I can't wait!

Review :: Kanye West; 808s & Heartbreak

I'm going to start a new section for my blog; Reviews. From movies, to music, to art exhibitions, restaurants, pretty much whatever needs reviewing! Hopefully I can keep some sort of consistency and continue to post reviews. I'm not sure if anyone ever reads this blog (other than those I call and force to read, lol) but if anyone ever has a restaurant or CD, or anything they want me to check out and review... well then I guess I'd have to do it, haha. Just shoot me an email and I'll do my best. (lorenzo.deguia@gmail.com). So without further ado, let's go to the first review!Whatever you might think of the man, it's hard to argue against the success of Kanye West in the world of music. The outspoken music producer turned rapper has been cranking out albums that have consistently done well across all genres making him a prolific artist in both the hip hop and pop world. With his 4th album release, Kanye has taken his music to a new direction that many hardcore fans may not take a liking to. 808s & Heartbreak is easily West's most honest and emotionally raw addition to his body of work. 

He's traded the club beat hits and soul sound samples that made him famous, for an interesting mesh of pianos, taiko drums, electronic loops, heartbroken lyrics, synthesizers, and even singing! Like I said, many fans will be turned off by this new sound (myself included) but I guarantee after a solid listen of the CD a couple times through you will either love it or hate (I now LOVE this album).

I've been living with the album since its release on the iTunes store and have more or less been listening to it almost every minute of my day (home, car, shower, walking around). When you get deep with the album and really start to hear all the instrumentation and the little details on each track you really start to appreciate how he melded quite a unique sound on such a rich bed off genres. Now, I don't pretend to know a ton of music, I am merely an amateur lover of it, but I'm sure there are other much more experimental, successful artists out there who have gotten big of this sound but its just great for someone (Kanye) who has gotten so famous for a certain style to completely uproot himself and try something different for better or for worse. In a way it reminds me of Beck's album Sea Change. Easily Beck's most mellow, almost "unplugged" album, Sea Change almost permanently  alienated many of Beck's fans. He traded his "pops" and "fizzles" and Loser lyrics for something on the otherside of the spectrum. Since that album, Beck has returned to his regular forte, but Sea Change still remains an important part of his collection but did divide fans. 808s & Heartbreak will probably do the same.

So what's the deal with this album? Well, apparently Kanye and his fiancee decided to call off their engagement earlier this year and this album seems to be a reaction to that lost love as well as the recent passing of his mom.

Highlight tracks; Welcome to Heartbreak; Kanye explores internally. While his friends are starting families, he discovers that all his money and fame haven't exactly brought him happiness. He has all the cars and clothes he wants but no family of his own. "My friends show me pictures of his kids, and all I can show him are pictures of my cribs...." Coldest Winters; Kanye says goodbye to his love and questions his ability to ever be in love again. Taiko drums litter this track with a bit of grit, while an Enya style layer of ambience plays as the backdrop. Street Lights; My favorite track on the album. Kanye contemplates his life. Is he moving too fast? Are the important aspects of life passing him by as he pursues his goals? In a way, it's a song that asks the question, "do you stop to smell the roses?" You get to certain points in your life and look back and you wonder if all your decisions were the best ones. I love this track.

rrreeeennnnddddeeeerrrriiinnnnggggg

takes forever....

Obama Poster

Get it  here

Anybody want to go to Finland...no really.

Just read this awesome article about a resort in Finland called  Kakslauttanen. As you can see from the picture above (courtesy of  The Cool Hunter) this resort is no ordinary vacation getaway. Activities range from having a meal at the world's largest snow restaurant, snow mobile ice safaris, and even ice swimming. Looks fantastic. Pictured are their Igloos that are available to stay at. Anyone?

Work News :: Booked 5 Commercial Campaign!

Great news. I just locked a commercial campaign with a huge brand thru Element Productions (because of Non-disclosure Agreement, I can't say who... but its awesome). I will likely be flying out to Boston in mid-December for a week to direct the spots. Yea!!! Thanks Brian. You the man! The spots will of course be posted on my work site once they are cleared for air. Thanks everyone for their continued support and a special thanks to my very helpful hand model as well....

David Hart & Co. :: Bowtie Hotness

As you may know, I am a HUGE fan of bowties. They are a very classy and elegant way to accessorize any fit and they add a lot of character. Learning to tie a real bowtie is a skill I think everyman should learn and know how to do, just as most guys know how to tie a regular necktie. So when I stumbled upon these bowties from New York based David Hart & Co. I was floored. The patterns are great and the style is very bold. They are a bit pricey, but I think I may have to pick one up at some point.



 

Spoken Funk!!!!!!!!!!

I had the oppurtunity to join Amanda and her friends tonight at a very cool event called Spoken Funk  out in Hollywood. It's hosted by Poetri (awesome guy) and is every Sunday evening and is a collection of some very cool spoken word artists and comedians. The whole vibe was sick and it was really cool to be in what was generally a very positive, creative environment. I definitely felt like I was back in Santa Cruz and the Bay for a minute. If you guys ever have a chance to check it out please do. It's a lot of fun and the artists are all very talented. Thanks Amanda.

Before it started.
Some of the girls that I was so very lucky to be hanging with. From Left; Amanda, Claudia, Jenny, & Linda. 

Jay Visits LA

My friend Jay from San Diego came to visit me this past weekend. I played host and tour guide and took out and about as much as I could in LA for the short amount of time he was here. Here are some of the photos. Thanks for coming up homie! Always a pleasure.

Downtown

Urth Cafe
Jason and My join us for brunch.
Hollywood.
The Grove chaos.

10:50 AM Sunday November 23, 2008 :: Outside my Window

My friend Carlito, whom I grew up with, decides spur of the moment to come see me in LA. Its been good times chatting about life and catching up and showing him in and around LA. The fog rolled in this morning. About to bounce for some brunch. Good stuff.

FACEBOOK

I just joined FACEBOOK. Man I am so FAIL! Oh, well maybe it'll be good....

Photography Fun :: Mike, Jason, & Anne in Vegas

Mike's Birthday in Vegas

I spent this past weekend over in Vegas. But not the fancy, club going, super buffet Vegas, no we celebrated Mike's 29th (yes, he is twenty nine now) birthday in OLD Vegas. Fremont Street. The neon cowboy. Literally, no one under the age of 50 was there, well of course, except us. I could go on and explain, how we destroyed two rooms at the Plaza hotel. Or how we (my brother, Anne, My, Jason, myself, and Mike) consumed 30 lbs of ribs and sausage. I could even dive deep into the physics and chemistry involved with a large plastic football and how it ruined all our livers. I could, but I'd rather not. Check the photos and the lovely video below. For the full gallery click  here

Eagle EEYYYYYYYEEEE!!!!!

My brother does not like his drink too much.

Mike in front of our classy hotel. 
Group shot.
Mike and Anne wearing short shorts.
Jason skateboarding on the bed. Wow...
Mike checking his pedicure.
Happy male bonding.
I have no need to tan, so I sat in the shade.
Anne hanging.
Mike's beauty shot.
Jason and I discuss something really important.
Jason falls asleep with massive wood.
4 Queens photo.
Mike and Anne nighttime.
Bunny! haha!
Why are Jason and Mike always naked?
Anne Supermans on the table, on the bed.
Jason dances on the table, on the bed.
Anne showcasing Mike's underwear.
Badnews.
Mike threw up seconds after this photo.

Obama and Technology

So President-elect Barack Obama is SUCH A BADASS. He will be doing WEEKLY YouTube addresses and here is his first one. I love that he has now become the most accessible and outspoken President. Keep it up! Check the address below.

Anyone there?

Is anyone reading this stuff? Post a comment dammit!

LOFT :: Update 3

I got a wall mounted bottle opener! Badass son.

Awesome!

I read an article today on CNN that was pretty cool. The writer talked about the many videos he'd seen from election night and the crowd reactions those cameras caught the moment Obama was announced as our President-elect. 

The stuff is amazing. I have one video here but there is a bunch more. This particular video was taken in Chicago. The moment Obama is announced, its simultaneous cheer. Applause to a swell, to happy chaos.

Art Walk Turns into Drink Walk

Good times. Honestly, if you guys haven't done art walk yet downtown...let's roll next month. Next time I will have less wine. Much, much less. Check the photos. Good times with Amanda, Bianca, and Linda and the rest of her friends. Thanks to Tim and Phil and Gillian for coming out!

JAMES BOND!!

So I know I'm supposed to be some film guy and only talk about Citizen Kane and Wong Kar Wai films and while I do enjoy a good indy movie, or heart-warming underdog, coming of age post war story of lost love... I also enjoy a badass popcorn flick.

I CAN'T WAIT TO SEE THE NEW JAMES BOND MOVIE! Damn it looks hot. It's full of gadgets, action, fights, and sexy time with ladies, lol. Check the trailer 007