&I'm off

For last minute shopping, frantic 'what-am-I-forgetting' moments and generally just to get the fork out of the office. Have an awesome Christmas and a safe and stellar New Years.
Catch you mid Jan.

&Alliwantforxmas..

No I don't want the Mariah Carey Album but I do want a lot of stuff....

Concert Tickets. Laneways, Dead weather, Crooked V, Splore and thats just the exspeny ones.
There is no way I can afford all this goodness.



I can't find this album anywhere....



Some new specs. These Frogskin 'Root beer' Oakleys are pretty tight as are these 'Monster Children' Graz.


A Motorbike. I would even settle for one of those bandannas with the skeleton mouth. If you can't afford the Triumph.



A magazine subscription to Creative Review. This mag ISgood reading and their blog is pretty decent2. (This is the student cover comp winner)



Good weather. Cheese I know, but tis essential.
But not 2 sunny. My fragile British pigment wont appreciate it.



Something to cover my Laptop. Why is it so hard to find something nice which isn't ridiculously overpriced. And no, I don't want to lugg around a recycled billboard skin.



A pretty girl in a nautical outfit would be a great New Years gift.




And last of all.... something kewl to put on the wall.



And that's about it I guess.



Merry Xmas. Catch you at RNV.

&Top5Albums

It can be hard these days discerning between good quality music and HYPE. But here’s my best shot.

So I bring to you the High&Mighty: Best Albums of ‘09

I am by no means a music critic, aficionado, or any way affiliated with the music industry. (Hell, I battle to play the tambourine) but this is one mans humble opinion on the albums that were the goods in ‘09. Some expected, others are like ‘SEAL’, and punching WELL above their weight.
I’m sure there’s heaps of challenging albums, unsigned treasures and albums so underground the moment I hear about them they loose their coolness, but I didn’t buy them/ or listen to them, so they ain’t on the list. Nuff.

So here we go. In no specific order.



Phoenix - Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix.
In an unfortunate economic climate(tired of that?) it’s good to see we can get a happy little jaunt with the fourth album from French pop-rockers, Phoenix. Crowd pleasers like ‘1901’ and ‘Lisztomania’ and a remix CD to boot. Def a good party starter. Key Track: Love Like a Sunset, Pt. 1 & 2



The XX- XX
This Bass heavy, minimal and friendly on the ears album is one of 2009’s finest. It has become a background music regular on the mean streets of Franklin and will be a popular outfit come Laneways. This space friendly debut album has definitely raised a few eyebrows .
Key Tack: Crystalised/ Heart Skipped a Beat



Mos Def – The Ecstatic
We haven’t had the best from Mos since Black on Both Sides. Yeah, yeah, acting career(See that rap I just did). But this album holds the candle for hip-hop which has been slightly lacklustre the last 12 months(bar Raekwon). There are a few notable lapses in the album but songs like ‘History’, ‘Twilite Speedball’ and my favourite hip hop song of recent times, ‘Auditorium’, holds it together. Key track: see above.



The Dead Weather – Horehound
I don’t care what people say because this album is gun totin’, whiskey sipping, heel stamping S.E.X. The wailing cries and heavy guitars on the intro track ‘60 feet tall’ set the tone for a job well done. A menacing album. Jack White is a consummate professional.
Key track: Treat Me Like Your Mother



Grizzly Bear – Vecatimest
This lurvly blend of neo-folk (Yeah, I read that somewhere) make this gorge album one of the best, if not the best, this year. Their live sound is provoking and a great addition to the ‘deluxe version’. Subtle and smooth melodies on tracks like ‘Fine for Now’ and ‘Two Weeks’ bring you in and unlike other similar sounding albums you don’t need to listen too contently. Many of their songs involve an effortless crescendo, which gives each song a certain closure(that may have sounded wanky...hmm, it's pretty gooooood aaaay)
Key track: While You Wait For the Others

That’s about it.
You care?
Not much? I do.

As you were.

&Bikes

Scattered all over the city are these bikes that you can pick up and ride around for a minimal fee. Just call up Next Bikes and say... "Good day kind sir, I need to get to the market super quick! What's the code on your eco-friendly machine?" ....and you're away.

Also on the side is some work we did for New World Franklin Road. My local.



This side has a map with directions to the store.



Opp. side



Fortunately for us, the shape of the media was a leaf, which helped our next concept.



Not amazing creative but fun playing around with different media spots.

On ya bike.
http://nextbike.co.nz/

&OfficeXmasdo

She only looks appealing because you see her every day and you are thinking what your thinking every day. Be warned.







Wicked night down at Union Fish building, featuring special performance by the world famous 'Wing'.

&stopmotion

...is back in vogue. Check out these clever little numbers

&Wi-fry

So simple. so clever. Doesn't even need a logo.

&Tonight

Weeeee bit excited.

&Warriors

Last week I got my directing on with a few of the Vodafone Warriors for the upcoming 2010 season launch. Was a mint arvo getting all jocked out. Plus, got to check out the new kit. Looking sharp, may have to invest.






This campaigner was a fan we got up for the shoot. He drove all the way from Kawerau and does the same for every home game. Real true blue Warriors fan and this tatt was to commemorate the '02 Grand Final.
These kind of fans are what the Warriors are all about. Blue Collar working class doof doof kind of geezers.

Love it? then how 'bout a montage?

&Beck

I really like Beck. He is in a small group of contemporary musicians whose albums always seem to deliver. I think he produced this song also. Check out the vid. It's awes....

Charlotte Gainsbourg - Heaven Can Wait from Charlotte Gainsbourg on Vimeo.

Gainsbourg on the other hand. I'm not sop sure. Going from Antichrist to 'Heaven Can Wait'

2 other things of note:

a) I am going to Animal Collective tomorrow night. Don't know a lot of their old stuff but should be an experience.
b) I am compiling a Best Albums of '09 list. Want to get it out early before all the other lists. So keep checking.

As you were.

&HolidayShoppers

&Franklin

As a resident of Franklin road, we are required to erect Christmas lights every year. It's Franklin's chance to give something back to Auckland City. (What the fuck has Auckland given me?) So last weekend I risked life and limb and climbed up on a very suspect roof to get our house looking A grade.

After consulting the High & Mighty design team, and a few conceptual amendments, we had our final result ready for the big Dec 1st Grand opening light switch. We made it with an hour to spare. John Banks was around for his usual handshaking oppo and a few of our peers joined in the fun.

House looked alright. Pretty average iPhone snap but ya get the idea. However this Christmas light thing doesn't stop there. It's like a drug, we want to put more up here, cover that space there... I just need more feckin lights!

Aside from the parking hassles it's pretty mint having swarms of people driving and walking up and down your street. I especially like the little kids (I wonder if that sentence registers on net nanny sites) who stop and comment to their folks. Makes it all worthwhile.

So come check out our crib. But don't park in the driveway.

&Christmas

Yet again folks it's that time of the year. The shops get crazy. My bank account takes a serious whooping. We hang out for some good weather which never eventuates. And we share interesting, fun and alcohol induced stories with friends and family. Only 3 weeks to go.



Here's something I made for New World to celebrate their Xmas.
Oh, and Santa.... I want an Xbox.

&WTWTA

Opening this Thursday. I haven't been to the movies in an age as there hasn't been anything worthwhile. This Thursday, all that will change.
Spike Jonze is master.




Filming in OZ in these bleetin' outfits (get it, he's a goat... monday) sounds like a horror show.

Where the wild things are. Opening this thursday 3rd

&picoftheday

H.S.T

&Neckface

&BlackRoc

New album from the Black Keys coming soon featuring a plethora of Hip Hop's Finest

It's good.

&BTT

&Autocomplete

Kewl site outlining the weird and wacky things Google throws out there for its Auto-complete option.




http://autocompleteme.com/

&48

This year a small yet dedicated crew from work battled hard through the night to produce their film "A family undertaking". It's basically a story about a bro/sis combo who inherit their Fathers funeral business and battle to make it successful despite the efforts of the nasty Alex Puddle. (Terrible synopsis, but watch it and you'll find out).

Some of the team were up the whole bageezin time (and no they were not 'on it'). Unfortunately, they didn't take away any of the spoils but had a pretty good time considering their lack of sleep.

The genre they were given was 'family' which is a slight stitch-up, but as you can see they did rather well. See if you can spot my David Bain cameo.
Big kudos to Mr Ed Bell aka Alex Puddle.

&AlbumArt

It's about the time of year when everyone starts to compile 'best of' lists and I will try put something together when I have some spare time. However, here are some of my favourite album covers of '09.






Think the simple idea in the Jarvis Cocker cover does it for me the most.
See some other nominees right about here.
http://www.artvinyl.com/en/nominate/nominations.html

&though for the weekend

&gimme some

&poster

Couple of posters I thought were noice //
Not sure what the 'Get Involved' scheme is, and yes I should have done my research but it is friday and I am hungry.

&XX

These guys couldn't be any cooler if they tried. Very 'Hip' at the moment. (How sweet is it that the word 'hip' never went out of fashion - I like it)



See you at Laneways.

&Account Dracula - Bill ballin'

One of the prizes from our Battle of the Ad Bands comp win was this sweet lil' billboard up in Newton gully ///





Fame comes easily.

&NBA

I am so happy the 09/10 season is in full swing. I'm all over the underdogs. The Bulls, Blazers and keen to see the Suns bringing the heat once again.

&Sound

Every image has a sound.

&economist

The dream client. The most compelling advertising in the world.
The account I want to work on.