new track

almost 8 minutes and I'm loving it.

the restrained record.

https://i1.sndcdn.com/artworks-000074084942-7wu00o-large.jpg?e76cf77

Starting today, Tower Defense is releasing their first full-length album for free - for a limited time. It's a helluva deal too because Mind The Menagerie is great. I've known the band for some time and I'm pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoy the album. The ten tracks of 'The ____' songs remind me of a few late 90's post-rock pop-rock weird-label bands like Q and Not U or Faraquet. However, any description I attempt to give is going to sound overwrought. Such as, how much I love the combination of upbeat danciness with something darker creeping underneath. Listen to "The Lottery", "The Actor" or "The Register" to get an idea of what I'm talking about. Maybe it's just a trick by the double bass parts but I choose to believe it's an intentional vibe.

Occasionally the Internet serves up a little treat that's hard to show your full appreciation for. The latest installment of that greatness is GIF DANCE PARTY. Just load it up, enjoy and Thank the Internet for everything it gives us.

HT Ezra.

Take some time to read this excellent Klosterman essay on Why AMC's Breaking Bad beats Mad Men, The Sopranos, and The Wire.. The title is a bit incinderary but it's also meant to be subjective. It says nothing bad about the other three series in the title but aims to make a point as to why Walter White's tale is more engaging.

Yet there's one profound difference between this series and the other three, and it has to do with its handling of morality: Breaking Bad is the only one built on the uncomfortable premise that there's an irrefutable difference between what's right and what's wrong, and it's the only one where the characters have real control over how they choose to live.

The argument continues from there. It's a quick read but a highly satisfying one.

While I do agree with the majority of the reading, it's worth noting that the way a show wraps itself up can make a world of difference. Fortunately, I've no doubt that Vince Gilligan and his talented staff will take their Breaking Bad story to exactly the right point of closure.

So, late last week, one of Nashville's local, free, city papers closed their doors. Simply put, they didn't generate enough revenue from advertising to keep operating. Such a tale is likely more and more common across the nation. On their way out, The City Paper, released a cover story on Why Nashville Needs Newspapers - a long piece that really isn't about Nashville but journalism as a whole. It is, obviously, a bit sad to read an Editor's final plea but it's also an excellent reminder of the core tenants of why we need people dedicated to keeping an eye on government, informing a community and doing-so without bias. Just throw it in your Read Later - it's a great one to have rolling around in that noggin.

stonesthrow

such a great album. expect to hear more about this.

with the music industry bubble bursting, its hard to rationalize the big expense

a music video animated with content from the Tumblr API. Different every time. Pretty damn cool.

We did it! Another week tackled and successfully conquered! This weeks playlist may not have a long run time but it's quality... imo. Let's get to it.

• Everything Is Festival - Everything Is Terrible and CineFamily team up for a festival of the absurd. The trailer is nothing short of amazing.
• Her - the new movie trailer for Spike Jonze's upcoming creation with Joaquin Phoenix. It looks sci-fi but also completely plausible. Also, emotionally devastating.
• Woman Fails Driving Test - very quickly and very very horribly. via.
• Sex Your Food: Mac and Cheese - very helpful tutorial on how you can properly and efficiently sex your food. A skill we could all improve upon.
• Jonathan Ive iOS 7 Color Inspiration - simple.
• Eminem - Mom's Spaghetti (Remix) - this is such a stupid joke but it works and I enjoy it.

There's more to see if you need it, particularly this. Have a great weekend!

a new supergroup featuring members of Roxy Music, the Smiths, Suede, and Supergrass

Wigolia is a recently launched project that proposes to teach artistic, creative, classes to whomever is interested. It is, essentially, online education with a bend towards artistic essentials - Drawing Basics, Tools, Line Manipulation and Shapes. Basic topics but important essentials to build from.

Scott Robus does an awesome job of educating, entertaining and informing. I have taken art classes since they were available to me - middle school, high school, college - and I still found the lessons to be engaging and full of new information. Even if you're an expert, a review never hurts.

Long story short, Wigolia is only recently launched but it's already full of quality content and has a huge promise for plenty more to come. Watch the first lesson free!

I can't say I even begin to understand the icon choice for the recently released Subtle Patterns Photoshop Plugin but the price point of $12, at least 300 available patterns, direct Photoshop integration and free online updates really can't be beat. I plan on buying it just to support software this well executed!

We welcome you now We are Spaghetti Warehouse

Cinefamily

This past weekend, Kickstarter held their third annual Film Festival in Brooklyn. It was a great showcase of a variety of films and projects that have all been successfully crowdfunded. It was a good time but, obviously, limited to just those that were able to attend.

Fortunately, to solve that problem, Kickstarter teamed up with VHX to create an online version of the festival with about an hours worth of selections from the festival. While everything in the roundup is quite engaging (I suggest watching it all), I must highly suggest looking at Mr. Grillo: The Thereminist, Blank and Blank with Larry King and 12 O'Clock Boys.

Super happy to have teamed up with Kickstarter and showcase a legitimately entertaining event.

Loving this project from Christoffer Hedborg, Eleven. It's a collaborative project with Datahowler and, conceptually, is a exploration of space. This Venus Patrol article gives a nice overview of what is known of the project.. which is very little. Frankly, I'm just intrigued by the look of it and seeing more games emerge like Journey - a explorative experience rather than a direct goal oriented linear story. Maybe that's not even what it is but I'm curious!