OK GO!

I normally only do music videos and whatnot on Friday, but the new video for OK GO is unreal. Their music is decent enough for me, but really, their originality and production of their videos is what sets them apart. Here is a sampling:

The famous treadmill video




And here is their newest video, shot in one take over the span of 21 hours or so

Welcome to DC!

This is a really cool (and cheesey) video. It's nice to finally feel like the hometown sports are all going to be solid within a few years. Welcome to DC!

Solid Potato Salad!

I cannot believe that it is summer already. This year has been sprinting towards 2011 at neckbreak speed, while I idly spend my time situated in a lovely office. Nonetheless, summer is in fact here along with beaches, babes, and delicious food to eat on a hot day. Hmm...maybe some solid potato salad, anyone?

The Ross Sisters were a group of sisters that came into fame during the 1940's. Hailing from West Texas, they were a trio of female sibling singing dancers consisting of Aggie Ross, Elmira Ross, and Maggie Ross. They performed as a 3-part harmony trio wherein they also danced and...did other things (I don't want to ruin the surprise). They have performed on Broadway, The Ed Sullivan Show, and two of them have lived long lives.

That's really all I could find about them, but I wasn't all that interested in putting forth too much effort to be honest. Sit back, enjoy the video. All I can say is, they would be incredibly famous (in one way or another) had they been born a few centuries later.

Speaking of TV, I'm on it!

I'm at the O's game and my buddy Denes (in Miami) recorded it.

The Pam Beesly Effect

I like to watch television. As a young American, maybe it's part of my duty, upbringing, whatever, but I genuinely enjoy sitting down sometimes and just allowing myself to drift away into the images dancing across the screen. I don't need to spend hours in front of the boob tube daily, nor do I, but it is nice to allow yourself to become immersed in any program that you're into.

Once you watch enough T.V., certain parallels become noticeable between different programs. In other words, specific themes present themselves that can either translate into success or failure. Such a trend that reveals a show becomming successful is the physical appearance of (mostly) the lead actress. Simply put, the arch of a successful show can be traced with the arch of an actress becomming more attractive. Here are some examples:

The Office - Pam Beesly/Halpert

The namesake of this theory. By no means is Jenna Fischer, nor any of the actresses below, unattractive. Personally, I think Jenna is extremely attractive (i.e. hot). However, in the first couple seasons of The Office, Pam was not very appealing, but rather plain looking. As the series continued on, it was decided that Pam should...I dunno, actually try and look attractive instead of just wearing buttoned-up cardigans and slicking her hair back into a ponytail. It is possible that this change in appearance could be traced to her actual character arch, as Pam gained more confidence after her second break-up with Roy. Yet, while I do believe this to be true, it doesn't mean that the producers of the show didn't go out of their way to keep Jenna from looking hot early on and then subsequenly allowed her to look much better in later seasons, thus mirroring the rise in popularity and success of The Office.

Then & Now

Curb Your Enthusiam - Cheryl David

Cheryl Hines is another beautiful actress, whose character did not initially match her real-life beauty. On Curb Your Enthusiasm, one of the funniest shows on television, Cheryl plays...well, Cheryl. She is representative for Larry David's real-life wife as the show is very true to his own life story. On the show, Cheryl is beyond understanding and supportive of Larry, but will still chew his ass out or point out his ridiculous psychosis when warranted. However, what doesn't mirror real-life is how unattractive Cheryl was initially. As a testament to Cheryl Hines, it was truly difficult to find a less-than-stellar picture of her, but just go back and watch the first season if you don't believe. As the show rolls on, Cheryl continues to look better and better. Larry David's wife/ex-wife in real-life is pretty attractive herself, but she is no Cheryl. If only Curb had shown the viewers that from the beginning.

Then & Now

The Simpsons - Marge Simpson

This trend is not exclusive solely with live actresses; it also translates to primetime cartoon characters. The Simpsons began as a short on The Tracy Ullman Show. The characters were very rough incarnations from what the world sees them as today. Marge appears to be a rough scripple from the iconic figure we know as Homer's wife and Bart's mom. In fact, modern-day Marge has gone through such a makeover that she was even asked to pose for Playboy Magazine.

Not bad at all from what she began as.

See for yourself. Then & Now.

Those were the first three examples that came to mind when I began pondering ideas to support my theory. I'll re-visit this, if anyone is interested, but in the meantime, can you think of any examples?

Epic Failures of Album Covers

I really enjoy finding a theme for the pictures I post every Tuesday, as opposed to just throwing a bunch of random ones on up. For today's picture post, I chose to go ahead with horribly amazing album covers.

Seriously, what were any of these people thinking? Literally...how were ANY of these a good idea? ANY!


As always, click to expand the full awesomeness of these horrible album covers.

Cool As Ice

I challenge you to watch this video and not laugh...for the entire time.

I have never seen this movie, but how could it have possibly made any sense? Vanilla Ice, which feels ridiculous to even type, appears to interrupt a standard 80's romantic comedy. The whole time I'm watching it, I can't help but wonder what in the hell he is doing. Seriously, why are there clips of him just dancing while the couple is driving home? His head has a brick wall on it. His clothing looks like it lost a fight to a band of highlighters. Doesn't he have any friends? If so, how did they let him do ANY of this?

This movie simply should have been called Bad Decisions.

i got your name tattooed inside of my arm

Happy Friday, everyone. For this Friday's music, I have turned to a band that has been on my radar for some time now, but that I am just now getting into. The band is The Gaslight Anthem. Let me tell you, I've dipped my toes in the water and I've jumped into the pool.

The Gaslight Anthem hails from New Brunswick, New Jersey, which I was only familiar with prior for being the home of the New Jersey Nets. However, upon hearing lead singer, Brian Fallon's voice, visions of New Jersey (the cool parts...yes, there are cool parts) instantly scroll through your mind. Why, you ask? Well, it has a lot to do with the very Bruce Springsteenian, Boss-like voice that roars and scratches from Fallon's mouth and melodies.

The latest offering from The Gaslight Anthem, American Slang, is the band's third studio album. I must admit, aside from a few songs here and there, this is the first entire disc that I have listened to from them. I couldn't be more impressed. Every single song is the perfect music for driving down the highway at high speeds, windows down, with no particular destination in sight. The lyrics match the music as if there was a prearranged marriage of words and tones. Fallon has quoted as much: "All these songs came to me in my head. I didn't sit down at the guitar or piano or write lyrics, they all just were kind of there one day."


Well, there it is. Reader, whoever you are, I implore you to check out this band. I haven't been this excited over discovering new music in quite some time. Enjoy!








I wasn't able to find a non-live version for the song, but that's actually better sometimes. Also, if your interest has been piqued or whetted, then here is the entire album available on stream:

http://player.play.it/player/player.html?v=5.0.44&id=32418

http://whfs.radio.com/2010/06/15/full-album-stream-gaslight-anthem-american-slang/

Blah...

It's a blah kind of day here in Baltimore. How about some video game-related videos?



Super Mario

Pictures for Tuesday

I hope everyone had a great weekend. My work week is starting now, which is always exciting. The weekend was great, despite not going exactly to plan. However, that does not mean it wasn't awesome. Copious amounts of alcohol, food, sunshine, good tunes, and great friends were all consumed in one way or another. One of my best friends and girlfriend(Beth!)'s brother, Robert, is on his way to moving to CA currently. In honor of the move, here are some cool pictures of California so that we may all be jealous of him. Godspeed.

As always, click to expand.

Friday!

Happy Friday, everyone. I am especially looking forward to this weekend as it involves swimming the Chesapeake Bay and attempting a Man vs. Food challenge in Annapolis. Hopefully, neither of these things kill me, but if so, thanks for reading. Anyway, here is some new music for you to chew on...with your ears!

The XX hails from London, England and are friends with Hot Chip, another solid band. They have been steadily gaining momentum in the indie circuit since their debut on the scene in 2009 and (Simpsons trivia!) were chosen by Matt Groening (Simpsons creator) to headline two nights at the All Tomorrow's Parties festival that he curated in England. They are a pretty mellow band, but the female and male lead voices blend well with the music behind them. The website, The Quietus, aptly states that, "their debut is an album of claustrophobic beauty and measured sentiment so strikingly self-restrained that it has, rather ironically, inspired some of the internet's more excessively poetic reactions." Click the link for more on that interview.

I chose this song because the video is one of the most beautiful and interesting ones that I have seen in quite a while...well, maybe since MTV actually still played videos. The lyrics are quite simplistic, and yet artfully ambiguous to the point that they could garner multiple interpretations. The video echoes this sentiment. It begins with images of different scenes, very much in the manner that one remembers certain shots (as if it were a film or photograph) of a certain memory. It continues then to show a fire burning (set by someone), nervous fidgeting, and eventually a fire being put out. Is he following her because he loves her or figuring out an out to walk away (possibly hinted by his looking back - or making sure they are alone)? I'll stop with my interpretation of the video and let you enjoy its subtleties. Yet...I wonder what you think. Is the video about a break-up or is it about enjoying a relationship? What are your thoughts? I love the way color enters the video, but what does it mean?

Anyway, Happy Friday! I hope you have a great weekend and I hope that you enjoy this.

Does This Guy Get Laid?

Annnnnd, we are back with the next edition of Does This Guy Get Laid? For this edition, we have moved on to a new gentleman to drive the ladies wild. Or does he? That is up for you to decide!

Our latest contender hails from the vicinity, but clearly isn't doing himself any favors by hanging out with past Does This Guy Get Laid? members, as pictured below. [For the Record: last go-round's choice does in fact get laid. Either a "Congrats!" or "I'm sorry to hear that" is in order for the lucky lady/victim.]

Our latest hero or ottoman only goes out in public dressed as comical movie characters. While this contender is clearly intelligent, he only wears the clothing of feature film morons. Is this a ploy into disarming the Mensa members that he attempts to bed? Maybe. However, for all we know, he truly believes that he is currently starring in a movie of some sort. Just know that if any of you ladies out there decide to take a ride on this train, our subject will happily autograph any copy of Dumb & Dumber or The Hangover that you decide to bring along.

So...does this guy get laid?

The World Collapse Explained in 3 Minutes

Enjoy!

Mortal Kombat

I have touched on various topics on here that would suggest that I am, in fact, fairly dorky. I have no problem with that. I still like various aspects of my childhood, such as cartoons (Simpsons, Family Guy, etc.), action movies, comic books, and video games. I don't care what you think b/c I like these things and I'm sure you, the reader, have some dorky skeletons playing Dungeons and Dragons in your closet right now. But, let's hope that none of us are as much of a loser as any of the three losers pictured.

I loved playing all video games, but growing up especially, I loved fighting games. They allowed you to test your mettle, talk shit, and beat up your friends in a safe environment that wouldn't find you grounded or in children jail. One of my favorites was Mortal Kombat.

Mortal Kombat was legendary and ground-breaking at its release. Never had a game come sprinting out of the gates, unabashedly full of bloody swagger and bravado. The game was immediately dubbed to be harmful for children due to the fatalities that were performed at the end of each match, as well as the rampant use of gore and titillating costumes. Mortal Kombat was discussed in Congress, used as a anti-decency campaign by uptight Moms, and heralded by gamers across the world. The game has sold millions and millions of copies. In article by Examiner.com, the Mortal Kombat series was ranked number 2, second only to God of War III, on the most beautiful deaths in gaming, stating, "You have to give the game that got the whole world interested in video games a mention. Besides featuring awesome death sequences, this was also the title that got the American government to take a stand against the gaming industry. Thanks to Mortal Kombat, we have the ESRB now to tell us if a game is safe for children, teens, or if only adults should play. Cheers to you, Mortal Kombat." The game is also responsible for giving us some cool techno music, developing the use of live action character sprites for gameplay (as opposed to the standard computer-generated characters), and some pretty shitty movie adaptations. However, the final point appears to be changing.

This movie trailer is apparently a director's odd (read: visionary) way of pitching Warner Bros. on his idea for a new Mortal Kombat film. Personally, I think it's genius. I would definitely be interested in seeing this new version of the movie. Onward, U.S.S. Guilty Pleasure!

80's Video Dating & Cool Proposal

Well...this is glorious.



Cool proposal, but damn...good luck living up to these high standards.

Tu-tu-tuesday

One of my favorite types of art are the kinds that can be witnessed while walking in a city, tucked away between the concrete and asphalt, steel and mortar. As mentioned in a previous edition of Tuesday Pictures, I really dig urban art that is done in an interesting and thought-provoking way, almost appearing as if it belongs in whatever setting it was placed in. One of, if not THE, best artists in the world at doing this goes by the name of Banksy.

One of the coolest aspects about Banksy is that very few people actually know who the man is. Very similiar to other famously unknown Euros, Daft Punk, Banksy keeps his identity hidden in order to allow his work to speak for itself. Well...that and what Banksy does is deemed illegal. Banksy relies on an urban canvas to portray his social idioisms, political snarks, and humorously ridiculous observations. In my opinion, the man is a genius.



Do yourself a favor and click on the pictures to enlarge them b/c the detail really needs to be seen to be understood. The first picture is ironic as it is graffiti depicting graffiti removal. Created in May 2008 at Leake Street in London, it was painted over in August 2008. The second picture is especially biting; it is a building in the Lower 9th Ward of New Orleans, August 2008. The final picture is a naked man on the wall of a sexual health clinic in Park Street, Bristol. Fortunately, after public support, the City Council allowed it to remain.

These are only a (very) small sampling of Banksy's ability. Click here to learn more about him on Wikipedia (do it!) or click here to check out a sampling of more of his pieces. You can also just google his name in images to see more. Also, here is his website, which should definitely be checked out.

Finally, if you find yourself really enjoying his work, there is a film currently out, titled Exit Through the Gift Shop possibly done by Banksy, but definitely about him. Click here for a solid write-up about it that explains it, but does not give anything away.



How fitting for BP...