Grimes – “Oblivion”

On April 14, 2012, in Music, song, by mugen

Interesting… I dig something about this tune, but I’m not sure if my interest will last, or if it’s just a passing “hmmm…”

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New Tune by LMFAO – “One Day”

On March 27, 2012, in Music, song, by mugen

I dunno how I feel about it. I’d definitely be playing the hell out of it if I were still DJing in Japan, for sure. But compared to their “stupider” stuff, it’s less satisfying… I like their humor more than anything.

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Manson & … Shia LeBeouf?

On March 21, 2012, in Music, song, by mugen

Weird. Makes Shia LeBeouf about a zillion times more interesting — he directed the short film/music video for Marilyn Manson’s “Born Villain,” and compares it to Un Chien Andalou – Salvador Dali’s and Jean Cocteau’s Andalusian Dog.

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Marilyn Manson

On March 21, 2012, in Music, by mugen

So… Brian’s still around. And making music, as well as painting and dropping odd quotes here and there from Shakespeare and others. Definitely still a challenge, but maybe with a different angle on things? I dunno.

Personally, I think AntiChrist Superstar is one of the best albums I’ve ever encountered. Since then… hits and misses.

Check out the music videos page. MM’s cover of Depeche Mode’s “Personal Jesus” is pretty great.

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Starter Kit

On March 19, 2012, in Music, by mugen

My former student Ryan is guitarist (and media guy) for Starter Kit. Their newest release looks to be 2009’s Unsettled.

Video for their song “Twilight Regret”:

I saw them back in … 2005 maybe?… in Dekalb, Illinois. The keyboardist is a new addition. They’ve stayed in the same hard rock vein with melodic vocals and emotional/internal/relationship-inspired lyrics. They’ve moved a bit away from their former frenetic constantly noodly guitarwork (I liked it!). You can see what I mean about their older stuff here in their first video, for “Tomorrow’s Never Better”:

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“I Fink U Freeky” – Die Antwoord

On March 18, 2012, in Music, by mugen

Interesting overview of the connection between photographer (and director of the video) Ballen and the band.

image from Die Antwoord "Tension" trailer

"Ninja" masked in "Tension" trailer

And more interesting, the copyright infringement case brought against Die Antwoord by Jane Alexander regarding use of images from her art. Nice discussion from a South African about the exploitation of South African art by South African artists.

More on the same subject by the same author, but in a more complete (and scathingly anti-Die Antwoord) form here: “Butchered” by Linda Stupart, from Mahala.

detail of Jane Alexander's "Butcher Boys" sculpture

one of Jane Alexander's "Butcher Boys"

Another “discussion of the discussion” raised by the whole affair.

An Art Times of South Africa article in which Ninja claims to be friendly with Alexander and expresses surprise at the controversy.

Interesting implications for art, parody, satire, copyright, and post-modern sampling culture.

Regarding the song? It’s freaky. I like it a lot.

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