads this blog is going to be sitting in a theater July 18th, anxiously chomping away on their popcorn, grabbing with their greasy fingers at a sweating 32 oz cup full of the most carbonated beverage the establishment offers, awaiting for the lights to dim and for the words The Dark Knight to rush across the screen. I know this because you have good taste. You have good taste because you are an intelligent human being with enough common sense to read what I have to tell you. Or, it's because I literally do know each and everyone who reads this blog. How humbling.

But I digress; the real point of this post is to talk about one of the influences of this summer's biggest and inevitably best movie, The Dark Knight. The influence is a highly revered comic by Alan Moore called The Killing Joke. For those who may not be aware, Alan Moore is basically the Charles Dickens of graphic novels and comics. Or maybe the Janet Evanovich. I'm not sure. Regardless, he's been known for works such as Watchmen (which is being adapted to film currently), and V for Vendetta, among many others. His book The Killing Joke is actually a source of inspiration for how Heath Ledger's Joker is portrayed in The Dark Knight and, upon reading it, I can't think of a more bad ass way to do The Joker.

The book is very dark and touches on some very cool psychological aspects that are somewhat void in comic books aimed at a younger crowd. We get into the mind of The Joker, and its less cliched and more humanistic than one might think. Of course, that inkling of decency gets crushed and we see a Joker that is more complex than many other interpretations. The artwork, done by Brian Bolland, is also very imaginative and resonant, creating an overall mood that I look forward to seeing manifest in The Dark Knight.

The Killing Joke was just rereleased this March as a deluxe edition, and features new coloring by Bolland himself that is meant to capture the real feel that was intended with the original. Check it out, even if you're not a comic geek.

the 8 best albums in 2008's first half

2008-06-30T12:44:00.008-05:00

Yes, yes, the obligatory list to exemplify ones perceived sense of good taste. In all honesty, I do have it--good taste--and it's probably much more refined than yours. So, instead of keeping it all to myself, I thought I'd share with you the best music to be released in this first half of 2008, with absolutely no exceptions. These are the 8 most crucial albums thus far in 2008.

8. Portishead -Third: Portishead came off a ten year hiatus of new material to release their newest album, Third. And although you'd have to find someone in 5th grade to have even been born the last time Portishead released new material, Third does not miss a beat in the slightest. It's fresh and yet still undeniably Portishead, fusing some really great acoustics with crushing electronic beats. Songs "Silence", "The Rip", "Threads", and "Machine Gun" especially stand out in an album full of great tracks.

7. M83 - Saturdays = Youth: M83 took a huge turn from its previous release, Before the Dawn Heals Us, with the most recent album, Saturdays = Youth. Straying from the shoegaze feel of previous works, Anthony Gonzales of M83 has ventured back to his more youthful years. For those who grew up in the 80s, this album sounds like a trip down Memory Lane. The conglomeration of synths, drums, and vocals sound like the brainchild of Berlin and Tears for Fears, with some cameos by Sinead O'Connor and Simple Minds, respectively. This probably sounds awful to a lot of people, but it's not. It just isn't.

6. Flying Lotus - Los Angeles: An awesome trip-hop album that resembles some of the best producers this decade has seen--Madlib, J Dilla, MF Doom, etc. A wonderfully textured album that is electronica, IDM, and hip-hop all at one time. If I were an MC and not an irrelevant blogger, I'd want FL producing my beats.

5. Gnarls Barkley - The Odd Couple: For the record, I didn't like St. Elsewhere at all. I thought it was underdeveloped and shallow; it didn't nearly exploit the true talent of producer Danger Mouse. The Odd Couple, however, is amazing, exploring all sorts of tiny crevices of sounds and textures. Where St. Elsewhere was an attempt at 60s funk and soul that came up short, The Odd Couple takes that same idea and incorporates many more fresh ideas that make the album function much more efficiently in today's world. It's not just some re-imagined cultural artifact; it has reinvented a sound from decades ago and has put the appropriate spin on it. A fantastic album beginning to end.

4. The Black Keys - Attack & Release: Not coincidentally, another album produced by Danger Mouse, and yes The Black Keys needed him. Whereas before the Keys were a solid blues rock band, releasing really only one truly great album, Magic Potion, they have now advanced their sound beyond what most people would have expected from the duo. However, the truth is, they haven't really added anything. No new instruments or crazy sounds to really alter their vibe too much. The real key here is how the album's been mixed, EQ'd, and overall produced--thanks in part to the incorporation of Danger Mouse. The album sounds beautiful and features all the ups and downs that any good blues album should have. The reverb on "Lies" is just unbelievable in setting the mood, and their single "Strange Times" features one of the most memorable drum beats in the past couple years. There's not much you can find wrong with Attack & Release.

3. Kelpe - Ex-Aquarium: Kelpe's most recent release is a lush combination of the two most apparent sides of indie music--pastoral, organic, live instrumentation, and urban, futuristic, computerized blips and beeps. It combines head-bobbing beats and lush synth with live drums and guitar chords. Not to say that other bands don't do this, but I find Ex-Aquarium has balanced the two elements so well that it deserves a spot on this list. The album manages to paint an aquatic landscape and place you in it for the duration. Do not pass this album up.

2. Sigur Rós - Með suð í eyrum við spilum endalaust: When Takk was released I was very excited; ( ) was one of my favorite albums of all time and it seemed only natural to me that Sigur Rós would advance beyond that. However, Takk, while advancing the sound with the addition of new instruments and such, was not nearly as impressive to me. With the new album I decided that the days of slowly building songs and exploding into incredible crescendos was over for Sigur Rós, and so I looked toward Með suð í eyrum við spilum endalaust with an open mind. And what a good decision that was; the new album is beautiful and utterly simplistic. The focus here is Jónsi Birgisson's vocals and they shine better than ever. The entire album is stripped down and ethereal, and it reminds you what music is intended to do for the human mind. You'll have to listen to know what I mean.

1. Hol Baumann - Human: Every so often some new musical entity comes my way and aggravates the hierarchy of bands or artists that has been formulated within my brain. When this happens, I will admit, I probably become over-excited about it, subduing myself to extended listening, over listening, and finally obnoxious listening. Hol Baumann has garnered this attention from me, but I have a feeling this album will rest somewhere high in this so-called hierarchy for quite some time. Human is a blend of glitched-out sounds, deep bass, stunning sampled vocals, and a bit of ethnic instrumentation (and so much more). Hol Baumann has seemingly constructed the perfect companion to relaxation. This album is meant to be listened in its entirety; the mesmerizing blend of sounds is something that, on its own, is great, but as a whole is exceptional.

flying lotus - los angeles

2008-06-23T15:51:00.004-05:00

When I sit back and consider the best record labels for experimental and innovative music, Warp always comes to mind. While they are regarded mostly for electronic artists like Autechre, Boards of Canada, Squarepusher, and the iconic Aphex Twin, the label has a few tricks up its sleeve when it comes to venturing to new soundscapes. Recent indie phenom Battles, along with Grizzly Bear, are just a few examples. A relatively new artist that also fits into this category of Warp-gone-eclectic is Flying Lotus. If you are the type to stay up late watching reruns of Aqua Teen Hunger Force or the charmingly-bizarre Assy McGee, you've probably heard his beats during commerical breaks. He's just released an album titled Los Angeles, and it's proof-positive that Warp is headed in the right direction.

If I were to steal a fellow blogmate's literary techinque and do a review in eleven words, I'd say Los Angeles is like an MF Doom album minus MF Doom. That is, there are no vocals. However, don't take this as an album that's missing something; for everything it misses out vocally it makes up for musically. This is such a rich album, and its texture is unbelievable. Its got a nice warm, fuzzy feel, incorporating all kinds of little sounds to complement the basis of each track. And while it may at times sound like a track Viktor Vaughn should be rhyiming over, the album quickly makes you forget that, fusing elements of IDM and electronica that are akin to Massive Attack or Portishead. Overall, you get a nicely done album that doesn't allow itself to stick to the confines of one genre.

looking for new writers

2008-06-20T15:50:00.004-05:00

I have to admit, although I believe the quality of the content here is pretty good, there just isn't enough of it. I have a pretty busy schedule with work and as many of you have probably noticed, the level of posts have gone done since the semester ended (which is ironic). Having said that, 95total is looking for some additional writers to help beef up not only the quantity but the quality of the content.

If you're interested in contributing (unpaid--sorry, not quite that big yet) then please e-mail me at jake [at] 95total [dot] com. Just say a little about yourself and why you'd like to contribute, along with a few news bits that you'd post here on the site. If you'd like to write up a mock post, or a couple, that would be great too. I'm looking for a combination of sound writing and the ability to aggregate quality content. Also, some very basic knowledge of HTML and photo editing software is helpful. If you don't have any, what needs to be known can be learned quickly.

Thanks in advance for any interest you may have. I look forward to expanding the site!

girl talk's "feed the animals" is at the top of the mashup game

2008-06-20T15:07:00.003-05:00

Mashup's been around for a while. Every Saturday night you can turn on your local Top 40 station and hear the beat of one song juxtaposed with the vocals of another. For the most part, that shit is boring and predictable. Girl Talk, on the other hand, takes the act of mashing artists and turns it into an art form.

Gregg Gillis, aka Girl Talk, just finished his new album, Feed the Animals. It has some new, some old, and some straight up unthinkable tracks laced into the album. Yeah, there's the obligatory Flo Rida and Kanye West, but Metallica, Radiohead, and Sinead O'Connor make the cut as well, and it's as fitting as anything else you've heard in the mashup game. So much makes it into the album, even if only for a few seconds. Oh, and of course Phil Collins' famous "In The Air Tonight" drum break makes it in there.

Feed the Animals is one of those albums that can make a party out of nothing. You can put it on repeat and not worry about tending to your iPod for the rest of the night. It's just got that level of production and Gillis has created a seamless blend of music spanning all kinds of genres, which really attests to his musical prowess. Feed the Animals is available the old Radiohead way, in which you can name your own price. Check it out.

For more excellent mashups, check out The Hood Internet.

boxfresh/raleigh bmx bike

2008-06-20T14:24:00.003-05:00

This week I bought a used Schwinn Supermatic BMX bike from some kid off Craigslist. There's a couple reasons I made this move in spite of being broke: one, my road bike just isn't versatile enough, and two, "Black Mags" by The Cool Kids. BMX is coming back and I'm going to make sure I'm ahead of the curve.

Ironically enough, this Boxfresh x Raleigh BMX Burner was featured recently on Highsnobiety and as you can see from the picture above, it's awesome. It's low in stock though, with only two being produced. I couldn't figure out the price tag on it, but with only two available, I'm sure it's quite expensive. Oh well, I'm cool with my Supermatic. Shit's got a gyro.