Make wuv, not war.

Listening to Moby's new album at the moment, which I am, somewhat surprisingly, digging.
When I first started working at Wieden + Kennedy in January 2000, Moby's album, Play, was massively over-referenced in meetings and creative ideas at the time, and accordingly, I had a very intense & adverse reaction to it.
That said, and what's kind of funny to me, is that he seems to keep putting out some fairly lovely, weird, washy music, which if I can put bad advertising ideas aside for the moment, I actually kind of like what I'm hearing.
And this new album is no exception.
Have a listen to this jam:

Plus, you can stream the whole album here: http://www.moby.com/

Andrew knows exactly what I'm talking about.

There was a time in my life when I couldn't stand the Chemical Brothers.
It was in my early years at W+K, particularly when the band was "hot" and their songs (or Moby or Fatboy Slim) were included on every rip we did.
This made me instantly despise them.
Therefore, it's been with some surprise that over the years, I have actually found myself digging some of their music.
Recently, their new album, Further, came across my desk and it's been sneaking into my shuffle mode (when I go that route) and I'm liking what I'm hearing.
Either I'm getting softer in my old age, or losing my edge, or finally putting away some of my elitism, or they're actually writing good material, or a combo of all of this.
Have a listen:

P.S. I'm not losing my edge.

http://www.thechemicalbrothers.com/

I Dreamt That I Dreamt That You Loved Me In Your Dreams.

Last summer I was out in London for six weeks working on a Nokia project with Wieden + Kennedy.

It was honestly some of the best times I've had in my life.
I was in an especially raw place in my life, where I was choosing to live blown wide open.
I was full of wonder and really rooted in the experience of the nowness.
The friends I made at work were/are such an amazing bunch and I saw more art and live music 
in a six week period than I usually see in six months (and I go to a ton of concerts!).
Plus I managed to be drunk nearly every night, because that's apparently how they do it in London.
And being a competitive, patriotic American, I couldn't let them beat me.
They did anyway.
Wankers.
Them Brits are like fishes, they.

So one of my favorite shows I went to was a double bill of Favours For Sailors and Dananananakroyd 
that my friend Martin Jackson took me too, as they are mates of his.
It kicked my ass all over the place and I jumped around like a teenager.
Here's these young kids from London and Glasgow clearly influenced by American rock, 
especially mid-90's indie stuff (Pavement, Sebadoh, etc.) making a fun, fucking ruckus.
Had such a joyful time.
And now I hear they're getting more recognition over in the UK, particularly with this track leading the charge:

Good on them.
It's only matter of time before they come crashing our shores.
In the meantime, have a listen and support them (like I did) by buying their new EP:

Love me some Brits.
Especially music Brits.