If You Were Born in the 70s or 80s, Click Here

Wed, Oct 8, 2008

Dan Goodsell: Are We Not Toast? We are Devo!

Does it really get better than that? After G1988 put on a show pairing some of my favorite movies with fandom-worthy artists [Crazy 4 Cult 2 blogged], they’ve upped the ante by giving classic albums the same treatment. More than 50 repurposed records are currently on display at their LA gallery, including art by Kathie Olivas, Brandi Milne, Phoneticontrol, Dan Goodsell, Brian Taylor, Alex Pardee, Jeff McMillan, Kiersten Essenpreis, Mark Brown, Matt Dangler, Josh Calloway and Walt Hall. Each 12 x 12-inch album cover is framed in a black album frame under glass, and some are still available for purchase. You can see the full roster here. These two events–Cover Band and Crazy 4 Cult–help illustrate part of the appeal of designer toys and urban art for those of us born in the 70s and 80s: the artists are inspired by the same things as the fans. TWO different artists covered the Pixies, for instance. Doolittle got me through a tough summer. I’m an Unknown Pleasures guy, but I’m loving the rendition of Joy Division’s Closer. It’s not just the style of art that’s great; it’s the cultural iconography that makes it enduring. Devo, Sex Pistols, Cyndi Lauper, Kraftwerk, The Ramones, Nirvana, David Bowie, The Beatles, Radiohead, Prince, Tom Waits, The Beastie Boys, Queen, Led Zeppelin, Metallica, Morrissey (unfortunately by Pete Wentz!) and hell even Hall and Oates make an appearance. Here are a few albums that I listened to then; many of which are still in rotation on my last.fm now. Which album would YOU cover?