As I’m walking by Bryce’s desk yesterday I noticed his mouse was covered in modeling clay and grippy rubber. I wonder to myself if he is trying to develop an innovative mouse structure, or was experimenting with turning the mouse into a toy of some sorts. (Bryce really likes his toys.) But then it dawned on me what was going on… (more…)

The Black Angels are back with another album full of siren songs. Murky, tripped-out rock that will lure us back into captivity with its haunting, yet meditative discordant jams not unlike their first release Passover.

Still nodding heavy homage to their psychedelic, garage rock, and drone punk influences such as The Velvet Underground, The Doors, 13th Floor Elevators, Joy Division, The Jesus & Mary Chain, and Syd Barrett, they still remain modern sounding for today’s young ears.

The story behind this sophomore release is that while recording the album, the Black Angels lived in an old haunted mansion in Austin, TX and are claiming to have seen a girl frequently walking the mansion at night robed in a red dress, resulting in the inspiration for the album’s title, Directions to See a Ghost. It would also seem that it influenced the darker mood it evokes.

Though a tad on the ominous side, it is still an album full of multi-layered chords, smoky echoing vocals, vibrating noises, guitar fuzz that thrums like electricity under the skin and steady tempo’s pulsing back and forth like a slithering snake that sets one adrift in uncharted seas where the undertows are ones of pure Epicurean delight.

The songs are epic even when under five minutes, cascading within walls of golden sound as if moving languidly through honey, or reminiscent of adagio kisses in the dark with pulsing goose-flesh shivering against warm flesh, one side with a five-o-clock shadow; definitely music one can union to, eyes darkened with smoldering passion.

After listening from start to finish, I twitch with the silence hailing the end, leaving me with a feeling much like waking up unsure of where I am until my eyes land on a midnight sylvan scene rendered in acrylic paint on black velvet, the jarring fluorescent highlights of the moon’s glow cast on bark and rippling river water, bringing me back to the present. Or am I still lost in dreaming?

Album release date May 13th.

For a lot of my letterpress printing I have polymer plates made through Boxcar Press so I can use modern day typefaces & custom illustration. This past week I just finished designing an upcoming Dept. of Energy promo poster in which I needed a pretty big plate made. On my invoice, I found notes for something new they are doing this year for orders over $100. I have to say, I really like this idea by a company as a way to make a greener world. By knowing I am using earth friendly inks, all natural cleaning solvents, all cotton paper, and having a tree planted in her name while making posters on an old steel press, it sure makes a designer gal feel real good.

Oh, and keep an eye on the Skip Report for a future glimpse of the poster being made & as a final in the upcoming weeks.

Sharing is caring, and what better way to show you care then by sharing some tunes you’ve been listening to. Muxtape is an online music sharing site that acts a little differently than some of the other players in the game. Users register and are granted a URL based on their username. Each user can upload up to 12 mp3s to have as their “muxtape.” Friends can then subscribe to each others muxtapes via RSS and always see when their friends upload new music that they’re interested in.

Check out an example of a muxtape I made

Most people have heard of Mr. Snoop Dogg. When asked about Mr. Dogg, people say “he’s a rapper right? he’s that tall skinny rapper guy.” These things are true. Snoop has been on top of the “rap game” for the past 16 years with no shortage of rap music hits along the way. I would even go as far as to say that I really like Snoop Dogg’s music, hell I might even say I love it! So when Mr. Dee Oh Double G put out a new album I had to check it out.

After listening I have this to say. Most of the album rules! It’s much more consistently interesting than most Top 40 hip hop records that are generally limited to one or two singles and 13 tracks of filler, 4 tracks that are skits, and an intro. Snoop keeps it going! I was sitting, working, and grooving to this record at work when all of a sudden something changed, I almost spilled my coffee. I couldn’t believe what I was hearing.

Snoop was dedicating a song to Johnny Cash, who was, as Snoop put it, “a real American gangsta.” Then Snoop launches into a FULL ON COUNTRY SONG. For real. It never turns into rap, it’s just a country song. By Snoop Dogg.

Whoa.

Loving to give gifts to my favorite people, I’m always on the lookout for treats that will be unique to the recipient. Here’s one that I LOVE! Old School Pinup’s Photography based in North Seattle. Not only is it a unique idea for a gift, but it’s personalized with YOU.

Plus you’ll have a fun day making this gift, getting to dress up in a vintage outfit of your choice, on one of their many retro sets.

Lane, a burlesque teacher and hair & makeup artist, exposes your inner vixen; her husband Wagner, a longtime commercial photographer, uses soft lighting to show you at your best. What a perfect formula for a gorgeous memento of you! (You may want to make sure you get a copy for yourself!)

And no worries men, you can get in on the fun as well, and surprise your lady with you as the 50’s hero of a romantic pulp magazine cover, a scantily clad God of his own Tiki Land (hey, we ladies enjoy you with few clothes on, being seductive as well!) , or a WWII captain longing for his gal.

A grand time you and your doll will always remember. And the best part-this won’t set your bank account back to the 50’s either. An afternoon session with one set is only $250! Add a second outfit and set for only $100 more. Now bookmark this idea to impress!

If you have ever swung by to visit us, you may have heard the sound of “ting”, “ting”, “whap”, “thunk” & “pop” as we let off some steam while playing Ping Pong. It’s a complete passion for most of the peeps here. A passion almost as great as the creative passion they give forth each day.

Imagine how stoked they were when the opportunity presented itself to merge the two passions together-to custom design & build a table for the upcoming Ping Pong tourney to be held inside the YARD at this years SIA show.

Today all the creative work & hand-crafting came together when it was fully assembled for the first time-(to moments later be taken apart & thrown into a crate to make its way to Las Vegas). Here are just a few teaser images. We’ll show her off in all of her complete glory next week from the road. Check back!