A Deep Dark Pixeltan

19 March 2010

Devin Flynn, master illustrator, artist, animator and musician. He has collaborated on books and music with Gary Panter, worked with Eric Heidecker on that sick Flying Lotus video and had his own animated show on Adult Swim.  Devin was a pivotal part of the RISD scene in 1999-2000 that spawned Lightning Bolt, Black Dice and many other great bands and artists. Pixeltan was one of the first bands DFA ever recorded and their new EP marked our 100th catalog number, quite significantly.

Devin animated and directed the video for one of the songs on the 4 song EP

Yamerarena-i by Pixeltan

Thank You Friend

17 March 2010

The great Alex Chilton of the Box Tops and Big Star died today. He was a truly brilliant one of a kind song writer, singer and performer. Here is some historic footage of Big Star. There is not much of it at all.

Dilla Doc

6 March 2010

Feb 10 was the anniversary of the death of Jay Dee and Stussy presented this documentary recently, which I think is great. wish we had some footage of Dilla himself instead of only talking head doc footage but maybe there is a good reason for that?

part 1 of 3

part 2 of 3

part 3 of 3

Another Day Another Dollar

26 February 2010

Music courtesy of YACHT

Directed by Olivier Gondry

Los Angeles Soundsystem

24 January 2010

LCD Soundsystem have launched a new website (not that big of a deal I realize) but it does contain new footage of James out in Los Angeles, at Rick Rubin’s Laurel Canyon funhouse, recording the new record. It also contains the first audible, public clues of new music and what it just might sound like. They filmed the proceedings almost non stop for months so there should be lots more to come soon…

GRATEFUL DEATH FROM ABOVE

20 January 2010

An idea for a new logo. Drew Heffron swears he came up with this one on his own but it looks familiar to me.

American Tune

15 January 2010

I find this song sorta perfect and listen to the album version (recorded in 1973) on repeat. I love to go and seek out footage of the artist performing the song/album and different promotional appearances all from the same time frame around the release of the song. Now “American Tune” is practically a standard for a folk performer. Back then, it was just some clever new song the guy that isn’t Garfunkel wrote.

Paul Simon “American Tune” The Dick Cavett Show 1974

Paul Simon “American Tune” BBC TV 1975

Paul Simon “American Tune” Location Unknown 1975

I think there is a very different message being sent depending if the moustache is in effect or not. His pitch, timber and sincerity pretty much all comes down to his moustache.

Michoacan’s In The Dark Of The Night

14 January 2010

DFA releases a new 12″ by East Palo Alto superstar Michoacan. The digital comes out in a month, the vinyl in 2 months and in the meantime we paired up with Scion AV and music video director Alison Childs aka Donuts to make a music video. Check it below.

The Birdman Cometh

10 January 2010

The new Bobby Birdman album is so fantastic, like something between the great upbeat moments of YACHT mixed with some Blur-like baladeering. This first single is a case in point. I cannot help but think of Damon Albarn when I hear the vocals. Beautiful song, beautiful video.

Album is out now on Fryk Beat Records.

The Doctor Is Out

31 December 2009

Dock Ellis famously pitched a no hitter (a “no-no”) in 1970, while under the influence of LSD and Amphetamines. Fuck steroids. I don’t follow baseball much at all, but this story is incredible as is the animated short film made by artist James Blagden for No Mas.