March 28 2009
Album Reviews

A Real Name Behind Real Blasty

Kyle Andrews – Real Blasty (Elephant Lady)

I won’t lie; everything about this album screams “hate me!” First of all, I’m not a fan of artists that go by their real name, especially when his or her name is already boring to begin with. And the sound: synthesized pop with extremely melodramatic lyrics? Sound good to you? NO. But, but actually listening to the album, Andrews created something worth attention.

The album opens up with “Sushi.” He yearns for love and it’s unclear if it’s reciprocated. The vocals and lyrical content may come off as whiney at some points and too processed at others. It’s the mix of these extremes that made me listen to the album a 3rd and 4th time.

No one can say the tracks are the same. The track order is perfectly organized to accommodate all of the various sounds. Andrews appears to cover the pop-ification of today’s mainstream rock with some electronic help. One of two of the tracks reminds me of Moby and Radiohead combined making pop music, others remind me of Maroon 5 & other VH1 “boy bands”.

It’s not for everyone. But if you are a lover of pop music and variances on the pop genre, then give this Chicago soloist a try.

C+

Track Listing:

1.       Sushi
2.       Naked in NYC
3.       Polar Bear
4.       Call and Fade
5.       Tennessee Torture Dream
6.       Put Your Hands Up
7.       A Constant Wavering Between The Real and The Abstract
8.       Blow It Out
9.       Take It To Heart
10.   I Wanted To Paint A Rainbow
11.   Cut and Paste
12.   Bus

Image Source: Amazon

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March 27 2009
Design

Antler Lighting!

While I am preparing myself for graduation in a few short months, I am also looking at where and what I want my new life to be. So, in whatever city I end up and no matter how small the apartment may be, I want antlers.

That’s right, an antler chandelier! Now, while this one costs $2,875, I still love the idea.

I’ve always hated florescent lighting, and this is a fun way to replace a boring, overly bright overhead fixture with something that could compliment  the mixed-matched furnishings of a first time home-owner and make it homey and fun.

The best thing about this Jason Miller design, is that it comes in different colors, such as Rain Tree Green, Delphinium or Harvest. The worst thing about these colorful antlers is the price. Chances are I won’t be a proud owner of any sort of antler chandelier anytime soon, but hopefully I’ll find a more cost effective creative answer to cheap apartment lighting.

Velocity Art and Design via Design-Milk
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March 23 2009
Thoughts

Underachieve and you can win!

Fast food companies have always targeted male teens. But with so many of them turning off their TVs and radios, the game had to change. While reading Ad Age’s post about fast food’s latest efforts, one thing is coming apparently clear. They’re promoting young males to be more slacker-y and douche-y.

A few examples AdAge used included:

Burger King’s Facebook De-Friending Campaign

  • Their campaign was to get people to de-friend, notify those Facebook friends they were de-friended in order to win a free burger.
  • This falls into the douche category.

Jack in the Box’s Gutterbowl League

  • This campaign rewarded guys with the lowest score in bowling (i.e. getting gutterballs).
  • This falls into the slacker column

While most of the article focuses on Carl Jr.’s pursuit of the teenage male, I was more focused on the messages of what males should want to be.

I can only speak for myself, a 21 year old female. And as myself, I’m not a fan of this. Not only do I not want to date a loser, I don’t want to date a jerk either! And advertisers are promoting these qualities as cool and desirable. While these burger joint campaigns make for a nice juxtaposition to AXE’s guys seeking girl approval campaign (disclosure: AXE Hair Crisis was the latest campaign I worked on), I don’t know which of these qualities are something we should be pushing as cool.

Sure, I’m a fan of good looking guys and ones that listen to me, but at the same time, I’m not sure I want a girly man. But on the other hand, should we be promoting negative qualities as cool? Especially, in this economy, underachieving should not be shown as favorable! Ideally, winning and being the opposite of a jerk should be looked upon as cool. However, those qualities don’t make for a scandalous or flashy campaign.

I know what gets attention, and jaw-dropping antics are more interesting to watch and more buzz worthy (I’m still in awe of the De-Friending campaign), but still, shouldn’t we as advertisers and mass communicators use our powers for good and to change popular opinion? Hell, “bringing home the bacon” is a positive use a manly thing (bacon) in a positive light.

Image Source: Sheldon Art Association’s Flickr, Cal Coast Web Design’s Flickr

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March 20 2009
Album Reviews

Sparks’ Pop-Opera Gimmick

Sparks – Exotic Creatures of the Deep (Li’l Beethoven Records)

Pop opera, popera – whatever, it is. It is captivating, strange but pretty cool. With pop elements and vibrato vocals and embellished sound to accompany often humorous lyrics, Sparks is a master of the genre megaship. Sparks is a 2 piece band made up of Ron and Russell Mael that has been around for a few decades. Exotic Creatures of the Deep is their 21st release.

“Good Morning” is about getting drunk and waking up to a beautiful stranger and assuming it was a glorious night. The track walks the listener through the situation making it extremely relatable. First, he wonders who this person is and then takes time to thank God for the probably glorious night, all in an over-orchestrated way.

Sparks, is like the beginning of “Bohemian Rhapsody” before it broke into a rock song with high pitched vocals he creates something fun with a somewhat serious sound. With an ornate sound including organ, vocal rounds, and backing choral arrangements, it’s something you don’t hear everyday.

Anytime Sparks will come up on shuffle, I’ll probably listen to the whole album; it’s just that captivating. The pop makes it catchy and dancey, the opera makes it intriguing and gives it the right amount of gimmick to want more.

“I Can’t Believe You Would Fall For All This Crap In This Song” is a kick in the pants answer to the romantic songs that fill the airwaves. While “love” songs usually say over the top promises, Russell sings “I love you, only you,” he also responds by wondering how anyone could fall for empty promises like that. It makes a statement to the girls who take song lyrics and promises of love forever as something more than a rhyme. It’s just a (rhyme) scheme. (Ooh Snap!) It’s another relatable and honest song.

“Photoshop” is one of my favorite tracks. Not only does it mention something seen everyday, it puts it in the context of real life and relationships. Once again, it’s humorous and has a recognizable/relatable action. The connection of Photoshop to real life mixed with kooky musical elements and even a delicate piano makes this song so delicious. Not to mention, this song would make it on my break up playlist if I was to create one.

Besides that this album has left Sparks open to an Adobe lawsuit,  it’s a great album. When you needs something fun, but not over powered with bass, then definitely put on some Sparks.

B-

Track listing:

  1. “Intro”
  2. “Good Morning”
  3. “Strange Animal”
  4. “I Can’t Believe That You Would Fall for All the Crap in This Song”
  5. “Let the Monkey Drive”
  6. “Intro Reprise”
  7. “I’ve Never Been High”
  8. “(She Got Me) Pregnant”
  9. “Lighten Up, Morrissey”
  10. “This is the Renaissance”
  11. “The Director Never Yelled ‘Cut’”
  12. “Photoshop”
  13. “Likeable”

Image source: Amazon

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March 20 2009
Design / PR / Things / Thoughts

Twitter’s tweet-scape, twop, twil, twhat?

I use twitter, I like twitter, and like many early adopters of twitter, I’m getting wary of the  “new twitter landscape”. I know it makes me sound snobby, but at the same time, I am. My issues with twitter aren’t about the people who tweet about every moment in their lives, because those people have always been there and will always be there. It’s the new comers who just want to make noise to show that they’re there.

Nowadays, I feel like that being on twitter is like automatically earning a boyscout badge, but instead of knowing how to make a fire, you just have to have an email address. Now, not everyone who is new falls into this category, but there are a bunch that do. With that said, I’ll probably twitter about this post.

On the bright side, I look forward to using Twitter and it’s “addicts” to market in incredibly innovative ways!

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Opinions expressed on this blog are purely and personally those of myself, Sara Knee.
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