Aggressively blunt, succinct and very funny Tumblr Fuck Your Noguchi Coffee Table takes the piss out of some of today’s overused design trends. A few examples after jump, as well as “Fuck your Eames coat rack” above.
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WEB | February 6, 2012
Fuck Your Eames Coat Rack
WEB | November 10, 2011
November Music Video 3-Way
Three videos you need to see/artists you need to know: Queen of Hearts (pictured above), called a mix of “Annie, Goldfrapp and Kylie” by The Guardian, is a Brit whose real identity our sleuthing has not yet uncovered. She’s repped here with “Black Star,” the mesmerizing new video from debut EP “The Arrival”; The Sound of Arrows, who we waxed effusive over last week, just debuted “Wonders,” from their brand-new album, Voyage; and last up is Portland’s dance/Italo-disco/indie rock Glass Candy, with a dream of a video for “Warm in the Winter,” shot around the West Coast late this past summer, off their new EP of the same name.
Videos after jump.
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WEB | November 9, 2011
What To Drink
We’re not strangers to winding down a long day at the office with a quiet night at home, chill music and some self-medication. But how do you pick a drink to match the music you want to lose yourself in? Drinkify is the answer to all the world’s problems, or at least yours that evening. Type in the music artist or group, and it calls up an appropriate cocktail recipe with accompanying beats. Staying home and drinking by yourself has never sounded better.
WEB | October 28, 2011
October Music Video Three-Way
Three young women comprise our music video round-up this month. First up, Los Angeles-based Jessie Malakouti, who performs as Jessie and The Toy Boys (she says her band members are made up of four mannequins) and recently opened for Britney Spears on her “Femme Fatale” tour, gives a taste of her forthcoming debut album with the raunchy (and NSFW) “Let’s Get Naughty.” Next is something of a novelty song from an ousted X Factor contestant, L.A,’s Simone Battle; “He Likes Boys” is reminiscent of Josie Cotten’s ’80s hit “Johnny Are You Queer?” Finally, carrying on England’s grand tradition of songs featured in TV commercials burning up the music charts is Brit Charlene Soraia‘s cover of The Calling’s “Wherever You Will Go,” featured in a popular Twinings English Tea advert.
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WEB | October 12, 2011
Hunky Handymen
If we lived in London, right now we’d be deep into prepping for a massive demolition and rebuilding of our flat. With a company like Buff Builders around, there’s absolutely no reason to stick with a tired old design when you can have hot muscle guys sawing, bricklaying and spackling in your bedroom. If you don’t have the budget for a design overhaul, the company also offers hot guys to do light chores or the weekly housekeeping in your pad. Theirsite explains that the founder, Steve, a builder, “realized there was a desire for handsome tradesmen and together with some handsome and fit friends in the trade, Buff Builders was born.” A mix of both gay and straight handymen, they travel in groups of at least two to minimize the possibility of hanky-panky (though raising the fantasy quotient through the roof). Who’s up for starting a U.S. franchise?! (Via)
More pics after jump.
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WEB | August 31, 2011
Late August Music Video 3-Way
It’s the last day of August, and we’re actually getting excited to head into fall. Here are three music videos (two of them live performances), two from emerging artists and one from one of our favorite ’80s bands, all worth watching for in the coming months. First up, get ready for The Elizavetan Era, in which Elizaveta (pictured above), a self-described “singer-songwriter, pianist, poet and opera diva-in-training” (with a bio you couldn’t make up if you tried – “Flower alchemist with a minor in music. Born in NYC, raised in Motherland Russia, spent teenage years sequestered in an Italian monastery.”) has her singular talent unleashed onto the world. Look for a major-label EP featuring “Meant” (performed live in video) on September 27, and a debut album in 2012. Dialing up the quirkiness factor a few more notches is Michigan-born and -bred Alex Winston with “Velvet Elvis.” Also a classically trained opera singer, Winston, at 23, already has several EPs out plus a major label deal in the UK. We hope distribution in her own homeland is imminent. Finally, the soundtrack to the ’80s (at least our ’80s) was largely filled with songs from OMD. After releasing a comeback album last year, the band are embarking on a second leg of a U.S. tour in a few weeks. Below is a live clip of “New Babies: New Toys” from the latest album performed earlier this year in NYC. The band was fantastic on stage when we saw them in 1985 (um, when we must have been 2 years old, yeah), and all these years later they still put on an energetic and highly enjoyable live show.
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WEB | July 29, 2011
New Artist Music Video 3-Way
This edition of new music videos highlights three exceptional breaking artists and their new singles. First up, and technically not a “new”artist as she’s been recording and performing since she was a kid in her native Mexico, though now making her English-language debut, is 25 year-old Ximena Sariñana (pictured above) with “Different,” a colorful summertime romp that provides the perfect introduction for American audiences to her brand of smart and catchy pop; look for her eponymous album August 2. Brit Ed Sheeran, all of 20 now, has played hundreds of live gigs over the past three years, released five EP’s and been a trending-worthy Twitter sensation with a big celebrity following; now he’s making his major label debut with the re-release of his indie hip-hop/rap single “You Need Me, I Don’t Need You” and we’ll let the video speak for itself…it’s fantastic. Up last, the debut video from Australian singer-songwriter (and brilliantly named) Kitty Clementine (age 28). As yet unsigned, one listen to her dynamic voice makes it clear that it won’t be long until she gets major distribution. The track is “Alone,” and proceeds from its sale are to benefit anti-bullying organizations. (Videos after jump.) [Read more...]
WEB | July 28, 2011
The Modern Mensch
Full disclosure: we are about to give props to a blog written by one of Modern Tonic’s founders. But the point of The Modern Mensch – from New York Times/Fast Company/The Advocate contributor and former Entertainment Weekly writer/editor Ari Karpel – is to recognize that, in these complicated times, the effort to do the right thing should be applauded. So, although it may be a little “complicated,” we’re trying to do the right thing while we applaud Ari. (You follow?) Mensch is a thoughtful examination of current events and pop culture through a lens that sees the forest despite the trees. Don’t worry, it’s not all so serious (see recent posts on the new “monagamish” and the art of being wrong gracefully); it’s just smart and, well, menschy.
WEB | July 8, 2011
July Music Video 3-Way
A bumper crop of fantastic music videos have been coming at us, and here we highlight three that made us stop in our tracks. The second single from British duo Oh My! (pictured above; named after Tweet’s 2002 hit “Oops, Oh My”) is “Kicking and Screaming,” with its Lily Allen-esque talk-singing jaded hipster vocals, also features a hot guy running around shirtless for no apparent reason, which only adds to the fun. Skylar Grey, co-writer of Eminem’s “Love the Way You Lie,” unleashes the music video for “Dance Without You,” the lead single off of the 25-year-old’s forthcoming debut album Invisible, out this fall. Swedish electro-pop duo Icona Pop make a striking debut with this trippy, Day-Glo saturated video for their killer single “Manners.”
Download Oh My!’s “Kicking & Screaming” for free here. Download Icona Pop’s “Manners” for free here. Videos after the jump. [Read more...]
WEB | June 15, 2011
June Music Video 3-Way
Over the two years we contributed a weekly music column to Towleroad, the music videos we included were consistently the most popular part. We continue the tradition here with three of our current favorite new music videos, in order below: Australia’s Sneaky Sound System with a disarmingly cheeky video to go with the ’80s pop-drenched “We Love”; British singer/songwriter/musician Florrie‘s (pictured left) new track “Experimenting With Rugs” will please those who like their pop with a forlorn edge (i.e., Sophie Ellis-Bextor, Annie); and Alabama-born and -raised sisters Catherine and Allison, known as The Pierces, whose folk-tinged pop track “We Are Stars” gets an appropriately dreamy video (click on video to go to YouTube, it is not embeddable). [Read more...]
WEB | May 23, 2011
No Place Like Chrome
Although you may have watched Lady Gaga shine next to JT on SNL (not an easy feat!), those with jumpy TiVo fingers might have missed her commercial for Google Chrome. We know…Gaga shilling for an internet giant, why? Because this savvy superstar continues to give her devotees the credit they’re due by integrating them into her success. A love letter to the Little Monsters that features as much uploaded home video footage of them as polished images of the diva herself, the ad shows how the wall between musician and fan is eroding, heralding the new wave of connection that the web – and inspiring artists like Gaga – can offer. [Read more...]
WEB | May 23, 2011
Born This Way
Kicking off on the day that Focus on the Family has finally conceded that they are losing the fight against gay marriage thanks to the overwhelming number of young people that support it, The New York Times has unveiled a beautiful new multi-media series called “Coming Out.” Featuring audio commentary by teens and young adults telling their sometimes painful stories with the accompaniment of lengthy photo-essays, and also showcasing submissions from the public, this portrait of gay youth is astonishing. It may very well be up to the younger generation to move the country forward in terms of gay rights and visibility but, with their openness , candor, and unwillingness to back down from who they are, we appear to be in very good hands. [Read more...]
WEB | December 1, 2010
Can You Feel It?
As we careen into the holidays, these new music videos have us feeling the spirit.
Active Child: “I’m in Your Church at Night“
In a storm of flour, three zaftig bakers create angelic human beings, one of whom is L.A.-based songwriter Pat Grossi aka Active Child. Surreal, beatific and as luminous as Grossi’s unearthly, keening voice.
Cheryl Cole: “The Flood“
A windy beachside provides the backdrop for Cheryl Cole’s hybrid love tune that begins with a gentle country vibe before slamming home on a sing-along-and-sing-it-out-loud pop chorus. From her second solo CD Messy Little Raindrops.
Sander Kleinenberg feat. Jamie Cullum: “Remember When“
Dutch DJ/producer Kleinenberg invites jazz-pop dandy Cullum to get his Timberlake on for this funky Eurodisco jam shot in a brightly lighted subway-cum-disco. From his new disc 5k.
Jamie Woon: “Night Air“
London newcomer Woon strolls through a fecund woodland nightscape in this evocative clip for his eerie, dubstep-influenced electro single. His anticipated debut’s due in 2011.
WEB | November 23, 2010
Hunger Games
We love sorting through the pop culture scrap heap to unearth hidden gems for you, but with so much crap online even Modern Tonic needs to outsource occasionally. Luckily, the YouTube curators at Devour.com have already done the heavy sifting for us, plucking only the choicest cuts and leaving the billions of hours of Twilight trailer fan reactions in the untouched ether where they belong.
Promising “fewer cute kittens, fewer skateboarding nutshots, [and] fewer tween heartthrobs,” Devour.com delivers editor-approved, often user-submitted videos to your inbox every day covering a broad spectrum of categories, ensuring tastes both refined and ribald will find plenty of needless distractions to make it through the work day. Whether it’s the inspired commercials you’ve been fast-forwarding through on your TiVo or a cracked-out short starring Dev “Slumdog” Patel and Ed “Chuck Bass” Westwick, devour trims the fat and feeds you only the most nourishing videographic meals the internet has to offer. Dig in.
WEB | November 10, 2010
Watch, Look and Listen
Baby, it’s getting cold outside, so we’re warming up with these hot music videos.
Peppermint: “Let U Have It” (Very NSFW)
Drag superstar Peppermint is gonna let u have it in this NSFW banger featuring booty, bondage and fierce realness. Yes, please!
Jessie J: “Do It Like A Dude” (Audio NSFW)
Jessie J’s U.K. debut single is a hard-hitter with attitude to spare. At only 22, this singer-songwriter (she wrote Miley Cyrus’ “Party in the USA“) is one to watch. Look for U.S. debut “Who You Are” soon.
Human Life: “Wherever We Are”
A lesbian couple goes shopping at flea markets, checks out graffiti art, galleries and the city skyline before they break-up to make up in this clip for the L.A. disco trio.
Olly Murs “Thinking of Me”
This U.K. cutie and runner-up of X-Factor grooves a sweet ska beat while defying gravity around the English countryside. His eponymous debut drops November 29.
