Far far away in a little town called Lubbock there lives a man with a gift – Dirk Fowler. With the help of his wife Carol, they started F2-Design, and have been making prints and posters for years, and with moderate success. I was first introduced to Dirk’s work through his posters he made for KTXT shows, and long after its shutdown he continues to lend his hand via promotional posters all over the world for high-profile concerts, internationally known events like SXSW, and albums for well-known musicians. I invite you to check out Dirk’s site and browse the creations he makes when he’s not being an art professor at Texas Tech and an all-around awesome guy. You can even purchase a few if you like (if they’re not sold out – that happens a lot). After the jump are my ten favorites – what are yours?
Today I continue my ongoing feature showcasing my personal picks for the best songs of the past decade, posting ten songs at a time.
210. The Go! Team – Universal Speech
Cheerleader chanting, party-inducing raps, and cheeky melodies made the Go! Team an indie rock sensation right around the time I entered college in 2005. This rarely-referenced album track from the sophomore effort Proof of Youth is one of my personal favorites. I’m pretty sure it’s that infectious drum beat at the beginning and the way it glides along with that piano line. It’s a surefire way to get sampled in hip-hop in the future, that’s for sure.
Today I continue my ten-part series showcasing my personal picks for the best songs of last year.
20. Kid Sister – Right Hand Hi
We waited a long time for Ultraviolet, and it was worth it. Sure, most of the tracks had been previously heard (thank you Internet), but having them all in one cohesive package made for a pretty stellar dance mixtape. Not to mention it began with this banger, an ode to “stackin’ money and drinkin’ all night.” How could you not get that hand up high?
Today I continue my ongoing feature showcasing my personal picks for the best songs of the past decade, posting ten songs at a time.
220. Eisley – Marvelous Things
The Tyler, Texas quintet has remained active over the years, but it was this song, played late night on MTV2, that made me fall in love with their soft take on indie pop. It’s infectious, laid-back, and a perfect introduction to the band.
Today I continue my ten-part series showcasing my personal picks for the best songs of last year.
30. Magic Kids – Hey Boy
San Francisco has churned out some pretty awesome music as of late, and the 50’s-esque Magic Kids are too fun to pass up. Mix up a little Beach Boys, add some poodle skirt twists, and throw in the finest moments of Grease, and you’ve got “Hey Boy,” a girl/guy sing-along my sister and I have mastered.
Once every three months I list the best of what I heard in albums/songs/remixes for the quarter. I do this to personally keep up with all the awesome music I hear, as it ultimately helps me at the end of the year when I do my overall listing for the previous twelve months. I also do it to introduce you cool cats to tunes you may have missed independently. Continue reading
While Austin’s Beauty Bar isn’t exactly my favorite place for a number of reasons, it is the weekend hotspot for high-profile after parties and A-list DJs. So I find myself there from time to time.
This past Saturday, my favorite mashup duo rocked the house: The Hood Internet. They’ve been around for three years, and you’ve probably heard their work if you’ve spent time cruising the web. I would be safe in saying they’re probably the most popular mashup group out there, second only to Girl Talk. Needless to say, they got the place bumping. Afterwards, I browsed their site extensively, and I have compiled the finest of their work. Browse the list and don’t be afraid to sing along and shake your money maker.
Today I continue my ongoing feature showcasing my personal picks for the best songs of the past decade, posting ten songs at a time.
230. Grizzly Bear – Two Weeks
Plinking pianos, soaring background vocals, and an accessible approach to the band’s quiet tendencies brought Grizzly Bear their breakthrough track in 2009. While Veckatimest still had the trademark off-kilter minor keys and dark lyrics, “Two Weeks” came out of the oven ready for Gossip Girls. And there’s certainly nothing wrong with that.
