Art in Death: The Photography of 12:31

Have a look at the moribund beauty of Croix Gagnon, Frank Schott, and Alex Katz’s photography. 

Using long exposures and 1,871 1mm thick cross sections from the body of a man who was executed by lethal injection, these artists have come up with a concept that is simultaneously creepy and breathtakingly novel. 

In a Frankenstein-esque move, these men have reanimated the corpse of a convict and returned him to the world of the living in the form of ghostly vapors that eerily waft across photographs to haunt us once more.

The body comes courtesy of the Visible Human Project which sliced Joseph Paul Jernigan into thousands of tiny pieces after he was executed for killing a 75-year-old man who found him stealing a microwave.

Eight years after he was executed at 12:31, also the project’s title, Jernigan stalks our imaginations once more.

Have a look at a few of my favorite images below and head over to the project’s website to see more. 

We Were Promised Jetpacks – Act on Impulse

We Were Promised Jetpacks recently released the first single, “Act on Impluse,” off their second album In the Pit of the Stomach. 

“Act on Impulse” is a slowly simmering five minute masterpiece that steadily surges but never quite erupts. Paradoxically uplifting, mysterious, and dark at the same time with its orchestral backdrop, nimble guitar melody, and moody lyrics, their new single fills you with a quiet confidence. 

The album drops on October 4^th on FatCat Records, so in the meantime listen below courtesy of Friends With Both Arms or head over to their website to pick up your free copy. 

Judging Bands By Their Photos

 I know the old adage says, “You shouldn’t book a judge by its cover,” but I don’t think that holds true for bands. A band’s photo speaks volumes about what inspires them, what they sound like, and above all what makes them tick. 

Everyone has seen the generic look away from the camera and stand in odd places while looking apathetic photo, but it’s the bands that overcome that fallacy and present a unique image that are often the most interesting.

So with that in mind, here is a quick photo essay on amazing bands and their photos. Have a look at some of the images, below and be sure to check out their sound.

Dirty Beaches

  Dirty Beaches - Lord Knows Best by thesubs-blog 

Living Days

(The lead photo is also from Living Days)

  Let's Kiss by STEELSYNCH
 

 Keep Shelly in Athens

  "Fokionos Negri Street" (Keep Shelly in Athens) by Rudetoodo  

 Who Knew

  Sharpen the knife by RootMusic  

  The Delta Riggs

  Soul Train by thedeltariggs  

 Young Galaxy

Young Galaxy - We Have Everything by Hypetrak

Sun Airway – Symphony in White No. 2

Check out “Symphony in White No.2,” the latest release from Philly-based Sun Airway out now on vinyl via Dead Oceans.

If Cut Copy met Beach House at a Depeche Mode concert, you would get Sun Airway, so you can just imagine the insanely catchy hooks, New Wave synths, and laid back vibes that are about to begin coursing through your speakers.

Watch the video, which was shot during their performance at the First Unitarian Church in Philadelphia.

Sun Airway "Symphony In White, No. 2" from klipcollective on Vimeo.

Abbe May – Taurus Chorus

Check out the new video for “Taurus Chorus,” the third single off Abbe May’s album Design Desire.

This Aussie lass tears it up with some good ol fashion grinding rock riffs and a healthy dose of psychadelics. Full of attitude and spitfire, Abbe May shows that she can rock just as hard as the rest of them, but what puts her over the top is her ability to add gorgeous intimate vocals.

Have a look at the video to "Taurus Chorus" below as well as my personal favorite, the title track “Design Desire."

The Kooks – Junk Of the Heart

In case you missed it, The Kooks just released the first single off their third album Junk Of The Heart.

The album’s title track is a delicious pop gem with its deliriously optimistic lyrics reminiscent of the charmingly naive innocence of the Beatles. Luke Pritchard coos lines like “I wanna make you happy/I wanna make you feel alive/let me make you happy.”

The full album will be released on September 13^th on Astralwerks Reocrds. In the meantime, stream “Junk of the Heart” below.

The Drums - Money

Listen to “Money,” the rabidly upbeat lead single off The Drums’ forthcoming album Portamento.

A dangerously catchy melody- check. Loads of wry humor –check. These indie rockers from Brooklyn have everything needed to keep you dancing all day with their jangling ode to the Smiths. 

Stream the instant classic “Money” below courtesy of We All Want Someone To Shout For.

The Five Perfect Summer Tunes for 2011

Blissed out, sun-drenched, breezy, light, fuzzy, catchy – whatever qualities you ascribe to the perfect summer, these songs have them (or so I think). 

Have a listen to my favorite summery songs of 2011.

San Cisco – Golden Revolver 

The Generationals – Ten-Twenty-Ten

Smith Westerns – Imagine Pt.3

Cults – Abducted

Cheerleader – New Daze

The Photography of Hedi Slimane

It’s been a while since I’ve checked out the photography of Hedi Slimane and it seems like he’s been a busy bee of late.

His current photos seem to focus on interesting close ups of musical instruments which provides an amazing contrast to his other recent work which features bleak minimalism with a lot of empty space. Although, I will say that there is something a bit unsettling to his photos in that they’ve taken on an emotionally raw and slightly sinister undertone that I did not notice before. Regardless, this new emotional urgency has made his already breathtaking photos even more impressive.

Have a look at a few of my favorite shots below and head over to his photo blog to see more. 

Arctic Monkeys - The Hellcat Spangled Shalalala

Have a look at the recently released video to Arctic Monkey’s “The Hellcat Spangled Shalala” as well as the electric sex-charged album art.

Grainy images of Los Angeles provide the perfect backdrop for their newly sun-drenched fuzzy 60s pop sound.

Enjoy.