Graffiti Japan by Remo Camerota

Graffiti Japan (MBP)
Graffiti Japan (MBP)

Graffiti Japan

by Remo Camerota
128 pages, Hardcover, $27.95, MBP

Australian photographer and graffiti enthusiast Remo Camerota made friends with the Japanese graffiti scene via the Internet before traveling there to document its work.

DIY Venue Spotlight: 1919 Hemphill

According to 1919 Hemphill’s website guy, Al, the venue is a “volunteer-run community and performance space that follows the DIY ethic. We have shows of all kinds; a free store; a book, zine and music library; and we offer an alcohol- and smoke-free environment for all kinds of events and meetings.”

For the Love of Vinyl: The Album Art of Hipgnosis

For the Love of Vinyl: The Album Art of Hipgnosis
by Storm Thorgerson & Audrey Powell
Hardcover, $45, PictureBox
[presently available for $20 directly from Picturebox here]

For the Love of Vinyl: The Album Art of Hipgnosis (Picturebox)
For the Love of Vinyl: The Album Art of Hipgnosis (Picturebox)

You have definitely seen the album art of Hipgnosis, the now-revered British design group that created the art for most of your favorite classic records of the 1970s. Houses Of The Holy, Dark Side Of The Moon — both theirs.

Much has been published about the work of Hipgnosis’ co-founders Storm Thorgerson and Aubrey Powell, whose photography backgrounds fueled their work. However, For The Love of Vinyl documents over 60 of their projects in detail — offering insight into the environment in which these works were produced. These histories are often as interesting as the album art.

Omar Vera: Cold Eels and Distant Thoughts

Through January 11, Hyde Park Art Center

Omar is one of my favorite contemporary ceramic artists. This small show features a bad-ass ceramic bust of Jack Johnson, and an absolutely awesome urn illustrating the song “Regulate” by Nate Dogg and Warren G. Don’t miss it.

Full Stream: Best Of Bollywood 2008

It features Snoop Dogg’s “Singh is King,” “Dhoom Taana” from Om Shanti Om, and songs from Oscar contender Taare Zameen Par. Weird, danceable, and awesome. You can stream the entire record below.

Novels I Didn’t Have To Read For Work In 2008

An unorganized, partial list of some of the non-work-related books I read (but weren’t released) this year.

The first time I met drummer Bill Stevenson (the Descendents, Black Flag) in the mid-’90s, he swore that I would love Charles Bukowski. It has taken me over a decade, but I’ve finally read him, and I liked it. I read Post Office, Ham on Rye (my favorite), Factotum (which I liked, even though Matt Dillon was on the cover — never a good sign), and Hollywood.