Redux

Redux Partners with Videology to Bring Free, Premium Content to GoogleTV Viewers

Thu, 17 May 2012 10:52:36 -0700

By David McIntosh- CEO Redux and Brandon Shainfeld – Business Development Videology

Advertising. For decades, it’s fueled the television business model that allows you to enjoy some of your favorite programming cost-free. Now that premium content—along with a much greater choice of programming options—is delivered to your television in new ways, via apps and other means, the business model must evolve.

As you know, many applications now available on connected televisions such as GoogleTV charge a fee—for instance, Netflix and Rhapsody. That’s fine, and that business model works for many service providers and viewers alike. But other entertainment providers, including Redux, choose to deliver content to you free of charge—much like the way you view most content online, or on traditional television. Of course, for this to be viable long term this approach depends on advertiser support. Recently, Redux partnered with the digital advertising solutions provider Videology to bring the first organic advertising solution to a GoogleTV app.

We know that viewers come to GoogleTV to experience first-rate, quality entertainment in a lean-back environment. So in our quest to add an advertising solution to the Redux product, we chose our partner carefully. We would never sacrifice the overall user experience for the sake of ad dollars. Nothing can spoil great content faster than surrounding it with bad advertising—we’ve all seen it. That’s why Videology supplements our programming on GoogleTV with a only limited number of high-quality video commercials from well-known, Fortune 100 brands that are of most interest to Redux viewers. We believe good advertising should seamlessly supplement the user experience, not detract from it.

This new partnership will benefit GoogleTV viewers in two ways. First, the ability to monetize its content on GoogleTV will allow Redux to grow faster, adding more content to provide viewers with greater choice. And looking at the big picture, Videology’s ability to bring premium advertising partners to content providers like Redux and your other favorite apps will continue to drive growth and innovation in the connected television space, and make the viewing experience in this emerging medium richer and more attractive for everyone.

Watching a GoogeTV commercial on Redux will look and feel much look what you’re used to seeing on traditional television, only better. Commercial inventory will be low. Quality and relevancy will be high. And most importantly, programming will continue to be free.

Redux Gets Kooky, Opens Platform for Artists to Sell Directly to Users

Thu, 26 Apr 2012 10:00:00 -0700

We’re excited to announce that Redux has partnered with Humble Bundle to let you pay what you want for a high-quality film you can watch anywhere - on the TV, tablet, or web.

Kooky, the most adorable and artistically transcendental film you’ve never heard of, is now out in the US! We’re helping the producers make it available to you, directly from them. Just visit watchkooky.com, decide what you want to pay, and you can stream the film right here on your computer, tablet, phone or Connected TV.

At Redux, we’re focused on delivering you the best TV-like video discovery experience that’s programmed by people that share your taste: curators, influencers, celebrities, and friends. We’re growing quickly (especially on Connected TV where we’re one of the top downloaded apps on Google TV) because we offer a high-quality TV experience that’s delivered to our users directly by the brands, tastemakers and friends they share interests with.

While we help users discover video from a broad range of online video sources, we’ve found that users love watching longer-form & higher production value content in a lean-back TV experience; on the web watching short-clips for a quick entertainment snack is OK; but when it’s TV-time viewers want an entertainment meal. We’ve also heard from our users that they love direct relationships with content curators & creators - in fact they’re willing to pay more when they can buy directly from the artists they care about.

This launch is the marriage of those two demands - users want high-quality content in a TV experience, and they love buying content directly from artists.

We’re planning on working with many other special artists like this in the future - enabling artists to make more money by selling directly to their fans, thereby giving you direct access to beautiful TV-quality video and film through a delightful streaming and discovery experience.

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If you’re an artist or professional content creator interested in selling content directly to your fans across the web, tablets and Connected TVs, check out Redux for Artists and submit your email address or drop us a line.

The Marriage of Creators and Curators

Fri, 23 Mar 2012 17:52:00 -0700

Awesome visual notes from the panel.

Content curation and creation are moving so rapidly that we’re trying to define the terms to describe what we’re doing as we’re doing it. Two panels at SXSW Interactive really spoke to this. The first was Kirby Ferguson and Austin Kleon’s panel “Everything is a Remix, So Steal Like an Artist.” With the birth of YouTube and ease of online sharing, copyright lawsuits have attempted to put the power back in the hands of big media. Kirby Ferguson took a huge step against this through his video series. It has helped to shed light on the remix culture that has always existed in creation. Although many in the audience admired Ferguson’s leaps forward, there was still a tangible hesitancy in the crowd to join the movement. The big question being, would they be hurting their careers and future if they did. The scare tactics used by these corporate lawsuits seemed to have made an impact.

We actually got to speak to Kirby Ferguson this week, and he told us he received almost all positive feedback to his series. He also didn’t experience negative repercussions for using media he didn’t own to tell a story. We asked him about the research aspect of creation that they discussed in their panel, and whether he felt that was moving more towards the public sphere. His thoughts were that the growth of the Internet and tools available will lead to more public research by content creators, but at the end of the day, it would be based on personal preference.

I see a huge link between this public research and what was being discussed at “The Curators and The Curated” panel. There wasn’t one set definition of curation that was agreed upon, but they delved into some important points about what goes into curation. It was made clear it isn’t a process that is “simple” (like sharing images to a blog). Having David Carr, from The New York Times, on the panel was a powerful way to tie the new process of curation to writing a journalistic article. Although it’s moved from print to the web, curation is something that still requires time, thought, and research. Curation is relevant to Kirby’s research because thoughtful curation is a way for creators to track their research and inspiration as they create. It’s almost like a virtual trail of breadcrumbs a content creator can leave. When questioned later about inspiration or influence, all they have to do is point back to the curation they did while working on the project.

This also ties into more evergreen content - and the desire expressed at the curation panel - to not lose content in the archives due to a desire for the new. A lot of research done by creators looks at more evergreen topics and can be thoughtfully curated. The beauty of the joining of public research and curation is that it creates a conversation between creators and their fans. The feedback helps creators and curators’ understanding, supporting and inspiring what they’re making.

There is a desire for creators to share their process and inspiration with their fans, and this will be fueled by curation. I’m expecting to see major developments in the relationship between curation and creation over the next year, and I’m excited to see what shape they take.

Kira Weinberg

South by Southwest is Really the Music Capital of the World

Tue, 20 Mar 2012 15:00:00 -0700

Photo by: Jan Janner

When I first briefly glanced at the lineup for Austin’s South by Southwest Music Festival my immediate thought was, “Shit, I only know about five bands from this list. Does this make me a poser? Pitchfork is totally going to reject me from their party now.” But upon closer inspection, I realized that there were loads and loads of artists and bands that I feature on Music:Backstage who were coming to Austin, that little live music oasis in the middle of the big red sea of conservative Texas. And for a week, all the weirdos of the world flooded sixth street to experience the mayhem. At the end of my stay at the “live music capital of the world,” I was looking a bit like a cracked out Amy Winehouse- sleep deprived, malnourished, and bloated with beer. But as my taxi neared the airport to go back to reality, I couldn’t help but grin with BBQ-stained teeth as I thought, “Damn, that was a hell of a ride.”

Without further ado, here are some of my most interesting concerts, experiences and takeaways from the music portion of SXSW:

Folk

To be fair, I only heard a few songs of Finnish folk artist Mirel Wagner’s set before I rushed off to catch another show, but her haunting music is the type that will stay with you long after her show ends. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not trying to be emo with my last statement considering modern folk music really annoys me these days. I usually hate that bearded, romantic, whiny folk rock like Fleet Foxes, but Wagner’s melodies are entirely different. It’s macabre, dark, sad and tragic without being cheesy or manufactured. This is the type of folk that Sub Pop should promote instead of boring shit like Beach House. Wagner’s music comes across as real honest and pure, which makes me wonder what exactly happened to her in her past to achieve that effect.

Psychedelic

Austin has a rich history of psychedelic music, birthing Rocky Erickson and the 13^th Floor Elevators. So it comes as no surprise that there was an array of psych-influenced bands to check out this year. My favorite were Austin natives, The Black Angels, who have this spacy, hypnotic sound that seems like it’s been floating aimlessly in the air for a few decades from somebody’s garage. They don’t sound like an imitation of the 1960s, because their music has a very modern feel to it. It’s like they painted that colorful LSD sixties sound a shade of black. It’s dark and angsty, thanks to lots of reverb and a tremolo pedal used in almost every song at their show.

Another reverb-heavy psych band was The Black Ryder (Black seems to be popular in band names these days. Oh, those emo kids). The reason I like this band is because everybody in it looks like a sexy, gothic Elvira (even the guys, no joke!). The band is made up of ex-members of the Morning After Girls, which is good that they ditched that band because I saw a Morning After Girls T-shirt at a Mexican 99 cent store the other day. The Black Ryder’s cool, apathetic expressions reminded me of many of the early grunge bands who had this “I don’t want to be here. My life sucks” ethos. It was great! Think of what Black Metal Motorcycle Club would sound like if they had a sensual, Australian female singer who’s reminiscent of Morticia.

If Spacemen 3 had a baby with the Brian Jonestown Massacre then it would probably end up sounding like psychedelic and dreamy Psychic Ills. You know that these guys took some kind of illegal substance to create these weird, tribal sounds that would make a perfect soundtrack for a 1970s horror flick about aliens. There’s only one word to describe their show- “Trippy, Man.” I guess that’s two. But, Psychic Ills didn’t impress me as much as Cosmonauts who are self-described as“psych-punks,” because their show had that raw energy of garage rock mixed with that heavy and powerful Velvety Underground feel.

Garage Rock

I’m a huge fan of garage rock so I was excited to see Bass Drum of Death, coming all the way from the depths of the Mississippi, at Vice’s Noisey party. Surprisingly, for a Vice party, the place was half-empty. But because there was so much concerts and events going on at one time, most of the smaller shows had a very small audience compared to famous headliners who had four-hour lines. At that point, exhaustion had taken over my body. But Bass Drum of Death’s energetic performance made me sway my body ever-so-slightly. They totally reminded me of Ty Segall with their raw, garage sound that had a hint of nineties rock. Plus, the guys in the band had really pretty hair. Did I mention they had nice hair?

Every time I go see Thee Oh Sees gigs in San Francisco, their shows almost always erupt into a giant mosh pit. When you go to their show, it’s inevitable that somebody will spill whiskey on your face or step on you. But, their show in Austin was relatively calm in comparison to their San Francisco shows. Maybe it’s because I’ve seen the chaos from their Frisco shows, but I thought the mosh pits were half-assed attempts. In any case, they still put on a wild and rowdy show even if half of their audience were exhausted and talking with their friends.

Electronic

My only gripe about SXSW was that they did not represent the emerging electronic scene as well as they featured indie rock and alternative hip hop. Don’t get me wrong, my first love has and will always be indie rock. I just have a thing for guitars. But, there is a lot going on in electronic music right now, especially in Berlin. It would have been cool to see some more Berlin minimal DJs or Detroit-influenced techno DJs performing a set at a post 2am party. Though, I’m very thankful Dubstep wasn’t big (besides Skrillex, but you got to appease the masses somehow).

I did get to see Berlin based Apparat whose electronic music is pretty innovative. Interestingly enough, I spoke with Apparat briefly after his show, and he was a total arrogant asshole. He “dissed” me by mimicking my American accent and basically had no interest in talking to me as I thought, “Dude, screw that interview!” Though, I don’t care if he’s a prick because his music is just so awesome.

On the reverse side, American electronic producer Matthew Dear is a pretty humble and down-to-earth guy. I met him years ago, but I didn’t get a chance to see him live until SXSW. He was dressed like one of those eighties new wave artists and had the backing of a full band, which contributed to the very experimental feel of his music. I totally understand why people continually compare him to David Bowie or Brian Eno. Dear never looked at the audience once. He wasn’t performing for a crowd nor putting on a show. He was simply immersed in his craft and concentrating on his sound, which I guess makes him one of those serious musicians.

Hip Hop

WTF was Jay-Z doing performing at SXSW? This is the over-bloated, money-hungry, superficial celebrity who attempted to make money off Occupy Wall Street by selling OWS shirts without donating any money to the cause. Plus, his music just really sucks. It’s surprising that pioneers like Public Enemy, who are equally as famous, didn’t take his place since they kind of fit more with the SXSW crowd. Not that I care for famous musicians at SXSW, since it’s suppose to be about this indie, dive-bar spirit, but if there are going to be famous headliners then they should at least fit with the demographic.

Another “WTF” moment was Snoop Dogg performing in front of a giant faux Doritos vending machine. Snoop Dogg just seems to be one giant, walking contradiction. Perhaps that’s why he is so fascinating. This is the guy who was an actual pimp at the same time he was chilling with Martha Stewart. If he is suppose to be “real” then why is he whoring himself out to Doritos? Though, I met with one of Snoop’s close acquaintances who shall remain nameless, and he told me that Snoop is quite real and spiritual- always giving back to his community. In fact, Snoop’s spirituality and generosity actually changed ‘anonymous media head honcho’s’ life at a time when he was struggling with serious depression. Snoop taught him to look at the brighter side of the things. So, I guess Snoop “the counselor” is cool in my book. Plus, you can’t hate a guy who has a giant blunt in his mouth 24/7.

Spoek Mathambo

I’m not the biggest fan of hip hop, but South African Spoek Mathambo was a pleasant surprise. I ran into infamous music interviewer Nardwuar at his show, and Nardwuar proceeded to ask me who was next saying, “He wanted to check out some of the artists signed to Sub Pop.” I panicked, considering I couldn’t pronounce Mathambo’s name for shit. I ended up saying, “Uh, SPOCK Mathambo.” Cool, now Nardwuar probably think I’m a Star Trek freak. When “Spock’s” show began, he was probably the furthest thing from mainstream hip hop that you could think of by combining elements of hip hop, rock, electronic and African beats. Can you even call this hip hop? I wasn’t sure. On top of my confusion, he ended up doing a cover of “She’s Lost Control,” by one of my favorite bands: Joy Division. I usually hate covers, but I thought it was a proper homage since Spoek kept that same dark originality of the song but added a new twist, very unlike Disney’s disgusting “homage” to Joy Division via a Mickey Mouse shaped T-shirt.

Not Seeing The Jesus and Mary Chain

I really wanted to see one of my favorite bands The Jesus and Mary Chain, but the line was around 90 minutes long and the venue was already full to capacity. I tried to get “cut in line” press passes earlier that day, but they were gone before I could even ask. It’s interesting that Jesus and Mary Chain were a hot item, considering they are not even a household name. But, I guess the SXSW crowd knows their music since they are all in the industry themselves. I was waiting in the line for around 35 minutes, when the “bouncer” lady told me that that they are only letting one in and one out. I thought it wasn’t worth my time, and I said, “screw it,” and left to see mediocre DJs Flight Facilities perform. Interestingly enough, I randomly got invited to a private after-party because I looked like some chick in a band, and guess who shows up? The Jesus and Mary Chain. I guess waiting in line is for suckas.

Street Performers

My favorite random street performer was the “Violin Monster.” He was an accomplished violinist who drew a large crowd because of his impressive skills. It was clear that the violin monster could play very well. He was nicknamed “monster” because he sported a Halloween type wolf mask on his head, hiding his face from the audience. Now, I have a thing for musicians, especially those who are very accomplished at playing their instruments. Does it make me a weirdo for getting turned on by this “Violin Monster” because of his excellent musical ability? Shit, does that make me a “Furry?”

Food

Austin has some cool restaurants, including places like “Heavy Metal Pizza” that would make someone like Vegan Black Metal Chef proud. I decided to check out Casino El Camino for dinner, since they were known for their hamburgers. As soon as I entered the pub-like atmosphere, I ordered an “LA-style hamburger” from a kitchen which looked like it used to be a back-room abortion clinic. All of the cooks were these big burly guys with tattoos, long-hair and piercings, and as soon as I saw them, I knew that I picked the right place to eat. The music was punk (just my style) and there was a very drunk leather-clad British guy who sung me a nice rendition of “Anarchy in the UK.”

I went to the bar to get some water, and a 40 something year old blonde woman, who looked like she belonged in a 1992 dentist’s office, told me in a very heavy Southern accent that she came to the festival to try to snag a rock star but that she hadn’t had any luck so far. I said “good luck,” and ordered some tap water from the bar.

The bartender, who had this pissed off expression on his face, told me that I had to pay $1 for tap water not including tip, which is weird because Austin doesn’t charge for tap water. He said, “Since you have a SXSW badge, it will be a dollar.” I laughed, but he wasn’t joking. The local Austin couple next to me said “We’ve got it,” and gave him the dollar. I preceded to have a conversation with them, and they told me that the bartender used to be an ex-member of Alice in Chains. I don’t know if it’s true or not, but it makes for a cool story, and they don’t seem like the type of people to ‘troll.’ Considering half of Alice in Chains is dead, I wonder who he could be? Oh yeah, the hamburger was delicious and makes In-N-Out look like McDonalds.

Check out the Music:Backstage channel on Redux to see some more of my favorite bands and concerts including Fiona Apple, Chairlift, Tashaki Miyaki, Dinosaur Jr. and Tom Morello at Occupy SXSW.

Natasha Umer

SXSW Style X Review

Mon, 19 Mar 2012 15:00:00 -0700

Photo by Gabriel Sanchez.

With the onset of the recession the DIY movement flourished. Walking around the Style X event at SXSW on Friday it was clear that DIY had made its way into fashion. Of course not every booth embodied that quality, but it was definitely the majority. Even Refinery 29, a fashion site not designer, was repping the DIY. They had a table where attendees could use scraps to create cute bracelets and headbands.

Another aspect that contributed to the more grassroots feel was that you could speak to the designers as you perused their products. It was almost like going to the local farmer’s market.You can ask where they source their materials from, what the inspiration was, and all those other random facts you don’t get from the tag. Unfortunately that same friendly vibe I got from the rest of SXSW was lost on me at Style X. Perhaps it was because I was one of the first there and people weren’t quite ready, but the booths felt really uninviting. Or maybe the vastness of the convention center didn’t allow that energy to bounce off the walls the same way it did during Interactive. Regardless of the reason I hope that Style X finds a way to be a bit more approachable to more general fans of style next year, who don’t necessarily have a background in the industry.

Kira Weinberg

SXSW: A First Timer's Takeaways

Mon, 19 Mar 2012 13:00:00 -0700

Attending SXSW was like visiting a best friend or lover for a week. I looked forward to it for months but by the end I’d overloaded on their love. All I could focus on was their faults and what I was missing back home (in this case by the end of the week I was craving the Bay Area’s cold weather and empty streets). The moment I got to the Austin airport to head home though, the depression hit. I realized what an amazing experience I was leaving and wanted to hail the next taxi back towards 6th Street. I didn’t get the infamous SxSars, but after I left I was instantly craving that chaos and positive energy. As a first timer I was stressing a bit too much about how to make the most of my time. I should have just let SXSW take me along for the ride. I’m already excited to put my experience to good use next year and get even more out of it. For now all I can do is reminisce on my favorites from the festival and live off the positive energy and inspiration I took back with me.

One of the films I was happiest to see at SXSW was “Wonder Women! The Untold Story of American Superheroines.” Judging by how quickly the sxxpress passes went for them, I was not the only one. It was only a few years ago when I realized that my hopeless romantic nature had been fueled by Disney movies and the way women are portrayed in media. Since this realization I’ve been on an intense search to find strong female leads, both fictional and real, to share with my sisters and fellow ladies. This documentary was the perfect place for me to find this. It depicted women of all ages and types who are embodying what being a “superhero” means in the modern sense. It was inspiring because it’s a reminder that there are other women who are out there and on this journey with me. At the same time it was a bit disheartening to see how little progress actually has been made. I guess when you squish an issue that has spanned decades into less than two hours it makes things look a little bleaker. Regardless of your gender or age this documentary is a great piece to check out. Also, it was Kickstarter funded and it’s awesome to see it going so far with crowd-sourced funding!

Another film that everyone should see the first chance they get is Brian Knappenberger’s “We Are Legion.” Over the past year Anonymous has made their name known to the masses but it seems that very few of us actually know where they started from. This documentary tells that story and is entertaining from beginning to end. The things they talk about all seem like common sense after you hear it (like the fact that the geniuses behind Anonymous are also behind some of our favorite Internet memes). It’s an interesting look at this group of people who are masters at understanding the Internet. It left me wondering about the new terrain and generation of information we’re entering. If you’ve been covering the Occupy Movements at all or just curious about bringing the power back into the hands of the people you need to watch this.

photo by Bobby Hundreds

During the music portion I got to see Blood Orange, also known as Devonte Hynes. I saw him pretty early on in the week which set a high standard that other acts got compared to. The New York-based artist has written and produced for other artists like Solange Knowles, Basement Jaxx and Florence and the Machine. His solo work however is where his talent truly shines though. Every sound you hear he’s created and he’s wicked good on the guitar. It was one of the few sets at SXSW where I didn’t check my phone once to see what shows were going on next. I was just completely immersed in the music. Check out his single “Dinner” for a glimpse of his soulful beats.

Flight Facilities DJ’ing

Flight Facilities is an Australian DJ duo that I was also really looking forward to seeing and they did not disappoint. Their funky disco dance music perked me up and had me ready to groove. An added treat - they had the singer Jess who does the vocals for their single “Foreign Language” with them and she performed beautifully. Their aviation themed gear added a fun element to the set and it was clear they really just wanted to bring a great experience to the crowd. My only complaint about their set was the crowd and venue felt more club-y than the rest of SXSW but it was still awesome to get to see them live in the states!

Overall SXSW was an incredible experience. There are so many creators and talented individuals in one place that it was impossible not to be inspired. I’m looking forward to next year and seeing the next batch of bands, filmmakers, and creators that flock to Austin.

Kira Weinberg

SXSW: Film and Music

Mon, 19 Mar 2012 00:00:00 -0700

I studied cinema in college, but I became disillusioned with the Hollywood industry. An industry that tends to promote celebritydom over innovative, ground-breaking filmmaking. I soon discovered that my real passion lied with music. Hell, I couldn’t play a note to save my life, but if I couldn’t be a rock star at least I could live vicariously in that world by writing about them.

So you can imagine my excitement when I saw the line-up for Austin’s South By Southwest film Festival because it featured a “24 Beats Per Second” category that combined my two greatest passions- film and music. And just for a a few hours, we too, were apart of that exclusive musician’s club as undiscovered stories of rock fame and misfortune came alive on screen. The type of music docs featured at SXSW would not appeal to your typical mass audience viewer who looks for big explosions and fast MTV style editing. But they were the type of films that made you think- even if it did make you a little uncomfortable afterwards.

Here are my top three music documentaries from SXSW:

Beware of Mr. Baker:

This was my favorite SXSW documentary, so it’s no surprise that it won the SXSW Documentary Grand Jury Prize. After all, You know a film (or butter commercial) has got to be good when Johnny Rotten’s in it. The documentary by newcomer Jay Bulger tells the tale of ex-Cream drummer Ginger Baker- a psychotic, drug lovin’ vagabond whose probably one of the rawest, greatest and craziest drummers that ever lived. He’s one of those larger-than-life characters who makes for the perfect anti-hero protagonist.

Though he’s continually praised by numerous rock stars in the film like Carlos Santana, Eric Clapton, and Chad Smith, Bulger never turns Baker into this type of untouchable rock great nor does he bloat his ego as we witness Baker’s imminent self-destruction unraveling before us on screen (numerous ex-wives, drug addiction, and money problems). From the very beginning, we notice his volatile nature erupt when Baker gives director Bulger a bloody nose (with his walking stick. Now that’s rock-n-roll). Though half the time Baker looks like he’s possessed by Satan, we’re not frightened nor disgusted by him, because he’s still loveable in spite of his persona. He’s the type of guy we all wish we knew at some point in our lives.

Nor do we pity him even though we currently see him as an old man riddled with arthritis. Despite his harrowing life story, Bulger doesn’t turn Baker into a tragic character. There’s no doubt that he has serious problems, but this is the man that ran away to Africa in the seventies (where he currently resides with his young wife) to chill with Fela Kuti. This is the man who influenced the birth of heavy metal, a mad scientist type who said, “fuck it all,” continually refusing to live by society’s expectations. And after the film we’re left with a feeling and realization that “this is the way it was always meant to be.”

Rock “N” Roll Exposed: The Photography of Bob Gruen:

Everybody dreams of being a rock star, but a rock photographer’s live is filled with just as much (or even more) drugs, sex and rock ‘n’ roll. We take a look at the insane world of rock photographer Bob Gruen who captures a moment in time when punk was original, groupies were queens and rock stars were gods. Directed by punk rock’s favorite filmmaker, Don Letts, “The Photographer of Bob Gruen” comes across as eerily similar to an earlier John Chester directed documentary, “Rock Prophecies,” about another infamous seventies rock photographer. But unlike “Rock Prophecies”, “The Photography of Bob Gruen” focuses almost entirely on Gruen’s past and his involvement in the crazy world of seventies rock.

Perhaps my admiration for this film stems from my connection to Gruen. Much like myself, Gruen loved music but couldn’t play a single note to save his life. But in his heart he was “one of them,” an honorary rock star who was accepted into that world of rock mayhem. And despite a lack of technical ability, he managed to capture some of the most raw and intimate moments of rock star history- shooting candid pictures of John Lennon, Yoko Ono, Bob Dylan, Led Zeppelin, The Ramones, The New York Dolls, Blondie and more.

The film’s entertaining story started to wane when it focused too much on Billie Joe Armstrong. Gruen was there for the peak of that magical time in music history when punk rock began to rise. So why focus on his work with one of punk rock’s most notorious posers- Green Day? Despite my own personal preferences against Green Day, I’m still left with a feeling of jealousy. I just wish I could have been there for the wild ride.

Charles Bradley: Soul of America

Charles Bradley has an amazing but harrowing life story. Surviving homelessness and other tragedy that he never deserved, Bradley refused to do anything in life except do what he does best- play soul music. Evidently his determination worked. He released his first record at age 62. Abandoned by his mother, illiterate for much of his life, and living in the shadow of James Brown, Bradley proves that all of life’s obstacles won’t get in the way of true talent.

Bradley’s story is so touching because it’s one that we can all relate to. His story is distinctly American- embodying the struggle of the typical blue collar worker who has been broken down by the system but continues to survive when faced with a lack of opportunity and breaks.

Don’t be fooled by his tragic story. Director Poull Brien doesn’t depict Bradley’s life in a cheesy or melodramatic Oprah-like way, but shows us an entertaining story that somehow manages to inspire someone as cynical as me.

Check out the Music:Backstage channel on Redux to see some more of my favorite SXSW music documentaries including audience award winners like Big Easy Express and Under African Skies and the Short Film Jury Award Winner for Best Music Video by Battles.

Natasha Umer

South By Southwest- Why All The Hate?

Sun, 18 Mar 2012 15:44:00 -0700

Long haired tattooed guys with skinny jeans, media moguls drunk not on power but beer, and local hooligans vomiting in the bathroom are just a snippet of my experiences at SXSW - Austin’s annual convergence of tech/start-ups, underground film, and indie music. As a first-timer to the 26-year-old festival, I was a “newbie,” a “novice,” and a “freshman” who never experienced anything quite so wild in the United States. It was like a hipster Mardi Gras, where massive crowds paraded in the streets at all hours of the day and night, party buses rolled by wolf-masked violin players, and impromptu mosh pits in the street prevented you from seeing your favorite bands - it was glorious.

But, apparently, South by Southwest has gotten a lot of hate. It turned out to the be the “cool thing” to talk about the good ole’ days of SXSW. Big media giants at Universal Music, for example, complained that the festival used to be good ten years ago when it was smaller, more independent, and less corporate. Excuse me? These are the guys that promote shit like Rihanna and Lady Gaga talking about “the degradation of the indie scene.” Riggght.

To give them credit, you were bombarded by advertisements on every corner. Snoop Dogg played his show in front of a massive Doritos faux vending machine (apparently a writer from the LA Times complained about this, but he spelled Snoop Dogg with one G, so you can’t really trust his musical expertise). Spotify rented out an entire green painted party house but only allowed entrance if you joined their site. Miller Lite gave away beer at just about every party you could attend, trying to seduce you with promises of free alcohol and BBQ. But, that’s loads better than other festivals whose companies monopolize a festival, force you buy their shit because it’s the only option you have when you want water or beer, and charge you premium price for it or what most third world country workers would make in a year (ahem, Coachella, Treasure Island, Outside Lands, “Woodstock”). I hate corporate sponsorship as much as the next girl, and I’m probably going to vomit if I see another Doritos bag again, but why complain when you’re getting free stuff?

Another complaint I heard was that the massive crowds and huge lines prevented you from seeing your favorite band or discovering a new one. Okay, so I didn’t get to see Jesus and Mary Chain because the line was about 90 minutes long and the venue was already full to capacity. But there were plenty of smaller bands whose venues were empty ghost towns, like Bass Drum of Death, Apparat, The Vandelles, Blood Orange, Spoek Mathambo, Tashaki Miyaki, Sleepy Sun and the list goes on. I got to see Dinosaur Jr., but the venue was so packed that I couldn’t even see the band or hear them among the clatter of the audience. But that is the point of a festival: it’s spirit of mayhem. Who the hell goes to a festival to experience an intimate session with a band whose sound is perfect and in-tune? That’s what smaller shows are for. You go to a festival to experience the core of music, the craziness, the camaraderie with the guy next to you who just so happens to be the bassist of the band that you didn’t get to see cause the line was too long.

And that’s what South by Southwest was all about: the spirit of music. What I loved most about SXSW was walking by venue after venue and hearing a different guitar riff emulating from every corner. The entire city of Austin was a cacophony of sound, and just about everybody there was into music, whether they were your local blog writer or the head of Interscope records. Having a discussion about Blur versus Oasis at 3am in the morning before heading to a private after party with that new band you’ve never heard of is what it’s all about. It wasn’t a place to discover ‘the next big thing’ - the crowds were too hectic - but a place to experience sound and the liveliness of live music. The closest thing I could describe it to was like entering one of Syd Barrett’s LSD dreams and transforming into a character from “The Wall”. It was like the old days of Sunset Boulevard in the eighties, or like being stuck in David Bowie’s Labyrinth.

You see, I hate Coachella because of the giant frat boy party scene it has become and loath San Francisco’s Treasure Island/Outside Lands for it’s lameness, boringness, and promotion of shitty bands. But, South By Southwest was a different experience. It reminded me a bit of the crazy festivals of Europe ala Sonar where the party doesn’t end, and the music lives on while the people are still celebrating in the streets long after the official venues shut down.

I’ve never been to so many concerts in one day in my life at all hours of the day and night. From the stuffy convention center, to the garage bands in the streets or the exclusive badge entry-only venues and unofficial house parties, you couldn’t escape the music no matter which part of downtown you were in. And the music wasn’t shitty but obscure, genre-bending and innovative. Well, besides Best Coast, Skrillex, and, uhm, Counting Crows. Yes, they played there. I know what you’re thinking.

It was a party for musicians, by musicians, and in celebration of musicians. And the only people who complain are those people who aren’t really into music.

In the end, I didn’t discover a new band or see my favorite artist, but I do have deep appreciation for South By Southwest - a festival whose carnival like atmosphere just makes you want to pick up a guitar and start a band. And that’s what good music festivals are all about.

Check out the Music:Backstage Channel on Redux to see SXSW bands, live concert footage and interviews from the festival.

Natasha Umer

SXSW: Music & Tech

Sun, 18 Mar 2012 00:00:00 -0700

I live in a technology obsessed city, San Francisco, where iPhones determine your entrance into the “cool club,” and everybody’s a part of that hot new start-up, hoping to strike it big as the next Facebook. Imagine me, a music fanatic non-smart phone owner, thrust into the tech-driven world of Austin’s South by Southwest Interactive Festival. When my plane landed in Texas, thoughts were racing through my mind, “Will I be accepted by these emerging leaders of technology or will they reject me, San Francisco style, for deactivating my Twitter account? Should I trade in my leather jacket for some glasses?”

But, the worlds of music and tech are not so far away from each other. At SXSW this year, The marriage of music and tech were hot topics. Technology has transformed the music industry (for better and for worse), and it’s only a natural progression that those two worlds collide.

Products: For Better

LiveMusicStage.com at SXSW

LiveMusicStage is a Helsinki based start-up that live-streams concerts and allows fans to communicate with their favorite musicians in real-time giving you (virtual access, at least) to the ever exclusive backstage. CEO Antti Eronean remarked that he created the website because he was tired of the sometimes indiscernible and foggy audio at concerts and wanted a high-quality way to enjoy live music without being physically present. Though, I do think that there is something special about being in the middle of a sweaty crowd at a live concert and feeling the vibration of the loud amp next to you. Going to a live show is a unique experience in itself, and that atmosphere and feeling can never be replaced or duplicated by a virtual medium. However, sites like LiveMusicStage are a great tool to use whenever you want to see a performance by your favorite artist who never comes to your city and connect with that musician that you just never got a chance to talk to because he (or she) was surrounded by a parade of groupies.

Bluebrain’s Location Aware Album

Imagine having your own soundtrack to life. Bluebrain created a similar experience by releasing an album that can only be accessed as an iPhone app. The songs of the album change depending on which part of SXSW you were at. I think it’s a very neat idea because your setting can determine your mood, which influences your musical tastes. I was intrigued and decided to check it out using my friend’s iPhone. But I didn’t find it particularly useful at SXSW, because I wanted to soak up all the live sounds and music that were echoing from every corner of the festival. While it was a cool app to explore, it felt more like a novelty than anything else.

Products: For Worse

ZYA

Zya is this weird little contraption that’s part video-game, part recording-tool. You don’t have to have any knowledge or understanding of music to use it. Though CEO Matt Sereltic hopes it will be a useful tool for serious musicians to create music. You can literally make a song out of nothing using Zya on your computer. For example, if you hum a song it will auto-tune your vocals for you or transfer your melody into a guitar, piano or other instrument played by animated characters with such “creative” and “edgy” names as “DJ Blockbuster.” Salem Rose will turn your tune into a gothic guitar riff, cause duh, all goths name themselves after witch trials. Hip Giovanni will transform it into a piano piece. And, that big, menacing, intimidating black dude will rap it (that’s not stereotypical at all). Zya would have been a really fun and entertaining product if Sereltic was marketing it as a game only and not as a way for musicians to record albums. But, he hopes that this is the future of music and that’s a very scary thing because we end up losing that very basis of music creativity- which is the passion that drives you to pick up an instrument and pour your soul out. Plus, he’s a fan of auto-tune and Lady Gaga, so you know you can’t trust him.

People: For Better

Mr. Muthafuckin’ eXquire:

I’ve never heard of this experimental hip hop artist before attending his SXSW panel on “The Importance of Online Video and Social Media,” but I did come away with one conclusion afterwards: Mr. Muthafuckin’ eXquire is one badass mother fucker. I don’t feel so out of touch because he came out of left field- just 9 months ago he was checking parking tickets, and he was unsigned until just a few days ago when he landed a deal with Universal Republic after SXSW. But, he wouldn’t have came that far if it wasn’t for Twitter, Tumblr, and other forms of social media that allowed him to interact with fans and gain a cult following by connecting with his audience. Though his 60 something year old fellow panel speaker remarked that at the tender age of 26, eXquire was an old man in the technology world compared to teens nowadays who are more skilled at using social media to their advantage. My response to that critic- “Merry eXmas, Suck My Dick,” (or in other words, the title of his mixtape).

Billy Corgan

Google rented out an entire Austin neighborhood and transformed it into the “Google Village” or perhaps, a preview of “Google World.” eek! Though there was one very cool speaker at Google village this year when Billy Corgan of the Smashing Pumpkins stopped by to talk about the role of music and technology.

Looking a little like Uncle Fester these days, Corgan remarked that there isn’t any good music today because we’re all bowing down to the “god of robot auto-tune music.” He proudly stated that there really hasn’t been anything innovative in music since his generation (typical Corgan asshole statement), but what he did reveal about the music industry was honest, truthful and brave.

For example, he described that while the level of tech was advancing, the music industry was far behind and refused to adapt to new technologies unlike the film world who utilized technologies like blu-ray to provide a better audience experience. The big head honchos of record companies were “scared of kids on computers,” even though his generation was also sharing music illegally by passing each other mixtapes. In 1999, the number one search term was “mp3,” surpassing “sex,” and it took record companies 10 years to sell their music because they wanted to watch “the titanic come down,” instead of adapt. Corgan also said that the price of music is too high- and if it was cheaper there would be less people bothering with torrents.

Final conclusions of the Billy Corgan speech:

He thinks Pitchfork is overly-pretentious fluff that doesn’t serve the artist. (I agree)

There is no good music these days, besides Arcade Fire and Muse. Interesting artists will find a way to penetrate the mainstream no matter how hard it is. (I disagree)

Smashing Pumpkins were revolutionary because your grandma knew about them. (Agree with Smashing Pumpkins being revolutionary. Disagree that success is determined by a like-minded admiration for a “top band.” The internet changed that and exposed us to a wealth of genres and bands. Top bands like the Beatles don’t exist anymore, because we have more options than the radio).

Lana Del Rey is a poser (I agree).

Nickelback doesn’t suck. (I definitely disagree).

Check out the Music:Backstage Channel on Redux to check out more news from SXSW.

Natasha Umer

SXSW Shorts Keeping Austin Weird

Sat, 17 Mar 2012 09:17:00 -0700

The feature-length films at SXSW receive the most coverage during and after the film festival. My heart, however, lies in the short film category. There’s power in such a short piece of content, sticking in our minds for days after we view it, impacting us longer than most 90-minute films we watch. Take “I Am Your Grandma” for example. The filmmaker’s brilliantly weird and playful message for the future was a gem that would pop into my mind days later - and it was only a minute long.

Although I’m a fan of all types of short films, I appreciated the underlying weirdness of the SXSW selection. Films that are deemed “odd” or make a general audience uncomfortable often get lost or hidden. But, at SXSW they shine. Austin really took their “Keep Austin Weird” to heart with this film festival and it created for a unique and engaging viewing experience. A perfect representation of this is Dustin Guy Defa’s “Family Nightmare.” Although you may think you’re watching found footage, what you’re actually seeing is his interpretation of 40 hours of VHS home movies capturing his real-life family. It appeared in the documentary category and the result is a haunting yet humorous piece which was much easier to connect to than I imagined. The line between family dysfunction and happiness is quite thin, if not completely invisible, and he finds a perfect balance.

Things get trippy in “Don’t Hug Me I’m Scared”

“Don’t Hug me I’m Scared” by the This Is It Collective begins like any simple children’s sing-a-long. It’s catchy and up-beat but halfway through there are hints that this isn’t just a happy go-lucky tutorial on creativity. It quickly spirals down into a drug trip gone bad where puppets change mediums and snack on human hearts. The conclusion - let’s just agree not to be creative, since we all know that bad trips or death at 27 is where it’s going to take us.

The Jury Prize winner in the Texas High School Shorts category, “Boom,” even embraced the unordinary. It’s also a wonderful example of how SXSW is trying to bring awareness and recognition to smaller names in the film industry. It begins with a slightly static-y silence that heightens the rest of your senses. I could hear a faint ticking in the background and almost feel the wood under the main character’s hand as he walks up the steps. You have to watch it yourself to see where all the suspense leads to and how tangible they made it.

A burning Furby makes an appearance in “Syndromes”

Kristoffer Borgli and The Golden Filter’s collaborative film “Syndromes” was yet another selection that took viewers into another world. The film follows a girl with a mysterious ability to heal but is only known about by the elites. Borgli seems to always pair a childlike innocence with a darker disturbing atmosphere. It left me feeling haunted yet strangely yearning for more. A personal viewing of the film is required to understand how beautifully Borgli ties the story and image to The Golden Filter’s music.

All the shorts I talk about here can be checked out in my Cinematheque channel. Watch them with friends and go have some interesting conversations about the weird and abnormal. Or just let them inspire you to go make a short film yourself!

Kira Weinberg

Two Must-See SXSW Films

Mon, 12 Mar 2012 11:12:00 -0700

I had the pleasure of viewing two films that premiered at SXSW in Austin this past Saturday. The first is Beauty is Embarrassing, a charming documentary about the very creative Wayne White. I fell in love with his honest humor and playfulness the first couple minutes of the film and was captivated until the end. It was refreshing to see that light heartedness actually does exist in the world of fine art. With phrases like “Starfucker” and “LA You Fuckin Bitch” painted on vintage landscapes you know you’re entering a world of humor rather than vague abstractness when you walk into his gallery. If you’re at SXSW you can still view the film this week as well as check out his gallery, which will be on display at Domy Books in Austin until April 9. Hopefully it will leave you as inspired as it left me.

Beauty is Embarrassing Trailer

Beauty is Embarrassing Clip

Beauty is Embarrassing Director Neil Berkeley Interview

The second documentary, Dreams of a Life, tells the haunting story of Joyce Vincent, a woman who died in her apartment and wasn’t found until three years later. This documentary attempts to unravel the story of the mysterious woman and at the same time provides a glimpse of London in the 80’s. The story leaves you wondering how connected we truly are in this technological age and Joyce will stay on your mind long after the film is over. Check out the trailer and some extra footage below and make sure to include it in your schedule at SXSW.

Dreams of a Life Trailer

Dreams of a Life Clip - Reporters

Dreams of Life Director Video Diary

Kira Weinberg

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.

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