Harry Mitchell

When researching I can always find a bajillion american photographers but never very many good english ones, so it was nice to find Harry Mitchell's page on flickr.

I came across Gob Gimmick's page through booooom! as well, a bit straighter but not bad english reference.

"If you want a friend in Washington, get a dog"

Just got round to watching this, it's very good.

Work.

I have a crazy week ahead of me at work so I'm going to try not to blog, or perhaps more importantly try not to think about blogging. You don't need me to remind you The Wire from start to finish starts tonight on BBC 2 at 11.20pm.

"I love people who get to the end of the first episode and say, 'That's the show they're calling the greatest show in television? What?'" Simon says. "The first season of The Wire was a training exercise. We were training you to watch television differently."

Dominic West was on 'Today' this morning but it wasn't very interesting he had to talk about the standard of british broadcasting rather than The Wire.

(picture from this weekend, had Bobby back in London albeit all too briefly)

Grammatics

Quick post before weekend hilarity ensues. If you don't like reading just listen to this track and know that it has my blessing, if your attention span is longer than mine do continue.

Relentless Fours - Grammatics

I have little faith in guitar music at the moment, generally speaking obviously, but I have just purchased in a physical form Grammatics self titled debut album. They are a Leeds band which is the main reason I bought it - support my own and all that. Regardless of such factors it is a great album, it could have been made at any point in the last 10 years but dont let that put you off. It has post leanings, string flourishes, proper songs, an underlying melancholy essential for anything that I like, and impassioned vocals that some might put down as too posty for conventional ears but I would put down as unabashed youthful exuberance. If I listen to a band and get the sense I am cooler than them, there is no chance of anything they say having any impact on me, Grammatics are cooler than me, they are allowed in the club. I think one of the reasons I like them so much is because they remind me of running around Leeds getting into mischief and watching little bands in the likes of Joseph's Well and the Fav. Anyway track the album down, support little labels, and raise a glass to the simplicity of youth.

Russell Brand's Blog

Russell Brand's blog is very good as you'd expect. The writing is good and the videos are interesting/entertaining. I can't embed those videos but I can share this one of him on Letterman, probably one of the most entertaining guests out there, at least better than Ricky 'stock material' Gervais. I watch Fame last night, awful. He just made jokes about all the different types of disease, how risky and post-modern.

New Spike Jonze Video For Unkle

Spike Jonze makes another stunning video this time for the Unkle song Heaven. Stunning is my new word, I used it yesterday in reference to this Martin Scoursese/Alfred Hitchcock short film and now I can't stop.

Mat sent the Unkle video to me, he says "It's a slow burner exploding from the second half." ...because he tries to be clever. Dougal says "It's a rehash of old footage."....oh.

See how I combined 2 posts in one? Subtle. Saved us all a shit load of time.

Daniel Kitson Union Chapel London

Daniel Kitson is doing a date with Jon Richardson and Pippa Evans on the 2nd May. Tickets.

Where The Wild Things Are Trailer

Check out the trailer for Where The Wild Things Are, the film is directed by Spike Jonze and the trailer is beautifully soundtracked By Arcade Fire with Wake Up.

Every Man For Himself

Might go to this on Saturday, Work It DJs featured. Night by Real Gold who say, "This Saturday we are going back to our roots, we've found a huge space and we're doing a massive party . Simple - as - that."

Adidas "Lomu"

A Classic by Director Fredrik Bond

Alistair Campbell On The Culture Show

How the hell did the BBC get Alistair Campbell to watch a screening of In The Loop with Kermode?! Well they did, watch it here. It made great TV - Campbell tried to make out he didn't think Malcolm was like him but basically admitted he was in the same sentence, then he turned on Kermode to defend himself and showed us that manipulting bull shitting side this whole thing is about, ironic really.

And while we are on the subject of British Politics I live on the same street as Diane Abbott! saw her sweeping her yard on Sunday, I wanted to say keep up the good work but I was holding a £2.50 bottle of cider and thought my message may well be undermined. And last night when biking home I had to break to avoid pulling out in front of another cyclist at a junction, the cyclist nodded in gratitude - it was Boris Johnson, "Sorry Boris!" I jovially replied. Good solid times dear reader.

EDIT: just found Campbell has a blog. Might have a few insights on there. It looks like 13 year old girl's page.

IPod Band (IBand?) Cover MGMT Kids

Sorry to aid Apple's ever increasing world domination but this is pretty good. I could do the same I guess...I just need 3 really funny looking friends apparently, in the words of my older brother "back in your box love."

Peter Saville at D&AD

Interesting. From CR Blog

Andrew Holder

Good Stuff. More at Booooom.

Maesto Knows

I would quite like to make a show like this (Maestro Knows? er Tom thinks was first sonny jim...and there is alliteration involved dip shit) I like the tone of it very much. In fact if I haven't made episode one of Tom thinks in a month can you send me a strongly worded email/text? His blog

Work It - 90's R&B and Hip Hop

We are going 90's R&B and Hip Hop mad at my house at the moment, mainly due to the club night 'Work It' that we have been to the last couple of month, the video above basically explains what's going on. The night is so much fun, you should go next month - imagine hearing R Kelly 'Vibe' in a nice setting. Their blog.

...and I'm only a tiny bit in love with Think Twice

New Conor Oberst And The Mystic Valley Band

Conor Oberst and the Mystic valley band have another album out on May 5th called Outer South (obviously) Good news if you ask me. I very much enjoyed the last album despite initial wariness. Great live too, real last gang in town vibe...I Imagine they have captured that on record more this time.
from MFR

Kill Pixie

I quite like the Australian artist Kill Pixie. There is a freshness to his pallet and composition (something like that) I think he would do well making artwork for Passion Pit or MGMT. More here and an interesting look round his LA studio here

Nike Air Teezy

My boss said I could get some custom Nikes for working hard the other week, so I went down to the shop the other day and designed these, just got them back from the sweat shop. I think they look good...in the box....but stuck on the end of my skinny little legs...I look like I've been raped by Marty McFly's drunken colour blind sister.

For those at the back, Kanye west is called Yeezy...from KanYE. lil wanye is called weezy, young jeezy is called jeezy (don't know his name) so I'm called Teezy...Tom...you know - i'm part of that dynasty.

A-Trak Paris diary

Very much enjoyed reading this diary entry from the Dj A-trak, he is very grounded and nice, just randomly decided to go to Paris fashion week with Kanye...me and my boy Agi have a long way to go, this week we went to Ikea.

EDIT: fuck just realised Agi DID go to Paris fashion week, it was last week...it's me that needs to pull my finger out, I stayed at home and bleached the fridge...it needed doing.

Cargo Tonight

Might go this tonight.

New Asher Roth

It seems like Asher Roth is doing everything right at the moment, there is a hell of a lot of anticipation for his album which comes out next month, he hasn't flooded with internet with loads of new songs, he's kept us hanging on, but this song leaked the other day, It's the first song of his new album, I think it's great and a very good sign of things to come.

Puma Ad

I always like stuff with projections.

Primavera Festival Barcelona

Decided to give Glastonbury a miss this year in favour of going somewhere in Europe. Probably a decision we will regret. Primavera at the end of May looks a good option; My Bloody Valentine, Yo La Tengo, Andrew Bird, Jay Reatard, Marnie Stern, Bowerbirds, Wavves, The Tallest Man On Earth, Women, Javis, Spiritiualized, Dan Deacon, The Mae Shi, Bat For Lashes, Neil Young, Sonic Youth, Ghostface Killer, Herman Dune, Daisey and Lewis, The Soft Pack, Ariel Pink, SMD, A-trak, & Zombie Zombie are those I'd Watch. Text me if you wanna go.

Work

Matthew Monteith
Alex Forsey
Thomas Prior
Christina Maria Oswlad
Patrick Shanahan

Yo, been crazy at work last couple of weeks so all I have to share is photos I have come across through work. I love the top photo, would love to articulate why...something about the purity of the red and blue. I love Thomas Prior's blog, I swear I use one of his images in every pitch I work on. I have no music to share really, might do a little music post but my new music playlist for Feb was 56 songs long, march is standing at 7 so far...one of them is by me and agi.

The Damned United

Very busy at work just enough time to say I'm excited about The Damned United, a film about Brian Clough's 44 days in charge at the scum (Leeds Utd) in 1974, the Barbican have a screening and Q&A with Michael Sheen who plays Cloughy next week. details.

Paul Davis

Nothing new but the funny drawings of Paul Davis appeal, and the design of his website is pretty special.

Michelle Blade

I have blogged Michelle Blade before, just found lots more of her wonderful paintings here and an interview here.

Julienne Hsu

I like these.

More.

Hannah Starkey

Hannah Starkey's first ever book finally came out. Glen and I bought it the other day and are very pleased with ourselves. Can't find a decent link for her but if you are in book shop have a leaf.

The Wind Up Bird Chronicle

Seeing these images by Luo Yang reminded me you should definitely read The Wind Up Bird Chronicle by Haruki Murakarmi, I'm a bit too tired to write a decent description but...It's about a recently unemployed man who gets into all kinds of mischief and meets lots of interesting characters after his cat disappears...told you I was tired...erm, it's really beautiful, maybe google will be able to explain better.

The Book Cover Archive

I am terrible for judging books by their covers, there are numerous literary classic laying fallow on my bookshelf on account of the leading of the front cover being contrary to my aesthetical eye. This wonderful site has lots of covers for you to judge. The books above were chosen because I highly recommend you read them if you haven't already rather than for their front covers (admittedly I haven't read After Dark & How We Are Hungry but I have read other by the authors so I'm sure they will be fine)