I've Got Your Old ID and You're All Dressed Up Like the Cure

I kind of love this piece by Kat Kinsman about how much The Cure meant (means) to her.

The Cure is a band that has meant (means) something to me, too: I listened to Boys Don't Cry on cassette until the tape was worn thin; it was the first album I owned on cassette that I replaced with a CD copy. The Cure concerts I saw remain some of my favorite shows, even though The Cure is one of the few bands I loved whom I never saw from the front row, whose members I never met.

There are lots (and lots) of bands I liked a hell of a lot, bands for whom I waited outside venues all day just to see their members show up for the soundcheck, bands about whom I thought I'd "literally die!" if I didn't see them every time they were in town, bands whose album covers and posters and t-shirts I treated like sacred artifacts. My Cure t-shirt I wore until it fell apart. Their posters hung on the walls of my bedroom, my dorm room, my first apartment, the corners tattered from thumbtack holes. The jewel case of Pornography has a crack straight down its front, from that time I stepped on it.

Something about The Cure felt less precious to me, and also more intimate.

Most of those other bands never even made it to my digital collection. The Cure is still in rotation.

[Related Reading: Old Fogey, FYI, Happy Birthday, Bob.]

Mick Jagger's first gig

At 15, he was the shoe boy in this 1959 episode of the kids' show "Seeing Sport".



He sure does have the rock 'n' roll attitude about it, though.

Via Dangerous Minds

F'd Ad Fridays: Vintage PSA from the Dead Kennedys

Via Buzzfeed

If you're old enough to have owned cassettes, you may be old enough to remember the "Home Taping is Killing Music" campaign the record labels used to guilt people out of illegally sharing their music. (We had to do it in analog back then.)

You may even be old enough to have owned a copy of this gem of early-80s California punk:

Some rock stars age better than others

The headline on this Dutch record fair campaign says "Discover just how great your old heroes still sound".

But I'm not so sure about that...

Dead since 1997

Dead since 1977

Half dead (and it was the good half, too)

Dead since 2009

Apparently retired

On tour

I get the concept. But the whole point of listening to those records is that they are frozen moments in time. On vinyl (or CD or MP3) Elvis is still The King. Bowie's whatever he was that year. The Beatles are both fab and gear. And they couple who do still play live are actually old, with thickened cocal cords and mellowed stage presence.

No, this campaign misses why records are so special. They are time machines. And I wouldn't have it any other way.

Via AOTW

Amnesty goes on tour with Swedish death metal band

According to PRWeek, Amnesty International has partnered with Swedish band Arch Enemy (above) to promote the cause of freedom of expression throughout their Khaos Over Europe tour.

Via PRWeek

From the release:

Head of art for Amnesty Jo Metcalf explained that partnerships with acts that have strong relationships with fans are a growing focus for the charity. 

‘Working with bands who have loyal supporters who listen when they say something is far more beneficial than talking to them in a general way,’ said Metcalf. ‘When Arch Enemy say something about freedom of expression it has a resonance with fans. That goes for bands from Arch Enemy to U2.’

That's a fairly wide range, wouldn't you say? But a great outreach for Amnesty.



Thanks to Jenn F. for sharing.

F'd Ad Fridays: Babymetal

Japanese schoolgirl pop death metal. Why not?

Thanks to Kerry for the link.

F'd Ad Fridays: Is "Facebook Official" a joke or what?

Everything about this video screams "parody".

The opening.

The hair.

The androgyny. (And the hair.)

The cheesy moves. (And the hair!)

The token diversity. (And my God! The hair!!!)

The dance moves.

The product placements.

And the Rebecca Black league dancing.

When Adland's Dabitch first shared it, I assumed it was a joke. Then I hoped it was one. Then I prayed.

Then I read this article on Perez Hilton:

Is this a joke? This has to be joke.

TELL US THAT THIS IS JOKE!

It's been a long time since the world has had a talented, relevant, five-piece boy band thrusted into their face, and perhaps with good reason. There's some much to live up to - NKOTB, BSB, NSYNC - how could any newbie group every dream of competing. Maybe with a little help from a former boy band member…

Lance Bass would like to introduce you to his new boy band, Heart2Heart. Their first single, Facebook Official, hit the web this week, and it's getting a lot of attention … because people are trying to figure it out!

What is this? Is it a parody? An homage to 2Gether, perhaps? Or has Lance fallen into RB-Rebbecca Black territory? You know, like, he's completely serious with this - the video, the costumes, the horrifying lyrics - and people will jump on board only because the enjoy the sheer ridiculousness of it!

Nobody can tell if ex-'N Syncer Bass is serious or not. Everyone from Queerty to Business Insider is speculating. And that's kind of brilliant.

See more at the band web site 

Sleeveface meets augmented reality

Another Sleeveface sighting! And this one uses classic album covers to augment reality old-school.

Pretty cool.

I would have preferred to see Country Life, though...

There are way too many of these ads, by Leg Paris.

But I imagine it was hard for the creative team to stop, once they got started:

Via I Believe in Advertising

If You Want Brand Over-Extension (You've Got It)

Highway to Hell Cabernet Sauvignon, Hells Bells Sauvignon Blanc and You Shook Me All Night Long Muscat. Seriously?

Oh, God...

BBC reports that AC/DC is launching its own range of Australian wines, to be sold in Woolworths stores across the country starting Thursday.

It's been a long time since Bon Scott drank himself to death in the back of a car. In the 21st century, AC/DC is a brand as the aging rockers continue to perform heavily-merchandised world tours. So from a business perspective, the wines are just one more way to appeal to the band's base of settled-down baby boomers and gen-Xers. But is it just a touch too much?

The AC/DC brand won't be hurt, in the long run, because it has so much established power. But it's still disappointing to see such a cynical move into the middlebrow.

(Plus, where's the "Whole Lotta Rosé"?)

Avril Lavigne: Pretty Vacant

Click image to magnify

Microphone? Check. Guitar? Check. Copious amounts of eye make-up? Check. Dammit, I still can't shake this feeling I've forgotten something. Something important.

Thanks Volker.

Sean Lennon: I Am Not the Walrus

The time has come,' the Walrus said,

  'To talk of many things:
Of shoes -- and ships -- and sealing wax --
  Of Photoshop -- and stings --
I wonder as I gaze upon --
  this clipping job so sodden --
Just why I have been pictured in  --
  a room I've never trodden. --
There is no need to thank me --
  for I've hardly raised a finger --
Instead thank Ted in marketing --
  whose pay must be quite meager.
 
----------------------------------
With apologies to Lewis Carroll.

Thanks Grace.

Original

Parental Gratification – Explicitly Content

Dear Stretchy Pink Toy Company Inc,

I’m writing about the Stretch Minaj™ doll that we gave our Becky for her third birthday last Saturday. Within two minutes, the arms popped off, and the legs remained in their stretched-out state.
Stretch Minaj™ suddenly looked as shocked as Becky, and her expression frightened our daughter so much that she ran out of the house screaming. We haven’t seen her since. I’d just like to thank you for this wonderful product, as we were thinking of putting Becky up for adoption anyway.

Lady Antebellum: A Merry Little Christmas

Christmas comes but once a year and I bet lady antebellum wishes this Christmas never happened.

Thanks Jan!

Next time keep your shirt on

What do guys need nipples for anyway!

Thanks for submitting Sherniseee

David LaChapelle: Stumped

So I guess Christina Aguilera cut his leg off and he hasn't noticed yet.

Thanks to André! Original is here!

11 Most Creative CD Cover Designs

Most Creative CD Cover Designs

SSDC CD cover

Oh Kestrel alt. front cover

Vanguard CD cover

CD Cover

explosion cd cover art

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The Lay Of The Land CD Cover

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Acoustic Patchwork

Joy Electric: My Grandfather, The Cubist

No Alaska CD Cover

Classic Cool CD cover

beck: the information (front cover art)

Industrial Design : 135 Music Websites Designs

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I’ve always been very into music, and so frequently check out music/band related websites. Unfortunately, despite having great content, many websites within the music industry are dull and poorly designed.However, a few musicians and companies live up to the creative nature of the industry and produce some truly awesome website designs. I’ve hand selected 20 of my favorites for you to check out, I hope that you enjoy!

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Music web sites have evolved over time to become one of the most diverse and creative genres of web designs. Every website is unique, has its own purpose, and speaks to its audience in a different way.For web designers, one factor that must always be kept in mind is the target audience of the site you are designing. If you make a music layout for a business site, you’ll end up with problems. This post is an extensive, growing collection of music sites that do a wonderful job of designing for their audience. Every element is targeted to help each site achieve some sort of goal – whether it be ad clicks, CD sales, MP3 downloads, or newsletter subscriptions.