D.O.T.F.

My design of the fortnight is what Foster The People have chosen do design of a huge building. Basically in time for their second album release they have created this huge-ass mural on the side of a building in Los Angeles. The artist who painted it is called Young & Sick and they also did the art work for the first Foster The Peoples Album. I think it is a cool piece of art and a great idea to spice up a boring old building by giving it a splash of colour. Also below you can see the concert they performed after the mural was complete and you can really tell it stands out.

YouTube Video Of The Week! 28/01/14

A quick one this week. Heard this and loved it, a different style than my previous picks and it is probably one of my favourites from Young Fathers.

New Feature SoundCloud Song!!!!

Exciting news, every other Thursday I will be doing my SoundCloud Song. Basically I will post a particular track that I have loved from SoundCloud from the past 2 weeks. It will be on alternate Thursdays to my D.O.T.F.

This time I have chosen the track Lie Back by the group Shy Nature. I heard about them through NME and this single is really great. Also Lifeboats below is another good track but with a more melancholy feel.

YouTube Video Of The Week 21/01/14

This weeks track really surprised me, infact I only knew I was going to pick this song about 2 hours before me writing this. I changed up the music on my iPhone and put a bit of Caitlin Rose on there and that is when I heard this song. It is such a simple song and it really shows what can be done with just a voice and a tambourine. The track being live just makes it even more wholesome and sweet sounding plus the added hand claps from the crowd. This video deserves way more views than its got and Caitlin Rose has got plently more great tracks to check out.

 

D.O.T.F.

I have read an article in the latest edition of the Guitarist magazine and it renewed my adoration for Fender design. I really love the design of the Fender Vintage Hot Rod '60s Telecaster. It is such an iconic design that is idolised by so many musicians and general public alike and for great reason. I prefer it to the comparable Stratocaster mainly because of the overly curvy corners of the Strat and the more smooth and gentle curves of the Telecaster. I also like the symmetry of having all the controls in a straight row. In the future it wouldn't be the first guitar I would buy but it would definitely be the first Fender electric.

Also be sure to check out my Tumblr for more great images:

www.ruvensivyer.tumblr.com

YouTube Video Of The Week! 14/01/14

There has been a few different contenders for this weeks pick but the winner is Baby Blue by Badfinger. Yes I first heard this track at the end of Breaking Bad and I love it as a song aside from being in the show. It sounds so much seeped in that classic rock era that I really enjoy and it sounds timeless to me. That is probably part of the reason they used it in the show. Super catchy and upbeat and just a song that will put you in a great mood.

YouTube Video Of The Week! 07/01/14

This weeks pick is the legend that is George Harrison with the track My Sweet Lord. I have recently purchased a couple of different Beatles biographies and I have learnt a fair amount of stuff about what The Beatles did after they split up the band and that is why I have chosen this song. It is one of my favourite songs that was produced post Beatles and I want to dig into what else George Harrison has recorded and see if there is any more gems like this one. Enjoy the beauty that is this track!

D.O.T.F.

2014 is off and rolling now and where ever you are in the world, hope it is going well. The design I have chosen is a gig poster or rather a festival poster by Todd Slater.

It is an advert for the American festival Bonnaroo 2012. He has incorporated a lot of the bands performing at the festival as part of the swirly/cool rooster design, the words are really flowing and smooth. I really like the simple amount of colours used. In my opinion, the fewer colours the better (within reason). 

Todd Slater has also designed posters for Jack White, The National and Green Day to name but a few.

Check out more of his work:

www.ruvensivyer.tumblr.com

Last YouTube Video Of The Week! Of 2013

Happy New Years Eve to everybody. The track I have chosen is The Shins - Turn A Square. I went shopping for the boxing day sales and picked up this Shins album among others not knowing very much about them apart from the link with Broken Bells but I am glad I made this album choice. The track below is one of my favourites from the album. I have already ordered more of their albums to hear more great music. Check it outtt!:

YouTube Video Of The Week! 24/12/13

So it is Christmas eve and I have decided to include a Christmassy track in this weeks post. 

My first video is The Julie Ruin with Oh Come On. I heard about this band randomly pretty recently and it has opened me up to a bunch of bands from the riot grrrl scene that I want to listen to more music of. This track I really think has a powerfulness that hopefully I find in more of the tracks from this genre.

My Christmas pick is Run-DMC. I heard this track on BBC 6 Music and it was the first time I heard a good hip hop Christmas tune. It sounds really of that era but I love the rhythms and cheesy video storyline, everything you would want for a Christmas song.

This is the last post from me before Christmas, and I will still be posting on my tumblr here: www.ruvensivyer.tumblr.com so Happy Holidays everybody!

D.O.T.F.

This Design Of The Fortnight coincides with the starting of my associated Tumblr blog. If you click on the link below you will be sent to the Musicopedia Picture page. It will have photos of the D.O.T.F. plus general images that I think are cool and or inspiring.

So I have chosen the guitar Teye La India E Series. I love pretty much everything about this design. The colours used and the details around the edge of the guitar etc. The biggest thing I like is the tattooesque detail on the front face and the head of the guitar. It gives the guitar a classic and old school vibe which I am really diggin'. When I earn enough to spend 4 grand on a guitar, this will be one of the first on my list.

Musicopedia Picture Dept

YouTube Video Of The Week! 17/12/13

This week I have gone with a vaguely winter sounding video. It is a track called It Gets Cold by the band Eliza And The Bear. I saw them live when they supported Paramore on their recent tour but I haven't heard anything from them until this video came up on my YouTube feed. It is quite a happy song with a nice drum beat and smooth little piano melody. A catchy tune for the cold season.

YouTube Video Of The Week! 10/12/13

This week I have chosen another Yuck track. It is another release from their latest album. I think it has a 90's feel to it but maybe that's just me. Anyway, enjoy!

D.O.T.F.

This week has been incredibly stressful with university deadlines and what seems like a lot of work to do. I have managed to squeeze time to write this in the midst of job tasks. So this fortnights designs I have chosen two album covers of two artists that are really hot right now. One being Courtney Barnett and the other is Swearin'. I really like the cartoon style that links these two together.

 

I like the look that it could be a bad tattoo just with the random little symbols dotted around and dots and crosses to fill in the gaps.

This is obviously a sketch of a famous pice of art by Katsushika Hokusai. It has what I assume to be added peas rolling in the waves. Again it has a very sketchy look to it with just a touch of tone to give the wave depth.

YouTube Video Of The Week! 03/12/13

So December is upon us and Christmas seems to be getting closer and closer. I so far only have 1 set of presents sorted but time is on my side so no worries. So this week my choice, as much as its a leap from my normal style, the male soul hook throughout the song has been hooked into my brain and I seem to keep coming back to this song. Yes that's right it is Kanye West - Bound 2. And yes I know it's raunchy to all hell and badly green screened but that aside I really enjoy this track and I think Kanye is best in his more light hearted songs. I don't know exactly but I just think his voice better fits this kind of track. I know you have probably seen this already or if you haven't, give it a listen and love the vocals from R&B singer Charlie Wilson.

Guitar Making/Luthier Skills

Yesterday I went to see Rik Middleton a local guitar maker from Coventry. I'm currently learning about the process of guitar making and yesterday was a great experience. I learnt about different processes, materials and their sources, equipment/machinery that is needed for the job and lots more. In the afternoon of the day he also showed me how to bend the wood for the sides of the guitar. This process was always something I was interested in learning about and I'm glad I now know how it works. 

Also, visiting Rik has really inspired me to create guitar models on CAD and start building up my workshop equipment so that when I have my own workshop space I will have all the equipment I need to start building and making.

He has also made a book about making a guitar that is available on Amazon and I for sure will be picking up a copy for myself. I look forward to visiting him again next week and learning even more things.

YouTube Video Of The Week! 26/11/13

Right now I am really getting into bands like Pond and Yuck and that is why this week I have chosen a Yuck track (Middle Sea). This video, they have posted straight onto their YouTube account. Great psychedelic guitar sound that I have recently grown to love and proper lose myself in the sound of it all, not to sound like a pretentious nob haha. I think this live version of the track is amazing and really shows off the talent of the band. I imagine these guys along with Pond etc will be great bands to see live and I am just waiting for that chance. Absolute cracker!

Design Of The Fortnight D.O.T.F.

This time around I have decided to talk about a location. The place in particular is The Institute in Birmingham. More specifically, The Library which is the smaller of the two main rooms. I have been to this venue several times and as I think I have stated in the past, it is my favourite place to see bands/artists. The last artist I saw there was Nina Nesbitt (picture below). As you can see I had a terrific view and even though I was on the balcony which is right at the back of the room my view and the sound quality was superb. The layout also is well planned out which I guess is pretty much assumed, with the two bars set either side of the stage and on the main balcony and just below it is room for a merchandise stand still with plenty of room all around for the crowds. Lastly, the style of the venue as a whole is really cool. They keep aspects of the classic look from the outside face of the building but with added modern features where you would want them. Great venue, if you are close to Birmingham go listen to some music and see some great design. 

YouTube Video Of The Week! 19/11/13

This week has been a bit of a tough one for deciding which video to choose. I have watched lots of different songs and different styles but none in particular have jumped out at me.

I then remembered about a singer I saw supporting KT Tunstall at her recent Symphony Hall performance. The man himself is Billy Lockett and the song is Pathways. A nice acoustic number that definately got me excited for the main act. This track is the best one from him that I have heard so far. Play that song!

YouTube Video Of The Week! 12/11/13

Well late last week I found out that Tribes are splitting up. I have really enjoyed the bands two albums and will miss the music they produce. So in a tribute my video of the week is How The Other Half Live from the bands second album. Great song with a catchy guitar hook and killer lyrics.