There have been rumblings you may have been hearing through the grapevine over the last year and suffice to say the rumors are true!

Our Death Adders Road and Track project is now branching out and producing clothing. Starting today, we’re slowly making some gear specific to the people who are riding their bikes in the elements everyday and we are pleased to say that the D.A.R.T. New Era marks the first piece in this series

Crafted from New Eras signature “no shrink” wool, this hat will keeps its shape after it’s soaked in sweat over and over again. When you’re not wearing a helmet, top off your outfit with this hat which features the D.A.R.T. headbadge and logo in a colorway to fit any wardrobe Keep Watch for more releases in the near future.

It’s gnarly, cold, wet weather in Toronto today so I’m staying inside getting familiar with things that make me feel warm. Remember when the Diplomats were a hemi engine of coke rap spitting swag? I sure as fuck do. This was long before Jim Jones was dressing like a gay Italian biker and starting inner city youth programs disguised as pro rollerblading teams. This was right around the time that Big Tigg was holding down the basement and keeping BET worth watching. Ahhh nostalgia.

New day, new Spring 09 preview! If our Panzer Rucksack was just too intense and functional for you maybe you’d like to take things down a notch with this Twerps! Knapsack. Simple, light, not overloaded with straps, and featuring and all-over collage by our very own Twerps!

The Twerps! Knapsack has one large main compartment equipped with a laptop sleeve, an outer pouch, and a front zippered stash pocket containing a pencil/pen holders! All that and a lovely suede bottom for a touch of class, because when you have hundreds of little doodle monsters running rampant on your back, you’re gonna need it!

Fever Ray – Fever Ray (2009) [Mute] // Grade: A

With no set (or announced) plans for a follow-up to 2006′s epic Silent Shout, Karin Dreijer goes solo to appease hungry fans with an album that for all intents & purposes could have been Silent Shout’s follow up. Karin Dreijir does no drastic departures sonically from what she already established with The Knife.  Synths are still the dominant instrument and She’s still is using those creepy pitch shifted vocal effects to their fullest.  So what does set Fever Ray apart form The Knife? On the surface not that much, yet if you’re a discerning enough listener you’ll pick up on some subtle yet profound differences. The most obvious one being the albums much slower pace (like synthpop Screwed ‘N Chopped), which is of course in stark contrast to The Knife’s more dancier tempo, but it’s hardly defines these two bands/projects apart. Over the course of three albums, each one bettering it’s predecessor, The Knife seem intent on pushing synth/electropop to extremes it has yet seen. Silent Shout saw the band infuse more and more atmospheric and Prog nuances than ever before. Fever Ray’s debut seems intent on carrying that torch and exploring the depths of the synth based progressive/art rock that has much more in common with Peter Gabriel and Brian Eno than Depeche Mode. I feel like this album is the heir apparent to the mantle departed by Peter Gabriel after IV (Security) before he got side tracked with new wave & world music.

Prog albums have a tendency of collapsing under the weight of their own ambition, but thanks to Dreijer innate sense for rhythms and her carefully planned tempo shifts the album feels sprawling even when it slows to a snails pace. It’s rare for a a non dance album to  get your body to sync with it’s pace this effortlessly. Fever Ray have achieved as much by crafting rhythms off the shivers up and down your spine that it’s mood imposes.

For a long while now I’ve felt that the Knife were one of the most exciting bands currently recording music. This Fever Ray project only goes to further cement that opinion for me.

Beastie Boys – Paul’s Boutique (1989)

Vs.

N.W.A. – Straight Outta Compton (1988)

The Game is simple… if only one could exist which would it be?  What’s more important… personal relevance, cultural significance, or simply being the better album all other things aside? Choice is yours…

Absu – S/T (2009) [Candlelight] // Grade: A-

All I have to say regarding Absu’s newest self-titled release is; took them long enough! I first heard Absu’s Tara a while back. In fact, I think before I was even in NYC. I wasn’t keen on it. To be honest, I wasn’t ever really into thrash metal and I’m pretty picky about death metal too. Usually sticking to the basics. Tara still is a great album if you’re into the so called “Mythological Occult Metal” genre. Absu sounds like a completely different band. The production values are much more gripping and engaging. For being a black/thrash/death metal band from Texas, these guys know how to shred. The quality of the recording reveals multiple layers of complexities rather than flattening out the sound, which is my gripe with a lot of black metal. This album pops.

Absu has engaged more of the modern-day black metal sound rather than the dirty and gritty sound previously established by early Mayhem, Bathory and Darkthrone albums. The opening track, “Between the Absu of Fridu and Erech” grips you and no matter what you’re doing at the moment, forces you to twitch uncontrollably. Each track on Absu produces a unique tempo and sound while still forming a cohesive feel to the album. It’s no F.O.A.D. but it’s more akin to a bastard mutant lovechild between Diabolical Now by Satyricon and In The Nightside Eclipse by Emperor. Combining two very classic metal sounds without overloading you with blast beats. There’s even some great death metal growls hiding in there.

Bottom line, if you’re a fan of metal, go out and buy this album!

MIDNITE TILL DEATH FEBRUARY 20th AT CAKE SHOP from Matthew Caron on Vimeo

Come to this on Friday.

In my spare-spare time, I contribute to the nerd-boner website ToplessRobot. My latest assignment involves researching the most ridiculous monsters sent by Rita Repulsa to destroy the Power Rangers. The editor of the site asked if I could handle a Power Rangers-related article and without flinching I replied, “Hell yeah.” It was a show I drooled over as a kid and that had me throwing elbows on the playground, so why wouldn’t I want to go back and revisit it? I had fallen into the trappings of nostalgia…

Tonight, I watched about six hours from season 1 of Power Rangers (1993) and after about 15 minutes I wanted to break the bottle of Seagram’s over my head. Has this ever happened to you? Like every functional kidult, I get nostalgic for the franchises of my childhood and I’ll often delve back into them; YouTube, eBay, Wikipedia, etc. Usually it’s an enjoyable trip down memory lane that I’ll share with my friends over a few drinks (I had a great night last week revisiting Tiger Sharks with a homie), but every once in awhile it backfires and I’m left wondering, “Why the hell was I into this?”

One of the first times this happened to me was when the first season of The Adventures of Pete and Pete was released on DVD. This release was highly anticipated in the 20-something market and I snatched it up on the first day…I barley laughed. Fuck it, I barely smirked (and I’m a smirker). Had my tastes changed that much?

It’s unrealistic to think that what entertained us over a decade ago will still have the same effect on us now, but it can certainly be disappointing when it doesn’t. Thoughts?

Hallelujah! Spring 09 Lookbook (Click to View!)

We’re proud to present the lookbook for our Spring ’09 collection: Hallelujah! This collection sprouts new growth for us with our very first comprehensive collection designed specifically for women. Complimentarily, this spring ushers in some fresh new mens’ designs – refining past favorites with solid spring colors, and introducing new cut & sew pieces that are sure to become staples in the wardrobes of old fans as well as new.

Part of the Mishka ethos has always been to carve our own path – pushing the boundaries of what’s expected, with designs ranging from sophisticated to hilarious. Whether it’s the subtle Stomp MA-1 Jacket or the in-your-face Keep Watch Tights, we always trying to define our own curve while keeping our designs highly wearable. Some brands may lose sight of this in the interest of “maturing”. We invite you to once again buck the trends, whether you’re a girl or a guy, a lady or a gentleman.

Even as we get a little older and wiser, we can keep sight of what made us fall in love with making clothing. It’s too early to pack it in and call it a day on having a good time with what you wear. This lookbook is proof that there’s still fun left to be had anywhere – with your friends, with your clothing, and with whatever else you choose to throw into the mix. Shot by Nate “Igor” Smith of Driven by Boredom, the lookbook is a perfect representation of the essence and soul of Mishka’s past present and future. Maybe these pages remind you of something you’ve been missing, maybe they remind you of last night… whatever the case, we hope they remind you of who Mishka is, and who we’ll always be.

You guys always wanted huge plush Eyeball cushions to cuddle with, right? No!? Well too bad, you’re getting them anyway! This Spring (i.e., like in a week or two) you’ll get to Mishka-fy your living room, bedroom, or really any room with these Keep Watch Cushions, available in 5 colors.

And these ain’t no cheap, hard, carnival-prize give-away plush cushions my friends, these are as nice as they get! We wouldn’t spare any expense on you guys!