There were so many negative reviews floating around about Wolfmother's new album Cosmic Egg that I felt I had to defend it. Despite what you may read from some critics, the album is pretty good.

Wolfmother exploded onto the music scene in 2005 with their self titled debut album, creating a buzz that spread across the world and forever embedding the song "Woman" into my subconscious. The album eventually went platinum and Wolfmother went on to win a handful of awards, including a grammy for Best Hard Rock Performance in 2007. Four years later the weight of success started to take its toll and bassist Chris Ross and drummer Myles Heskett left the band citing the old standby 'irreconcilable differences', we see this all too often with musicians burdened with fame too early in their careers. Lead vocalist and guitarist Andrew Stockdale was left holding the bag.

> Read More Here [link]

There is a new album review up on the blog, this time it is the Texas natives White Denim.

"The Austin trio that is White Denim has done it again with the release of their third full-length album Fits, a dizzying collection of pulverizing drums, screaming guitars and howling vocals... and that's only the first 5 tracks. The band experiment with changes in song structure, pace and style creating a dizzying array of sounds and influences leading the listener on a musical journey full of genre hopping, mind bending fun."

READ MORE HERE > [link]

Its been a long time since I have had a journal update. Obviously, I never made it to Chicago which is ok because I think I was moving there for the wrong reasons. I still visit once or twice a month. I love Chicago but I'm not sure if I could live there.

For the last year and a half I have been working as the art director/designer at a little independent newspaper called the Illinois Times [link] , located in Springfield. Thats why most of my deviant entries have been editorial related. I'm really into my job since I get to design most of the covers and feature stories, as well as 90% of the advertisments.

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Sister [link]
Sketches [link]
Myspace [link]

With the arival of my new Mac Mini next week the flow of creativity will no doubt increase ten fold. All I need now is a copy of Flash so I can update my portfolio. That may be alittle hard to come by seeing how Im kinda broke after the new computer.

Ive been working on afew pieces over the last few weeks, thou I dont know how many will end up on DA. Im doing work for afew bands now plus a couple logo designs. Its about time I did something with my BA in Graphic Design. If anyone needs design work done I work pretty cheap.

In other news, the plan is still to move to Chi-town in mid-October. Ill start applying to design firms in a month or so. Hopefuly Ill find something good that pays decent. Hopefuly I dont get too lost in Chicago, Ive not the best navigational abilities.

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Sister [link]
Photography [link]
Sketches [link]
Myspace [link]

Life Less Frightening...

Update on my life, havent been to DevArt for awile. I finally graduated...BA in graphic design. Now I need a job, anyone hiring?

Still getting adjusted to the home life. I accually miss school I think...well parts of it anyway. Havent done a whole lot since Ive been home. Went to pointfest and to afew other concerts around Illinois. Ill probably be heading back to Champain in afew weeks, a friends band is suppost to be playing.

If anyone knows of any good shows around ILLINOIS let me know, always looking for something to do.

Later, Joe

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My Photography Account

My Little Sister

My Sketches [link]

My Myspace Account [link]