CAUTION: Yen's blog contains harsh language and even harsher notions of propriety. Reader discretion is advised.
Hello. It's here.
Part three of my Bowling For Soup art-trilogy-thing.
You can see part one here, and part two here.
This is what they've been building towards.
Remember last year when I did the picture of Resident Elvis, and I said it was a test-run for a bigger project? This was it. It's been laying dormant in my brain for a couple of years now, and was finally resuscitated by ZomBeadle.
The movie-poster one-sheet.
Click for bigger, 1499*1012px, 446kb, Opens in new window.
The graphic novel cover.
Click for bigger, 1012*1499px, 402kb, Opens in new window.
So, obviously you get the vibe I'm going for this time around, less GTA, more TWD. Originally, Jaret was going to be a priest holding a bible in one hand and a gun in the other, but I soon realised that a figure dressed in black wasn't going to stand out against the desaturated zombies. Thus Mr. Reddick became a cop.
The Jaret character-sheet poster.
The Erik character-sheet poster.
The Gary character-sheet poster.
The Chris character-sheet poster.
I'm very happy with how these have turned out, for now anyway. In a couple of years I'll probably look at them and roll my eyes at the techniques I've used, but if future-me has proved anything, it's that he's an idiot. He can't appreciate the moment. That said, past-me is also an idiot who spends too much time appreciating the moment. Only *I* am great.
What's that? My working-out? This is the digital-age, we don't have... oh.
Even in 2012, we're still using "pens". I know, crazy.
This time round, each figure starts as a line-drawing, capturing the key details, and then each area has a base-colour and one highlight and lowlight. It leads to some sharp gradations of colour, but looks much cleaner.
As before, they've been hand-vectored in CorelDraw.
Yes, I am good to you, I know.
Below for wallpaper-displays for your various modern devices. Images open in a new window, or you can right-click and save-as.
If I've missed out an important size/format, give me a shout and I'll sort it.
By all means share these around etc, but leave the webside idents on the images and credit me where possible, please. You know it makes sense.
As usual, feel free to leave lovely words in the comment-box below, I appreciate those.
Oh, and you're very welcome.
DISCLAIMERS:
• ^^^ That's dry, British humour, and most likely sarcasm or facetiousness.
• This is a personal blog. The views and opinions expressed here represent my own thoughts (at the time of writing) and not those of the people, institutions or organisations that I may or may not be related with unless stated explicitly.
DISCLAIMERS:
• ^^^ That's dry, British humour, and most likely sarcasm or facetiousness.
• This is a personal blog. The views and opinions expressed here represent my own thoughts (at the time of writing) and not those of the people, institutions or organisations that I may or may not be related with unless stated explicitly.
DISCLAIMERS:
• ^^^ That's dry, British humour, and most likely sarcasm or facetiousness.
• This is a personal blog. The views and opinions expressed here represent my own thoughts (at the time of writing) and not those of the people, institutions or organisations that I may or may not be related with unless stated explicitly.
CAUTION: Yen's blog contains harsh language and even harsher notions of propriety. Reader discretion is advised.
DISCLAIMERS:
• ^^^ That's dry, British humour, and most likely sarcasm or facetiousness.
• This is a personal blog. The views and opinions expressed here represent my own thoughts (at the time of writing) and not those of the people, institutions or organisations that I may or may not be related with unless stated explicitly.
CAUTION: Yen's blog contains harsh language and even harsher notions of propriety. Reader discretion is advised.
Hello. In lieu of film reviews, more pictures...
This is part two of a Bowling For Soup art-trilogy-thing. You can see part one here.
Click for bigger, 1198*1198px, 556kb, Opens in new window.
This one is from 2010. The feel is largely inspired by GTA: Vice City Stories, although the colour palette is a lot more muted (so more Scarface than Miami Vice).
There are more levels of high/lowlights, and a lot of the detail is defined by the shading, rather than a base line-drawing. It's less stylised than the previous entry. Again, it's hand-vectored in CorelDraw, based on a photoshoot BFS did for Kerrang! with the following portraits filtered through Instagram.
I think it's held up pretty well, but it's nowhere near as defined as my Empire Strikes Back piece, also from 2010. You'll see a lot more of the required definition in the final part of the trilogy (can't really call it a triptych, can I? Or can I?)
Oh, and yes. The guys have seen it.
Coming soon... 'Things To Do In Denton When You're Undead'
DISCLAIMERS:
• ^^^ That's dry, British humour, and most likely sarcasm or facetiousness.
• This is a personal blog. The views and opinions expressed here represent my own thoughts (at the time of writing) and not those of the people, institutions or organisations that I may or may not be related with unless stated explicitly.
CAUTION: Yen's blog contains harsh language and even harsher notions of propriety. Reader discretion is advised.
Oh, hello.
It's a bit quiet on the cinematic front at the moment, so here's some pictures and stuff I made.
Click for bigger, 1200*1200px, 341kb, Opens in new window.
I drew this back in 2008. It's loosely based around the cover for GTA: Liberty City Stories, and sourced from various BFS pics, both online and from album art (notably The Great Burrito Extortion Case).
It's what happens when I play a lot of GTA and listen to a lot of BFS. A lot of things have changed in four years, but not those two.
Hand-vectored in CorelDraw, with the following portraits filtered through Instagram. Looking back at them now, there's so much I'd do differently. Then again, you'll see how/what I changed when I post the next one in the series.
Oh, and yes, the guys have seen it.
Coming soon... 'Party Like It's 1985'
DISCLAIMERS:
• ^^^ That's dry, British humour, and most likely sarcasm or facetiousness.
• This is a personal blog. The views and opinions expressed here represent my own thoughts (at the time of writing) and not those of the people, institutions or organisations that I may or may not be related with unless stated explicitly.
CAUTION: Yen's blog contains harsh language and even harsher notions of propriety. Reader discretion is advised.
28th October 2011. HMV Forum, Kentish Town (The Town & Country, call it by its name)
What do I write about Bowling For Soup? Two awesome shows in a week. Saw them in Oxford on the 22nd, but didn't take any photographs. I also started writing an actual gig-report, then realised it was sort of redundant. Here's the short version:
Orange: Not for me, but the kids seemed to be enjoying them. Suburban Legends: Loads of fun, I was very impressed. Bowling For Soup: Excellent (as usual), even though the entire band and crew are (/have been) ill with this cold-thing thats been doing the rounds.
Anyway, I figured I'd post the photos I took at the London show. The principle's simple enough: Bad photographs look slightly less bad when they've been filtered through PolaDroid. Click on any of these to see the bigger version over at FacePage.
And big hugs to the awesome folks from the BFS Army who made it all even better:
I'm not saying that BFS have 'the best fans', but they're definitely the best people.
DISCLAIMERS: • ^^^ That's dry, British humour, and most likely sarcasm or facetiousness.
• This is a personal blog. The views and opinions expressed here represent my own thoughts (at the time of writing) and not those of the people, institutions or organizations that I may or may not be related with unless stated explicitly.
CAUTION: Yen's blog contains harsh language and even harsher notions of propriety. Reader discretion is advised.
And so, 2011 gives us the 11th studio album from Texas' Bowling For Soup, Fishin' For Woos.
This was originally going to be an EP released last October, but various issues pushed it back, and it became the new album. So as not to disappoint the fans too much, BFS released a few of the tracks early, staggered over ensuing months. We also found out that one of the tracks was a song they've been playing for a few years but never got to putting on an album. What this means is, it's hard to be objective about the whole album because I already know four of the tracks off by heart.
Anyhoo, here's a breakdown of Fishin' For Woos…
1. Let's Pretend We're Not In Love This was one of the preview tracks (via the street team). Love it to bits! Classic BFS, if not usual single-material, it's got a steady pounding beat, great melody and harmonies, and nicely flowing lyrics. This is a fave of mine now, and I look forward to seeing it live.
2. Girls In America Another corker. A fast, rocking track about the ladies of the USA. Again, classic BFS, harkening back to the days of Drunk Enough To Dance, with slightly lighter production. This will be another good one for the live shows if you feel like jumping around for three minutes.
3. S-S-S-Saturday This is the first proper single from the album. As a song it's pretty great, but personally I don't think it's one of the strongest tracks on the album. There's no doubt that it's a great live-anthem though (I saw BFS play two acoustic shows in April and it worked even in that setting). I'm not sure why it doesn't gel properly with me, but it almost feels too restrained for The Soup. Probably just me.
4. What About Us The first ballad of the album, and it's an instant attention-grabber. Again, the style of the song is classic BFS in the mould of Where to Begin and When We Die (I'm pretty sure that the three-word-combo / beginning-with-W is just a massive coincidence). Normally, this would be a stand-out, but there's a track later that trumps this, no matter how much I love it. Particularly liked the lyrical reference to losing keys in a snowstorm on Christmas Eve. This was a tale that BFS' Jaret told on an episode of his podcast at the beginning of the year. It's easter eggs like that which geek me the fuck out.
5. Here's Your Freakin' Song From drama, straight to comedy, it's what BFS do best. This one's cut from the same cloth as Scaring Myself and Luckiest Loser, about a girl who's an absolute pain in the arse. With a steady tempo, it's a stomper rather than a jumper, and there are plenty of shouty sing-along lines as well as the title.
6. This Ain't My Day This one hasn't quite bedded in with me yet. Musically I love it, but I can't get my head around the lyrics because a lot of the verse-lines don't rhyme. Smashing chorus though, if a little wordy, and it'll be interesting to hear them play it live as that'll be inevitably faster, and it sounds pretty tight as it is…
7. Smiley Face (It's All Good) Another one that's growing on me but threw me off at first. It remind me of their rendition of 5 O'Clock World from the …Movies album. Also, I'm not sure what it's about, lyrically. It just seems a bit vague to me, and that's not their style. I'd say it's definitely an album-track, but what do I know? I still rate BFS album tracks above most band's singles, so make of that what you will.
8. Turbulence You know a BFS track is a keeper when you can sing along before the end of your first listen. This happened in Oxford and London in April; goosebumps both times - this song just fucking captivates me (and I know I'm not the only one). It's essentially a massive feelgood ballad. Musically, lyrically, just perfect. It's the band's next single, so you'll be able to look out the video soon.
9. I've Never Done Anything Like This This one was previewed through Jaret's podcast and is another one that just instantly clicked with me. The style of song is closer to their Hangover You Don't Deserve album. Ace melody, harmonies and tempo, and female vocals courtesy of Kay Hanley from Palmdale. Kay's vocals give the song that edge to push it above the other tracks on the album. This is another perma-fave for me.
10. Friends, Chicks, Guitars This was the first track to be released from the album (then, EP) back in Oct'10. As great as it is, I've listened it to death since then and it doesn't feel new at all. The only thing that bugs me about the song is that it's fast and wordy, making it difficult to sing along with. But BFS manage it live, and that's what's important.
11. Guard My Heart And this is the one we all know and love! Originally recorded back in '05 for the HBO movie Sardines, it made it onto that soundtrack, but never onto an official BFS release. It's long been a live-fave, and now it' s been re-recorded for this album with a much lighter production sound. This song's great, with the lyrics by bass player Erik being on the more introspective side.
12. Graduation Trip This has a different feel to the other BFS acoustic songs, and I can't quite pin down why. Not a bad thing, by any means, but different certainly. Again, it feels awkward lyrically in places, and while I like the song, it doesn't feel like a BFS song to me (yet). It seems closer in style to the People On Vacation project. Ah well.
BONUS TRACKS:
13. My Girlfriend's An Alcoholic (iTunes/Bandwear exclusive) Why didn't this make it onto the album? Reminiscent of Bipolar and Straight to Video, this is one of the best BFS songs that most people won't hear! It's an air-pounder and a great party-track. You can buy this on its own on iTunes (ie, it's not album-only). I recommend you go get this.
14. Dear Megan Fox (7" Vinyl exclusive) Again, a brilliant track! It reminds me of Other Girls (another b-side track). There aren't any Star Wars references on this album (hey, we got two last time round), but because of the subject matter, this song namechecks Megatron, and what the hell could be better than that?
15. Evil All Over The World (7" Vinyl exclusive) This is like a b-side to Girls In America. Again, a fast rocker, but reminding you that all of the great things said about chicks in GIA aren't exactly the whole story. Bonus points for an old-school metal feel for the whole song.
16. What About Us? (Acoustic) (from the SXSW4Japan album) One of the best things about BFS songs is that they generally work as well with an acoustic guitar as they do with a while band playing them. This song is no exception. This is available on iTunes and Amazon as a single track (or you can buy the whole album, it's for an excellent cause). You pretty much know what you're going to get with this, but that's enough for me to buy it.
All in all:
Some jaw-dropping tracks, some great ones, and some that I'm still waiting to bed-in. In all honesty, there are no sub-standard tracks on here, but the boys from Denton do occasionally out-do themselves.
You can buy the old fashioned compact disc from Amazon, HMV or Play. The ultra modern 12" vinyl for your gramophone player is also available at Amazon and HMV. The 7" single with tracks 14 & 15 (above) is on sale at Amazon and HMV . You could also use one of those olde tyme record shops (if you can find one) to buy your shiny discs of goodness.
If you're living in the 21st century and have no time for the clutter of physical items, you can get magic digital versions of the album from iTunes, Amazon, HMV and Play. Have fun unwrapping your confirmation e-mail, you soulless robot.
Track 14 is available from the ol' iTunes. Track 16 is also at iTunes and Amazon.
There are many, many more outlets selling Fishin' For Woos, but I have neither the time or patience to investigate and link to all of them. It's not difficult to find if you can type. Besides, I already gave you a shit-load of links, what do you want? Go buy the album!
Is it my favourite Bowling For Soup album? Afraid not. Does it have some of my favourite Bowling For Soup songs on?Fuck, yeah.
Best lyric: "It's not like I don't understand the ass of Kim Kardashian has powers beyond anyone's control".
Ace.
DISCLAIMERS: • ^^^ That's dry, British humour, and most likely sarcasm or facetiousness.
• This is a personal blog. The views and opinions expressed here represent my own thoughts (at the time of writing) and not those of the people, institutions or organisations that I may or may not be related with unless stated explicitly.
CAUTION: Yen's blog contains harsh language and even harsher notions of propriety. Reader discretion is advised.
Dear Bowling For Soup, my friends say this is obsessive, whereas I say it's almost complete*. Which of us is right?
^^ Click for bigger (765kb), opens in new tab/window.
DVD-Size Cases: 1. The Great Burrito Extortion Case (Sony China Release) 2. Live & Very Attractive (2 disc version, Region 0)
Row One: 3. Gary & The Wisemen, 1997 album 4. Bowling For Soup (self-titled) 5. Cell Mates 6. Rock On, Honorable Ones! (FFROE Ppressing) 7. Rock On, Honorable Ones! (UK MfN Pressing, 2003) 8. Tell Me When To Whoa! 9. Let's Do it for Johnny! (Promo) 10. Let's Do it for Johnny! 11. Let's Do it for Johnny! (Japan release, bonus tracks) 12. The Bitch Song (Promo) 13. The Bitch Song (Promo)
Row Two: 14. The Bitch Song (UK CD Single) 15. Girl All The Bad Guys Want (UK CD1) 16. Girl All The Bad Guys Want (UK CD2) 17. Drunk Enough to Dance (UK release, pre-Punk Rock 101) 18. Girl All The Bad Guys Want (USA Promo DVD) 19. Rare Enough to Dance (k*shots custom) 20. Emily (UK Promo CD) 21. Emily (UK CD1) 22. Emily (UK CD2) 23. Punk Rock 101 (UK CD Single) 24. Punk Rock 101 (USA DVD Single)
Row Three: 25. Here We Go (Japan Promo) 26. BFS Goes to the Movies 27. Alice@97.3 Promo CD (exclusive acoustic version of 1985) 28. 1985 (UK CD Single, 3-tracks + video) 29. A Hangover You Don't Deserve 30. A Hangover You Don't Deserve (USA DualDisc Release) 31. The Rare Stuff You Don't Deserve (k*shots custom) 32. Almost (UK CD Single) 33. Ohio (USA Promo) 34. Live & Very Attractive (3 Disc Pizza Box Edition) 35. Live & Very Attractive (3 Disc UK Promo CD/DVD)
Row Four: 36. Father Christmas (Promo disc via the UK store, custom cover) 37. High School Never Ends (UK CD Single & Promo DVD) 38. The Great Burrito Extortion Case 39. I'm Gay (Promo DVD) 40. I'm Gay (UK CD Single) 41. London Bridge (UK Promo CD) 42. Tuned Magazine exclusive acoustic CD 43. When We Die (USA Promo CD & Promo DVD) 44. Phineas & Ferb long+short theme songs (k*shots custom) 45. My Wena (USA Promo CD) 46. My Wena (USA Promo DVD)
Row Five: 47. My Wena (UK Promo CD) 48. No Hablo Inglés (USA Promo CD) 49. Sorry For Partyin' (UK release) 50. Sorry For Partyin' (Japan release, bonus track & DVD) 51. And Sorry for More, B-Sides (k*shots custom) ---. Harrington, my alter-ego at the BFS Army 52. 2009 UK Tour VIP CD 53. 2010 UK Acoustic Tour VIP Podcast CD 54. 2010 UK Acoustic Tour merch-stand CD 55. Merry Flippin' Christmas Vol.1 56. Playlist: The Very Best of BFS
That's pretty much it. There are a couple of other promos with the same artwork so I didn't include them. Primarily, I'm a covers-man. If it looks different, I want it.
As with the Star Wars DVDs, this is more of a reference for my peeps at the BFS Army than a blogpost in itself. Also, I'm not claiming to have more than everybody else, it's just my collection and it makes me smile.
As with most things in this life, the fun is in the hunt. Ciao!
* I'm only joking... I don't really have friends. I used to, but they wouldn't all stand in height-order when they were together, so I had to ditch them. I realise now that I was a fool over this, of course. I should have made them stand in the alphabetical order of their names...
DISCLAIMERS: • ^^^ That's dry, British humour, and most likely sarcasm or facetiousness.
• This is a personal blog. The views and opinions expressed here represent my own thoughts (at the time of writing) and not those of the people, institutions or organizations that I may or may not be related with unless stated explicitly.
