Music Monday 2.

Here it is, I know you've all been waiting. So I'll shut up and get on with it.

Futures - The Boy Who Cried Wolf



I know this pop-rock/scene music is not cool now we're all grown up, but I'm not too bothered, I still like it. Having been a fan of Tonight is Goodbye, thinking they somewhat stood out from the rest, I was a bit gutted when they broke up. However, they have now reformed into Futures. And yes they are so much better. Good voice, good sound. The EP is free with Rocksound magazine these week, excited to check that out. Give them a chance and a listen, they deserve it. Possibility of big things here.

Two Door Cinema Club - Come Back Home



I've mentioned these guys before, but they deserve a second mention, and then some. The first single "Undercover Martyn" off their debut album "Tourist History" caught my attention instantly and not only mine as the BBC touted this band for big things this year. After having the album on repeat almost non-stop, it is clear that these boys can produce hit after hit. The fun and upbeat indie-pop sound has never been done better and with surprising maturity from such young guys. It's a tough call, but this is probably my favourite track, but I cannot recommend this album enough, already running for my favourite album of the year.

Simon Danaher - Picture Perfect

There's not much to say here. After stumbling upon commercial photography Simon Danaher today, I was stunned by his work. He has worked with some of the biggest agencies and clients from around the world and it is not difficult to see why.
Look and enjoy please.

















To check out some more of his work head to his website.

Easy does it.

Adverts vary. From the over the top (Toshiba Chair, please stand up) to the stupidly simple (yes you, Go Compare). Yet some are epic (Guinness, if you would) and some are beautifully simple.

These two adverts are so straight forward and simple, the message is clear to the audience. Yet this simpleness takes huge levels of intellect, creativity and research. From studying advertising for 3 years, I can tell you that the best adverts, no matter how epic or simple they are, are beyond difficult. I mean, everyone hates advertising right? Well if that's the case, how come some adverts are shared on blogs, social networks and emails? Because they are good. Very good. People want to watch them, they want others to watch them, and this makes them all the more memorable.

There's my dissertation summed up in about 100 words.
Anyways, check these adverts:


From simply understanding your target audience and using that insight:


To conveying the message so simply it resonates with the audience:


See? Easy does it.

Music Monday 1.

I know I've upload new songs I've found in the past, but I'm going to try and make it a little more regular. Seeing as there is a Monday at the beginning of every week, I might as well do it then.

Wild Beasts - Hooting and Howling



I likes the sound of new music and I likes the sound of Wild Beasts. They're a strange mixture and can only be described as Editors featuring Mika. Yeah I know. But they're good trust me on this one. This is an excellent song and the album "Two Dancers" is also very good. Looking forward to seeing them at Sixty Million in Bournemouth


Frightened Rabbit - The Modern Leaper



I appreciate that Frightened Rabbit aren't the newest band in town, but they're not exactly U2 yet (thank God). The album "The Midnight Organ Fight" has a great tempo to it that doesn't let up, letting you listen to the album straight the way through with ease. It could be argued that the songs are a bit "samey" but not always a bad thing. I like it anyways.


Professor Green - I Need You Tonight



Something a little different, variety is the herb of life and all that... Professor Green is just being introduced to Radio 1 and is surely about to hit the mainstream hard. I'm a bit of a sucker for old school tunes samples in rap and hip-hop, this is exactly what Professor Green does. Green has taken the INXS classic and intelligently uses it as he does what he does best over the top. Excellent, excellent tune (sorry it's not the greatest version of the song, I've been hunting around for it for days). Also check out his tune with Lady NY, Don't Let Go and also what he's done with Adele's Hometown Glory.

Wrangler Campaign

Keeping on the denim theme, the current Wrangler campaign is one that I really like. Not do I think that it is a great concept or a fantastic and orinigal 'big idea', I just think that the execution is incredible. This is not a new campaign but they have just brought out a new range of print ads 'Red' which reminded me how good it is. Just take a look.

2009 Print adverts





2009 TV advert


2010 Print adverts

Advertising is too smart.

After recently seeing the new Diesel campaign, not only did it make me smile and like it, but it also made me think. It made me think about how it can be applied to a lot of aspects of life, and one big one in particular: advertising.

The print and viral campaign is telling us to ignore the one phrase that everyone of us has heard a million times as a child "Don't be stupid".







I'm not going to bang on about how I think this is a great campaign that will capture audiences' attention, get a few people talking and that its a good and relatively original angle to take to a campaign. I agree with all of this, it's just a bit obvious.

This concept of being stupid needs to be applied to advertising. We are all painfully aware that 90% of advertising is utter shite, but it's that 10% that keeps me for one, wanting to work in the industry. That 90% are smart. Going by Diesel's viral, they have the brains and not the balls. It is likely to be brand managers with big pay-checks that are set in their ways and do not want to take a risk. It is the 10% that take the risks, the risks that pay off. They are the Cadbury's Gorilla, Comparethemeerkat.com and the Guiness of the advertising world. Without these people being 'stupid' we would not have these great campaigns that get noticed and everyone talking. The very essence of what advertising is about. Creativity over research any day.

A Few of My Favourite Things - 8/1/10

Favourite song
Undercover Martyn - Two Door Cinema Club


After checking out Zane Lowe's Hottest Record in the World, with Huw Stephens, I left it playing and just heard this song and instantly loved it. Love it when that happens. Only found a few of their songs so far, but it's all excellent. "Big things for them in 2010" as they say.

Favourite Video
Onto the Next One - Jay Z


Not a huge fan of this song, not one of my favourite songs off BP3, but this video is incredible. Love the way the black and white really makes you pay attention to every single image, its all very simple, yet very powerful. Have to give credit to the gorgeous Phoebe Lovatt for drawing my attention to this (http://www.phoebelovatt.com/blog/).

Favourite Object
Panasonic 152" Plasa TV


Its huge. And noone will buy it. Enough said.

Favourite TV show
Green Wing


After just finishing the boxset I got for Christmas, I have been reminded just how amazing this show is. Dr Statham (who now reminds me slightly of Basshunter) is one of the most brilliant characters ever, along with Sue White. This show is just insane brilliance.


My Least Favourite Things

• Jonathon Ross leaving the BBC. I don't care about a stupid phonecall which everyone overreacted to or the fact he was over-paid. I now don't know what to do with my Friday nights.
• This dissertation. I'm about 4,000 words in, but not looking forward to the next step of research. This whole thing is too bloody time consuming.