From’s 2007 video for “American Girl” has a very simple concept: one girl, lots of inflatable toys.  What’s remarkable is how many current trends were presaged by the looks in the clip.  This is a super indie video, and it’s unlikely that top stylists and designers were inspired by it.  But perhaps it wouldn’t be a bad idea to pay attention to From’s goings on for glimpses into the future…

No Pants

Lady GaGa’s signature pant-free look has gotten her both props and ridicule as well as recognition as a style individualist.  Britney’s Circus tour wardrobe features the silhouette in pieces by Dsquared.  For From, the look was inspired by the Prada and Chanel SS07 collections.  The gray outfit mixed standard, proper layers on top with a matching boy short for a sort of edgy twin set.  The blue and white outfit took bikini bottoms and de-sexed them with an airy architectural top.

Shown: From, a look from the Chanel SS07 show, Lady GaGa (top), Britney Spears.

Shown: From, Lady GaGa
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The Hives’ Howlin’ Pelle sings lead over The Sweptaways’ a capella backing for this Zombies cover.  “Time of the Season” is the first single from The Sweptaways’ second album, The Sweptaways Show, out April 15 on the excellent label Hyrbris.  Other featured guests on the album include fellow Swedes Robyn, Jens Lekman, Asha Ali, and Moneybrother.

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• I sure do love the frosted mini croissants at La Conversation. #
• @eardrums Is it true that Spotify is limiting access to reduce bandwidth load b/c they’re losing money w/ each new listener? in reply to eardrums #
• @eardrums very ballsy! go go! =) in reply to eardrums #
• @povertyjetset ha, I’m in sync w/ you! http://bit.ly/RqJZ in reply to povertyjetset #
• @siashin Excellent. Thx for the warning! My fav is Bonne Belle, but it’s too shiny, as we discussed… in reply to siashin #
• @siashin i want that cinnamon bun! The 1st 10 I saw you give! in reply to siashin #
• @MFRian Sucks about the IFPI take down! Thx for tweeting abt it-I blogged about your post & needed to update the link… http://bit.ly/RqJZ in reply to MFRian #
• Germanwings did a cool Wifi guerilla campaign http://bit.ly/4PKT #
• @derrick1792 OK Computer has better songwriting but it’s burdened by its context. What do you think? #radiohead #massiveattack in reply to derrick1792 #
• So cool! Tho intrusive RT @dabitch: @thebandfrom That’s exactly the same idea as an award winning Dutch campaign last yr http://bit.ly/HFYrr #
• @derrick1792 I like this game! How about REM-Murmur vs. The Replacements-Pleased to Meet Me #REM #thereplacements in reply to derrick1792 #
• @derrick1792 Wow, i’m w/ u even tho Murmer is less fun. You set the bar high, picking 2 similarly excellent albums #REM #thereplacements in reply to derrick1792 #
• @derrick1792 Also, loads of music owes Murmur some aesthetic royalties. Payment from Pavement is due. #pavement #REM #thereplacements in reply to derrick1792 #
• @derrick1792 New Order. I actually prefer Interpol to joy Division b/c of the song writing. I’m not that alt… U? #Neworder #joydivision in reply to derrick1792 #
• RT @lostateminor: Designing your own organic cereal online: http://tinyurl.com/dagofo #
• Hit the spot! New Order – Ceremony RT @derrick1792: for @thebandfrom… ♫ http://blip.fm/~3bwou #
• “you know what I like about Britney? She’s easy” big surprise. From an interview w/ 1 of the Circus costumers http://bit.ly/TVXQk #
• @derrick1792 THE SOUNDS. T(i)NC are untalented & spread malicious, ignorant hate. (cont) #thesounds #theinternationalnoiseconspiracy in reply to derrick1792 #
• @derrick1792 I interviewed a t(i)nc bro, & he was incredibly ignorant yet preachy & stubborn. #thesounds #theinternationalnoiseconspiracy in reply to derrick1792 #
• @derrick1792 #saharahotnights vs. #thesounds? in reply to derrick1792 #
• @derrick1792 Yeah, t(i)nc is a long way from Refused. they worked w/ Rubin & sound worse than Blink 182 #tinc in reply to derrick1792 #
• @derrick1792 Agreed! I think they deliver on what the Sounds promise, tho the sounds can be good, too. #saharahotnights in reply to derrick1792 #
• Excellent! When do we get to watch/read? RT @KatrinaSzish: Just interviewed Diane von Furstenberg. She is like a cat. #
• @derrick1792 =) I think your taste is more refined than mine, but i’ll take the implied compliment! #saharahotnights in reply to derrick1792 #
• @adtothebone what does Swedish-Italian night entail? Concept sounds mycket buono. in reply to adtothebone #
• @Denise_Cox what did the wise bouncer say? in reply to Denise_Cox #
• @adtothebone Ha! I was gonna commend you on pulling that off w/o such help from Ikea! Sounds like a tricky sauce to pull off. Nicely done. in reply to adtothebone #
• @adtothebone If u leave them there 2 long, yes, def. That’s what happened when I left them in a low temp oven to stay warm during brunch… in reply to adtothebone #
• hahaha bouncer d8 filter RT @Denise_Cox: @thebandfrom “That guy? You deserve better. You can get in, but he’s gonna cost $20.” Womp-womp. #
• RT @eardrums: Our interview with Spotify’s Andres Sehr is now online. Thanks to everyone who helped with the questions. http://bit.ly/aEaeb #
• @MFRian You’re prolly getting lots of recs to migrate to WP on your own server, um, so here’s another… WP is super good & easy… in reply to MFRian #
• STOP THE PRESSES! Accordg 2 CNN Revealed, Paris Vogue editor in chief goes 2 couture shows & NY fashion week. 4 realz! http://bit.ly/mDgy2 #
• Also, turns out there r influential ppl in fashion who’d go on TV giving props 2 Carine Roitfeld. Alas, she’s much cooler than the dumb show #
• Fashion is only as dumb as the ppl reporting abt it. Miss Amy Spindler. OK, & yeah Galliano et al r ridiculous. #
• @PigsAndPlans Yeah, I’d expect her 2 b more aware since she her own name is easy 2 pronounce yet “”"ethnic”"” (i coulda had a kh in mine 2) in reply to PigsAndPlans #
• THX! RT @earfarm: favorites of the day so far: Mastodon, Doom, Fever Ray, Crocodiles, The Band From, Prefuse 73, and the supremely polari… #
• @tomewing Would economists do? If so, then Stephen Dubner & Steven Levitt of the Freakonomics book/blog freakonomics.blogs.nytimes.com in reply to tomewing #
• @chrisdeline Aniston needs someone who’d tweet her better. Yeah, sorry, couldn’t help it… in reply to chrisdeline #
• Nancy is great! i posted MP3s on my blog, 2. RT @pastaprimavera: guess what? Suggested Listening: Nancy http://tinyurl.com/d3xvkj #
• @chrisdeline hahaha It’s tricky to conjugate the verb “tweet”…. In this context, even “conjugate” sounds dirty. I woke up 12 yrs old. in reply to chrisdeline #
• lol mayer had self control RT @chrisdeline: @thebandfrom and it doesn’t clean things up by saying something like “tweet the shit out of her” #
• RT @nmallin: #Twitter to roll out Pro accounts for $ http://bit.ly/12ReV7 #
• @derrick1792 Murmur (Remastered Deluxe Edition) http://bit.ly/CQtg6 in reply to derrick1792 #
• Dangerous site – Sephora-level beauty products at steep discounts: http://bit.ly/iL2OQ #
• @fnelson 1/2 an ambien is perfect for me. in reply to fnelson #
• Most ppl I meet don’t know indie music exists. Some assume it has something to do w/ Bollywood. The rest change the topic to #idol. #90210 #
• @derrick1792 Thanks =) Nice to hear. What can I say, I do pay a price for living close to the gym & luxury goods purveyors. ha in reply to derrick1792 #
• Also, there’s a new Wild Things trailer (not the Tone Loc one) RT @somevelvetblog: This just in: Shins still not signed to Sub Pop anymore. #
• I’m way under quota for meme generation today. Apologies. #
• Super good city guides as iPhone apps! RT @stalker: http://twitpic.com/2gfjd – yeah – finally – we made it – the app is up there … #
• Love this band RT @DodgeMOKB: New on MOKB : New Song : The Mary Onettes : Dare http://tinyurl.com/dlaq2e #
• @JessicaSuarez re: Progress Report – Johan Agregard from The Legends/Club8/AH Kings/Labrador Recs; Shout Out Louds in reply to JessicaSuarez #
• Is there a polite way to tell someone to stop snapping gum in a social situation? I could use one right now. Unbearable. H8 gum #
• RT @tara: RT @gpgarner RT @agletsmycat: Best. Resume. EVER. http://noahstokes.com/ (omg, the best) #
• Bank robber’s orange nail polish gets her caught: http://bit.ly/CpkXU #
• RT @tomewing: I had forgotten how protective some French r of Gainsbourg- glowing 10/10 review & I get email saying “2 bad u didn’t get it”. #
• Minnesota District Considering Banning Axe Products http://bit.ly/2tIdEc #
• Obama on legalizing weed: “no, I don’t think that’s a good strategy to grow our economy.” #
• Please explain… ? RT @adtothebone: @thebandfrom But what will Paul Bunyan do? #
• @adtothebone haha, i didn’t know if it had to do w/ Axe or the Obama/weed statement in reply to adtothebone #
• @adtothebone ha, good to know more about the legend. i’m an immigrant & clearly don’t know enough abt Paul. in reply to adtothebone #
• @QuantumTom nutella and what? in reply to QuantumTom #
• @QuantumTom that’s a classic combo in reply to QuantumTom #
• Ah, Disney! Yay! RT @adtothebone: @thebandfrom Learn about Paul Bunyan the easy way – through cartoon! http://tinyurl.com/d59km9 #
• @ultragrrrl Stamos = Zac Efron + 20± yrs in reply to ultragrrrl #
• @wellroundedradi Marijuana is practically legal now, isn’t it? Well, I do live in CA. in reply to wellroundedradi #
• And now I have some new stoner followers. Ah, Twitter. If you only knew the truth. #
• Lafa (Arabic bread) yay! Go itzik http://twitpic.com/2hhwv #
• Ridiculous Israeli salad spread http://twitpic.com/2hhxx #
• @The_Real_Shaq on ghost twitterers: “It’s 140 characters. It’s so few characters. If you need a ghostwriter for that, I feel sorry for you.” #
• ex britney conslt: What they r 2 da public = not alwys what they r bhind da curtain. If da mgr knows tht bttr than da star, they shld do it #
• NYTimes on ghost twitterers to the stars http://bit.ly/86BE2 #
• @kermalou I love that quote from the ex Britney consultant-like, what do u expect? it’s all fake, not just Twitter. in reply to kermalou #
• @Pampelmoose also a shame their new media coverage is so superficial, eg, The Medium column on Sundays. in reply to Pampelmoose #
• Cadbury goes for the slice of life approach in new commercial RT @macethinho: CADBURY new commercial >>> http://tinyurl.com/cn4jtn #
• miss football? RT @markdienger: A judge is telling us the odds of being on a jury for a case is about 3/1. Anyone want to take bets… #
• yay RT @gorillavsbear: the tough alliance covering the zombies = summer magichttp://tinyurl.com/cjc76m #
• @povertyjetset have you worked w/ Adobe AIR before? How’s the learning curve? Sounds like fun times. in reply to povertyjetset #
• RT @A2Z: RT @jherskowitz: Pirate Bay launches premium, secure VPN for users. http://tr.im/hSmp. #
• @povertyjetset ah, excellent. Have fun! in reply to povertyjetset #
• @povertyjetset and do tell when it’s done! in reply to povertyjetset #
• Is #kanye changing his name to martin louis the king jr?? #
• The LA Fire Dept is on #twitter as @lafd,. Doesn’t update that often, depressing when it does. #
• cute. Lego #twitter fail whale http://bit.ly/xKJk7 via SwissMiss blog #
• @mattchait it all works as long as your art doesn’t challenge the govt, and as long as you’re not a woman who wants to drive to her space in reply to mattchait #
• @siashin haha… this hypothetical labradoodle can also differentiate b/n MP3 & vinyl. in reply to siashin #
• I kinda want to create a Twitter persona that lies outrageously, eg claims to have invented light, to be the author of Shakespeare #
• <3 spy stories RT @stalker: has stolen documents from hundreds of government and private offices around the world http://snipurl.com/eqwx9 #
• @musosdan Congrats! Your new site looks really great! clean & easy. http://twurl.nl/glumoy in reply to musosdan #
• OMG, found #Disney printable coloring pages on the disney site! http://bit.ly/w0vIf #

Here are a couple of songs I liked most from some recent leaks/releases.  09 has been amazing for music so far!  And not just for Swedish music, which would be an easy goal since every year seems to span 12 good months of Swedish music.  This post is a rare in its exclusion of Svensk musik.  Speaking of non-Nordic music, I’m already curious about what tracks would stand out from my future release, Fair Isle.  Till then, here we go:

Porky Hefer of South African “”"creative consultancy”"” Animal Farm designed these light bulb shaped lampshades called Lite:

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Sweden’s Lake Hearbeat takes a turn to Pet Shop Boys – at their ethereal moments – it’s still Lake Hearbeat, after all.  Is there a term like onomatopoeia that indicates a piece of music sounds like its title?  If such a word existed, “Between Dreams” would be its epitome.

Lake Heartbeat will release/leak a free MP3 every month of 2009 at their site, yet another way to mark that year is going by a bit too fast.

Lake Heartbeat – “Between Dreams”

“Between Dreams” is not yet available for sale, but by all means get the excellent “Mystery” at iTunes or Kicktrack.

Visit Lake Heartbeat at their site or MySpace.

Check out their label Service.

• @wefollow #indie #music #artist #
• @musicisart i love the amethyst, but i’d worry it’d get tangled in my hair (otherwise, a v reasonable necessity RE http://tiny.cc/Ud0Xw in reply to musicisart #
• I’m trying to simplify my band site and would welcome your suggestions: http://www.thebandfrom.com I love the very focused Muxtape site #
• @mattchait to remind us about the greatness of pizza? in reply to mattchait #
• @mattchait pizza means everyone’s a winner! in reply to mattchait #
• RT @PigsAndPlans: “retirement” is the new “rehab” #
• @Aziziz Agreed. I remember that! You’re a meme factory. in reply to Aziziz #
• oh, Karl. Go on. RT @KLsaid: There is a sort of melancholia which I find quite elegant after the ‘bimbo years.’ #
• RT @A2Z: ha was looking at Knicks tickets and the description for this $600 ticket is “Behind Spike Lee” – http://bit.ly/JPqDi #
• New Lake Heartbeat song: http://bit.ly/1SSwZ #
• @siashin Yeah, I hope there’s a native Apple app for Twitter w/ the next OS. Address book, iPhoto integration seems natural. in reply to siashin #
• Wow, so many tweets about boredom! Anyone wanna take some of my load?? It’s fascinating stuff, to me anyway… #
• @mattchait Alas, no pay. That’s why there’s so much of it 4 me. Unrelated to yr life, Brand Records may have a legit internship in the fall. in reply to mattchait #
• _Bruno_ sounds insane. Can’t wait: http://bit.ly/yvAMp #
• @choochootheband go Choo Choo! Have a great show! Was just listening to “A Little Wiser Now” in reply to choochootheband #
• Kanye on Beyonce’s current Vogue cover: “I KNOW I’M MAD LATE …. ESPECIALLY SINCE ANNA TOLD ME BOUT THIS COVER BEFORE IT DROPPED.” #
• May there never be a piece about From w/ a phrase like “produce of integrity.” I’m an immigrant. My food’s not precious http://bit.ly/67rxT #
• @derrick1792 HAHAHAHAH yeah, i guess the facts are fairly established… in reply to derrick1792 #
• @deffect pls explain. Also couldn’t send you a DM b/c you’re not following me. Ouch! in reply to deffect #
• @siashin which cupcakes do you like? in reply to siashin #
• @siashin Wow! I’m sure you’re an excellent baker! in reply to siashin #
• @A2Z Pedialyte is also for hangovers, no? in reply to A2Z #
• We need more ppl like you in LA. RT @PigsAndPlans: i live in florida and i hate wearing sandals #
• RT @siashin: weight watchers recipe cards circa 1974. also insane, awesome, hilarious. http://is.gd/4rKw via @SouthernFood #
• Thx 4 the Bruno update! RT @siashin: @thebandfrom sacha baron cohen tries to seduce ron paul! http://is.gd/nDAO #
• At a Diving Bells show http://twitpic.com/26ar5 #
• And there are 4 shows better than that? RT @samuelmjohnson: The woman in the show just trying to light a lighter using a cigarette. #
• RT @povertyjetset: @catbird this is going to be trouble: http://fake-twitter.com/ #
• @chrisdeline Did you try HandBrake for video conversion? http://bit.ly/8pFly in reply to chrisdeline #
• @derrick1792 Aw! Cheers!!! in reply to derrick1792 #
• Make new music? Perform? Super good either way! RT @derrick1792: @thebandfrom – Kanye will make music at #SXSW #
• @loudersoft Why are you glad you’re not going to SXSW? I’m having SX envy and would appreciate some consoling insights! =) in reply to loudersoft #
• @spam @Mellissa848 @mVYsou #
• Anyone know if it’s possible to have Twitter updates sent directly to a Facebook page? (not your main human profile) #
• @QuantumTom Yeah, to the wall of my band’s page. in reply to QuantumTom #
• @mattchait hahaha that hit the spot! Just the thought of missing clothing makes me glad to have stayed put. #sxsw in reply to mattchait #
• Amazing! Thank you so much! RT @QuantumTom: @thebandfrom voila “HOWTO: Send Twitter updates to your Facebook Wall” http://twurl.nl/fpvl83 #
• @QuantumTom this FB method doesn’t work for pages. “Settings” does not bring up an “import stories” menu. I want Twitter to update my status in reply to QuantumTom #
• @QuantumTom Yeah, so much for their initiative to make pages more like regular profiles! And the drive to harness Twitter! Go Facebook. in reply to QuantumTom #
• @mattchait Hooray for #youtube #sxsw #iphone #american idol! in reply to mattchait #
• I’m gonna see The Soundtrack of Our Lives do an acoustic + bongo set at the Swedish consulate. Super good. #
• @mattchait Do you follow Idol or #idol? #hashcrazy in reply to mattchait #
• Surrounded by Swedes. Feels vaguely home-like. #
• Soundtrack of Our Lives playing at a home over coldwater canyon http://twitpic.com/27evc #
• http://twitpic.com/24rms – what the hell? i have no idea how this cat got into twitpic instead of a photo I took of a sculpture. #
• @A2Z very nice site! Congrats! (re http://bit.ly/Be9IC) in reply to A2Z #
• @derrick1792 Yeah, and the party went on w/o live music. Consulate generals know how to live. in reply to derrick1792 #
• @derrick1792 TOTALLY. Go for it. In which country would you be stationed? in reply to derrick1792 #
• @eiknarf goooooood. you? in reply to EIKNARF #
• You won’t be seeing CC by Chanel anytime soon: RT @KLsaid: I hate the notion of a second line. It’s condescending and patronizing. #
• @derrick1792 This sort of focus will def come handy on your foreign assignments! I’d gladly play any of your mansions. in reply to derrick1792 #
• Also check out the cat tailor: http://bit.ly/AaQm6 RT @lostateminor: Wigs for cats? Who would have thought! http://kittywigs.com/ #
• RT @Pampelmoose: [...]where all the music biz money is spent. 3 Def Jam execs struggling with the Executive Level buttons in Hilton elevator #
• Better than Nothing 2 Worry About RT @PigsAndPlans: Another great song from Peter, Bjorn, and John – “It Don’t Move Me” http://bit.ly/2rjcW #
• I wanna go to the Alexander Calder exhibition at the Pompidou http://bit.ly/eZfka #
• @QuantumTom There are so many cops on the streets in my hood! I don’t think I should be posting anything else police related on Twitter. in reply to QuantumTom #
• @siashin ha! I’m d/l the episode off iTunes now. Frustratingly slow, though. in reply to siashin #
• The slowness of the iTunes store only drives me to Rapidshare #rationalizing #
• I need to blog about the burgeoning Lagerfeld toy empire RT @Aziziz: @KLsaid nice doll http://www.notcot.org/post/19823/ #
• Food & wine fest at Disneyland http://disneyland.com/foodandwine I prefer my version: churros, corndogs, and “water” #
• @doshdosh if it could, does the print edition at all enhance the CPM ad rates? (I get the paper 7 days a week…) in reply to doshdosh #
• Noel Gallagher: “We’re bigger than The Guardian in America” & “I don’t think I can have a child w/ an American accent” #
• Apparently, lots of teen girls support Chris Brown (NYTimes): http://bit.ly/u24Sa #
• @KatrinaSzish ooh, what ruffle coat? Sounds enchanting! in reply to KatrinaSzish #
• Y’all are super advanced! RT @lukeinusa: even my Mum is on Twitter! #
• What’s POTUS? RT @Denise_Cox: almost POTUS time #
• HAHAHAH I love it when I’m genuinely an idiot. Thx 4 the translation. RT @bigbroncosfan: @thebandfrom Pesident of the united states (POTUS) #
• There’s an excellent restaurant in Stockholm called Pontus, so POTUS triggers all sorts of delicious memories. #
• I should do more political tweets. #
• #SoundCloud now has handy #Twitter integration http://bit.ly/rxbcO #
• Acne Jeans online #outlet: http://shop.acnestudios.com/outlet/ #
• RT @stevehall: Will Text Rumor Scare Off Walmart Customers?: BATAVIA, Ohio (AdAge.com) — A text-messaging hoax… http://tinyurl.com/chjhxp #
• If Woot has the 8GB 2nd gen iPod Touch, does that mean we’re getting an update from Apple soon? http://bit.ly/14Ybf #
• Also, write your own p4k front page joke to go along w/ the iPod touch on Woot. #
• The Adele/Vogue Photoshop controversy is ridiculous. Why do ppl only care about retouching when it’s applied to someone overweight? #
• I’m a ghost! Twitter lost my profile photo. boo! (as in the sound that ghosts make to scare you) #
• RT @somevelvetblog: Overheard at adult rock radio panel – new name for blog rock = “attention deficit criticism” #
• Speedo x Comme des Garçons yields tie dyed Speedos (the shorts are actually good) http://bit.ly/Aog1M #
• Hamlet as Facebook news feed: http://bit.ly/2Sg8rW as tweets: http://bit.ly/XyBO #twitter #
• Heart Castle now has an online virtual tour. I love castles! http://bit.ly/1arg4t #
• * Hearst castle, that is. http://bit.ly/1arg4t #
• @Aziziz All that in 1 person? Super efficient of him! in reply to Aziziz #
• @siashin haha.. I had to find their site. Harvard Hiphop Archive: http://www.hiphoparchive.org/ (Sandra Day O’Connor visited!) in reply to siashin #
• RT @A2Z: These Ameriquest commercials are brilliant! http://bit.ly/WoDMG #
• hahaha RT @siashin: @thebandfrom ‘harvard hiphop archive’ – incongruous enough. but their site? just ludacris! #
• Currently seeking a matte lip balm. Gloss looks so goopy and fake now. War is not the answer but maybe blotting is… #
• No. Are you there? #
• @A2Z hootsuite manages multiple twitter accts for free http://hootsuite.com/ in reply to A2Z #
• @siashin i have to try that ganache! not into lip balm in tins. chapstick may be worth a shot too… in reply to siashin #
• @A2Z Hope it works out! Can’t believe there are tools like that for $250/month! in reply to A2Z #

I love the rugged accessories Prada showed for FW 09 – over the knee boots were everywhere, and Prada’s stood out for forgoing the dominatrix references.  Over the knee boots have to look loose, or the woman in them does.  The heeled shoes took the boots’ lug soles and raised the vamp to a similarly 90s grunge era silhouette.  Naturally, Dr. Martens go with grunge, so it’s no surprise there are some Prada alternatives from that brand.

These Dr. Martens styles have some common features as the Pradas, yet they take the ideas someplace else.  They’re not knock offs, and they’re not meant to simulate actual Prada shoes.  Note the super good Yohji Yamamoto x Docs collaboration!

Prada

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Very different aesthetics: earthy, crafted, and rugged vs. sleek, bright, and modern.

Audiowood Barky

Rega P3-24

More on Audiowood here.  Via yvynyl.

More on the Rega P3-24 here.  Via Kanye West.