Scrapheap Symphony

A group of like minded tinkerers (Is This Good) decided to get together and attempt a massive scale rendition of a junkyard MIDI orchestra, using nothing but old computer parts like printers, copiers, scanners, fax machines and other junk. I've typically only seen Youtube videos of individuals reverse engineering individual devices, but nothing quite to this scale! The group used a MIDI arrangement of Bob Dylan's classic track, 'The Times They Are A Changing,' as a tongue in cheek reference to the now obsolete technology playing the tune.

Dear 90's

Pause The 90's is one of the more interesting Youtube concept channels I've seen appear in recent memory, dedicated to paying tribute to the colorful era that featured one of the biggest human transitions I've had a chance to live through, the transition into the online era. In retrospect, it's incredibly strange to think that I had a chance to grow up during a pre-internet period, and how my life has changed since. Dear 90's is a heartfelt, nostalgic ode to everything that has come and (mostly) gone. If you were part of this generation, this video should elicit a warm, fuzzy, pleasant feeling.

RoboGal's Weekly Cute Mixtape

Voting is hard. (Via)

Happy Friday Eve Eve Eve!  We can't f*cking wait for the weekend, this week has been, well, exceptional.  We're tiding over with puppies and kitties in the meantime, and I hope you're doing the same.  I mean, it's pretty much almost over.  Right?  More after the break!

Box Office - Cartoons Gone Isometric

This mini series of isometric flavored cartoons from French animators Romain Pergod and Fafah Togora definitely hit the spot, narrating how life at Box Office isn't always ideal. These bite sized cartoons (4 episodes and counting)  narrate everything from passive aggressive sound harassment to toilet malfunctions, but the presentation is always nothing short of adorable, with a visual style resembling a mixture of the Sims and Habbo Hotel. Check out the other 3 episodes: Noise, Scooter and Lover after the break!

Lushlife - Magnolia

Courtesy of the Philly based rapper/producer Lushlife, 'Magnolia' has a pleasantly euphoric, upbeat sound about it. And I'd really like to commend the directors, Lamar+Nik for making the played out lyric video exciting again, using a dizzying array of extras with cardboard cutouts of the individual lyrics to create a beautiful collage of words and locales. The amount of effort this probably took to create absolutely paid off, in my opinion. The track is from Lushlife's enjoyable 2012 album, Plateau Vision.

The Art Of WXY2

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WXY2, who also goes under the monicker of 'Moby Dick' and 'Harukei3' really brought back memories of reading Katsuhiro Otomo's Akira manga, and the inspiration is not hard to spot here. WXY2's hyper detailed lineart shows a love for tech and machinery, juxtaposed against the contrast of stark white backgrounds and simply styled characters inhabiting his chaotic worlds.

I can really appreciate anyone who manages to find the balance between areas of extreme detail and areas or rest in their compositions, a feat that this artist seems to do really well. And kudos for going the diesel-punkish route with his worlds, something that you don't see very often.

Stereolove - I Wish That

Created by the Aussie design group Oh Yeah Wow, Stereolove's dance track got an incredibly cool animated treatment which strangely enough reminds me of Top Gun, Starship Troopers and other cheesily upbeat 80's action films. The dance sequence that erupts at 2:46 is just awesome, contributing to the well known fact that the power of dance can liberate your dystopian country from oppressive female tyrants! Loved it.

Nobody For President

If you're in the US, you're probably well aware that tomorrow is Election Day (well, you might be aware if you're outside the US also).  Here, we found an animated short that seems to promote a sort of apathy, with the message of "Nobody for President!"  While we realistically don't encourage apathy, I can appreciate the video for it's tongue-in-cheek humor.  I also loved the used of simplistic, and at times crude art.  

The Art Of Andrew Hem

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Andrew Hem's work is heavy on the surrealism, featuring his distinctly elongated figures introspectively frozen in thought in the strange, otherworldly realms they inhabit. His work takes notes from his own past and present, from his parents fleeing Cambodia due to their Khmer ancestry to his upbringing in the dynamic, urban art capital, Los Angeles.

His pieces, created using gouache, oil and acrylic speak of what once was and hazy memories of a past and childhood destroyed by civil strife. Andrew has had a successful run in the gallery circuit, and continues to refine his distinct style as he goes. More of his thought provoking work after the break.

Awesome Lego Tribute Work By Jerac

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Most brickheads (Lego addicts) tend to start off their hobbies by paying tribute to some of their favorite franchises, typically ones that LEGO hasn't officially created into lines or licensed. Flickr user Jerac has dedicated a large chunk of his time to tribute work, mainly focusing on the rich world and factions of Warhammer 40K, as well as pumping out original designs.

His ingenuity has allowed him to recreate some truly amazing Space Marine and Ork pieces, down to faithfully capturing the look of chunky space marine armor on his figures (Contrary to popular belief, Starcraft did not do it first). Check out more of his amazing work after the break!

Monster Roll Looks Absolutely Awesome

On paper, Monster Roll seems like a perfect premise for a made for TV flick that you'd see on a channel like Syfy or made by the lowest common denominator of cheap cash in flicks, Asylum (Sharknado, much?), but this high quality proof of concept is something I'd like to see get made.

Created by Dan Blank, Monster Roll follows a group of sushi chefs standing up against an invasion of sea monsters, and a right to keep creating delicious sushi. Despite being out for about three months now, the short just got noticed recently and has been causing quite a stir, even garnering praise from folks like Duncan Jones (Director of Moon, Source Code) and others. Give them a like on Facebook if you like what you see, as these fine folks are planning on getting a Kickstarter going to hopefully make this project a reality. Check out the making of and faux-ficial movie poster after the break!

The Slick Motion Graphics Of Alexander Petterson

Swedish motion designer Alexander Petterson just recently migrated to LA to work with the design collective known as BUCK. I absolutely loved his slick, ident style morsels of audio visual stimulation, ranging from the very whimsical 'Cuckoo' to the ZZ Top inspired 'Legs' below. Fluid animation and sick presentation are his staples, and he goes by the monicker of 'Eggs 'n Bacon' online. Check out his showreel after the break!

The Walking Dead Minimalist Posters

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If you've been following AMC's critically acclaimed zombie drama based off of the equally excellent comics, you might be interested in picking up one of these awesomely minimalist posters created by the Toronto based artist, Ryan McArthur. In his five piece series he's broken key characters down to their most distinguishing elementt or two, from the crossbow wielding Daryl Dixon to the iconic hat of the morally stubborn sheriff, Rick Grimes.

You can get your hands on a print over on Ryan's Etsy, and check out the others after the break!

Health - Tears

Based off of the score that the LA based noise collective created for Rockstar's Max Payne 3, 'Tears' is a profoundly churning, heavily atmospheric track that will take you to a dark place. The music video, directed by David Altobelli and Jeff Desom is an even darker affair, channeling the primal, innocent nature of children and perhaps making statements on how crucial that developmental period is, and how easily it can go astray.

Despite the fact that some people might just look at it on the surface and say, 'Zombie babies,' I reassure you that the directors were thinking a little deeper, drawing comparisons between those strange periods in our early childhoods which are simply a blank spot to us, even though we already existed. The thought provoking music video is a fantastic interpretation of the source material in my opinion, and the undirected performances by the children are nothing short of incredibly unsettling.

Alfred Skimmy's Catch of the Day

Animator Peter Lowey of Piepants Animation created this awesomely bizarre animated short, 'Alfred Skimmy's Catch of the Day.' Made in only two weeks, it's the story of a man named Alfred Skimmy who, uh, isn't all quite there. He decides to make his own "cooking television show", and proceeds to fish for his catch of the day using some alternative methods. Done in a bizarre style reminiscent of 'Ren and Stimpy', it's a little crude and rough around the edges, but makes for an entertaining Saturday morning cartoon regardless.

The Serene Art Of Gelrev Ongbico

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Gelrev Ongbico is a humble illustrator from the Phillipines who caught our eye with his wonderfully serene illustrations of nature, a large source of inspiration for the artist. The self taught illustrator has embraced the 'less is more' mindset, creating wonderful scenes without getting too caught up in rendering and detail, instead relying on more graphic representations of his subject matter. He also couples that with a wonderful use of negative space, which helps draw the eye to where it counts.

As an aspiring magazine illustrator, I definitely think that Gelrev has a bright career ahead of him with his great aesthetics, which are somewhat reminiscent of classical illustrated children's books with a modern flair. Check out more of his excellent work after the break!