Video Time

Here's a new video from one of my favorite new bands of last year.

Dilla Doc

Okayplayer posted this short documentary about J Dilla a few days ago. It includes interviews with J. Rocc, Peanut Butter Wolf, Mayer Hawthorne, and more.

Stussy - J Dilla Documentary Prt3 (of 3) from Stussy on Vimeo.

You know, I'd really like to hear that original version of Donuts. I truly believe that that album is a feat of amazing skill and beauty. It's not just a beat tape but a collage of ideas, all realized in an interesting way. I don't think it's that far off from classic era Guided By Voices or Sebadoh in creating lo-fi, collage-like music that packs a lot of good music in as short a time as possible. To hear it as Dilla intended (a condensed, even more collaged recording) would be amazing.

One thing I didn't know about Dilla before this video was that he sampled Stereolab for Busta. The production is really good, even if Busta is lackluster.

And here's the song Dilla sampled:
Stereolab-Come and Play In the Milky Night

2010 just got a little less Tyra

Hey, guys.
Sorry I haven't posted in a while. School/the holidays/laziness got in the way. I hope to start posting more soon. You know, before I inevitably stop posting again. If you miss me, I am on Twitter. I post music, videos, etc. like you'd get here. So there's that...

One thing I can't let pass by without comment is the cancellation of Tyra Bank's talk show. The Tyra show provided an amazing number of insane television moments over its run. It truly was gonzo daytime television at its best. Below is my favorite Tyra moment. The Tyra show will be missed.
Goodnight my sweet princess.


James Brown- Goodbye My Love
P.S. Buzzfeed has a great collection of clips and pictures that really shows just how insane and misguided the show is/was.
P.P.S. I still don't care that Oprah's going off the air.

Here's some stuff guys

(via My Parents Were Awesome)

I've been listening to Destroyer's new EP Bay of Pigs a whole lot. The title track is unbelievably gorgeous. The song is very long so I'm not going to post it, but here's a video of it.

Destroyer - Bay of Pigs
Uploaded by 0take99. - Music videos, artist interviews, concerts and more.

These are my three favorite Lamebook entries. It's amazing just what people think is appropriate for a public forum.
1
2
3






















This is from the the flickr pool. What I Wore Today. Every day, people draw pictures of what they wore. I guess I didn't need to explain it. It's a pretty cool thing I think.

This week on SNL, newcomer Jenny Slate performed in a skit she wrote. This is noteworthy because not only is it hard for new cast members to get sketches on the show but it is actually funny, which isn't the case for a lot of what gets put on that show.
Oh, also Miss Slate accidentally dropped an "f-bomb" during the sketch. Oops. Some people have noticed that.

Also in SNL news, Michaela Watkins is no longer on the show. That is disappointing.

Finally, here's an interesting article on symbolism in logos. It's cooler than I'm letting on.

Mr. Tom Waits Everybody

Frank's Wild Years- Tom Waits
Blind Love- Tom Waits
Table Top Joe- Tom Waits

a small bonus:
Christmas Card From A Hooker In Minneapolis- Neko Case

I Am Still Me

Then Anthony, as if from a shrine, came forth initiated in the mysteries and filled with the Spirit of God. For the first time he was seen outside the fort by those who came to see him. And they, when they saw him, wondered at the sight, for he had the same habit of body as before, and was neither fat, like a man without exercise, nor lean from fasting and striving with the demons, but he was just the same as they had known him before his withdrawal.

from Athanasius's Life of Saint Anthony

Simon Smith is One Lucky Boy, Maybe

Comedy is something you do with your body

Here are two examples of funny things.
Fig. 1 "Intervention Intervention" starring Fred Armisen

Intervention Intervention with Fred Armisen from Fred Armisen

Fig. 2 "Opening monolouge from July 21, 2009" by Craig Ferguson


Here is an example of something that isn't funny.
Fig. 1 "Joke about Vanessa Hudgens" by Dane Cook


Are there any questions?

This Was Made By Adults

What kind of world do we live in where two supposedly functioning professionals make something like this? The Suckman Cometh.

Michael and Michael Have Issues

I was too young to see MTV's sketch comedy show The State, but since it just came out on DVD, maybe I'll rectify that. However, I was old enough to watch and appreciate the work of Stella and Reno 911, two shows made up of State alumni as well as their movie, Wet Hot American Summer. Stella members Michael Ian Black and Michael Showalter, minus third Stella member (and my personal favorite, David Wain) have a new show on Comedy Central called Michael and Michael Have Issues.

Michael & Michael Have Issues	Premieres Wed, July 15, 10:30pm / 9:30c
The Farting Butterfly Sketch
www.comedycentral.com
Joke of the Day Stand-Up Comedy Free Online Games

MMHI is a sketch comedy show with a narrative framework. That narrative framework is the behind the scenes adventures of a sketch comedy show called Michael and Michael Have Issues. The actual sketches on the show are shown from the show within the show and at times during episodes Michael and Michael address the live audience of the show within the show.

Last night, the second episode premiered and it was pretty good. So was the first episode. The show is pretty heavy on the behind the scenes stuff but it's just as funny as any of the real sketches. The comedy style is a little different from Stella, as Black and Showalter do not attempt to get laughs from poor acting and use less conceptual jokes.
This is the begining of episode two.

Michael & Michael Have Issues	Premieres Wed, July 15, 10:30pm / 9:30c
Preview - Biederman's Birthday Present
www.comedycentral.com
Joke of the Day Stand-Up Comedy Free Online Games

I think Michael and Michael has a lot of promise. However, not every piece is excellent. One of the big sketches this week, Gift Giving through History, was kind of meh while the other, Bill the Quiet Weatherman, was really good. The narrative plots are also amusing, though none of the jokes from those sections of the show have made me laugh very hard. MMHI still has five more episodes left in its first season and I have high hopes for it.
Michael and Michael airs on Comedy Central Wednesdays at 10:30 p.m. Black twitters here and Showalter twitters here.

Rufus Wainwright Documentary

The BBC produced a documentary about Rufus Wainwright and his new opera Prima Donna. Wainwright's music is full of clear, soaring melodies that seem just as suited for opera as they are for pop music.

New Old Kanye West Video

This is a video for Kanye West's "Two Words" from The College Dropout. West says the video was never aired on TV because of it was modeled to resemble the closing of a TV show.

Eff Yes!

The Spike Jonze Where the Wild Things Are adaptation has had a troubled and well documented production, but it finally has a trailer, which means it is for real coming out! The fact that it looks awesome is great news as well. View the trailer (and download it for your iPod to show random strangers on the street) here.

Also, I want to share with you King Khan and the Shrines. King Khan is a real wild thing (see what I did there?) who plays a Velvet Underground and James Brown influenced garage-soul that is totally rad and infectious. There last album came out in Germany a few years ago and it's finally getting an American release pretty soon. I saw these guys live a little bit ago and they were absolutely phenomenal. Here's some songs:
I Wanna Be a Girl- this is my very favorite song on the album. It's kind of an anthem for guys who really really admire women.
Welfare Bread- Another great song. Khan wants you to chill out and relax. The government's going to take care of everything.
69 Faces of Love- This is a love song. This is a love song? It sure is pretty, and a little swoony even. Khan even works in some real '60s-styled psychedelia for good measure.

Family Fun Video Time

Family Fun Video Time is a feature here at The Art Retard where I post two videos that are so for the kids. So gather the family around the computer and push play.

Greetings everyone! And welcome to another installment of Family Fun Video Time, the Art Retard feature that is totally for the children, much like the Wu-Tang Clan. In this edition, we'll be looking at two video that have to do with having fun and playing around with your friends.

The first video is a trailer for a new movie by Sal Lupo that looks like it's going to be the big family blockbuster event of the year. Pop some popcorn, get some Kool-Aid Jammers, and push the happy sideways triangle!

Doesn't that just look heartwarming?
Our next video is about brothers and sisters and jealousy. Have you ever been jealous of your sibling? It's normal to feel jealous when others get the attention we seek, but it's important not to act out and lash out in anger. This video deals with a constructive way for you to let out your frustration with no longer being the center of attention.

Well I hope everyone enjoyed this week's Family Fun Video Time. Be sure to come around next week for more wholesome stories of love and friendship. In the meantime, have some great adventures!

Family Fun Video Time

Family Fun Video Time is a feature here at The Art Retard where I post two videos that are so for the kids. So gather the family around the computer and push play.

This video has been one of the top memes of 2008 and is terrifying/hilarious. It's a video about a touching moment between a young girl and her grandfather. Family values!

I'm crying!
The next video:
This video is about justice! And physics! Also, it is history on the internet.

Have a great day!

Seriously Awesome

Rivers Cuomo of Weezer covers what is probably the best song about teenage racing ever, with an a capella group.

"Don't Worry Baby" is Brian Wilson showing Phil Spector what's up-- all swooning teenage love, tight harmonies, and wall of sound. Pretty much whenever vintage Brian Wilson sang a high note, someone somewhere would cry for joy.
The Beach Boys- Don't Worry Baby

I Don't Know What These Are

but they're great.

What's That?

It's of Montreal on Letterman!

Pretty swank I'd say, if we weren't comunicating through letters.

Some Stuff

Wu-Tang Clan are playing Plush in Jacksonville on January 14.
Wu-Tang Clan- C.R.E.A.M.
Morrissey is playing the Florida Theatre in Jacksonville on March 3.
Morrissey- First of the Gang to Die
Pretty exciting!

Here's a for no reason video of Jorma Taccone (of the Lonely Island and the SNL Digital Shorts) dancing to the Arcade Fire in front of... the Arcade Fire:

New Stuff!!

Haven't posted in a few days.
I'm really sorry about that.
Not really though.

******

Guess what!
The Office's Mindy Kaling is in a new web series called "House Poor" where she tries to fill her new house with free stuff. Here's the first (and so far only) episode:

Wasn't that just swell?
Anyway, Kaling also has a shopping blog that at least one of you will enjoy. Scope that thing here.
I'm going to write more stuff soon maybe.