BLOG

Gorillaz In the Mix

I don’t know who’s big idea it was to group less traditional music into the alternative category. The powers that be (record labels) are probably so lost when they get music from “experimental” artists that when it’s shipped to retailers, they figure it should sit either in the back of the store with rap, or next to the CD cleaners with the cashier. Before groups like De La Soul, Radiohead, the White Stripes, and OutKast changed the way our ears listened to music, it was simply lyrics and an image. Today, only through our brave new world of CGI and viral marketing can a hair-brained idea like a virtual band exist as all-walking, talking, singing, dancing, rapping, fully functional artists we call the Gorillaz. Depending on where you cop your music, they’re probably sandwiched between Feist and Ghostface, thanks.

Stay Tooned

Oh joy! The complete anthology of Nicktoons just landed on our desks today, and we can barley contain ourselves. The 106 and Park generation might be too young to fathom our echoed sentiments from Ren and Stimpy (1991). So the geniuses at Nickelodeon packaged all of their animated classics into one comprehensive look with original concepts for shows like the franchise cash cow, Spongebob Squarepants, to rough sketches for the America meets anime culture clash, Kappa Mikey. Try getting past this coffee table book’s green goo plastic cover before your childhood begins to flash before your eyes. “Nicktoons!” hits all major book stores this November.

We’re Going Coo-Coo For New Cereal Horror Book

We’ve been big fans of breakfast cereal ever since Life’s “Hey Mikey! He likes it!” commercials were blaring in between Saturday morning cartoons shows back in the 80’s, so of course we’re going to like this soon to be released coffee table book: Cereal Killers. It will feature highly imaginative parodies—we’re really feeling this “Koo-Koo Pebbles” mash-up from artist Kevin Schmid—of cereal boxes that are spooky, nasty, and downright distasteful, yum! And really good news, all the art from the book is being posted on the publisher’s blog and the book will be available as a print-on-demand project, so if the thought of icky ink and paper sickens you, check back to the website and get your fill there.

[Source, via]

Author Takes On ‘One Hundred Young Americans’

Dealing with one teenager is a pain in the ass, now imagine a hundred of ‘em, like Michael Franzini did in his new book, One Hundred Young Americans. The author-photographer was on a mission to document a cross section of American teenagers to hear and document firsthand, what’s it’s like living as a mini-adult in this country. So he went on a junket:

He traveled to all fifty states - a total of 30,000 miles in five months - to meet, interview, and photograph teens, ranging from the mainstream kids like the jocks, the cheerleaders, and the studious preps, to the fringe kids like the goths, the skaters, and skinheads, and everyone else in between.

The result was a mass of raw photos and uncensored stories that show a new generation more than once removed from the previous. The book drops in November, but there’s plenty of stuff to preview on the ‘100 Young Americans’ website in the meantime.

[Source]

Winding Down: Sandee Westgate Is A Pearl

Good things come to those who wait: “[I]t only took 15 months of running this stupid site, but it finally happened! I got a nice email from a hot woman who actually wanted me to put her pics up on the site.” [Horny Oyster]

Todd McFarlane’s Halo 3 custom painted controllers are out of this world. [Gizmodo]

Japan has the coolest and weirdest fetish combos. All hail the taxi maidens. [Newlaunches]

Finally, some good reading for hypochondriacs: The Complete Manual of Things That Might Kill You. [Neatorama]

Winding Down: Giorgia On Our Minds

We’ll have to agree with the ‘Tuna‘ on this one. We’ve never heard of Giorgia Palmas, and frankly it doesn’t matter. The important thing is just how good this lass looks in a bikini. [Hollywood Tuna]

Kids will eat pretty much anything if its wrapped in McDonald’s packaging. [Core77]

TWIST aka Barry McGee, has got a new book out. But better be well versed in Japanese if you expect to actually read it. [TheWorldsBestEver]

Chances are that scientists will develop the Hover Skateboard like in Back to the Future Part II before Nike makes the Air McFlys. [Neatorama]

KAWS Covers Arkitip With Original Fake

The super limited edition arts and lifestyle magazine, Arkitip, that includes a cool premium with each issue, is releasing this custom designed laptop sleeve by KAWS and Incase that serves as the packaging for their new issue. It marks the 1 year anniversary of the artist’s Original Fake store in Japan. In addition to designing the packaging, KAWS also curated the artist’s section for the issue. Each comes hand packaged & numbered in a ltd. edition of 2000. $65

[Source] [via]

SABER’s ‘Mad Society’

The LA based graffiti artist who got fame for creating the world’s largest piece, SABER, is set to release a new book. The 168-page, soft bound book will be available this August and is a comprehensive collection that details his life’s work. Entitled, ‘SABER: Mad Society‘ it showcases everything from his tags and massive pieces, to his oil paintings and gallery stuff. It’s packed with photos and stories of some of the crazy shit that happens when painting. The book ships August 21 but if you order it now it comes signed by SABER. You can cop it here. Check out the bonus video of SABER talking about how he created the largest graffiti on Earth after the jump.

SABER: Mad Society, $30.00

Format Tags Graffiti Author

Format mag caught up with Steve Grody to discuss his new book: Graffiti L.A. Street Styles and Art. He discusses the long, windy road leading up to the publication of the book. Whenever you’re dealing with graffiti, there’s tons of egos and other nuances to deal with. Most people who ‘make’ graffiti books are in it for the labor of love, cause chances are, it ain’t going to sell that many copies when all is said and done. Check out as he discusses how get got the trust of writers and overcame all sorts of other obstacles, eventually allowing him to compile the book that he did without getting vamped or slashed.

[Source]

Men’s Infidelity Gets Another Defense

Here’s one book you guys might just consider reading this summer. For one thing, it’s only 50 something pages, for another, it might make for a good defense next time you get caught cheating. Author Michael Stevens’ book, Monogamy Isn’t Natural: Get Over It Ladies, offers an “honest discussion on nature of men’s infidelity.” It’s available through AuthorHouse and examines the sexual differences between men and women:

Monogamy Isn’t Natural will appeal to all men and women who have had relationships in which faithfulness has been an issue. Stevens helps women understand why their men felt a need to cheat and pursue other women, and he gives men the tools to finally be honest about their behavior and the reasons behind the infidelity.

And there you have it guys. No more worries. Just tell your significant other you can’t help yourself and send her a copy of the book. We’re sure she’ll understand, him being an expert and all. Especially considering this is his first book and all. More info at Amazon and a preview.

$12.99, Monogamy Isn’t Natural: Get Over It Ladies