Unfortunately I remain ill. Too weak to reach the bourbon, but close enough for the keyboard. Lost Records and Judging A Cover will return next week with a clean bill of health - promise! In the meantime, I wanted to let you in on the possibility of getting your fix of Foster music packaging love full-time, so when my body lets all of us down (how many times have I sadly uttered that line?) you can reach for a nice little hard bound substitute.
My new book (drumroll please - never mind - the pounding in my head will suffice) has just been released and can be found at amazon and most online and big box retailers: Buy me!
It is chock full of innovative packaging for the music industry as well as others. Profiles on grand masters Art Chantry, Stefan Sagmeister and Sub Pop as well as looks at young upstarts like Isreal's Jewboy, Sweden's BankerWessel and Austin's Decoder Ring Design Concern, whose Modest Mouse packaging adorned the number one album upon release - not too shabby for a small collection of designers/printers. You can learn a tidbit about that Postal Service cover you never knew or the joys of compiling a box set for Talking Heads.
You can also see profiles of the likes of Modern Dog (I'm Not Gay, I Just Love Rainbows retail products), Werner Design Werks (Mrs. Meyers cleaning products) and Turner Duckworth and their revitalization of Coke (they also just did the new Metallica album!) That is just the beginning.
I cared enough to step outside and take these terrible photos (trying to steady the camera, while waves of uncontrollable coughs take over me - always fun. My dogs just stared at me like they were waiting for me to keel over and then pick through my pockets for biscuits) so check it out if you get a chance.
This is also your chance to see if I can walk the walk - feel free to pick apart the layout and act as design critic on your very own blog. Just let me know when your post goes up so that I can start a comment flame war - haha!
In sickness and in health - John
God loves a cheerful giver.
wow! congrats!!! this is super cool!!!!
have you ever discussed peter saville? is he a part of your book? what are your thoughts (although, perhaps i should buy the book instead of asking you here!)? i'm sorry if i missed it (but i'm being lazy and not going through past posts)....it just seems he would be a logical go-to-guy for you for all kinds of reasons.
now, feel better!!!
Everyone thank VR for using up this site's alloted quota of exclamation points for the entire year. Now no one can use one until 1 Jan 2009.
She used 11. Who cares? Michael, please find something else to occupy your time.
Congrats! Sounds like a cool book for music and design fans alike.
Feel better soon.
My illness welcomes excessive use of exclamation points.
Saville is a favorite due in large part to the role he plays in the endlessly fascinating Factory Records tale. The book is all current work and not a historical tome so it does not feature any of his work. You can read an analysis of my biggest Saville disappointment in the Judging A Cover on New Order's "Movement."
michael - just wait. there are plenty more where those 11 (thanks for counting!) came from! see? already!
jf - i knew you must love him. i will check out the movement post. sorry i missed that one!
(!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!)
Pedro, is this a permanent name change for you?
you know what....i have never met pedro. i will be in town next weekend. drinks?!
(!!!! for the road)
You can only have drinks with Pedro in his apartment because he smells like poo and is banned from most establishments. That said make sure you have, should you dare venture to his apartment, 9-1-1 dialed and your finger on the "send" key at all times. Also don't close your eyes. Or blink. Or eat or drink anything that you didn't bring yourself.
John - this looks great! Can't wait to check it out. You cover anything from Big Active?
I'm the centerfold. I'm perfection in packaging for a seminal fluid delivery system.
dude wait wat
jf- congrats, my good man. i do have to admit i was a little disappointed, though, when i found out it wasn't actually *you* for sale.
VR- you're coming to town this weekend or next? you owe me a coke.
"fag" - so classy. and it looks like you weren't practicing what you preach, doofus.
michael - shup
Mikey are you still bitter that I didn't molest you when you barged into my house, unplugged my phone and roofied yourself? Believe me, I would have but...well...let's just say that poo smell wasn't coming from me. Next time just buy me dinner chief.
I only drink at Trusty's now that I have a real job but I welcome any and all to holler at a player, especially if you are a victorious girl.
sweet. congrats.
if only I could buy it at Franz Bader (RIP) ...
eddie - I'm too lazy to find your address. What say we head to ghost town tonigh (i.e., H St on Wednesday nights) and hit up those two places?
dewd, your office email doesn't have address autofill? how totally ghetto. how dare you turn john foster's column into your own personal message board.
everyone should buy this book.
jf - i'm sorry we have corrupted your post. i agree with eddie, BUY THIS BOOK BECAUSE JOHN RULES!
eddie - NEXT weekend! djing jv's on saturday the 18th. coming in friday. so, you are on!
pedro - HI! we have a date next weekend too! sweet.
michael - humm. can't think of anything to say to you. except: !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
It's not corrupting the posts, it's a clever marketing campaign. Everyone here but you is either John or myself. We make comments, they appear in the "recent comments" section, people click them to read them in their entirety, and they see the post.
Brilliant.