After declaring my admiration for the artwork, here's a little review that I found myself writing on a message board in defence of the album - I thought I'd share it here. Consider it a vain attempt at music criticism.
I can kind of see why people are disappointed with this album and disillusioned with the reunion of The Verve as a whole, especially after all of the scuttlebutt about it being a return to their earlier sound, not to mention the promise of the "Thaw Sessions" track which was released as a bit of a teaser earlier in the summer. But after my umpteenth listen, I have to say that I think it's still a pretty good record overall. Certainly not the great return-to-form that was promised, but regardless I don't think it should be dismissed so quickly... I mean have some people given up entirely on the concept of letting an album grow on them with repeated listens? It's only 1 week old after all. Surely it's not that bad as to write it off after one or two spins, which a lot of people seem to be doing.
I am pleased to announce that I am now helping a very talented Montréal Artist develop his online presence. More news to follow soon! Meanwhile, work is progressing on wedding invitations for two lovely and generous people - Leanne and André. I'll post some progress shots tomorrow.
The French vesion of Monique Déry Boyer's website is up and running. Big thanks to Monique Déry-Boyer and Corinne Smyth for all of their help with the translations.
Warmgunmedia.net should see a bilingual overhaul in the not-to-distant future.
Yet another beautiful album cover to admire while I (impatiently) wait for the official release date of August 26th.
The Verve - Forth - Photo: Uwe Duettmann, Design: Studio Fury
Following in the wake of the incredible No Country For Old Men, it would appear that the Coen Brothers have a new film on the horizon - the star-studded Burn After Reading. Here's a look at the poster, which pays homage to classic movie posters from the 50's and 60's - especially those designed by graphic/poster/title sequence artist extrordinaire Saul Bass.
Burn After Reading Poster
Also working on pop-up displays for Groupe Maritime Verreault - here's a sneak-peak at 3 of 6 layouts in French.
Groupe Maritime Verreault - Corporate Pop Up Displays - Ryan Beaupré/warmgunmedia
This site has now been XHTML 1.0 Transitional validated.
Monique Dery-Boyer's website is now online. Check it out here.
The corporate notepad that I've been labouring over - off and on for the past couple of months - is finally complete, and best of all, the client is very happy! As well as being responsible for the layout and design, I can also claim responsibility for 99% of the photographs included. I received the first lot of books this morning. I'll be posting some images in the graphics > print. section soon, but in the meantime, here's a look at the cover:
Corporate Note Pad - Ryan Beaupré/warmgunmedia
Some more enjoyable album cover art work. This time around, it's the cover of Narrow Stairs by Death Cab For Cutie, designed by ee storey design who do some pretty nice work.
Death Cab For Cutie - Narrow Stairs - ee design
Warmgunmedia is pleased to be providing a website for a young entrepeneur who is keen to make his mark in Montréal's film and television industry. More news to follow soon!
Meanwhile, work is drawing to a close on Monique Dery-Boyer's portfolio site. It will be posted in the web. section shortly.
Just completed a new mix cd entitled The Hypnotic Call Of The Parallel Lines... As the title implies, it's a mix for listening to on the road.
Check it out in graphics. > music.
Here's a pretty insightful article on the relationship between two people, who's collective and individual creative output I greatly admire and enjoy - Mark Farrow of Farrow Design and Jason Pierce of Spiritualized.
Update: I am presently awaiting a copy of the very limited edtion, double green vinyl version of this album from the Rough Trade East Record Shop in the U.K. - with only 500 copies pressed, this is very cool indeed!
Update: It finally arrived on June 6th. It's every bit as attractive as I'd hoped. Maybe one day I'll work up the nerve to actually play it...
Spiritualized - Songs In A & E - Deluxe Edition Package - Farrow Design
(Photo: Spiritualized.com)
Welcome to Warmgunmedia.net v2.0 - the site will likely change further still over the next little while, but the framework is up and running, which is a milestone in and of itself. Expect to see more projects and images in the web., graphics. and photography. sections, as well as regular updates to this journal page.
Development continues on website for Monique Dery-Boyer, Botanical Artist and Colour Designer.
T.V. On The Radio
Dear Science
Ride
Going Blank Again
Mercury Rev
Snowflake Midnight & Strange Attractor
Bon Iver
For Emma, Ever After
Sugar
Copper Blue
Fleet Foxes
Fleet Foxes / Sun Giant e.p.
The Verve
Forth
Broken Social Scene Presents: Brendan Canning
Something For Everyone
Beck
Modern Guilt
Spoon
Kill The Moonlight
Sigur Rós
með suð í eyrum við spilum endalaust
Coldplay
Viva La Vida Or Death And All His Friends
My Morning Jacket
Evil Urges
Portishead
3
Sian Alice Group
59.59
Nick Cave And The Bad Seeds
Dig, Lazarus, Dig!!!
Death Cab For Cutie
Narrow Stairs
The Last Shadow Puppets
The Age Of Understatement
Spiritualized
Songs In A & E
Frank Lloyd Wright
Osheaga Iggy & The Stooges, Cat Power, Sharon Jones & The Dap Kings, Spiritualized, Broken Social Scene, CSS, The Black Keys, The Go Team, The Kills
03.08.2008 - 04.08.2008 — Parc Jean Drapeau
The Raveonettes & Black Acid
20.03.2008 — Les Saints
Yokoo Tadanori
20.03.2008 — Centre de Design, U.Q.A.M.
Super Furry Animals, Times New Viking & Jeffrey Lewis
22.02.2008 — Cabaret Juste Pour Rire
Geoffrey Farmer, Yannick Poulliott & Arnaud Maggs
10.02.2008 — Musée D'Art Contemporain De Montréal
Noam Murro
Smart People
Morgan Spurlock
Where In The World Is Osama Bin Laden?
Doug Ellin/HBO
Entourage, Season 4
Pete Travis
Vantage Point
Michel Gondry
Be Kind Rewind
James C. Strouse
Grace Is Gone
James Gray
We Own The Night
Todd Haynes
I'm Not There
Mike Nichols
Charlie Wilson's War
Joel & Ethan Coen
The Big Lebowski
Tamara Jenkins
The Savages
P.T. Anderson
There Will Be Blood
Ridley Scott
American Gangster
Joel & Ethan Coen
No Country For Old Men
C.S. Lewis
Prince Caspian
Tommy Lee, Mick Mars, Vince Neil, Nicki Sixx & Neil Strauss
The Dirt, Confessions Of The World's Most Notorious Rock Band
Adrian Shaughnessy
How To Be A Graphic Designer Without Losing Your Soul
Jeffrey Zeldman
Designing With Web Standards
J.K. Rowling
Harry Potter And The Half-Blood Prince