Here is a remix done by RK3. What they did is take some Kid Cudi vocals from the Dan Black song, Symphonies…mix it with the heavenly sound of Florence of the Machines…then sprinkle some very chill electronics in the background. Once all of the ingredients were in place, they through them in the blender and out came this sick mashup. It sounds like she has the recipe down pat cause this turned out amazing. Enjoy!
Work-Time-Fun
Meeting the needs of the everyday working person
Phantastical Music
I hope you enjoy the play on words in the title of this post, I was very proud of it. (This post is about a band named Phantogram) See I used the P and the H instead of the … oh well, I’m sure you get it.
Anyway, Phantogram is an Indie Pop duo from Sarasota Springs, New York and I need to thank my older brother for turning me on to them. They definitely convey that indie persona in their music, it has that character that just screams “I’m different, I’m unique, but you know what, you’re gonna like it.” Their music has movement to it, it makes you feel like you are on a journey, whether it is floating through the air or traveling through space, it has got that feel to it that makes you not want to sit still. It moves from dark to light and back again. It moves fast to slow and slow to fast and repeats the cycle. Sarah graces us with her voice and her talent on the keyboards while Josh compliments her with his work on the guitar strings on those echo vocals in the background.
The video below is just one of their many brilliant songs. Their most popular is “mouthful of diamonds.” I would have posted that video but I figured I would choose in relation to their persona and go with the road less traveled. By the way, they write and record in a barn, how sick is that. (Her bangs are awesome).
Can’t Catch Me…I’m the Ninjabread Man!
This Christmas, you can go with the norm. You can make sugar cookies that look like Christmas Trees or Santa Claus. You could make the typical (and still a good choice) chocolate chip cookies. You could make cookies in the shapes of candy canes or stars, Snowmen or Reindeer, or even those bells. But if you do that, you have to rely on some really good baking skills in order to get high praise for your Christmas treat creations. If you are one of those people that has Paula Dean’s cookbook memorized…backwards, then by all means make those ”common” cookies.
Are you someone who isn’t that good at cooking? Do you need people to recognize your baked goods for something other than their mediocre taste? Or are you a great baker but you want to set yourselves apart? Do you want to express your self-made independence to the baking community? Do you want to pull a Robert Frost? Then take the road less traveled and make your own little army of karate kids. I’m talking about Gingerbread Men 2.0…ones that have been trained by Chuck Norris and Bruce Lee in the arts of Jujitsu & Taekwondo.
Ninjabread Men!
So if you want to deliver a roundhouse kick to the face of your competition this Christmas, then go out and buy some of these awesome cookie cutters. For less than $10, you can start your own little army of deliciousness.
Stay Fresh For Less
Recently, I wrote about the joy of giving gifts. Watching your family member or friend open up their present is always the joyful part and the culmination of your hard work, frustration, sweat, and sometimes…tears. People are crazy when they shop at department stores, malls, and outlets. Online is the way to go. So unless you feel like waiting in line to be first in the store, only to be tazered by an over-exuberant mother trying to buy an Xbox at Wal-Mart…try shopping on the internet.
Men are easily the hardest people to shop for…unless you are me. Buy me anything Redskins and I am happy. It could be an ornament, a toaster that puts the Skins logo on your breakfast treat, or even a Redskins Snuggie. But what about that guy that doesn’t love the Redskins or God forbid…doesn’t like sports…well check this site out.
JackThreads is a company owned by Thrillist, another awesome website. It caters strictly to Men’s fashion. Each day they have new sales listed from different companies. The prices are affordable and the fashion is trend-setting. When I take a gander at their selection, I really enjoy the accessories that are on sale. Things like Flud watches, throwback sneakers, creative iPhone cases, and fashionable travel bags. If you are lucky, you might hit that special sale, like the one the other day for clothing featured on “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia.” The shirts and sweatshirts were even being modeled by none other than Charlie and Mack. So if you still haven’t found the gift for that guy in your life, treat him to a fun present you wont find anywhere else.
A Take Away Show
First of all, I need to give a big thank you to my friend Krazy for sending me this link as she thought it would be a good fit for WTF. I appreciate the fact that she checks in on the site and knows what we are all about. I also appreciate the fact that she took the time out of her day to share this video with me.
Local Natives are an indie rock band based out of the home of the Lakers. I was familiar with their recent album, “Gorilla Manor” because I already had the pleasure of enjoying their single, “Wide Eyes.” Thanks to Krazy, I learned of this song, “Who Knows, Who Cares” and I loved it so much, I went out and grabbed their album.
Here are a couple of quick, interesting facts about them:
- This album was self-funded (always good to hear a grass-roots success story)
- They were the opening act for Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros (A band previously featured on WTF)
- The album is named after the house they shared.
- Similar style to Fleet Foxes & Arcade Fire
This video is a refreshing break from the norm as it follows the band as they play their single in an indoor Parisian mall. The acoustics reverberate off of the walls and ceiling and provide an amazing sound. It also highlights their fantastic musical talents as they play straight through their song without the use of amplifiers or microphones. Take note of the beautiful progression of the song as a new band member joins the parade through the shopping center. It is also fun to watch all of the people come out to listen and take part of the spectacle that most of them probably didnt expect to see as they shopped. Maybe, if your lucky, something similar will happen to you as you peruse the stores this Christmas season.
Enjoy!
Christmas Shopping – On Etsy!
Christmas time should be an enjoyable one. A time where we reflect on the true meaning of Christmas and the gift we were given on that special day many many years ago. Our culture has transformed the holiday into a profitable commercial time, which in its entirety, is not necessarily a bad thing. The gift giving has become the most profound and nostalgic part of the Christmas season. It is not the gift that is the important part, it is the motive and intention behind it. The act of exchanging gifts promotes a selfless nature, espescially when it is done without the thought of what you will receive in return. Therefore, I say enjoy the gifts you give, enjoy the reactions of those you bought the gifts for, and find joy in putting a smile on someone else’s face.
Shopping for presents can sometimes be the most stressful part as you try to find the perfect gift that fits within your budget. The mall can be an absolute nightmare with crowded stores, long lines, and that awful awful sea of asphalt lying outside. Be smart, buy a truck so you can park on the grass cause there is nothing more blood boiling than trying to find the one spot that suits your spouse’s liking. Due to these annoyances, a lot of people have been turning to online shopping.
One great place I like to shop online is Etsy. For those of you unfamiliar with the site, it is basically a virtual marketplace that brings together the collaborative creativity of countless artists, moms, shop owners, and everyday people. Anyone can list their products on the site in their own “store.” The site itself is an ingenious idea and it is enabling normal people to share their ideas and creations with others. For Christmas shopping, this site has it all. The best part is that you will be able to find a unique product that isn’t necessarily in the Sunday newspaper. You can find something for everyone on your list; whether it is framed art for your Aunt, custom jewelry for your sister, a handmade guitar pick for your husband, or a handcrafted purse for your Mom. They even have stuff available for your pets like my personal favorite…Kitten Mittens for Jinxie Cat!
“Does Your Cat Make Too Much Noise?”
(check out the following link for an unsponsored advertisement for Kitten Mittens)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SSOrbV7ILrc
Anyway, if you are still in the market for some more presents, head on over to Etsy and find that gift for that special someone. Make this the year you are more excited to watch your big brother open the gift you got him than you are to open your own. Merry Christmas!
Gotye…(Gore-ti-Yeah)
A Belgium-Australian artist by the stage name of Gotye has flown under the radar lately…except on youtube where his single “Somebody That I Used to Know” has racked up over 21 million views. His real name is Wouter de Backer and he is an indie-pop artist that has really come up with a fantastic single. This song features Kimbra, a singer/songwriter from New Zealand who currently resides in Melbourne, Australia. Her style has got a fantasic jazz/soul feel to it and she really adds a complimentary contrast to the style of Gotye.
This collaboration has obviously drawn the attraction of a lot of listeners and hopefully more people will be exposed to their sound. To go along with this fantastic track is a very unique and creative music video. The two are musical artists by trade but in the video they become part of a canvas as they tell the story behind the song.
Enjoy!
Bringing the Christmas Spirit to the Office
Christmas time comes once a year, so enjoy it and do what you can to spread that Christmas cheer! The Christmas season is in full bloom and you can see the signs as you pass all the lights in your neighborhood, the manger scenes at the local church, or the decked out North Pole at the mall. Christmas Trees are being sold at gas stations, pool parking lots, firehouses, and hardware stores (Home Depot – $29.95). People are being a little bit nicer, they are opening up their hearts, and the Christmas Spirit is gaining momentum.
We dont have to leave that joyful spirit in our cars when we pull into the parking lot on Monday morning. It doesn’t just have to feel like Christmas when you get home and watch TV by the tree & presents with a nice glass of Egg Nog. I would be one to argue that there is no better place to extend the Christmas Spirit than the workplace. Think about it, the Christmas Spirit is described by words like Peace, Love, Joy, and selflessness. YES, YES. I want more of that Monday-Friday instead of the typical crap: Stress, Gossip, Greed, Rudeness, and Disrespect.
Here are a couple of simple ways you can help spread that Christmas Spirit to the scrooges and grinches of your office.
- Do like the Who’s in Whooville do and decorate everything! Ok, maybe not everything, but spruce up your office a bit. Buy a mini Christmas tree and slap some ornamentos on it. Put up a wreath on your door or string some garland up. Some Christmas decorations will quickly be noticed by your co-workers.
- Offer some Holiday Treats. Everybody likes treats. Maybe some delicious gingerbread cookies. Maybe some of those York Peppermint Patties wrapped in Christmas wrapping. Peppermint Hot Chocolate?? Christmas M&M’s? The possibilities are endless.
- Give the gift that keeps on giving. A Christmas Card. The more random the better. Maybe Flava Flav dressed up like Santa. Or…you dressed up like Flava Flav dressed like Santa.
- Do something out of the ordinary. Like bring in a dozen donuts and some coffee for your department. Might cost you $10 but it will brighten somebody’s day up.
Last but not least…Just be nice. This holiday is all about selflessness and sacrifice. Its about a joyous occasion. It is a time of year to celebrate. Take that with you as you go through your work weeks. A little positivity can go along way and if you have that joyful spirit, trust me, it will rub off and brighten up your office space.