I'm in love with modern moonlight

TL/Rx

Class Doodles Part Deux

Moving Picture Show

"French Navy"
Camera Obscura
Dir: Blair Young

:^{ ) Mondaysss

"Miracles"
Arrested Development
* Remember how awesome this break was the first time you heard it? I do.

Happy Saturday

"Volo - Le Dimanche"
Dir: Cube Creative

Paper Doodles

Secretly, this is what I do with a lot of my time when I start to nod off in lecture. Who said nursing school couldn't be fun?

"Occupied"

"Occupado"
Rodrigo Piza Levy

The Return!

"One Step Beyond"
Madness
Dir: Chuck Statler

Night by Night

"Night by Night"
Chromeo
Dir: Surface2Air

Probably one of the best groups I've ever seen live. It's no surprise though, nearly everything they touch is so damn cool. Enjoy.

Candy Killer

Brian Thomas

Two Hearts In 3/4 Time

"Since I Left You"
The Avalanches
Dir: Blue Source

Wind Down

"I Left My Heart In San Francisco"
Mayer Hawthorne

Jack-Ass

"Jack-Ass"
Beck
Geffen Records

Theme From A Dream

"C'est pas serieux"
Les chats sauvages
Theme From A Dream

Burrrrnin'

"Burnin' Inside"
King Khan & the Shrines
Hoisted Sail Productions

Delightfully Catchy

"Wishing Well"
Love Is All
Handheldshows.com

Pcauad

Julien Pacaud

atmospheric

Lotte Scott

You know, I really wish there was more of her work still online, I really do. Her Flickr, sadly, no longer works and there's only about five of her wonderful photos still in online existence... <):^\ In the meantime, BOOOOOOOM! has got just enough to keep you satiated. Dig that softness.

Mrkwvr

Mark Weaver

Oldie but a goodie

"Take Five"
Dave Brubeck Quartet
Circa 1961

Oh lazy, Sunday

Today is such a lazy day for me. Physical activity? No, thank you. While searching the interwebs, I stumbled on this video called "Impressions of Suriname" by freelance director/editor/cameraman: Pim Hawinkels. Never met the guy, never heard of the guy; all I can really say is that he's apparently from the Netherlands and he's pretty good at what he does, really strong narrative qualities. Anyhow, just press the triangle and chill out. Let's take a nap and dream about Suriname.

Liz Brizzi

Liz Brizzi

FREE KUTMAH

If you're a fan of the LA music scene, art or just DJing in general, odds are you've already heard of Justin McNulty, better known as Kutmah.

So here's the scoop. In addition to actively bending the limits of what is and isn't considered good music, and art for that matter, Kutmah's facing a new challenge. Despite being a well-respected local, and international, legend of the LA music scene, truth be told, Kutmah's originally from England (that's right, a limey). So where's the problem? Well, perhaps it's just good timing or perhaps it has something to do with the fervor that is the immigration battle in Arizona, but on the fifth of this month Kutmah was detained by INS officials, interrogated and then transferred to a federal immigration center, where he currently waits for deportation.

Injustice? Maybe. Dumb? Definitely. So what can you do? Well, for starters, you can head over to local LA silkscreeners HIT + RUN's website and buy one of their nice "Free Kutmah" shirts. They're forty bucks, but that includes shipping and best of all -- 100% of the money made goes directly to Kutmah. Can't buy a shirt but still wanna stay active? That's okay too. Nearly as soon as the word got out that Kutmah was arrested, this petition went up. It's only a tenth of the way to it's goal of 50,000 people right now, so please be sure to tell your friends.

You may or may not be a fan of the whole "illegal" thing, so I leave you with this warning: LA's gonna be a whole less shiny and a lot more grimy if we start to kick out the only things that give it that sheen, why not keep good music? Fans of creativity? Fans of diversity? Fans of good music? Speak up, or forever hold your peace.

More info here is available here:

http://kutmah.com/

Right place, wrong time

"Jolene"

The White Stripes

Originally written by Dolly Parton, this is probably one of the best covers I've ever heard.

Rain Song

"The Rain Song"
Led Zeppelin
Dir: Peter Clifton

Turn into.

"Turn Into"
Yeah Yeah Yeahs
Dir: Patrick Daughters

If I can't dance, I don't want your revolution

"Capitalism Stole My Virginity"
The (International) Noise Conspiracy
Epitaph Records

Black Swan

Valeria Picerno

Ray LaMontagne

"Empty"
Ray LaMontagne
BBC Four Sessions

Happy or not, Ray LaMontagne writes such beautiful and honest songs. Damn. If you haven't heard his albums already, please do yourself a favor and seek them out. Each song feels so carefully crafted and emotionally poignant that it's a lot like listening to an old Jim Croce song or the like. Ray LaMontagne is without question, one of the most talented songwriters of his time.

XoXo

James Jean

Luv (Sic.)

"Luv (sic.) Pt. 2"
Nujabes feat. Shing 02
Directed by Sou Ootsuki
R.I.P.

Rainbowinsky

"Rainbow In Sky"
Daniel Buren

Nothing to Declare

Thanks for pointing this out, Dapper Dames. David Choe is probably one of the most innovative and chaotic artists around these days. I've seen photos of the man using his own blood to paint for damn sake! But all that gruesomeness aside, his work makes for really nice eye candy -- and it's cathartic to boot. Ever felt so overwhelmed that you just wanted to crush something and destroy it? So has he... probably. I'll let his work speak for itself though. In addition to having his own special edition of Juxtapoz out this month, David also has an art show going down in the beautiful Bevery Hills. Click here to view his blog and go here to view his show:

Opening: Friday April 23, 2010
Exhibition Runs: April 23 – May 23, 2010 (open daily)
Location: 320 North Beverly Drive, Beverly Hills CA 90210

Maybe So, Maybe No

"Maybe So, Maybe No"
Mayer Hawthorne
Dir: Henry DeMaio

Worrying Solves Nothing

Whether you're a fan of art, design or life, there are little nuggets of wisdom to be found strewn along the video. Just keep your eyes peeled, and with any luck, you'll come away feeling that much better.

"Sagmeister '08"
Directed by Hillman Curtis

Any way the wind blows...

Came across this re-edited version of Jim Greco's part in the Baker 3 skate video and had to post it... despite being YEARS late, haha. If you don't know who Jim Greco is, read this and maybe it'll influence the way you view the video. Maybe not though, and if that's the case, just watch the video and bask in its awesomeness.

Exit Through The Gift Shop

For anyone who used to read Iliketowhispertoo, or anyone who caught Mr. Brainwash's gallery show last year, "Everything is Beautiful," you'll be pleased to know that Thiery Guetta (Mr. Brainwash) made a movie. It's all about street art and the beautiful movement that it's become. Check it out, for more details on showtimes and sneak peaks, click here.

Die Antwoord

So I may be a bit late on the Die Antwoord train, but whatever, this is funny. If you haven't already been acquainted, this is Die Antwoord, and yes, they are zef, most zef in fact. What is zef? Think South Africa's answer to white trash.

Die Antwoord is the brainchild of South African artist, Waddy Jones. Throughout the years, Jones has fronted numerous other groups and is known for his all-out character antics. Appearing once as "Max Normal," a rapper who was recognized most readily by his drab three-piece suits, flooded pants and timid demeanor, it's funny to see Jones reaching so far out to the opposite side of the spectrum for Die Antwoord. So what is all mean? Well, I can't tell you that, that's something for you to decide, BUT what I can tell you is this: Die Antwoord is the shiiiitttt. For being a fake group, they sure are entertaining. Check out more photos or listen to their full album here at the group's website.

I Learned the Hard Way

Talk about a meeean horn section. The eagerly anticipated album "I Learned the Hard Way" by Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings comes out this Tuesday. For those of you who aren't already familiar with their music, I feel 100% confident in saying that SJ and the DK are the epitome of revivalist soul music. Not since Sly and the Family Stone have I felt so compelled to kick my shoulders back and move instantly to the beat of a song. Sharon's soulful siren voice combined with the equally wicked and rhythmic Dap-Kings makes for some of the most cathartic and engaging music you'd ever hope for.

If you're a fan of afrobeat, soul, the mod revivalist movement, funk or screaming down a highway to get your love back -- this is for you.

Click the link above for a few free tracks courtesy of the group's website. There you'll also find information on how by purchasing the album you can contribute to the growth of the wonderful organization Medicins Sans Frontieres, or as it's more locally known Doctors Without Borders.

For now though, close the door, turn the music up, press play and get down.

Martin Wittfooth

http://www.martinwittfooth.com/

Funny, absurd, post-apocalyptic... intriguing: just a few words that come to mind when looking at Wittfooth's work. I could go on to talk about possible themes or interpretations of Witfooth's unique perspective, but let's just leave it at this one word: awesome. I would love to see this stuff animated, but presently it looks like the only movement these animals are due to see is movement out of the gallery. :^/ Bummer, I know. For now though, life's not so bad, look at the website, delve into the images and be in awe of the little details and happenings. Wittfooth's style is definitely his own, I found out, you find out -- we trade! Have a good one.

Under Great White Northern Lights

Good news for White Stripes fans in LA county, Long Beach specifically. Everybody's favorite independent LBC record store, Fingerprints, is teaming up with Woodshed Films and the Long Beach Art Theatre to hold a special screening of the White Stripes' "Under Great White Northern Lights" tour DVD. Though originally being released back in December, the DVD has been largely unavailable to the public until this week. The special screening is in line with the release of the the White Stripes' latest live album of the same name. Tickets to the event will be given to anyone purchasing either the album, the dvd, both or the "Uber-deluxe Box Set." The Uber-deluxe box set includes all the following:

Sturdy Outer Box with White Stripes penguin emblem.
Double LP in Gatefold Jacket
- 180 gram vinyl, with artwork unique to the box and an exclusive 6 panel insert.
Hardcover Photography Book
- 208 page hardcover book of containing photos from the tour by Autumn de Wilde (She did the great Elliott Smith Book) -Only available in the box.
CD/DVD Slipcase, Folder & Booklet containing:
Under Great White Northern Lights DVD
Under Nova Scotian Lights DVD - 135 minute 10th anniversary show in Glace Bay, Nova Scotia directed by Emmett Malloy. (Only in the box)
Under Great White Northern Lights CD - As noted above
7 inch Colored Vinyl Single
-Side A - Icky Thump (Live)
-Side B - The Wheels On The Bus (Live) - Only in the box)
Silkscreened Print- 1 of 6 silk screened designs. (Only in the box)

Any purchases made, even the less than uber sets, can be upgraded to collector's packages for $5.50 and will include two tickets to the screening as well as raffle tickets for a giveaway that will be held at the theatre. Garage lovers be warned this is a hell of a deal. See you there.

A day in PARIS

A day in PARIS from Benoit MILLOT on Vimeo.

This guy has some serious talent. In addition to this lovely little short, Benoit has many other aesthetically pleasing treats on his vimeo account. If you have a second, take the time to browse through and I promise you won't be disappointed. Even though they're not really "shorts," Benoit's work feels whimsical enough to let your imagination run wild, yet it's still grounded in reality. Good job, sir.

It's All Over Now, Baby Blue

"It's All Over Now, Baby Blue"
Bob Dylan

I heard this song play the other day in my cousin's car as we drove through the streets of Long Beach, well the Them version, this is still good too though. I had a lot on my mind and hearing this was the perfect compliment; it's great "Thinking music," especially on a warm afternoon (try it).

I'm 23 years fresh as of yesterday, and I've got plenty of thoughts to wade through in my mind, and yet for some reason this song seems to be the only thing I keep coming back to, I thought you'd enjoy it too. Press play.

* Sidenote: For any Beck fans, they sampled the Them version of this song in Beck's song, "Jackass."

Raphael Saadiq

Song: "Let's Take a Walk"
Artist: Raphael Saadiq
Director: Edouard Salier

DESTROY: Robot Rock

Song: "Robot Rock"
Artist: Daft Punk
Dir: Shaun Keenan

NICE: Pascal Blanchet

Pascal Blanchet: stylish, vintage and classy.
Looking at these makes me wanna throw on a black turtle neck and head for the city.
Check out more of Pascal's work here.
Instant favorite.

Copyright Criminals

Copyright Criminals from IndiePix on Vimeo.

"... What the photographer is to the painter, is what the modern producer and DJ and computer musician is to the instrumentalist."

This is a repost of a PBS documentary that Beautiful Decay put up in their own blog, but it was so interesting, I couldn't resist.

Copyright Criminals takes a look at the ethics, history and process of sampling music in the modern music industry. The focus, rightfully so, tends to be on hip hop DJs and shows people like EL-P (Def Jux) and DJ Qbert (Invisibl Skratch Piklz) talking about their process and the considerations they take when choosing what to sample.

Intellectual property law continues today to be a field of infinite grays it would seem, and moving forward I think we're going to see more and more discussion of what is and isn't ethical in the creative process. All the same, this is no new concept, people have in fact been covering, dubbing and flat out copying other works for years and years and years (waaay before hip hop), so why is it even an issue in our modern society? Do we need to collectively opt out in favor of a more pure creative process? Nah, it's probably just an issue of green.

Personally, I used to think it was wrong to draw from others (steal) to make your own work, but we live in a world of collaborative processes anyhow, so is it really that wrong? Doctors share information via medical journals and no one says a thing because their contributions lead to a greater whole, but why don't we lend that concept to more arenas of our lives? I had an old friend that would harp on about how stealing wasn't wrong when it contributed to a greater whole, and I hate to say it, but he made a good point. I'm sure as time moves on we'll continue to see works that evolve from many hours of collaborating, digging around and drawing on others.

Watch the documentary, be entertained and make your own conclusions. It starts as CO1 and continues in the browser as CO2 and so forth.

*** Update: Full documentary no longer streaming online.
Go here for more information. ***

The Philosopher Kings

"There will be no end to the troubles of states, or indeed of humanity itself, till philosophers become kings in this world or till those we now call kings and rulers really and truly become philosophers."
-Plato

Nights ago, I was fortunate enough to meet Patrick Shen. A small man, with awkward features and a gaze reminiscent of the fat kid waiting to be picked in gym class, still, as unassuming as he was, within one sentence it was known that he had a large heart and a great connection to mankind.

Patrick is the director of a great documentary called "The Philosopher Kings." The documentary examines the role of the world around us on a smaller scale by peering into the lives of several our educational system's most overlooked everyday philosophers: custodians. Through the eyes of each individual, their lives and their stories, the resulting film culminates into a surprisingly refreshing and insightful view on the world, what matters most and the power an environment has to heal, transform and inspire. If you have a moment you should give the doc. a go. I greatly look forward to seeing more of Patrick's work.

Thomas Peepers!

"Even in the middle of the night... Especially, in the middle of the night."
This was too funny not to put up.

Sofa Surfers

"A Good Day to Die" by Sofa Surfers
Directed by Timo Novotny
Edited by Gerald Schober
16mm handler: Bill Heath & Winnie Heun

The Liquidator

"The Liquidator" by the Harry J. All Stars

Weathering the Storm!

This year turned out pretty strange. The beginning of the year started out pretty normal, not unlike most others, the middle section seemed to kick a lot of ass, but yeah, toward the end there it just kind of fizzled out and went the other way... Between getting arrested for something I didn't do, the car accident and the letter I received the day after Christmas asking me to move out, I think it's safe to say I got my fair share of curve balls. Shit storms are inevitable in life though and sometimes you just have to be ready to roll with it and see what happens. You can never really know, maybe those bad things were really good things in disguise.

Anyhow, Jeremy Fish recently opened an exhibition at the Laguna Art Museum in Laguna Beach, appropriately enough, it's called "Weathering the storm." It's really good and definitely worth the ten dollars and your time. A lot of the themes in this collection of Fish's work deal with many of the more "pressing" issues the US and its economy has seen over the last four quarters, but fear not fellow dilettantes, true to his passion, Fish still manages to incorporate that perfect blend of rabbits, skulls, hands and cartoonery (not an actual word) to keep even the ADDiest of the ADD kids happy. Like middlefinger-unicorns? He's got you covered. Vans that puff skull exhaust plumes? You're covered! Funky soul music in the background of a long corridor of deceptively simple illustrations? COVERED!

If Fish isn't your scene, and he may not be, there are plenty of other works in the museum that are sure to get your mind-cogs turning, it's 90% pop though, so romanticists, you have been warned. Admission is ten dollars and it runs through the seventeenth. Check it out while you can, his work is too fun to get mad around -- you'll have a good time.