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This is the //ApK Media staff blog
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Another video for the ‘Old ideas with New Friends’ series. Bradford Cox (Deerhunter, Atlas Sound) covers, ‘Seems so long ago, Nancy’. Featured on Pitchfork, Spin, Paste Magazine, Stereogum, the Guardian UK, Aol Music and more…
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//New Video: Death Cab For Cutie
I know, I know. Death Cab is soooooooooooo lame. BUT this new video of their’s is actually pretty awesome. The song is called ‘Underneath The Sycamore’ off of their latest record Codes and Keys. Well I guess it’s technically, off of their remix EP, Keys and Codes but whatever. Either way, the song isn’t horrible and the video is a well executed mixed media experiment that, I think, fits the song really well. So there.
While we’re on the subject of new videos, here’s few more to check out on this rainy (for some of us) Thursday.
Yo Gotti feat. Rick Ross - ‘Harder’
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//On TV: Jon Stewart vs. CNN
Recently CNN decided that it would be great idea for the hosts of their early morning program (who knew they even had an early morning program) to prank call people of varying degrees of fame people at 5am. Wouldn’t you know it, the bit wasn’t funny and generally in poor taste. Here to comment on this disaster of a showis Jon Stewart.
NRTIII
#APKALLDAY
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[Flash 9 is required to listen to audio.]
//New Music: Leonard Cohen
Check out this new track titled ‘Darkness’ by legend, Leonard Cohen.
A new Leonard Cohen track is always worth noting because, well, he’s an incredible musician, songwriter and human being for a start. His music has spanned generations and has inspired— and I really do mean inspired— some of the best artists and bands in the game right now as well as those classic acts from the past.
Today, however, it is especially poignant. Yesterday, //ApK produced a special for Sony Music in which several super talented musicians payed tribute to Leonard Cohen by covering the songs that inspired their work. I can’t tell you who was there (spoilers and all that), but I can tell you that yesterday was pretty moving, even for crass, jaded music snobs the likes of us.
We’ll let you know when it comes out, though you’ll probably see it on the blogs before we do. In the meantime, check out this new track and revisit some of the old ones. You’ll be surprised where they take you.
NRTIII
#APKALLDAY
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Happy New Year!
Well everybody, we made it. Can you believe it? We survived another year.
This week, the //ApK Staff will do what every good blog does around this time of year and make a few ‘top five of 2011’ lists. You know, our favourite music videos, singles, albums and who knows what else. We’d also love to get your input so don’t be shy about letting us know what you think via our twitter or our tumblr. What was your favourite thing of 2011?
Above: On January 1st, 2011, photographer Michael Chrisman grabbed his pinhole camera, affixed it such that it was aimed at the Toronto skyline, and walked away. He returned a few days ago on the 31st of December to develop the above photograph, a year in the making. Pretty amazing work. Read more about the photo here.
Happy New Year Y’all. Lets make it a good one.
NRTIII
#APKALLDAY
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//This Is Important: Protect IP/SOPA
By now you’ve no doubt discovered, or at least heard of, the two bills being fast tracked through the U.S. house of representatives that have the potential to be the most damaging internet censorship laws we’ve ever seen. They’re called Protect-IP and SOPA (Stop Online Piracy Act) and they, just like every other other bogus censorship law, are disguised as bills that would protect creativity when, in fact, they wholly stifle it.
The whole thing gets a little complicated and the above video will help better explain it, but here’s how this wolf in sheep’s clothing works. The bill would allow copyright holders, on nothing more than a whim, to sue and use the government to shut down sites that allegedly infringe upon their copyrighted material. Going beyond the obvious (torrenting and downloading), these acts give giant companies the right to cut off advertising revenue to a site, sue a site for more than they are worth, sue people for more than they are worth, and eliminate smaller competition using all the horsepower of the United States government. YouTube, Facebook, Tumblr and a ton of other sites would all be held liable for an infringing link, and thus would be forced to eliminate you as a user, or be coerced into giving up your IP address so that you can be added to an ‘Internet Black List.’ Sounds kind of familiar. It would criminalize posting, sharing or even viewing standard internet content if a company doesn’t like what is being presented.
Goodbye up and coming bands playing cover songs. Goodbye aspiring actors recording and posting monologues. Goodbye web content that is too referential. Goodbye writing that speaks critically of a copyrighted item.
All this just so that people will maybe buy more movies and music and contribute to an industry that that has a miniscule effect on the American economy compared to that of the internet.
Don’t get it twisted. If these are made into law, they would effectively end the internet as we know it and that is the bottom line.
So, f I were you, I’d do some or all of the following things:
-Send a personal letter to your representative in Congress.
-Send this pre-written letter to Congress asking them to oppose the legislation.
-Sign this petition and/or this petition.
-Educate yourself with this kind of annoying informative video.
This is serious, people. Get mad about this. Get the word out before ‘getting the word out’ becomes illegal.
NRTIII
#APKALLDAY
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//Year In Review: United States of Pop 2011
In 2007, DJ Earworm produced a mash up track (and subsequent mash up video) highlighting the year’s top 25 pop songs. Earworm, being the professional he is, made the track almost totally seamless and created a super fun Year In Review piece that hit people right in that soft spot in their heart where Rihanna lives.
Well since that first mash up, Earworm’s remixes have been pretty highly anticipated every year. Above is 2011’s mash up titled ‘World Go Boom.’ You may think the whole concept may be a bit silly, but why don’t you give it a chance. I can almost guarantee that you’ll go from ‘I don’t see what the big deal is’ to ‘OK this is totally awesome’ in just 5 minutes.
Listen, Watch, repeat as needed.
NRTIII
#APKALLDAY
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//New Video: Martians Vs Goblins feat. Tyler The Creator and Lil Wayne
I’m not sure what else I would expect from a Game/Tyler the Creator collab. Contact lenses, spooky mental institution, images of anguished patients and vein-like cracks on the wall, kittens. Yeah, that sound about right. The song, which originally appeared on Game’s 2011 LP, The R.E.D Album, was already pretty intense with it’s untamed beat, it’s name dropping and it’s generally violent tone. This video brings it to a whole different level of crazy, letting fans know that both these dudes are still f*king nuts. Much credit should also be given to the video’s director, Matt Alonzo, who I’m sure has be a little bit twisted himself. Despite the obligatory Beats By Dre cameo 2:25, this song and it’s attributed video are pretty on point. Check it out. Though, I might leave the lights on if I were you.
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//New Music: Sleigh Bells, Big K.R.I.T, Azealia Banks and More
So what if 2011 is almost over? There’s still a TON of new music coming out!
–Stream the new Sleigh Bells song, ‘Born to Lose’
–Check out new Big K.R.I.T over at The Fader
–Stream the new Guided by Voices album, Let’s Go Eat The Factory, in it’s entirety
–Listen to new Nick Minaj diss nemesis, Lil Kim, in ‘Stupid Hoe’
–Stream ‘Liquorice’ by Azealia Banks
–Listen to Sub-Pop signees, Memoryhouse, play ‘The Kids Were Wrong’
–Stream Tennis’ cover of ‘Tears in the Typing Pool’
–Above: LCD Sound System’s cover of Franz Ferdinand’s Live Alone
Ya Heard?!
NRTIII
#APKALLDAY
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//Go-Pro Video: Garnitzenklamm
The Go-Pro camera has revolutionized the world of completely insane, totally wacked, irresponsible, ill conceived on camera stunts. This ride down Garnitzenklamm is no exception.
‘Hey! Wanna ride bikes super fast down the side of a Mountain using a 24 inch crumbling mountain trail, the fall from which will almost certainly be fatal?’
Didn’t think so.
NRTIII
#APKALLDAY
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