Stars Of CCTV is the debut album from Surrey-based Indie rockers
Hard-Fi. Fusing together a host of influences, including Happy
Mondays-esque baggy, sun-kissed Ibizan grooves and even classic
two-tone ska, Hard-Fi have crafted an album that buzzes with raw energy
and enthusiasm, celebrating the best of British pop culture. Hard-Fi is a welcome relief to the normal summer release of atl.same.
Hands down Belle and Sebastian are one of the most exciting musically gifted bands in the alt/pop genre. With melodies that hook after a first dose to the almost ridiculous subject matter of their song lyrics, you can’t hide from the influence this band will have over you. "The Life Pursuit" is a departure from their former more acoustically driven albums. But even with the addition of electronic whizzes and buzzes, their songs are still crack-like addicting. We saw them on tour earlier this year and our recommendation is to fly, drive or hitchhike to experience them live if you can. Rumor has it that they are playing a free concert in NYC this summer. We will keep and eye out and report back.
Acknowledging the 22 million households in America that have increased buying power and the desire to live an accessible luxurious lifestyle, "Mass Affluence: Seven New Rules of Marketing to Today’s Consumer", largely provides observations on the cultural shifts towards an affordable luxury, and the opportunities that exist there for companies who can stratify their organizations to better suit the needs of their shifting consumer base.
If you’re looking for insights on a shifting consumer market, check it out. But move fast; what were once insights are now becoming accepted as standard issue.
Positing that "a brand is a belief system," Hanlon, founder and CEO of
"primal branding" company Thinktopia, throws a reverse spin on the
12-step addiction recovery program to trumpet his 7 steps (called "key
factors") to inspire consumer addiction. His formula has vaguely mythic
qualities: successful brands, he argues, come with a creation story, a
creed, rituals, icons, sacred words, non-believers and a leader who’s
overcome stiff opposition. The similarities to religion (Hanlon prefers
"culture of belief") will pique the thoughtful reader, but Hanlon’s
recounting of familiar business success stories (UPS’s story, Lou
Gerstner’s turnaround of IBM) seems at odds with a book blurbed as "not
the same old branding B.S." Though much of the book is the simple
recasting of age-old branding tenets (Hanlon’s "creed" is
interchangeable with "slogan"; "icon" with "logo"), Hanlon’s energetic
case for thinking differently about common practices makes for a
rousing read.
