Much like the existential effect Garfield remixes had, Kanye West tweets done as New Yorker Cartoons are bizarro improvements. The difference is Garfield cartoons are funny to begin with. Kanyetweets are like Garfield The Movie. Sorry, Bill Murray.
It’s like the Voltron of collectors album covers. Roll over above to check out the animation of all 8 Suburbs album covers together in action. [via BlahBlahBlahScience]
Starting off on the perfect summer slo-jam, a fat-syrupy beat from Room E. Then a waltzy, breathy lil’ ditty from LA’s Evan Voytas. A tune from the new Ra Ra Riot you can pre-order now. A live track from Sea Wolf that’s so autumnlike, it’s perfect for these SF summers. Finally, the best band with the best band name of the week, Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr.. Enjoy thoroughly.
Located deep in the heart of the Apple campus is the $100 million Infinite Loop Lab. Engadget scored a look inside the former “black lab” and revealed what seems like a pretty-damn thorough testing facility.
KID A-pple
Although the chilly, dark ‘n glitchy goodness of Kid A‘s “Everything in Its Right Place” makes an ironic-enough soundtrack, this Radiohead rarity is even more fitting …
Those blue spikes are made of sound- and signal-dampening foam. The room above tests signal strength at any angle by strapping the device to a rotating arm. When Engadget arrived there was an iPad being tested. They asked why and Apple responded “…[we’ve been testing the iPad] for years.” Interesting.
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Testing the iPhone pain threshold in the MacHAL 9000 Iron Maiden. Or something to do with WiFi networks.
Why is Arcade Fire releasing The Suburbs with eight not-so-different album covers? Pitchfork thinks it’s commentary on the suburbs themselves. I think it’s commentary + shrewd marketing towards music completionists like myself. Damnit.
Here’s an old acoustic number Frank Black did with Glen Hansard of The Frames. And a new one off his latest LP, NonStopErotik. There’s still tix for tonight’s show in Petaluma. C’mon up!
The Indian Chief and Uncle Sam PEZ are from the Bicentennial SeriesPEZ released in 1976, which also included a Pilgrim, Indian Brave, Betsy Ross, and Wounded Soldier. Buy ’em here.
BONÜS:
Heard this live tune by Team B on NYC Taper and am stoked. Made up of members of Beirut, Arcade Fire, LCD Soundsystem, they’ve got a wonderful Eastern European vibe (yes, very Beirut-y). The recordings not perfect but it’s enough to keep an ear out for more from the group. Grab the full show.
One of my favorite projects from Blue Ribbon Salvage is the idea of turning vintage Gramophone speakers into hanging lamps. I thought that was an awesomely beautiful way to repurpose these already-gorgeous pieces of musical history. The idea of simply reusing them as an iPhone speaker was always dreamily tossed around, but never acted upon.
Thankfully, designer Matt Richmond pulled through with this hack of an old Victrola phonograph horn, the iVictrola. More pics and info at HEMagazine.
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Another take on the iGramophone concept is from Tristan Zimmerman, the ultra-modern, Design Exchange Award-winning Phonofone II. Available for purchase at Charles & Marie.
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Not sure if this is playable or just a concept. Rad either way. Designed by Yong Jieyu & Ama Xue Hong Bin, the Phonograph CD Player consists of a disassembled CD player with the laser positioned like a classic needle tracing a wax groove. More info at Engadget.
Vuvuzela’s have been buzzing throughout World Cup and I’m only just now realizing they’re in B Flat. I always thought it was the Key of B Swarm Stinging My Eardrums and Cerebral Cortex. Worse is knowing they’re going to creep into the stands of other sporting events. Remember the Angels games and their Thundersticks? Shudder.
NEEDLESS BUT AWESOME: LOOK FOR THE VUVUZELA BUTTON ON YOUTUBE VIDEOS
