Thursday, August 19, 2010
Papa vs Pretty... and a little Heavy Harm.
Heavy Harm from Papa Vs Pretty on Vimeo.
I love these guys! They're from Melbourne and were a part of triple j Unearthed High in 2008.
And they still haven't left school... Thomas who does lead vocals is just 17 (where did that voice come from??).
Anyways here is my favourite song, the clip makes me want to write Viking love stories - not sure why.
p.s. They're playing at the Oxford Art Factory this Saturday in Sydney.. get down there.
Tuesday, August 17, 2010
Hot little kippers!!!
They're called Kipper shoes, which sends me off into a mind tangent.
I keep on trying to compare them to dried kippers, which my parents insisted was a normal breakfast dish when I was a kid.
Sigh, salty memories.
Monday, March 8, 2010
Little teapot
Actually one teapot in particular, designed by Canadian potter, Margit Nellemann.
How cute is it??? I want one for my new office.
Monday, March 1, 2010
Why join the navy when you can be a pirate?
I have never been tempted to join the navy (except for maybe when watching Ioan Gruffudd beating the French in Hornblower... but only for a second, like a minisecond, and then the whole 'Oh that was 200+ years ago thing took over).
Sunday, February 28, 2010
How to tame lions.
This song is a little bit stronger than the rest on her most recent album and has a decent rhythm beat.
The lyrics are hilarious... I'm still trying to work out whether Arthur Miller is the lion and Monroe the tamer or whether it's the other way round.
Watch the video of How to Tame Lions here.
Saturday, February 27, 2010
A fine frenzy...
P.S. If ur wondering the pic is of her, not me.
Stood Up
We are not frightened anymore,
We stood up, we stood up
And there are two of us there will be more,
They'll show up, they'll show up, they'll show up
Blame a change of mind
A seismic shift in times
They told us not to fight
But we'll fight it till we die
'Cause we are not frightened anymore,
We stood up, we stood up
And there are two of us there will be many more,
They'll show up, yeah, they'll show up
And so they sunk every ship we sailed
But we stood up, yeah we stood up
And they fought hard, but somewhere fighting failed
They're all shook up, they're all shook up, all shook up
Steel and concrete break
Beneath the steady waves
Of fearless hope and grace
In kindness there is strength.
'Cause we are not frightened anymore,
We stood up, we stood up
And there are two of us there will be many more,
They'll show up, they'll show up, yeah they'll show up
We are not, we are not, we are not
We are not, we are not frightened anymore
We are not frightened anymore.
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
Mr Darcy goes TOO far...
Here comes the sun...
Gimme Sympathy, Metric
Get hot
Get too close to the flame
Wild open space
Talk like an open book
Sign me up
Got no time to take a picture
I'll remember someday
All the chances we took
We're so close
To something better left unknown
I can feel it in my bones
Gimme sympathy
After all this is gone
Who would you rather be
The Beatles or The Rolling Stones
Oh seriously
You're gonna make mistakes you're young
Come on baby play me something
Like here comes the sun
Come on baby play be something
Like here comes the sun
Don't go
Stay with the all unknown
Stay away from the hooks
All the chances we took
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
Pitchfork pulls in the net...
Number 1 went to Animal Collective with "My Girls", (well deserved, but whenever I listen to it I can't help feeling disappointed with myself.. not them.. for not liking it more).
Number 2 was Dirty Projectors with "Stillness in the move"... they simply have one of the best videos of 2009, maybe because its the only video hit I've ever seen with lamas or maybe they're alpacas? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YMPF6lpM0XM
Number 3 was Phoneix with "1901".
Number 4 was Bat for Lashes sweeping in on the wave of "Daniel"... I don't know who Daniel is but he should be very proud - one of my favourite songs of the year.
Number 6 was the Yeah Yeah Yeahs with "Zero".
Number 7 was Big Boi ft. Gucci Mane with "Shine Blockas", a song I have never listened to up until about 20 secs ago and now having listened for 40 secs... it's ok, but is using the word shawty which is so unrelatable when ur 6ft.
Number 8 was Phoneix (again) with "Listomania".
Number 9 was Girls, "Lust for life".
And if you want the rest go to http://pitchfork.com/features/staff-lists/7742-the-top-100-tracks-of-2009/.
The Satorialist sees red in Sydney...
But he made up for only heading to the southern states by taking this gorgeous photo of a girl at Bondi, calling it "Red on Red".
I feel kind of bad even posting this because it's SO clearly his image, not mine... so to make me feel better, follow this link: http://thesartorialist.blogspot.com/.
Monday, December 14, 2009
Big Ben tweeting...
While the rest of the world is trying to impress in 140 characters... Big Ben just keeps it's tweeting simple.
The number of BONGS aren't just random either - they change according to the hour.
The only problem is that I've always thought of it as a DONG rather than a BONG.
Thursday, December 10, 2009
Are we at the middle name stage?
Wednesday, December 9, 2009
Britain's eyebrows...
There is a reason why he wears rimless glasses.
But then maybe they inspire the British public with confidence in a time of economic crisis (i.e. recession, recession, recession).
Tony Abbott goes retro...
Bright Star...
So excited... season of mists and mellow fruitfulness here we come.
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
The XX.. Heart skipped a beat
Monday, December 7, 2009
James Brown... Papa's got a brand new bag
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
Queen in the Caribbean
The Queen has apparently journeyed to the Caribbean and is getting into the spirit of things.
The third image definitely looks like there's been some time spent in the sun or alternatively she's given into the pressure of the fake tan brigade.
For the full fashion goss: www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2009/dec/01/queen-caribbean-wardrobe
UK troops get a long term sentence...
Hard, gritty, tense... British soldiers somehow look strong and wiry compared to their beefed up American counterparts.
Overnight the UK's Foreign Secretary, David Miliband announced UK forces with remain in Afghanistan for five more long years.
Whether that will be the case with a looming UK election next year is another question entirely.
The UK is also upping its commitment to the war by 500 troops, nothing compared to Obama's dedication of 30,000 more American soldiers, but a strong show of allied support all the same.
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
Abbott takes the liberal leadership...
Twitter went wild, with both #spill and Tony Abbott becoming trending topics (the funny thing was noticing confused Americans tweeps going... "can someone please tell me what the heck #spill is?).
Thursday, November 26, 2009
Pumpkin days...
The King and All His Men... Wolf Gang
However it might, just might, be one of those quick faders which I love initally but despise eventually.
The song above is The king and all his men by Wolfgang, a scarily makeuped Londoner whose album came out on the 16th of November (he doesn't have much resemblance to Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart if you start thinking along those lines).
If you do like this song listen to his other one, Pieces of me which has a fantastic gutair opener straight from the seventies: www.myspace.com/thisiswolfgang.
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
Croc hugging...
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
Paul Dempsey in the Studio
Anyways, he was 6.5ft and a little on the quiet side.
But he was great on air and had a nice chat to the presenter Steve about why he picked Brissy of all places to launch his album (he's originally from Melbourne.. actually still is).
Plus he talked about what it was like to write, what his band thought of his solo shift forward etc.
I went along to the album launch a couple of hours later, quite a crowd of skinny young things looking appropriately soul searching... but he was GREAT live.. loved nearly all of the songs.
Like everyone I think Romona was a Waitress has to be my fav... have a listen below.
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
Generation Y is done, dusted and dead... (someone shoot it down please)
Generation Y is old. Not in the terms of actual age (we're still giving the up and coming tweens a run for their money) but in terms of a label, frankly darling it's dated.
Practically anyone could could write a 25,000 word thesis on the sizzling habits on the Gen Y demographic, what they like, how they shop, love, eat, don't fly the nest and generally sail through the world unimpeded by a hard work ethic. Since the world got hold of the term Gen Y the everything has been analysed from the free wheeling perspective of a 20 something year old. And it's boring. It's done, it's dusted and it's time to think of something new. Blah, blah, blah. As a member of the infamous sons and daughters of the baby boomers demographic I'm well and truly over the hype of the young bloods.
As soon as marketers and journos got hold of the Gen Y idea and started analysing the world from a Gen Y perspective in order to lasoo the elusive youth market into their profit margins it was over. When it becomes mainstream and chewed over by academics and media alike a concept may as well roll over a die. It's like cud - chewed, digested, churned up, chewed again, digested, churned up and the story goes on until Gen Y become, frankly, a very unappealing, unappetising label to live by.
I should confess that my own passion for the tatilising but frankly over-publicised age group I belong too has been waning ever since mentioning Gen Y as a segment became imperiative to getting high marks in a university marketing assignment.
But here's the news... Gen Y officially don't care about being labled Gen Y. So if you're a marketing guru, journo, entreprenurial business person or Generation X citizen who's spouting Gen Y effusions the chances are you'll not be connecting with them.
Note: the author of this article will still be using Gen Y as a target market in her uni marketing plans, (despite obvious self-hypocrisy) as a bit of generational name dropping usually guarantees high marks.
Tuesday, May 5, 2009
Why Chanel No.5 of course... Inspiration Item #46
It's release coincides with the French premiere of Coco Avant Chanel, a new film focusing on the young Gabirelle Chanel and her rise to fame as one of fashion's most lauded designers.
The film was directed by Jean-Pierre Jeunet, the man behind Tautou's rise to fame in Amelie and it has the same amazing golden colour tones which can't but help warm the cockles of your heart.
If you're wondering who the man is who manages to track Tautou across southern France just by following her scent, he's American model Travis Davenport.
Have a watch of the film below... but if you want the best quality look at http://www.chanel5.com/.
Inspiration Item #46
Monday, May 4, 2009
Bollywood dance beats... Inspiration Item #46
Anyway time passed, exams came along, I got invited to a Sikh wedding and was all inspired so looked up Bollywood music in a bout of study procrastination. These are a few of my discoveries...
First up is Leija Leija from the 2001 hit Khabi Khushi Khabie Gham (meaning sometimes happy, sometimes sad). It has a great intro and there's no holding back on the dancefloor by either sex (plus can I mention it has one of the most beautiful men on the planet feauring as the male lead, Hritick Roshan).
If I need to get moving this next one is definitely my fav, starts off slow and builds with cracking beats. The clip is a bit old but I think the man responsible for this awesome love-song in the rain clip is A.J. Rahman (he wrote and performed Jai Ho which has hit the music charts as the Pussycat Doll's take on Bollywood from the movie Slumdog Millionare).
I stumbled across this song, Eli Re Eli a little while back. Great undulating rythmn and female solos, but the guys are a little weak. What I'm gathering from the English subtitles is that this is some type of empowered Bollywood Bridget Jones called Yaadein (definitely on the list to watch).
This one makes it into the list solely because of Aishwarya Rai's absolute sex-bombness. It has the classic Bollywood depiction of guys vs. girls on the dancefloor... with girls definitely winning out (don't think the guys ever recovered form Aishwarya's amazing hip flexibility).
If all this has been a little too exhausing have a listen to the theme music for Mumbai also by A.R. Rahman. I find it's very relaxing after the soprano notes and ever-speeding beats of the classic dance songs.
P.S. had a chat with my mate from work and we're going to have a Bollywood movie sleepover.. sounds good to me.
Inspiration Item #46
The Hunt for Gollum, the best fan movie ever.. Inspiration Item#45
Trailer 2 - The Hunt For Gollum [2]
Uploaded by HuntForGollum
I just watched possibly the best fan movie ever, The Hunt for Gollum. It was forty minutes of absolute professionalism made on a $3000 budget.
The film was adapted from appendices from The Lord of the Rings and follows Aragorn as he hunts for the creature Gollum to prevent Sauron and the nine riders finding the location of the ring.
Costumes, setting and weaponary were amazing. My sister and I were amazed at the fight scenes, really well doneThe orcs were especially good and if possible even uglier than the Peter Jackson triolgy.Viggo Mortensen was always going to be hard to live up to and fan actor, Adrian Webster did a good job (I couldn't help thinking the whole time that if he'd just tinted his eyelashes and eyebrows he would have looked 10 times more Aragorn like.. superficial, I know).The movie was released independently online on the 3rd of May, to watch go to thehuntforgollum.com.
Inspiration Item 45#
Sunday, May 3, 2009
14yr old Duncan Harrison.. Inspiration Item #44
So I stumbled across one of the BBC's latest offerings which sadly hasn't made it to Australia and probably never will.
It's the slightly high-brow reality TV show The Speaker which aims to find the best young public speaker in the UK.
Anyway the winner was the youngest of the bunch, Duncan Harrison, a 14 year old from Bristol.
His final speech was on child education in Malawi - it was brilliant and something I'll pull out and re-watch before my next presentation for uni/work.
Inspiration Item #44
Britain's PMs battle it out... Inspiration Item # 43
It's The Blair Years by Alastair Campbell and as well as being VERY politically informative, it's hilarious.
Monday, March 27 1995
"...Arrived in Glasgow. We drove over to Edinburgh and had dinner with his old school friend Nick Ryden. TB told the hilarious story of when he and GB met in Nick's house for one of the big discussions post John Smith's death. Nick left them to it and they went round and round in circles. TB was clear he should stand because he felt that was the best chance for the party, but GB was not convinced. At one point, GB went to the toilet. Minutes passed and TB was sitting twiddling his thumbs and even wondered if GB had done a runner. Eventually the phone went. TB left it, so then the answering machine kicked in and GB's disembodied voice came on: 'Tony. It's Gordon. I'm locked in the toilet.' They both ended up laughing about it. TB went upstairs and said 'You're staying in there till you agree.' "
p.54 The Blair Years Alastair Campbell
Inspiration Item #43
Friday, May 1, 2009
Faulkner ... Inspiration Item #42
Thursday, April 30, 2009
They can't just get any old freak to be a vampire... Deinspiration Item #41
QUOTE OF THE DAY: "I wasn't that keen on Edward Cullen biting my neck, but HIM??? They can't just get any old freak..." (my sister).
Vampire obsession might be a global phenomonen but THIS is a step too far.
Tonight I guiltly got my dose of RNB by watching Israel's latest song Freak Tonight on youtube (ignore this embarassing fact please and move on to the real goss of this story)...
I was HORRIFIED.
What is the world coming to if a perfectly respectable RNB toughman has to resort to fake fang teeth and neck biting scenes in order to hit the music charts??
Plus why is he sporting a mohawk which looks like a stoat's tail on the top of his head? Not attractive.
And while we're on the note of RNB selling out... could the lyrics of Soulja Boy's latest song be anyworse?
"Baby, kiss me through the phone"
"dadadadadadadada we're on the phone like dadadadadadada we're taking pics like dadadadada she dial my number like dadadadada"
Have a listen: www.youtube.com/watch?v=nbFmWFOwxy4
Deinspiration Item #41
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
Olivia Bee... Inspiration Item #40
She's the 15-year-old elf child who is not only the subject of this magical shot, but also the photographer (ahhh the blessings of the modern camera).
I think I'm going to post an extra long post on her magical shutter work shortly, but here's the link to her flickr portfolio for the moment: www.flickr.com/photos/-oliviabee-/.
Inspiration Item#40
Bertie Blackman... Inspiration Item #39
Nothing is beating the beauty of Sky is falling by Sydney based singer, Bertie Blackman.
I heard the track on JJJ this morning and was blown away into stupefyed silence on the train.
Obviously I was already silent and not talking outloud all by myself in the third carriage as I am not a weird person.
What I mean is that my mind was FORCED to stop and listen, silently repressing all other thoughts, so it could fully absorb the epic beautifulness of the song.
It's very dreamlike, with lyrics thrumming - yes, thrumming - over the music.
Bertie Blackman's new album came out last Friday... Heart is the new single every one is raving about cos apparently it sounds like Bjork, but personally Sky is falling is definitely my favourite.
www.myspace.com/bertieblackman
Inspiration Item #39
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
lungs of the world... Inspiration Item #38
Slice of life... Inspiration Item#37
Right now the little pieces of life I'm experiencing right now make up the equation below:
Inspire slices:
+ Courtney Brookes photo.. see above
+ Breakeven by Irish band The Script
+ The Princess Bride (book of the moment)
+ the thought of work in 1.5 hours (yes, I like my retail job)
Despire slices
- the knowledge that I am procrastinating
- the fact that I have exam on saturday
- no possible way I can get to the gym today and feel fittish
Anyhooo now I've recorded this vitally important info have a listen to the clip below (if ur ears haven't already overheard it on the top 40 list already... but who can resist Irishmen???)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o2omyqxbsKw
Inspiration Item #37
Who is the man??? ... twitter stalkers... Inspiration Item#36
Anyways I spent a while trying to figure out how he connected to my life.. ie friend of friend, uni person, workmate, person I sit next to on train maybe?
Finally I concluded I DO NOT know this man.
Once reaching this conclusion I had to deliberate about whether this was an inspiration item or not.
Is someone just randomly adding you on Twitter a compliment, a random fact of life or alternativly just plain freaky???
Eventually I decided to be flattered and allocate it to the inspiration item pile.
***If u can help identify this potential stalker (see picture below), please comment.
p.s. interesting side note.... I 'tweeted' that I liked Bombay Bicycle Club and who starts following me but a San Francisco based bike shop... freaky. You can't say anything anymore without being viral marketed.
Inspiration Item #36
Monday, April 27, 2009
Bombay Bicycle Club .. Inspiration Item#35
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sj-A-XPMnhY
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
Bushfire inspires giving hearts..Inspiration Item #34
Go to redcross.org.au. If you're in Victoria think about giving blood to help the huge amount of injured: http://www.donateblood.com.au/.
*ENGULFED: Fires blaze through Kingsvale National Park on Victoria's hottest day in history. Winds were at record speeds causing fires to cover thouands of hectares at 100kms an hour.
Thursday, February 5, 2009
Lyell.. the result of flickr foraging .. Inspiration item#33
Apparently she was inspired by a childhood in Sydney where she was dragged by her mother to an inordinate number of flea markets and antique shops (ok, the article didn't say dragged but 8yr olds aren't that keen on antiques, even abnormally stylish ones).
Fletcher won the Ecco Domani Fashion Foundation award last year and used it to fund this collection. Personally I'm also loving the Fall collection of the previous year which heavily dipped into 1920s 'I'm trimming the hedgerows' type elegance (will have to blog later down the track - can't use all the pretty images at once). But if you can't wait have a look at www.fabsugar.com/994358.Emma Fletcher also owns a small boutique in nyc where she stocks her own designs and rare vintage finds from European labels.
Inspiration Item #33