Wednesday, June 17, 2009

Fallen Princesses

These works place Fairy Tale characters in modern day scenarios. In all of the images the Princess is placed in an environment that articulates her conflict. The '...happily ever after' is replaced with a realistic outcome and addresses current issues.


Fallen Princesses

Cinder 1
Cinder 3
Snowy
Rapunzel  II
Not so Little Riding Hood
Sleeping Beauty
Jasmine at war
Belle

Hotness from Vogue Hommes Japan

Check out these super hot pics from Vogue Hommes Japan. Sorry, no info on the model, fashions or photographer, I found them on the blog Boy Culture.



Exquisite Corpse by Poppy Z. Brite



I just finished reading Exquisite Corpse by the neo-gothic author Poppy Z. Brite.

It was a interesting read; quite different from what I was expecting. Having read about the book and many reviews, I was expecting the story to be more of a transgressive narrative of a sadistic, menacing and serial killer. I did not, however, realize that it also included three other main characters that played key parts in the storyline. Along with the one murderous villain, another equally twisted killer and two star crossed lovers also helped move the story along. It is set in New Orleans which gives the story a very atmospheric feel.

The story carries many common characteristics between the two serial killers and the notorious, real life serial killer, Jeffrey Dahmer. This made the novel an extra bit gruesome and twisted as the final scene is almost identical to a incident that arose with Jeffrey Dahmer's, one of his victims and the police.

It was an interesting composition, and looking back on it now, I would call it more of romance novel, but still a transgressive work of fiction. It definitely contained all the gore and disgust that I would come to expect from a novel written by an author compared to the likes of Dennis Cooper and Kathy Acker, but more detail was put into the love story between the two killers, juxtaposed with the story of the other two lovers. Though I was a bit put off by this twisted romance, the story ended in a cathartic, satisfying climax.


Being the first book I've read by Poppy Z. Brite, I quite enjoyed it and am definitely going to test out some of her other pieces of writing

Tuesday, June 16, 2009

Dark Places by Gillian Flynn


Earlier this week I read Gillian Flynn's latest novel Dark Places, over the course of one night. It was such a great read, go buy it - now!

My first experience with Gillian Flynn was reading her first novel, Sharp Objects, which I also read through the course of night. Both novels have an incredible pace and instantly grab the readers' attention. I highly recommend either of these novels. Gillian has proven herself to be a literary force to reckon with - even Stephen King is raving about her!

Check out the write up from the official website.

Dark Places

I have a meanness inside me, real as an organ.

Libby Day was seven when her mother and two sisters were murdered in “The Satan Sacrifice of Kinnakee, Kansas.” As her family lay dying, little Libby fled their tiny farmhouse into the freezing January snow. She lost some fingers and toes, but she survived–and famously testified that her fifteen-year-old brother, Ben, was the killer. Twenty-five years later, Ben sits in prison, and troubled Libby lives off the dregs of a trust created by well-wishers who’ve long forgotten her.

The Kill Club is a macabre secret society obsessed with notorious crimes. When they locate Libby and pump her for details–proof they hope may free Ben–Libby hatches a plan to profit off her tragic history. For a fee, she’ll reconnect with the players from that night and report her findings to the club… and maybe she’ll admit her testimony wasn’t so solid after all.

As Libby’s search takes her from shabby Missouri strip clubs to abandoned Oklahoma tourist towns, the narrative flashes back to January 2, 1985. The events of that day are relayed through the eyes of Libby’s doomed family members–including Ben, a loner whose rage over his shiftless father and their failing farm have driven him into a disturbing friendship with the new girl in town. Piece by piece, the unimaginable truth emerges, and Libby finds herself right back where she started–on the run from a killer.




Below is the write up on Sharp Objects:

Sharp Objects

WICKED above her hipbone, GIRL across her heart
Words are like a road map to reporter Camille Preaker’s troubled past. Fresh from a brief stay at a psych hospital, Camille’s first assignment from the second-rate daily paper where she works brings her reluctantly back to her hometown to cover the murders of two preteen girls.

NASTY on her kneecap, BABYDOLL on her leg
Since she left town eight years ago, Camille has hardly spoken to her neurotic, hypochondriac mother or to the half-sister she barely knows: a beautiful thirteen-year-old with an eerie grip on the town. Now, installed again in her family’s Victorian mansion, Camille is haunted by the childhood tragedy she has spent her whole life trying to cut from her memory.

HARMFUL on her wrist, WHORE on her ankle
As Camille works to uncover the truth about these violent crimes, she finds herself identifying with the young victims—a bit too strongly. Clues keep leading to dead ends, forcing Camille to unravel the psychological puzzle of her own past to get at the story. Dogged by her own demons, Camille will have to confront what happened to her years before if she wants to survive this homecoming.

With its taut, crafted writing, Sharp Objects is addictive, haunting, and unforgettable.

Meet Me Downtown

Check out this super hot editorial spread from Blank Magazing shot by the photographer duo Steven Gomillion and Dennis Leupold with the incredibly hot model Leandro ‘The Lips’ Maeder.




Thursday, June 4, 2009

Yeah Yeah Yeahs - Heads Will Roll video



Check out the super fresh new video for the Yeah Yeah Yeahs' new single Heads Will Roll off their latest and pretty effin' great new album It's Blitz.

Can Karen O get any cooler?

Definitely a contender for best music video of the year!


MGMT's Kids Video.... Finally!


Well, unless you were living under a rock during 2008, you've heard some of MGMT's super catchy tunes.

After what seems like forever, they've finally released a video for the single Kids from their album Oracular Spectacular.

Check out the ultra trippy video below.

Wednesday, June 3, 2009

Guapo


Not too long ago I came across a delicious new art, fashion and lifestyle blog called Guapo.and it's definitely on my list of favourites.

They've got some really hot photo spreads over there, so I definitely recommend checking it out.

Take a look at their latest, Nude Shines shot by Jamie Llambias below, and go to http://www.guapomagazine.com/ to see lots more hot shoots. All of the spreads are amazing and I'd post them all if I had the patience, but I don't, so just trust me.


Blech.

Hmm.

I'm uber moody this week. I don't know why.

I blame the nicotine I inhaled over the weekend.

Silly me.


And on that note, some new anti-smoking ads from the BBC. Click the link to see the full size pics and some others as well.





Thursday, May 28, 2009

Recommended Listening


Another great musician that I`ve recently come across is named Pajo (MySpace) and has a new album called Scream With Me.

The music is sparse, folky and acoustic, but very haunting and unforgettable.

Below is the video for the single Where Eagles Dare