Plushgun Album artwork...

Taylor Armstrong, the Guitarist for the Brooklyn band "Plushgun" (he's also a talented animator and artist) asked me to design the cover for their upcoming album last month. I love doing album art, and I wish people asked me more often. I really dig their music as well, so try to catch a show or at least check them out on myspace. Above is the initial sketch i showed them, and below is a portion of the final art. enjoy.

"Firebird" a Modern Disney Triumph.....

I have no idea why "Fantasia 2000" isn't heralded to be just as great as the original "Fantasia". and just like the original used "Night on Bald Mountain" as the grand, enormous finale, "Fantasia 2000" uses Stravinky's "Firebird". It's a reminder of what drawn animation can accomplish, especially when combined with truly great music, like Stravinsky.

NYC Performer Reggie Watts....

I saw this dude in a variety show here in Tribeca last month, and it was insane. He's a brilliant experimental musician, and his stuff just pulls you in. it's totally addictive. I'll try to describe his stuff... it's a mixture of human beat box, pop culture movie references, comedy and improv, with some kind of sampler machine. I was blown away to learn that he does most of his stuff add lib. and most importantly, it's just some groovin' home grown beats. really, check this dude out. In addition, I was walking down Rivington st the other night with Amid Amidi and we bumped into him and his buddies, i told him his stuff was nuts, and he seemed like a legit fella. i'd kill to collaborate with this dude. I'm borderline obsessed with experimental music like this, partly due to my collaboration with Karl vonKries for "Masks", which is going well. ciao

Musician: Karl von Kries and "MASKS"

(photo on left: Karl von Kries and Pat Smith during a visit to Karls studio in Pismo Beach, CA.) Three months ago "Masks" was nearing completion, and then COMPLETELY TRASHED, we can thank Karl von Kries for this. Karl wrote a piece of music which was compelling enough for me to ditch the "man on the street" interview-based concept in favor of an abstract, bizarre, symbolic story. So over a year of hard work and a ton of money wasted. thanks Karl.

Karl von Kries music style is a bit like The Shins getting beaten up by the Afghan Whigs while Radiohead and Jeff Buckley sulk in the shadows. Our first collaboration was on my first film "Drink", and I think the music got more attention than the animation! (photo on right: Karl and Pat recording the sound effects for "Drink" back in 1999) What stands out with Karl is his willingness to experiment and record things that nobody else would, creating atmospheres that match. ie, the music for Drink was fully comprised of sound effects, from yelling to smashing and cracking vegetables. The next film he scored was my 2003 short "Delivery", which was a heck of a lot more traditional in the music sense, but Karl still maintained the bizarre, thoughtful, and perhaps disturbing vibe that was so vital for the context of the film.

For Masks, Karl is at the helm in terms of deciding the pace and timing of the story. The original point of this particular collaboration is that the music will dictate the action. Karl has posted a preview of what to expect on his blog. The story is a tale of exploitation of the weak and the consequences of that ferocious exploitation. In addition, Karl is giving away his 2005 album "Secret Service", check it out at instarmusic.com