Here’s another Cornelius music video; this one’s on his Michael Jackson inspired electrobeat track, “Beep It” off of Sensurround 5.1 DVD + B sides, a collaborative effort with Tsujikawa Kochiro and Takagi Masakatsu.  Together the three produced a vibrant and sleek visual DVD accompaniment to the Cornelius’ Sensuous album that is available at the Everloving Store: CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE.

After grabbing my first copy of Cornelius’ Fantasma in ‘97, I was enthralled with the Japanese artist who sported a Beatles hair-do and had a penchant for Planet of the Apes.  After enjoying widespread success at home and abroad, Cornelius took his time in producing his recent full-length, Sensuous (on Everloving), an undeniably beautiful and restrained indietronic opus.  The video of his track, “Fit Song” comes from the collaborative effort dubbed, Sensurround.  A visual component to his latest album that includes: Tsujikawa Kochiro, (Art/design collective Groovisions) and Takagi Masakatsu.  Together they produced a vibrant and sleek visual DVD accompaniment to the album that is available at the Everloving Store.

Last month’s TV on the Radio music video deserves another spin on EM for its electrifying 80’s pop-art visuals that stimulate the retinas and a dance anthem that packs more punch in their signature sound.  Even after the umpteenth view, their hit track, “Dancing Choose” off their recent release, Dear Science (on Interscope records) never ceases to impress.  Infectious and sweat-inducing dance beats compliment Tunde Adebimpe’s powerful rap vocals and smart lyrics making this song an instant dance classic.  They are truly a godsend in the vast desert of look-alike and sound-alike indie-rock bands.  If you haven’t already, I highly recommend that you check out their live show this fall!

TOUR SCHEDULE:
10/10 - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania @ Electric Factory
10/11 - Providence, Rhode Island @ Lupos
10/13 - Boston, Massachusetts @ Wilbur Theatre
10/14 - Brooklyn, New York @ Masonic Temple
10/15 - Brooklyn, New York @ Masonic Temple
10/16 - Brooklyn, New York @ Masonic Temple
10/18 - Cincinnati, Ohio @ Bogarts
10/19 - Indianapolis, Indiana @ Vogue Theatre
10/20 - Minneapolis, Minnesota @ First Ave
10/21 - Minneapolis, Minnesota @ First Ave
10/22 - Chicago, Illinois @ Riviera
10/24 - New Orleans, Louisiana (Voodoo Festival)
10/25 - Atlanta, Georgia @ Tabernacle
10/26 - Knoxville, Tennessee @ Bijou Theatre
10/28 - Dallas, Texas @ Lakewood Theatre
10/30 - Austin, Texas @ Stubbs
10/31 - Oklahoma City, Oklahoma @ Diamond Ballroom
11/02 - Denver CO @ Ogden Theatre
11/06 - Los Angeles, California @ Wiltern

The Hammer Presents: An Evening with Michel Gondry
The Hammer Museum - Santa Monica, CA
10/21/08
***
The world would not be quite as lively and colorful, had Michel Gondry not graced us with his innovative filmmaking.  His singular dreamscape is one that is occupied by rainbow colored hues, stop-motion animation, fiber-ops and clever temporal shifts. Gondry went on to create groundbreaking music videos, feature-length films, and won the French Academy Award.  At the Hammer Museum, he will discuss with the audience his own technical and conceptual process in his new book, You’ll Like This Film Because You’re In It : The Be Kind Rewind Protocol . During the presentation, he will also be showing clips from his own films as well as homemade films from visitors to his DIY interactive installation Be Kind Rewind at Deitch Projects. For the record, Gondry has collaborated on videos with Björk, Beck, The Chemical Brothers, The White Stripes, et al. His feature lengths include Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind , The Science of Sleep , and Be Kind Rewind .

***
For more about the Hammer event, visit: http://www.hammer.ucla.edu/calendar_full_Oct_2008.htm#day2

"Dad’s Dead" is a cynical coming-of-age tale of a young boy growing up in a working-class  urban community with his best mate, the archetypal "bad seed".  The director, Chris Shepherd warps the mundane aspects of adolescence into a grey, spectral world through the use of his unique and deft blending of stop motion animation with live action .

Born in Liverpool, England, Chris Shepherd is an award-winning animated filmmaker and was for "Dad’s Dead" won 25 international awards including Best Short Film at the British Independent Film Awards and a BAFTA nomination.  He is currently in development on a feature film called Up In Heaven .

Flux and Nike Sportswear Presents Wong Kar Wai’s ASHES OF TIME REDUX
The Montalbán - Hollywood, CA
Event: 10/7/08
***
ASHES OF TIME REDUX, is Wong Kar Wai’s reworking of his epic classic. The original film is a personal favorite of mine for its groundbreaking New Wave approach to the genre of martial arts cinema with scenes awash in a flurry of vibrant colors, complete with a haunting, atmospheric storyline.  Please come out and RSVP at:  http://www.flux.net/ashesoftime/ to reserve your ticket.

In the twelve years since it was first released, the original film has achieved an almost legendary and mythic quality. Featuring a stellar roster of Asian super-stars, this film was previously unreleased in North America.

This special evening is part of Cinema Tuesdays, a new weekly series curated by Flux celebrating innovative film at The Montalbán.  RSVP is required, but does not guarantee admittance. Tickets will be distributed on a first come, first served basis.

Tuesday, October 7th, 2008
7PM - Opening Reception with special guest DJ Jun
8PM - Screening

LOCATION:
The Montalbán
1615 Vine Street
Hollywood, CA

ASHES OF TIME REDUX opens in Los Angeles theaters on October 10th.

Hammer Lecture Series Presents Hank Willis Thomas
Hammer Museum - Santa Monica, CA
Event: 10/2/08
***
On Thursday, October 2nd 2008 at 7pm, one of today’s most compelling emerging artists, Hank Willis Thomas will discuss the work in his first monograph, Pitch Blackness (Aperture), featuring his highly provocative series B®ANDED, addressing the commodification of African-American male identity. Willis Thomas holds a BFA from New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts, and an MFA in photography-along with an MA in visual criticism-from the California College of the Arts, San Francisco. His work has been shown at the Studio Museum in Harlem; Yerba Buena Center for the Arts, San Francisco; PS1, New York; and National Portrait Gallery, Washington, D.C., among other venues. He is the recipient of the first Aperture West Book Prize.

The Aperture West Collaborative Series provides lectures given by some of today’s most significant photographers. Generously supported by Freestyle Photographic.

***
For my post of his past artwork, visit:  http://evilmonito.com/2008/09/24/hank-willis-thomas/

I want to revisit this popular short of my favorite retro-kraut verbal assassins from their debut album, Transparent Things (2006).  Fujiya & Miyagi’s “Ankle Injuries” was hands down one of last year’s most innovative music video.  Wade Shotter directed this stop motion animation of multi-colored dice to recreate 80’s pixelated arcade magic featuring the understated vocals of David Best, Steve Lewis on vintage synths and Matt Hainsby on bass.

Upcoming US Fall Tour:
Oct 22 2008 MERCURY LOUNGE, NEW YORK
Oct 23 2008 WEBSTER HALL, NEW YORK
Oct 24 2008 PARADISE, BOSTON
Oct 25 2008 BOTTOM LOUNGE, CHICAGO
Oct 27 2008 CHOP SUEY, SEATTLE
Oct 28 2008 THE INDEPENDENT, SAN FRANCISCO
Oct 30 2008 THE TROUBADOUR, LOS ANGELES

***
For more on the band, visit: http://www.fujiya-miyagi.co.uk/

Check out “Western Spaghetti,” the latest short from the totally inventive animator, PES.  There are few people that’s mastered the art of stop motion quite like him.  With cleverly executed scenes that are chock-full of creative ideas, he uses household appliances and vintage novelties like the Pixie Pic Up Sticks and Kaleidoscope tube. The scenes still bring a silly grin to my face everytime I go back to watch them.  A great one to share with your friends!

Works by Jim McHale
Hollywood Center Studios - Hollywood, CA
Event: 9/27/08
***
Jim McHale is an LA-based painter who was unfortunately diagnosed with terminal cancer. At his request, his artwork will be showcased at the Hollywood Center Studios - Stage 12, courtesy of the Dream Foundation.  If you’re in town, please make it out to this touching celebration of his life and his love for art.  The show is scheduled from 3pm to 9pm.

The hardworking San Francisco duo, Dodos, had issued their first music video from off their Frenchkiss debut album, Visiter (2008). The stark simplicity of the video affords a closeup look at the flush-cheeked singer, Meric Long and his perspiring drummer, Logan Kroeber as they charm the pants off their audience with this twee-folk ballad “Fools.” A lovely track from off their latest release that is only enhanced by the personal feel of their live performance.

***
For more on Dodos upcoming tour dates, visit:  http://dodosmusic.net/

Gaelle Denis is one of my favorite up & coming animators whose body of work, although small (only three shorts under her belt), shows no lack in creative ideas and sumptuous color imagery.  Born in France, she decided to move to London in 2000 to study at the Royal College of Art and found her calling in life. Denis, animated and directed “Fish Never Sleep” about Naoko, a young sushi chef troubled with insomnia.  The film garnered the 2002 BAFTA award in the Short Animation category.

As Hank Willis Thomas cleverly co-opts logos and the techniques of popular ad campaigns, he constructs powerful images that critique consumption with the same force as that of Barbara Kruger’s.   Using a different lens in his approach, his artwork zeroes in on the complex relationship between the branding culture in America and the identity of the Black middle class .

At the turn of the last century, branding became a symbol of empowerment within black college fraternities. More or less, Thomas viewed this trend as Blacks reappropriating the way slaves were branded during the plantation era of the South; only now branding serves as a permanent signifier of loyalty and brotherhood, as well as a way of identifying black youths who were able to gain higher education and social mobility.  Yet for better or for worse, sports affiliation and hyper-consumption become a paradoxical symbol of both the status they aspire for and the cultural stereotypes they eschew.

In Thomas’ art series B®ANDED, he intersects the history of the slave trade with the world of advertising.  He blends these two elements in his experimental photography to such great visceral heights that it bristles the hair on the back of my neck.  A masterful exposé on the underlying schism between commodity and race.  He lifts the emerald curtains on a seemingly harmonious relationship, revealing a contradictory paradigm of identity and image.  Thomas is a brilliant and fierce force to be reckoned with in the world of fine art.  If you live in Seattle, you can hear him speak on behalf of the Aperture West Collaborative Lecture Series on Wednesday, October 1, 2008.

LOCATION:
Henry Art Gallery
4100 15th Ave. N.E.
Seattle, WA 98195
Starts at: 7:00 PM

BIO ON THE ARTIST:
Thomas’ work was featured in the exhibition and accompanying catalogue, 25 under 25: Up-and-Coming American Photographers, was raised in New York.  He received his BFA from New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts and went on to earn an MFA in Photography and an MA in Visual Criticism from the California College of the Arts in San Francisco.

Thomas has exhibited in galleries and museums throughout the US and abroad, including the Studio Museum in Harlem, the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts, the Wadsworth Atheneum, the Jamaica Center for Arts and Learning, Artists Space, the Leica Gallery, Texas Women’s University, the Oakland Museum, the Smithsonian, the Anacostia Museum, the Bronfman Center for Jewish Life, the National Museum of American History, and the National Portrait Gallery, among others.

His photographs have been featured in a number of books and publications, including Reflections in Black: A History of African American Photographers , Friendship, Black: A Celebration of a Culture , and The Spirit of a Family , by Al and Tipper Gore.

I just received a care package from Hellz Bellz containing two signature tees and a pair of their premium skinny jeans with stud detail and accent strap.  The LA-based brand etched out a unique niche within the streetwear scene that provides women with an alternative apparel that is both fresh and sexy.  Check out Hellz Bellz’s new collection and shop online at:  http://hellz-bellz.com/

Inventive. Bizarre.  Mind-warping.  Watch as the innovative mural artist, Blu, creates his own "wall animation" using the gritty urban landscape of Latin America.  You’ll witness a surreal landscape populated by maniacal humanoids eating, dissecting and duplicating themselves using the infinite possibilities of the imagination.  If this piques your interest, then drop by the screening of the documentary, MEGUNICA , premiering at Nike’s Sportswear theatre, The Montalbán located in Hollywood, CA.  To get a ticket, RSVP at:  http://www.flux.net/megunica/ .