Redux

Channel Spotlight: Nature's Imprint

Fri, 27 Jan 2012 15:21:00 -0800

As we go through our days it’s easy to get pulled into our work, to-do lists, and balancing everything else in life. Aneeta’s “Nature’s Imprint” channel on Redux is a beautiful reminder of the expansive natural world that’s beyond the little bubbles we live in. It’s refreshing to see and learn about animals and environments from across the globe, both on ground and underwater.

Here are a few of my favorite videos from her channel, but I have to say I recommend them all. It’s easy to get lost and feel like you’ve spent the afternoon snorkeling in the Canary Islands and then taking a hike in Yosemite. Maybe it’ll even inspire you to go outdoors and do something out in the fresh air this weekend!

In the Mist

I know close to nothing about the Canary Islands so this look into Lo Gomera and it’s desert and forest environments was fascinating. It’s both visually and mentally stimulating from beginning to end.

Icelandic Volcanism and Plate Tectonics

Iceland is a country that we hardly learn about growing up in the states. This look at the volcanoes and history of the country’s geology was one of the most interesting documentaries I’ve seen in a while.

Takhi - Wild Horses

Check out the only horses we have yet to domesticate, located in the Mongolian Steppe.

Kira

Happy New Year!

Tue, 03 Jan 2012 10:59:00 -0800

Hope your 2012 is filled with great times, great videos, and great curation!

Caught on Tape: Best of 2011

Sat, 31 Dec 2011 12:00:00 -0800

If you look at the statistics of social media platforms like YouTube and Twitter you will notice usage percentages are continuing to increase. With the acceptance and popularity of smartphones more people are connecting to the Internet than every before. In the past half-decade the way people interact with media has been changing. Status updates and video uploading are functions that are more commonly being utilized thanks to smartphones the result is information coming in from the everyday world and in real-time rapid speed.

What is most interesting about social media’s growth is not how people are connecting to it but what they are producing. It’s not all about entertainment and communication. Much of what is uploaded is a reflection of the state of humanity. Uprising began on Facebook and spiralled into the streets and the video of state-ordered atrocities are being broadcasted from cell phones to the globe.

Whether it is a car crash or revolution it’s being understood because of social media and we are all apart of it. Below are 5 examples of how serious the world has been changed in the past year thanks to the acceptance of social media.

Passive Occupiers Pepper Sprayed By Police In California!

Having started on the streets of New York City the #OccupyWallStreet movement quickly spread to hundreds of cities across the world and demanded people take back the economy that has so easily been jeopardized by big corporations. Some flavours of the demonstration became more out-of-hand than others. In Sacramento these ‘occupiers’ sat in non-violent protest and were pepper sprayed by police at close-range. It is one of the most watched videos to come as a result of the Occupy Movement.

Libyan Rebels Put a Missile Launcher in a Toyota and Blow It Up!

During the summer of 2011 anti-Kadafi rebels began attacks on the government with the support of NATO. This resulted in many grassroots communities being armed and fighting the state-controlled army. This clip shows just how ‘make-shift’ the war became with people attaching anti-aircraft weapons to small trucks and civilian vehicles.

Batmanning Turns into a Faceplant

The meme is nothing new and people will always be displaying video of new trends like Planking or Coneing but the act of hanging upside down from something by the strength of your feet and ankles is known as Batmanning and here is an example of what can happen if you’re not 100% sure you know what you’re doing!

Shocking Video of Man being Dragged Off His Scooter During a Riot!

Time Magazine’s Person Of The Year 2011 was The Protestor and for good reason. In August many cities in England had to deal with the streets being filled with youth at all hours. Many situations became violent and this clip shows just how scary it was to try and live in some areas. The man in this clip was pulled off his scooter and dragged away as thugs stole his transportation. It has been reported that BlackBerry Messenger and Twitter were popular methods of communication used by rioters to organized themselves.

Raw Video of a Car Smashing Through a Bike Shop!

Orwell wrote about big brother always watching our every move. We may not be there at this point in time but there certainly are a lot of cameras in public places these days. This CCTV tape shows just how lucky a couple was when a car crashed through the entrance of the bike shop. As we can see here the people only had a split second to understand the situation. This kind of thing happens all the time and only now are we living in a time to see and understand it better.

No doubt privacy is being invaded much more commonly these days but it is producing an extremely large amount of interesting media.

MikeonTV

Rides: Best of 2011

Fri, 30 Dec 2011 15:24:44 -0800

Read any of Hotlap’s captions in Rides, and there will be no question in your mind about how smitten this expert curator is with his subject matter. You’d be lucky to get a love letter from your significant other that’s written as poetically and romantically, assuming you’re as seductive as an Art Morrison 3G 1960s Corvette, Bentley SuperSports coupe, or a GT-R.

1st Element

Old Legends never die, they just have better stories to tell.

As Real as it gets

It takes a life to make a life, it takes money to make money, it takes a winner to make a champion. Nothing else said. Period!

Changing the game

The car of the decade will be the car of tomorrow, as well as the car of the day “after tomorrow”

SkatePALS and RADBMX: Best of 2011

Fri, 30 Dec 2011 15:16:00 -0800

Csvizzero is a skateboarder and filmmaker himself which translates into the visually and technically pleasing content he posts into his SkatePALS and RADBMX channel. It’s a great destination if you’re looking for footage of and interviews with the best up and coming skaters and BMXers.

SkatePALS:

Grit & Chocolate Trailer

Girl and Chocolate have been putting out some of the best skate videos in the past decades. It’s no surprise that they have made the best skate video trailer for 2011 and I expect this video to be the best of 2012.

P-Rod - Today Was A Good Day

This has to be one of the BEST skateboard commercials EVER. You have big names like Kobe Bryant, Eric Koston, Paul Rodriguez, and Ice Cube!!! Amazing song, skating, production, and cast.

Fresh ‘til Death

Fresh ‘til Death is a dream team of skaters on the road together. The two seperate worlds of the Hesh Zero skaters and the Fresh DGK skaters made for probably the most EPIC skate tour/ video ever. You can’t help, but be super hyped on this. Enjoy.

ORGANIKA - GRADUATION - WALKER RYAN

Walker Ryan blew up this year in the skateworld and graduated to the pro rankings. An unlikely pro, out of Napa Valley, blew everyones’ mind away with his smooth skills and humble presence. Peep game on this year’s big new pro.

Terry Kennedy: A Day in the Life of the Fly Society

TK is one of the dopest skaters out there. You can’t help, but like the guy for who he is. Run around with TK on a busy day in New York City.

RADBMX:

Hoder & Friends - NYC

Everyone dreams of going to the big city of NYC and the lucky ones get to ride it too. The title should say enough. If Mike Hoder is involved, you know to expect the most badass riding with the sickest crew of dudes.

Nigel Sylvester - All Day Sessions: Bay Area

Nigel Sylvester is one of the top performing and popular riders in the world. Some might even say he is the Michael Jordan of riding. That is why it doesn’t get much better than Nigel Sylvester riding the hills of San Francisco.

Lotek - Mike Hoder

Lotek and Mike Hoder are two of the best things you could have in one sentence when it comes to riding. Mike Hoder is a beast and is on the next level type of riding. I’m talking about grinding handrails peggless!!

Slam: Jackson Ratima

Jackson Ratima is one of the freshest technical riders in DA Game. You probably wouldn’t guess it, but technical riders eat sh!# too. Let Jackson explain what happened and maybe you can avoid it from happening to you.

Rock Live: Best of 2011

Fri, 30 Dec 2011 14:22:00 -0800

One of my favorite things is going to concerts and music festivals. There’s just something inimitable about listening to the raw sounds of a live guitarist. And, I’ve had some pretty ‘interesting’ experiences at concerts- like getting trampled on in mosh pits or having whisky spilled on my face at intimate gigs. But, it’s all worth it. Watching a musician perform their song is just so much better than listening to some overproduced, slick version of their track on your computer.

Here’s my my pick for the best Rock Live songs of the year:

The Black Angels- “Bad Vibrations”

This is one of the most promising upcoming bands from 2011. The Black Angels are at the forefront of the neo-psychedelic movement. They are bringing back that LSD Austin sound of the 13th Floor Elevators, but with a more modern flair that doesn’t sound like the sixties anymore.

The Black Ryder- “Let It Go”

I like this band because everybody looks like Elvira (even the guys, no joke) The girls look like sexy gothic witches, but their songs have this powerful psychedelic sound that just surrounds you.

Black Rebel Motorcycle Club- “Berlin”

This band is just awesome. I’ve met these guys outside L.A. Singer Peter Hayes was alone chain smoking like a chimney in a dark corner by himself- outside of his parked black motorcycle, naturally. Smoking never looked so cool. Now, that guy is a gangsta.

Wooden Shjips- Aquarian Time

The lead singer of the Wooden Shjips kinda looks like Charles Manson. He looks like the type of guy that went to the woods for ten years to get away from society before becoming a unabomber. But, this band is pretty awesome and they bring back that sixties sound with a new alternative flair. Think Doors 2.0

Nine Inch Nails- The Fragile

Best concert cinematography. The warm colors and glow make the gig look like a scene out of some movie, almost in a Lars von Trier sort of way. The tracking camera movements give you the perspective of a voyeur watching the concert. It’s beautiful and fits with the morose tone of the song.

Arlo Guthrie- Coming into Los Angeles

Best Relic Video. I could have easily picked a Nirvana video, but that would have been too easy. It’s too bad Arlo Guthrie lost his youthful vigor and became a republican in the early eighties (typical baby boomer). It’s weird how everyone look so young and alive at Woodstock, and how this looks like it took place yesterday. Surreal.

Natasha

Go Big: Best of 2011

Fri, 30 Dec 2011 12:37:00 -0800

Madrone Tree curates the craziest jumps, flips, and tricks ever to be attempted by mankind. His Go Big channel never ceases to amaze me with the insane things people try and and actually succeed in. Here are his top five favorite Go Big moments from 2011.

First Ever Rally Car Rail Slide!

Can you grind a car on a log, just like a snowboard on a rail? These guys aim to find out, and it’s pretty fun to watch!

Monster Whip - New BMX Trick, First Time Performed!

While riding his bike upside down, Adam Kun perform the first ever upside down whip! He named the trick the “Monster Whip”, and it is pretty amazing…

Highest waterfall ever in a kayak!

Tyler Bradt sets a new world record by going over a 189-foot high waterfall in his kayak - you have to see this to believe it!

Wakeboarding an Iceberg!

Why mess around building a park for wakeboard tricks, when you can use an iceberg for jumping, spinning, and grinding!

World’s Highest Swing in the Nevis Canyon, New Zealand

Bored with bungee jumping, and want a unique thrill? You could travel to New Zealand and get some freefall on the world’s highest swing! (Or just watch this video…)

Exploration: Best of 2011

Fri, 30 Dec 2011 11:25:00 -0800

The year of 2011 was full of amazing discoveries and big scientific experiments. For the first time in human history we had the opportunity to observe collision of the particles at the highest speeds. This year also was marked by our achievements in space exploration, especially on Mars, and many other achievements on the field of science and exploration.

We explored in-depth a number of particle-collision experiments at LHC and other similar facilities in the Exploration channel this year, but it seems that those experiments are still to come out with their main results in 2012. We were also expecting to finally discover the Higgs Boson particle but we’ll have to wait a little longer for that one.

Faster Than the Speed of Light

Quantum Physics is a field where we made a ton of progress this year but will likely learn even more in the New Year. We thought that there’s nothing faster than light but we learned that even that theory is questionable.

Science Bulletins - Geologists on Mars

Mars exploration was one of the hot topics and we’re pretty sure that it will stay pretty popular during the next year. We had an opportunity to witness the peak of our achievements in the field of robotic rover technologies that brought the exploration of the Red Planet to a completely new level.

Solar Cycle

We are currently in a time when solar activity is reaching its maximum. We are at the peak of a sunspot cycle, and this was one of the most interesting topics amongst viewers, but we are still about to see the most exciting from the Sun in following two or three years.

The Hubble Space Telescope - A Joint NASA ESA Mission

The NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope celebrated its 20th anniversary in 2010 but it is continuing to be amongst the most important space exploration tools. This year the Hubble Space Telescope has passed another milestone: the publication of the 10,000th refereed scientific paper based on Hubble data.

Optogenetics Controlling the Brain with Light

Regarding the medical research, optogenetic technology is one of the most promising technologies which could cure many brain diseases like blindness (retinitis pigmentosa). The new technology developed by MIT researchers is controlling the behavior of brain cells with light. Using this technology scientists managed to restore the visual behavior of blind mice, so this holds promise for treating human blindness in future.

2011 was definitely marked by some remarkable achievements in science and exploration. Hopefully next will bring many more to celebrate so stay tuned in 2012.

Galip

Orso: Best of 2011

Fri, 30 Dec 2011 09:58:29 -0800

I have learned SO much over the past year as a curator that I can honestly say I would be a different person today if I had never started. I am extremely proud of my shares and sincerely hope they entertain and inform an audience who appreciates them as much I do. From the beautiful, inspiring videos about saving the planet in the Earth Hackers channel, to the always entertaining, sometimes informative videos in the DRUGS channel, it was quite a task to pick just 5 for the Best of 2011. However, I hope you enjoy watching this selection as much as I did sharing it. These are my best (in no particular order, that would be way too difficult) shares of 2011:

DRUGS:

The Mushroom Sessions

This is just incredible. The pacing, acting, setting, sound design, cinematography, and just everything are some of the best I have ever seen in any short film, let alone about drugs. Most drug-related short films don’t even come close to this love story focused around the interactions of two people on ‘shrooms.

The Jungle Prescription

This excellent video tells a very interesting story, not commonly seen in mainstream media. With all the influence of Big Pharma getting their hands into doctor’s paychecks, most people don’t realize the power which lies in alternative medicines. In this special, the power of ayahuasca is examined as a medicine.

Earth Hackers:

Markus Kayser - Solar Sinter Project

Redux is all about the most interesting, visually appealing videos available on the internet, but sometimes you just don’t get that level of quality at the same time you get brilliant, new ideas. This is an exception: a simple demonstration of a solar powered 3D printer which uses the sand around it as “ink.”

The Open Source Ecology

If you are going to rebuild the world, you should do it right, and make sure anyone can find the resources and materials to do so. Adapting the open-source principle already common to many software developers, one man has come up with a system to provide anyone with the plans to do just that.

Justin Hall-Tipping: Freeing Energy from the Grid

I have seen so many ideas this year regarding creating new energy sources and improving others. However, most seem to rely on an existing power grid. Well this man decided to go back to the drawing board and developed a material which can be applied to any surface like a sticker to actually create energy.

Orso

Tech: Best of 2011

Fri, 30 Dec 2011 09:47:00 -0800

Efren keeps the Redux Tech channel updated with the latest gadgets and innovations that are disrupting the scene. He shares some of his favorite finds from 2011 here.

Deus Ex: The Eyeborg Documentary

To celebrate the launch of critically acclaimed video game DEUS EX: HUMAN REVOLUTION, Square Enix has commissioned filmmaker Rob Spence aka Eyeborg (a self proclaimed cyborg who lost an eye replaced it with a wireless video camera)

Scanadu | Find Out Your Health Issues With Your Smart Phone

When this technology becomes available, the whole world will benefit. An innovative health tech startup that’s striving to become a personal, mobile, auto-diagnostics product.

All Electric Off-Road Rally Car | The Build of OSCar eO

Now this is the type of electric vehicle I can get use to. Amazing video that shows the OSCar eO being built from the ground up.

Take Google Maps Indoors

I don’t know about you but this is just awesome! I’ve been in so many buildings where not only finding the indoor map is a hassle but then finding the “You Are Here” star is another hurdle. Take Google Maps on your Android phone to select airports, malls, and retail stores to get floor layouts and accurate location readings.

How is Your Work Evolving | The Future of Work is Now

Founder and CEO of Gist T.A. McCann talks about how the work life is evolving. Will you be a free agent or tied down to todays style of work?

Underground Comedy: Best of 2011

Fri, 30 Dec 2011 08:25:15 -0800

DirtyNerdy’s hilarious and addictive Underground Comedy channel is not for the easily offended. A comedian himself, he throws in everything from Juggalo News to him rapping with his Grandma. Check out some of his favorite clips from 2011 here.

Suicide Girls Suicide Hotline

Well kids 2011 is almost over. Oh the laughs we had. Well, it’s time to revisit some of my favorites. First up is the amazing all girl sketch group The Birds of Prey with their shockingly good impressions of suicide girls doing what they do best - make you want to kill your self. Sometimes masturbate.

Nick Jays

Picnicface has so many sketches that are easily in my favorite sketches of all time so it was a little hard for me to pick just one for my best of 2011. When it came down to it though, “Nick Jays” had the right amount of crazy and genius to beat out some of their others that were on the list. Enjoy. Then kill yourself.

My Grandma Raps About Getting Laid

I’d be a dick if I didn’t put my own grandmother in my best of 2011. So here it is again. My filthy grandmother bustin rhymes.

American Gladiators

Scott Gairdner gets my best of 2011 comedy director. He always goes way beyond what most people put into their comedic shorts. All the while never losing the funny that high produced comedies sometimes lose.

Two Guys, One Piano

These guys are my friends, so I’m a little biased BUT I believe that I would find this genius and best of 2011 worthy even if I didn’t.

Drift Culture: Best of 2011

Thu, 29 Dec 2011 19:03:00 -0800

Carlitotron’s Drift Culture Channel on Redux is pure heaven for all you drifting fans out there. He covers the underground sport with fast-paced and visually stunning videos that will have at the edge of your seat and wishing you were out on a track. He shared his top five favorite videos from the year with us which you can check out below.

HBTV - Tale of Three Cars

So today I am excited to bring you my “Best of 2011”. Making my transition from Rides to Drift Culture was scary, but I always strive to bring you the best in automotive culture in all worlds. To start it off, here is one of my favs of 2011 featuring our good friend at Fatlace, Mr Mark Arscenal. Donuts in backparking lot=Scary!

HellaFlush Japan
My friend iphilms has done a handful of HellaFlush videos, but I feel this is his Best of 2011. Of all the locations he has shot for HellaFlush, to finally have one in Japan in 2011 was big for the automotive industry and for our friends at Fatlace. Here is his awesome segment on HellaFlush in Japan!

Nate Hamilton 144

My next “Best of 2011” pick is one of the documentary segments on Nate Hamilton for XDC this year. Love the way these segments are shot, and I am a big fan of the music used.If you download music because of something a person watched, you know they are using it right!On top of that, this is a great example of grassroots drifting!

RAUH-Welt BEGRIFF : Shinji’s RWB 964

My “Best of 2011” would never be complete without any piece about the now infamous RWB Porsches. Luke Luxham was the originator of featured pieces on these amazing vehicles, and here is my favorite of all his works. Love the music, the black and white introduction, the personality of the owner, and of course the car!

Jeff Zwart Hill Climb Ranch

My last pick of my “Best of 2011” would have to be this piece my friend iPhilms did on Jeff Zwart. To iphilms and myself he is a prime example of what we dream to be. A awesome videographer that is also one of the most talented drivers in whatever class he races. Enjoy this piece of him in his humble abode.

The Loft: Best Indie Music Videos 2011

Thu, 29 Dec 2011 16:54:00 -0800

We all know that the radio is shit, the top forty is a laughing joke, and pretentious indie blogs promote crap for the sake of “obscurity.”

So here’s my choice for the best indie music videos and indie rock artists of the year unfiltered by corporate control and snarky music critics:

Best Artists of 2011:

Ty Segall- Finger

This is a great song. I love the juxtaposition of Russian ballerina girls with this very grungy, psychedelic sound. For some reason it reminds me of toddler beauty queens because pageants masquerade as pure innocence when they’re actually disturbing and dark.

Crystal Stilts- Departure

If Jefferson Airplane and Joy Division had a baby then it would probably be this band. This is what the Killers wished they sounded like. While this video is a few years old, it captures the spirit of youth movements that have sprouted up all over the world this year.

Tamaryn- Love Fade

I saw Tamaryn at Noise Pop in San Francisco. She looks like a sexy, gothic wench. Her producer kinda looks like Robert Smith, and he uses a bunch of expensive, vintage instruments which creates that kind of post-punk and shoegazy sound.

Tame Impala- Solitude is Bliss

Although this Australian band may look like they’re 12 years old, their tunes kinda hint to Pink Floyd. I also like how all of their music videos are intelligent, which is a breath of fresh air when most music video directors choose style over substance. This video has both- It’s entertaining while being a metaphor for loss and suffering.

Clinic- Walking with Thee

This amazing video critiques modern society’s consumerist attitude and skewed view about sexuality and love. This band was nominated for a best alternative rock Grammy a few years back but lost out to COLDPLAY WTF! This just proves that the Grammys are total bullshit.

Brian Jonestown Massacre- Dropping Bombs on the Whitehouse

This whole band is crazy. The lead singer, Anton Newcombe, is a heroin junkie who messed up a record deal for his very promising band. The tambourine player ended up working at Amoeba music after the band broke up, while the singer went on a downward spiral. Then a documentary about this band became a bit hit at Sundance and they reunited.

Maika Makovski- Lava Love

I hate to say it, but there really isn’t that much good indie rock that comes out of Spain. Maika Makovski, from Barcelona, is a rare exception (along with Mujeres). She has a unique sound that is soulful, sexy and mysterious.

Sonic Youth- Sacred Trickster

It’s hard to believe that this band has been around since the early ’80s. Unfortunately, they separated in October of 2011 when Thurston Moore and Kim Gordon got a divorce. I love Sonic Youth, and their noisey, experimental sound influenced so many great bands.

Best Music Videos of 2011

The Vandelles- Lovely Weather

Film noir visuals combined with a sort of Jesus and Mary Chain type sound is the reason why The Vandelles were selected to play at Austin’s very cool SXSW festival. Anyone want to buy me a festival ticket for next year?

The Soft Moon- Dead Love

I can hear influences of Joy Division & other 1980s postpunk bands. It’s dark but not an imitation of eighties goth bands. It’s something new & refreshing.

Other Lives- for 12

Amazing visuals of space accompanies the haunting melody of this beautiful song. This is a good example of how CGI can add depth to a story instead of take away from the narrative unlike most Hollywood films.

The Dolly Rocker Movement- Memory Layne

This is my idea of a romantic fairytale. Is there something wrong with me?

Dirty Beaches- Lone Runner

Dirty Beaches is a Taiwanese American who makes music as a homage to 1950s rock and roll. Think Elvis. He looks the part with his slicked back greaser hair. He makes music in the same way that directors make films by treating each song like a story, so it’s no surprise that he was influenced by directors like Kurosawa and Wong Kar-wai.

The Kills- Good One

Just a really cool, artsy, funky video

Deerhoof- Secret Mobilization

I picked this video cause sometimes you just wanna fuck your life and drive in the California desert. I got lost once in the Mohave Desert, and I’ve always thought it was the ideal place for UFO sightings or other strange phenomena. Why can’t this shit happen to me on the road? Instead, I end up at freeway Mcdonalds with tour groups buses.

Joy Division- Transmission

Joy Division masterfully transformed the loud and angry sounds of seventies punk rock into seductively, graceful despair. Though this is a live recorded version of their 1979 song, the video was created in 2011. It’s an interesting pairing because the song is dark and morose, while the video is….cute.

Brian Eno- Third Uncle

Best Relic - Though the video was edited in 2011, the song wasn’t. Can you believe this song was made in ‘74!? That was BEFORE punk. Yet is sounds so contemporary and ahead of its time. Yes, Brian Eno, you are a genius. (Also- get over your fear of tits, Americans. ‘Cause you’re gonna see plenty in this video].

Metal Mother- Shake

When I was fourteen, I really wanted to be Wiccan even though I didn’t believe in religion anyways. This video is making me want to convert to Wiccanism all over again and eat granola bars in the forest. Just kidding. Though I don’t have a desire to be Wiccan, I do think these chicks have a more witchy, bewitching sound than Warpaint.

The Laurels- Merry go Round

I really like The Laurels’ sound. It’s shoegaze with a splice of psychedelic. You can hear a bit of a My Bloody Valentine influence in their songs. And, like a lot of good bands at the moment, they are from the land down under, which makes me wonder what Australia is doing to produce all this good music?

Natasha

Managing Editor

The Bassline: Best Electronic Videos of 2011

Thu, 29 Dec 2011 15:47:00 -0800

Electronic music has gotten a bad rep in America. No, it’s not all about repetitive trance, glow-sticks, or cheesy mainstream house.

Electronic music is a diverse and varied genre that still hasn’t gotten the same mainstream attention as hip hop and rock in the United States. Because our technology is growing so fast, new innovative music that we never thought was possible is being created everyday with advanced machines. And it only proves that you don’t need to play an instrument to create something artistic or beautiful.

So here’s my pick of the best electronic music videos of the year. I’ve also included older videos, but I had to share them because of their awesomeness. (After all, old music is always timeless).

Best Music Videos of 2011

Siriusmo- “Signal”

The video and song from this Berlin based group are amazing. The song is haunting, and I can’t get it out of my head. There’s something dark about this track and video. It’s very dreamy, almost putting me in a trance while I watch it.

Gesaffelstein- “Ghostriders”

Screw the Tour de France. This is infinitely better. Ghouls ride the streets of Paris to a foreboding soundtrack that will make you want to dance in the club all night long.

SebastiAn- “Embody”

This is from SebastiAn’s newest album “Total” that was released in May. It’s less grinding, hard and heavy-hitting than his typical tracks (maybe the vocals take away from its sinister quality). Though I prefer his older work, I’m still digging the retro sound and the video itself is truly awesome that it deserves a spot on the Best of 2011 list.

ZZT- Vulkan Alarm

Cause, sometimes, you just wanna see a car burn to the ground.

Spoek Mathambo- Control

Joy Division is one of my favorite bands, so I wasn’t sure how I felt about this cover of their song “Control,” when I first heard it. It’s certainly very freaky, disturbing and dark which is what Joy Division was all about. So, I suppose it is a proper homage, especially since the video is very poetic.

High Places- Sonora

Yes, this is another creepy video, but it’s done very well. And, you know I just looove creepy videos. Who knew that a tiny, little androgynous girl covered in blood could be so dangerous and badass.

Jori Hulkkonen- S.W.O.T.

This video is the epitome of modern style. The guy kind of reminds me of Raskolnicov from “Crime and Punishment,” because he seems lost in his thoughts. Pensive and reflective. The imagery is a perfect accompaniment to the foreboding music.

Best Shared Videos of 2011:

Trentemøller- Silver Surfer, Ghost Rider Go! Live

Trentemøller, Danish Electro producer, plays an awesome gig at the Roskilde festival in Denmark. I interviewed him once, and he told me that he originally started off playing in indie Brit pop type bands, and you can definitely hear that rock influence in his music.

Sasha Funke- Mango Live

Dedicated to a DJ peer of mine who was blown away when he first heard this song. He missed his train to go back home when he heard this song for the first time because he couldn’t stop listening to it at his computer.

Four Tet- Sing

This isn’t music. It’s pure art.

Modeselektor- Deboutonner

Modeselektor’s music is dark, heavy and grinding. And you can always count on their videos to disturb you and show you the dark and freaky side of humanity.

Nosaj Thing- Aquarium

I was the little mermaid for Halloween once. This video brings back memories, but more importantly, it’s more artistic and romantically tasteful than that cheesy, superficial shit that Hollywood spends millions on producing.

Jeff Mills- The Bells Live

Jeff Mills is absolutely amazing. This chilling performance will make the hairs stand up on the back your neck. Unless, you’re into happy hardcore.

Pig and Dan- Sly Detector

I wish my former dead goldfish were this ethereal and stunning.

White Noise- Love Without Sound (1969)

Best Relic Video of 2011: Delia Derbyshire worked with the Radiophonic Workshop who were a group of early electronic music experimenters. While the boys were more concentrated on the the structure & math of sound, Delia was more interested in experiencing the core of music, which is demonstrated by her haunting, timeless, sexually-infused tracks

Vitalic- Poision Lips

Modern apathy and sexy, smudged lipstick.

Sideral

This video is a few years old, because the DJ died from a drug overdose in Barcelona. He was famous in the Barcelona club circuit and his music will be missed. Ignore the crappy, low res imagery because the music makes up for it.

Natasha

Managing Editor

Look: Best of 2011

Thu, 29 Dec 2011 15:10:36 -0800

This channel is as ambiguous as my interests. There’s no real concept here beyond stimulating those rods and cones that hide at the back of our eyeballs. If the ﬁlms make your pulse race, your brain buzz or your eyeballs stop blinking then I think I’ve accomplished something. In recent years the cost of ﬁlming high-quality video has fallen dramatically and these days most anyone with a little money to kick around can buy a camera capable of professional level results. The only thing required is a little talent and the dedication to see a project through. The great thing about this channel is the ﬁlms selected are not limited by their story. There are many ﬁlms I watch in the movie theater that seem to have a story simply as an excuse for the ﬁlmmaker to shoot some beautiful ﬁlm footage. None of the ﬁlms on the channel are chasing an Oscar. One thing this collection of ﬁlms have in common is they direct our attention from the things we see in our everyday life and focus them on a subject we may not have considered otherwise. They reenergize our powers of observation the way a change in diet might energize our taste buds. By taking some time to look at something new and beautiful we can observe our own environment with new eyes. What discoveries might await us in our own homes and communities if we look with a new pair of eyes?! I hope my audience ﬁnds a new way to look at things watching this channel. I chose selections for the ‘Best Of’ from the Look channel the way I did for the Reanimation. These ﬁlms are simply ones I remember most - not necessarily the most popular.

Bird

Just as the title says, this ﬁlm is about birds. A video record of a few of the species from around the world. It is like pages from Audubon’s book. I enjoyed watching the bird’s movements and the way the feathers gave the bird’s form but with undulating layers.

Black Lights

“Black Lights” is a fashion piece set to “Gitardjamm” by Sigur Ros. I loved this for the completely unconventional approach the ﬁlmmakers took to making a fashion ﬁlm. There is no catwalk, no ridiculous high-healed shoes, no skeleton thin models in heroin withdrawal. Instead we ﬁnd a couple dancing a slow, deductive dance the woman clothed in a piece that reminds me of the swan of Aphrodite from Greek Mythology. In the end it is just a gorgeous piece of ﬁlming.

The Key

Haushca is a contemporary composer working primarily with piano but also with orchestra. “The Key” is a ﬁve minute voyage following a delivery girl on her way to deliver a piano. In essence this is a music video for a contemporary orchestral piece. Very entertaining and tongue in cheek I really enjoyed this for its steampunk style and the beauty of its music.

White Box

This ﬁlm appealed to me because of the way it visualized the creative process of a designer. A draftsman sits at his drawing table looking at a white box. To his left and right are colored pencils. From these simple implements an entire universe is animated on his table. The ﬁlm does an excellent job of allowing the audience to get a glimpse of the creative mind.

Finding Oregon

I was very impressed with the quality of this ﬁlmmakers work. Oregon is a big, beautiful state full of amazing natural scenery and this ﬁlm does a wonderful job of bringing that beauty to its audience. Full of impressive ﬁlming techniques like time lapse photography, panning, night shots and more, the ﬁlm is captivating from beginning to end.

Archicize

Street Level: Best of 2011

Thu, 29 Dec 2011 12:23:00 -0800

This year my mind was enhanced by all the great videos I got to watch. It’s amazing the kind of visual awesome that is created and shown just because someone felt like it just had to be made. It’s real and amazing and the love shows through in the quality of the content. Not only was the quality of visual story telling beautiful, but the subjects themselves were extremely inspiring.

American Juggalo

This really is my favorite documentary on the internet. Not sure the words for how I felt when I found it. I show this to everyone I talk too.

Ray: A Life Underwater

The story of this diver really influenced my views on a love of life. To really do something because you feel it and it becomes you. Then you get super powers and can see something most people will never experience.

Welcome to Planet Earth - DIY UFO Greeting Center

Mind blowing truth is stranger then fiction kind of video. You might think this guy is crazy but you know deep down in your gut he may be telling some of the truth. Wonder if he sees the inside of his ship how he describes it.

The Archive

While I watched this video I was cleaning out my collection of crap. This guy made me realize what a real collection worth keeping is about. Then when I found out that he had to get rid of the whole vinyl collection it made me think about the loss of possessions. What I know is this video is wonderful. Actually I took a break to go through a small collection of vinyl as I typed this.

Off Book: Video Games

I got a new computer with the intention of making videos after being inspired by the channels content. Needless to say I got a graphics card and became really hyped on what video games have become. When people complain about how much of a waste of time games are I just show them this video.

Jstrange

Reanimation: Best of 2011

Tue, 27 Dec 2011 15:45:02 -0800

This was my ﬁrst year working with Redux and running the animation channel has been a fantastic voyage. I’ve been truly amazed by the level of talent out there in the animation community. I’ve laughed, cried, cheered and been genuinely surprised. Animators are a special breed who work in an extremely difﬁcult ﬁeld that requires patience, diligence and copious hours of work. The result is a catalogue of amazing ﬁlms that are as special as the people who created them. I am impressed with the range of materials used for the ﬁlms. The most obvious is 3D computer animation. We are all familiar with this from popular ﬁlms at the movie theater. But I have watched ﬁlms made of cut paper, sand, clay, watercolor, photographs, photocopies, pages of books, nuts, bolts, bits of wire and more and more. The materials aren’t as important as the story and these animators tell a great tale. I still go back and watch ﬁlms I found months ago. For the ‘Best Of’ I selected a few of the moments I remember most. These weren’t necessarily the most popular videos but each one stood out in my mind. I hope you will take a moment to enjoy them for yourself!

Amongst Giants

The animation style in this ﬁlm is superb and very unique. The message is simple but the telling is masterfully done. As the ﬁlm progresses the music develops a rhythm that is deep and pulsing like waves. It is not until the ﬁnal moments that we realize it is the breath of the “giant”, that is, the breath of nature. I hear that breathing for minutes after watching the ﬁlm.

チルリChiruri

Chiruri repeats “Amongst Giants” theme of the negative impact man’s industrial activity has on the planet. In this ﬁlm two young children wander a city full of the walking dead. The water is poisoned and all hope seems lost. The young girl begins to cry and ﬁlls the streets with tears. It is in this act of despair that the boy ﬁnds hope. I just loved the rendering style in this; painterly, like a water color wash. The music is simple notes on a piano, barely noticeable as the story unfolds. What I appreciated about this ﬁlm was the ability of the animator to create a ﬁlm that does not shout or use hyperactive movements like much of the animation we see in popular media.

Overtime

Filmed in the grand style of the black and white Hollywood ﬁlms of the 1940’s “Overtime” is an animated funeral opera full of possessed puppets created by their now deceased master. The animator is clearly a master of their craft. I was blown away. The animation is masterful, the story something that could only be told by one person and it is ﬁnished so professionally it belongs on the big screen. Truly worthy of the term masterpiece.

Thursday

Set in the not too distant future “Thursday” follows one day in the life of a man and woman inhabiting some giant metropolis. Again we see man pitted against nature in a parable about the loss of the world through the act of conquering it. Filmed without a soundtrack, we are introduced to a rhythm set by an alarm clock that is repeated throughout the ﬁlm. The ﬁlm’s tone reminds me of “2001” in its cool, laissez faire attitude towards the modern world man has made for itself. What is ominous about the piece and the way it differs markedly from “Amongst Giants” is the way in which nature expires with hardly a whimper.

Beat

“Beat” is another ﬁlm that relies on rhythm to tell a story. In a cubic structure cubic ﬁgures draw rectangles over and over again. One of them starts to hear something new beating inside them. I think many people can relate to this eureka moment. That moment when suddenly it is impossible to go back to being the ﬁgure sitting at a desk drawing rectangles over and over again.

Archicize

Modern Sex: Best of 2011

Fri, 23 Dec 2011 11:31:06 -0800

Finding videos about sexuality has always been an interesting challenge. There is a lot of sex out there, but not all of it needs sharing. Some of it absolutely warrants being shown to the whole world, but it can get a little heavy and, at times, seem preachy. These five are a representation of some of the more entertaining and thought-provoking videos from the Sex_Love_Intelligence channel.

Nudity Probable

A hilarious satire on the awkwardness of social norms about sex, this video depicts the arduousness of trying to be a good guy and maintaining the image of propriety in the presence of a hot chick.

Miss Representation

The trailer for a full-length documentary about the limiting representations of females in media. While sexual objectification is not always bad (you do, after all, want to be wanted sometimes), it sucks when the world is taught to not compartmentalize its views on an entire half of the species.

How Mating and Self-Protection Motives Alter Loss-Aversion

You want to gain stuff and get what you want… but not as much as you don’t want to lose what you already have. How does this principle affect our strategies around dating? How do men and women differ when it comes to decision making and gambling in the mating game? Some evolutionary psychologists weigh in on the matter.

Think Tank

This video received a significant response from viewers, which warrants its place here. Using the formula made popular by Herman’s Head, this video has the various parts of a man’s body contemplating the next step to take while talking to an attractive female. As expected, the penis can be a real dick.

Arranged Marriage

It’s hard to guess where this video is headed because it’s not the type of predictable falling-in-love narrative to which we are accustomed. Two single Indians meet for the first time and sit down to assess whether they would work as a married couple. In order to facilitate the dialogue, they play a game of 20 Questions. Compatibility matters, of course, but outlook even more so.

Timaree

Inside Fashion: Best of 2011

Thu, 22 Dec 2011 07:52:00 -0800

Our Inside Fashion curator Roberto Piqueras sent over his top five videos he’s posted in his channel in 2011 and I’m happy to share them with you here. For those of you not familiar with Roberto, he’s a designer who hails from Spain but currently is living in London. His channel is a great glimpse into the world of fashion that has always seemed way beyond me. It’s a great way to appreciate the artistic vision of designers and see some of the film and music that influence the taste and style we rock. Here are his choices below:

SIBLING C5 film

A glimpse into Sibling C5 menswear.

Farmer shortfilm

The “ideal” American Dream set to the music of Lana del Ray.

KISS THE FUTURE

Vintage clothes looking modern and new.

Daniel Lismore

A look at the intriguing and towering Brit - Daniel Lismore.

I love you No. 06 KITTY TWISTER

Recap on some of the most popular looks from this summer.

Comic Appeal: Best of 2011

Wed, 21 Dec 2011 14:46:00 -0800

2011 has been a landmark year for comedy. With the internet smashing any barrier to entry that may have once existed, content saturation is higher than ever. And that’s a boon to a comedy lover like myself! With greater quantity inevitably comes more chances to come across comic productions of great quality - which was certainly the case this year. Even top comedians like Louis CK have taken advantage of the ease of distribution the web affords, opting, in a daring experiment, to eliminate the middleman and release and promote his most recent stand up special (Live at the Beacon Theatre) through the internet - marketing on Reddit, merchandising solely through PayPal - and the experiment paid off. We - lovers, producers, and consumers of comedy - truly live in an exciting time - as is demonstrated by the videos below, my five favorites of 2011…

Vows: Ted & Gracie - A Parody of The New York Times’ “Vows” Series Video

The acerbic wit of stand up comic and sketch writer Jena Friedman was on full display in the clip above - a pitch perfect New York Times Wedding Announcement parody, in which a sweet, unassuming bride-to-be and her creepy, sociopathic fiance brag about their pending nuptials in true yuppie fashion. This clip along with others of Friedman’s I’ve featured this year were enough to get the attention of Late Night host Dave Letterman (who of network late night host has, arguably, one of the darker sensibilities), who recently added Jena to his writing staff. Had it not been for her viral videos and impressive body of work distributed almost solely through the internet, who knows if Friedman would have found the well-deserved success she achieved this year!

Dream Video

Abbi Jacobson and Ilana Glazer have been dumping delightful videos into the internet for what seems like forever. Their webseries - Broad City - has grown from a quirky, clever, web series, the tale of ordinary girls in NYC to - most recently - a show being produced by Amy Poehler for FX next year. In 2011, I featured a number of videos from the talented women behind Broad City. I knew they were destined for a more broad audience and can’t wait to see the show next year. Congrats, ladies!

ThunderAnt - ‪One Man Show‬‏ Video

The critical acclaim of Fred Armisen’s Portlandia isn’t exactly a story of local-kid-makes-good, but when you learn that the show’s antecedent was a web series called ThunderAnt that not many people have ever seen, things come into focus. Armisen has been a cast member of SNL for over a decade and has carved a niche playing strange, esoteric characters. Pair that with Carrie Brownstein’s indie cred and outsider sensibility and the writing of former Colbert Report and Daily Show scribe Allison Silverman, you’ve got a hit. IFC took a chance on a show whose audience was guaranteed to be small from the start because of the little web series that could. It’s no wonder they believed in the project based on the ThunderAnt sketch above - and the others I’ve posted in the Comic Appeal channel this year. Just in time for the new year, the second season of Portlandia premieres in the first week of January.

‪ABG | The Misadventures of AWKWARD Black Girl - Episode 5‬‏ Video

Issa Rae came out of nowhere in 2011 to produce one of the most watched web series of the year - The Misadventures of the AWKWARD Black Girl. On the heels of her success, she’s been featured on CNN and just about every site where videos are embeddable. By her own admission, Rae tapped into a market to which no one had catered comedically: she created “the Black Liz Lemon”. If rumors are to be believed, we should be seeing Issa on the small screen very soon.

Louis CK - Being White Video

It’s impossible to estimate just how many Louis CK videos I’ve shared on Redux this year - and even more difficult would be to choose a favorite. What’s not hard to believe is why this man has found so much success. An autodidact and jack of nearly all trades, Louis CK can tackle a controversial topic like no other comic alive: race, politics, religion, and any other subject on which lesser comics would fear to tread are handled deftly in Louis’ hands. Not only that, but his history of being self-sufficient (an filmmaking, camera-operating, animating, writer, who can probably juggle and speak Aramaic - wouldn’t put it past him, honestly) garnered him an unprecedented unsupervised deal for Louie with FX. It’s great seeing bits I recognized from his old web videos and stand up specials (helicopter escapes and “a bag of d!cks”) show up on his new show. If this year was any indication, obviously, this is just the beginning and I’m excited to see what Louis has in store next.

Becca.