dEUS: Vantage Point

Legendary Belgian underground band dEUS have released a new album entitled “Vantage Point”. Featured above is their newest single “The Architect”. Quite the groove! — in an 80s Duran Duran sort of way.

Contrast this with what I consider to be one of their best songs ever, “Nothing Really Ends”:

… or perhaps their Best Song Ever is this one, “Suds & Soda”:

That skinny guy holding hands with Tom Barman while repeatedly chanting “Friday!” is Stef Kamil Karlens, now part of Zita Swoon. Compare:

Incidentally, dEUS lead singer Tom Barman is the author/director of a film called “Any Way The Wind Blows”. Do ask for it at your local DVD rental — it is a gem… Opening sequence:

Update: be sure to check out the official dEUS channel @YouTube for more video! (Ya know, before I get another C&D letter! I kid, I kid!)

Dig, Lazarus, Dig!!!

Dig, Lazarus, Dig!!!

Australian sneer-rock vets Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds have come out with their 14th studio LP entitled, Dig, Lazarus, Dig!!! Though there’s no tracklist info just yet, the album’s artwork is provided by British artists Tim Noble and Sue Webster. The disc was released in the UK on March 3 on Anti- (a U.S. release is due in the spring, though a date isn’t set yet).

Dig, Lazarus, Dig!!! is the first single from the album of the same name.

Culture Jamming 101: ShopDropping

Shopdropping is a tactic used by artists and activists to clandestinely place altered or recreated objects into retail stores. Handmade labels were printed out for students to color, cut, and paste. The project featured real people who make the products, their name, and sometimes even a story. The intent is to reconnect the labor with the product.

Though their aim seems noble, I can’t help but think these people could be doing something somewhat more constructive towards actually changing the corporate environment for the better.

You be the judge.

New Sins

Meanwhile, here’s what Pope “Look into my eyes, look into the center of my eyes” Benny and his crazy boys over at the Apostolic Penitentiary have been up to:

Thou shall not pollute the Earth. Thou shall beware genetic manipulation. Modern times bring with them modern sins. So the Vatican has told the faithful that they should be aware of “new” sins such as causing environmental blight.

Catholics. Italians. Waste management.

Which reminds me we’ve been holding a Sopranos marathon at Barry Towers, late to the party as ever. Pure brilliance! Aah, the inimitable James Gandolfini — although this guy gets pretty close