The Winter According to Doug

I was on the train this morning while the snow was falling and got a little inspired. I wanted to capture my thoughts about the last day of the decade, so here you are (with love and a download link)...You must listen to it in the order below, each track is numbered as such.

ii lloovvee jj

From Stereogum:
jj nº 3 Out In March On Secretly Canadian • Enigmatic Swedish crew jj has signed with SC (in conjunction with Scandinavian home Sincerely Yours) for its followup to the acclaimed jj nº 2. nº 3's out 3/9 stateside, two weeks before jj's first US tour (with the xx, because duh) starts. SXSW warm-up gigs look likely.

This is great news. One of my favorite new sounds of the year has a follow-up. This just proves that Sweden and the Sincerely Yours imprint produce the best pop music of the moment. Let's pray for an Air France/Tough Alliance/jj/Memory Tapes tour in 2010. 

Best of Sketchy Santas

What makes me laugh, pt. 1: Kristen Wiig

She has me in tears within :05 seconds <3

Great photographer of then and now

Sandy Skoglund is simply one of the best multimedia artists out there. My art teacher in high school introduced me to her photorealistic installations and photography, starting the with the iconic Revenge of the Goldfish (used as the cover for the Inspiral Carpets album of the same name). The artist has this way of capturing a demented realism via colorful mixtures of sculpture, humans, nature, and photography that I have seen no other artist do. Before Photoshop, she physically manipulated her space to accomodate the situation and the resulting image. She captures temporality like no other and each installation could be photographed an infinite number of ways. That is genius.

Me + roommate laugh for you

Bee-you-tea-full visuals

Lotus Plaza - These Years from elephant parade. on Vimeo.

Deerhunter - VHS Dream from elephant parade. on Vimeo.

Mandelbrot Fractal Set Trip To Burial from teamfresh on Vimeo.
Lost in Translation - Sometimes by My Bloody Valentine from sam on Vimeo.


Aphex Twin - ON from hhtechno on Vimeo.

My ghostly encounter(s)

I captured the below pictures at Antietam National Battlefield, in front of the historic Sherrick House. The figure is in the farthest right window on the first floor. Below is original, a zoomed in portion of the window, then a filtered one I made in Photoshop. I think it's a woman in a gown. Save the first picture and zoom in for a better look. I didn't notice until after I uploaded the picture to my computer. However, I had actually witnessed an orb with my friend in the Battlefield that resembled the ones in the last 2 pictures (taken the same night at the same house). Are you a believer? I sure as hell am.

Dear Midlake,

You helped me get through the crappy Long Island winters. You should be on The Last Unicorn soundtrack. I need you to play NYC. I love your new songs. Why isn't The Trials of Van Occupanther on vinyl? Please collaborate with Grizzly Bear. 

With love,
Doug + friends

Watch all 10 videos from Van Occupanther:

Life Magazine's Civil War photos...astounding

I was born and raised in historic Hagerstown, Maryland. I am proud to be from a place deeply rooted in the American Civil War past and tinged in gothic charm. Growing up there was boring at times, but everything is filled with a history that is captivating to come back to even if it is amidst local yokels. My friends and I drove around...a lot. I have frequented Antietam National Battlefield many times and have even seen and photographed ghosts there. At merely 148 years ago, this turning point in America proved to be the bloodiest moment in it's short history with 620,000 soldiers dead (without the account of civilians and slaves).  Here are some beautiful and slightly disturbing scenes from the first photographed war, via Life Magazine, on Google. Everyone should view these.

Duvall and the Dogman

After watching The Shining yesterday, I realize that Shelley Duvall was brilliantly pitiful both on and off the set. I really felt bad for her lanky persona throughout. Supposedly she took this part while halfway through a stress breakdown and she is now remembered as this "attention-seeking hypochondriac diva" that neurotic Stanley Kubrick whipped into form. Well Shell, you had me fooled and the Making-Of featurette documenting your breakdowns solidified your role as Wendy Torrance both on and off the set. I would buy you a pack of cigarettes if I saw you on the street.

Another thing:

When Wendy is running alone through the hotel and sees the guy in dog mask giving felash to the creepy older man. What is going on here and why is it traumatic, you ask? Upon further fanboy research, I have discovered (thanks to the IMDb messageboard topic):

1. According to King's novel, the man in the tuxedo is a multimillionaire playboy by the name of Harry Derwent and the figure in the dog suit is his male lover.
2. The scene highlights the power structures of the hotel.
3. The scene neatly encapsulates all the film's themes of victimization, dominance, subservience and duty. 
4. Being as it is Wendy who witnesses the scene, the scene seems to highlight her subconscious fears. IE- sex without women (Jack no longer sees her as a "sperm bank". She no longer registers as his "duty" to please).
5. "Get it up!" the drunken dogman cried out from around the corner. His voice was both violent and despairing. "Get it up, Harry you bitch-bastard! I don't care how many casinos and airlines and movie companies you own! I know what you like in the privacy of your own h-home! Get it up! I'll huff... and I'll puff ... until Harry Derwent's all bloowwwwn down!" He ended with a long, chilling howl that seemed to turn into a scream of rage and pain just before it dwindled off. (page 228, chapter 41 "Daylight")The fact that Jack is the one that says this line in the movie is very important. It's quite an obvious clue to a major reversal that Stanley Kubrick made to Stephen King's novel.  

Lastly,

A kiss can be even deadlier if you mean it...

Today is dedicated to Michelle Pfeifer in the criminally-underrated Batman Returns. Below is perhaps the most erotic scene in Batman history. I saw this movie in theaters in 1992 when I had chicken pox and it has resonated with me ever since. Plus Siouxsie and the Banshees sing the theme song. Me-fucking-ow.

Pacific Ocean Blues (with Dave)

Let's talk about Panda Bear

Or just watch and listen and be consumed by his genius. Can't wait to see Animal Collective spin at the Natural History Museum next month.

New York from the sky

The first time I'd seen New York from a plane. I was listening to Air's "Universal Traveler." From apparent to abstract.

I miss Flora and Fauna...fuck you Merriweather

I live in the concrete jungle and there are things I miss. In short, I love you Nature and I can't wait to do you with my eyes. You bring out the animal in me...

Here is a beautiful tribute to transcendental auteur Terrence Malick from The Thin Red Line and The New World:

Tribute to Terrence Malick from Tom @ Timescapes on Vimeo.

The glacial beauty of Iceland via Sigur Rós:

Sigur Rós - Sæglópur from Sigur Rós on Vimeo.

Sigur Rós - Gobbledigook from Sigur Rós on Vimeo.
Sigur Rós - Glósóli from Sigur Rós on Vimeo.


The nostalgia of nature through the sounds of Bibio are quite a gorgeous couple:

Bibio - Mr. & Mrs. Compost from Mush Records on Vimeo.

Bibio - Torn Under The Window Light from Mush Records on Vimeo.

Bibio - Top Soil from Mush Records on Vimeo.

Merry Xmas from ex-Grandaddy bro Jason Lytle

"It is approximately Christmas 2009, and I am letting whoever you are know that I have a gift for you, if you want it.

I set up some microphones in my living room and recorded about 35 minutes of improvisational piano music, and...It just so happens that playing my piano at home is one of my favorite things to do (in terms of music) so it was nice to be able to capture some of these moments of me just playing aimlessly and relaxed.

So....in appreciation to those of you who bought my album this year, or came to the shows, or donated money to help my sister, or even to those of you who did none of those things....here is a gift from me.

I hope you all had a good year and that next year will be even better!"

-Jason

You can listen and download the seven songs by clicking here.

Chillwave and new Balaeric beatz

Balearic Beat, or Chillwave, has overwhelmed my ears for the past 2 years. There is a great new "wave" of musicians employing this tropical-noise-meets-electronic bliss and it seems we cannot get enough. Groups/musicians include the likes of Air France, jj, boat club, Washed Out, Universal Studios Florida, Neon Indian, Toro y Moi, and Memory Tapes/Memory Cassette/Weird Tapes. They all employ an atmosphere rather than force a derivative pretense on the listener, escapism at its finest. A simple formula yields strong results: beach + emotions x haze / spot-on production = chillwave. And it's way less serious than shoegaze. Some mp3's for ya'll:

St. Etienne - Spring (Air France remix)
Washed Out - You'll See It
boat club - Warmer Climes
Memory Tapes - Bicycle

Sometimes work leads to the below

My coworker and I started a little collage on my board a few months ago that has blossomed into this beauty (it has since become larger):

Since we got many of them from Dlisted, I insisted on writing to Michael K., the creator. He may be one of the most hilarious writers on the internet. His response:

This is beyond hot. If I could, I would wallpaper my entire apartment with only that shit. Even the toilet. Well, especially the toilet.

It's beautiful and thank your co-workers for me!

xomichael

Mission: Accomplished.

**UPDATED: new additions**

"I'm a filmmaker, which is why I will never make a movie on tape"

I decided it was in my best interest last night to watch Boogie Nights. I find this film pretty flawless in terms of cinematography, acting, story, and music. I don't even think I need to touch upon Burt Reynolds, Julianne Moore, or PSH since much has been written about them. P.T. assumed his prodigal status in Hollywood at the ripe age of 27, which leads me to the question: "What the fuck are we doing?". I don't think anyone in my peer group knows right now, but we will all catch a break like Eddie and P.T. Anderson...hopefully. In the words of Eddie Adams, "You don't know what I can do, what I'm gonna do, or what I'm gonna be! I'm good! I have good things and you don't know about! I'm gonna be something! I am! And don't fucking tell me I'm not." Follow Mr. Dirk Diggler on Twitter @MrDirkDigglerr. My ranking of Mr. Anderson's films:
1) Boogie Nights
2) There Will Be Blood
3) Magnolia
4) Punch-Drunk Love

Here are some clips to salivate over:

If you wish to make an apple pie from scratch, you must first invent the universe

This is like The Books had sex with science. Win.

Surfin' / Body in the Water: Memory Cassette

My favorite 3-alias artist of the year. Here is a great new interview with him over at The Pedestrian.

SURFIN'/BODY IN THE WATER-MEMORY CASSETTE from PAT VAMOS on Vimeo.

Jones Beach in winter, by me

I should probably take more pictures.

Semi-disturbing film sequences

In the case that you have trouble sleeping, these should not help.