Think he looks like a star? Wait until you hear his music. BAKER channelling vintage hollywood. Photo by Bryan Alano Photography.

Sometimes the most amazing outcomes have the humblest beginnings.

In our particular case, this piece started out by a simple email from BAKER’s, PR Managers’, assistant.

“We represent an artist that has a great sense of style and we think would be a great match to your online magazine.  You have a music section right?”

Right.

BAKER bringing his music to the people. Image from Bryan Alano Photography.

So we performed our due diligence and checked out his official website http://www.bakermusic.com/ to see what we were getting ourselves into.

Upon review, we thought to ourselves: Great website.  Good looking dude.  Nice sense of style.

But the thing that really got us interested was this song:

BAKER – ALL I’M GONNA SAY by BAKERmusicofficial

We actually listened to it a few times and the main reason this song piqued our interest was because it sounded like something which was already getting airplay on the radio.

But it wasn’t.

So we thought to ourselves, he’s got the look, he’s got a classic sense of style and he’s got the music.  Why wouldn’t ESM take this opportunity to feature what could possibly be the next big thing?

BAKER turns down modelling offers to pursue his passion for music. Image from Bryan Alano Photography.

As we dug deeper, we found out more information that got us excited about featuring BAKER.

• His family owns and operates one of the oldest men’s custom clothiers in the United States
• His dad races vintage Porsches on the East Coast
• He’s a Harvard grad who is also a classical cellist

Finally, he has songs like this:

BAKER – CONVINCE ME by BAKERmusicofficial

For us here at ESM, BAKER’s music is the amalgamation of style, the best in pop music and a persona that has every possibility to become very successful in the music industry.

Right now, it’s just a matter of time and exposure.  And we’ve got #2 handled.

Can't take a better photo than this. Vintage car, sunset on PCH and the next big thing in music. BAKER photo by Bryan Alano photography.

Finally, it’s hard for us to write this article without talking about the photo shoot and video interview.

We collaborated with BAKER’s team and came up with the concept of a modern interpretation of a James Dean photo shoot.  Over the course of a few weeks of continuous preparation, the final product is something we were very happy with.

We were even fortunate enough to use a vintage Speedster replica from the folks at TruSpeed Motorsports for the shoot.

This photo looks like it could have been taken in 1955. Classic style never goes out of fashion. BAKER image from Bryan Alano Photography.

So in the future when you hear one of BAKER’s songs on the radio, turn it up and remember you heard it here first on ESM.

Like we said in the beginning, sometimes the most amazing things come from the humblest beginnings.

Want more BAKER?  Check out the behind-the-scenes video and interview below:

BAKER behind the scenes video and interview with Essential Style for Men from Essential Style on Vimeo.

Special thanks to Bryan Alano (http://www.bryanalano.com/) for the photos and video for the shoot, Milsa Watson (stylist), Megumi Wakabayashi (hair and makeup), Christine Kim, TruSpeed Motorsports and the entire BAKER management team for helping make this photo shoot happen.

BAKER looking forward into the future. Image from Bryan Alano Photography.

For more photos, music and information on BAKER, you can check out his official site at http://www.bakermusic.com.

Want more photos from the shoot?  Check out the gallery below:

Life's Good by PHAZE. High five to Zac on the drums.

Isn’t it weird how you come across new music?

Most of the time it’s probably because you heard it on the radio.  On occassion, you’ll get recommendations from friends.

In today’s case, our friend just happened to play the drums for the music video. 

Check out “Life’s Good” by PHAZE.  The song is pretty good, the drummer is our friend Zac Blakeley and we think you will enjoy the video below.

Just disregard the fact the artist looks like he is 16.

For more information about PHAZE, you can check out his Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/pages/Phaze-Music/161230240595804 and his YouTube channel at http://www.youtube.com/user/SavagePhaze?feature=watch.

Archer on FX. He's the man with the plan. Well, maybe not the ENTIRE plan, but he gets the job done. Image from http://www.fxnetworks.com/shows/originals/archer/download.php.

Smooth.  Suave.  Debonaire.  Intelligent.  Cunning.  Handsome.  Well-dressed.

Well, at least one of those adjectives describes Archer on FX, our latest ESM Icon.

According to the official Archer on FX website:

Rakish and reckless, suave and sarcastic, Sterling Archer (Codename: Duchess) is the world’s greatest secret agent.

According to Sterling Archer.

Archer’s colleagues at ISIS – including his boss, Malory, who is also his mother; his partner, Lana, who is also his ex-girlfriend; and every other person in the building, to whom he’s just usually a colossal tool – would probably describe him in less flattering terms.

Like colossal tool, for example.

But after meeting Archer’s mother, it’s hard to blame him for not always being the easiest person to get along with. That person would probably be Woodhouse, Archer’s ancient valet (to whom Archer is, constantly and without fail, a colossal tool).

Women just swoon for him, though. But that might just be due to his luxuriously thick head of hair, his steely blue eyes, or abs you could wash your laundry on if only he would let you.

Which he probably wouldn’t: it would seem too much like work to him

So why did we chose Archer as our next icon?  Simply check out these clips on “What would Archer do?” from Archer on FX and you’ll see why:

On office romance:

On fashion advice:

On picking up the ladies:

On budgeting:

On new year’s eve:

Ok, well maybe Archer isn’t exactly the most politically correct super spy in the world, but he’s got a ton of style.

And that’s why we love him.

For more information about Archer on FX, you can check out his official site at http://www.fxnetworks.com/shows/originals/archer/.

You can also check out more video clips on Archer on FX’s official YouTube page at http://www.youtube.com/user/FXArcher#p/a.

There are only a few things that we love more than scotch, steak and ninjas.

That would be motorcycles and cars drifting in a movie that emulates the Dukes of Hazzard.

YeeeeHAAAAW!

A good friend of ours turned us on to the latest motorcycle vs. car drift battle video from Icon Motorsports and we were in motorsport heaven.  The entire video is 8 minutes of pure orgasmic drifting awesomeness.

Too graphic?

This could be the best. Photo. Ever. Icon drift battle image from http://iconmotosports.net/2012/01/7460/.

We truly enjoyed the first motorcycle vs. drift battle by Icon Motorsports, but this video just took it to another level.

The production quality, storyline and cinematography made us watch it over and over again.  Hell, they should make this bitch into a full blown featured film!

Too much?

Motorcycle vs. Car drift battle from Icon Motorsports. Better than Godzilla vs. whoever the hell else. Image from http://iconmotosports.net/.

We can’t help it.  This video was so damn good!

For more photos on the Motorcycle vs. Car Drift Battle 2 by Icon Motorsports, you can check out their feed at http://iconmotosports.net/2012/01/7460/.

For more information about Icon Motorsports, you can check out their official site at http://iconmotosports.net/ and http://www.rideicon.com/.

"Goldfish Salvation" by Riusuke Fukahori. Pretty effing amazing.

When you’ve got over 1.5 million views on a video, you know the video is either bat-shit stupid or unbelievably amazing.

Thank God this one was the latter.

Introducing Riusuke Fukahori, a Japanese artist who is a 1995 graduate of Aichi Prefectual University of Fine Arts and Music that does some amazing three-dimensional goldfish artwork.

According to thisiscolossal.com:

Japanese artist Riusuke Fukahori paints three-dimensional goldfish using a complex process of poured resin. The fish are painted meticulously, layer by layer, the sandwiched slices revealing slightly more about each creature, similar to the function of a 3D printer. I really enjoy the rich depth of the pieces and the optical illusion aspect, it’s such an odd process that results in something that’s both a painting and sculptural. Wonderful.

He also had a full exhibition at the ICN Gallery in London titled “Goldfish Salvation” that ran from December 1, 2011 to January 11, 2012.

Goldfish Salvation. In a sake box. Image from http://www.thisiscolossal.com/2012/01/riusuke-fukahori-paints-three-dimensional-goldfish-embedded-in-layers-of-resin/.

Here’s an excerpt from ICN’s official website describing the exhibition:

Artist Riusuke Fukahori’s London debut exhibition “Goldfish Salvation” transforms ICN gallery into the world of goldfish. When struggling with artistic vision, Fukahori’s pet goldfish became his inspiration and ever since his passion and lifelong theme. His unique style of painting uses acrylic on clear resin which is poured into containers, resulting in a three-dimensional appearance and lifelike vitality.

Over the years the goldfish breeding business has reached an extreme, perfecting goldfish in a variety of colours and shapes, they are admired as beautiful objects like ‘living sculptures’. Fukahori’s brush strokes capturing the liveliness, delicacy and dynamics of the goldfish and his sculpture works create an illusion by using resin to captive the painted surfaces creating a truly ‘living sculpture’.

Dude. This is some amazing goldfish art. There is no other way to say it.

Want to see some amazing stills?  Check out this Flickr page and be prepared to have your mind blown.

For more information Riusuke Fukahori and the Goldfish Salvation exhibition at the ICN Gallery in Londo, you can check out the official ICN Gallery site at http://www.icn-global.com/exhibition/2011/goldfish.html.

In these days of the post-Napster era, we’re lucky if we see an artist reach album number three on a major label. And this is not due to the quality of music these days (or is it?), but rather due to the short attention span of an iTunes generation of listeners accustomed to 30 second snippets and mixtapes. With that being said, enter Chicago MC, Common and his ninth studio album The Dreamer/The Believer.

The Dreamer/The Believer on paper sounds like a wet dream for the die-hard Common fan. The production is handled primarily by No ID who produced Common’s now classic 1994 LP, Resurrection. To some this may appear to be a ploy to create hype and monetize nostalgia, but upon first listen it’s evident that the Common/No ID collaboration doesn’t disappoint although not quite a classic.

On the opener (half title cut), The Dreamer, Common flows effortlessly over a vocal sample stating, “A legend like John….Lennon, I’m a dreamer/Tried to f*ck the world but she only let me finger.” Common quickly lets you know he’s not holding back with witty wordplay nor censorship this time around. Poet, Maya Angelou, closes the track with a positive poem about “dreaming big” like ancestors of the past thus creating a dichotomy that pulls you in on the most basic human element of positive versus negative.

Common shines brightest on Blue Sky where he rhymes, “Daylight beams/night life schemes/this is my Inception, I’m writin’ my dreams” while effortlessly weaving in and out of a No ID crafted Electric Light Orchestra sample atop huge 808 kick drums. This song in particular works well due to the fact that the singing vocal hook can appeal to an audience wider than the core hip hop fan while at the same time not alienating them. Whether created purposely or out of inspiration, producer No ID managed to walk that line perfectly. The album as a whole doesn’t feel like they’re aiming for sales or to capture the ears of as many listeners as possible, which is refreshing.

Another standout cut is the reggae tinged Raw as Common tells a vivid story of picking up the girl that has caught his eye while avoiding the obnoxious, guy that had one too many drinks. “Seen a girl she had bottom like a spea-ker / Wanna put hands on her like a prea-cher” Upon first listen, it’s obvious that Raw will be released as a single but doesn’t stray away from the album’s core objective of being a ‘classic’ style hip hop album.

The Dreamer… is by no means a perfect project. The album almost manages to fall on its face on dull tracks such as Celebrate and the forcefully positive/preachy Windows. Common is well known for his positive hip hop and is held in high regards for it, but this time around (on Windows especially) it feels forced to the point where you have to press forward (or skip for you iPod kids). Luckily these two lacklustre songs are sandwiched back to back making the press of that forward button feel that much more guilt-free.

All in all, Common manages to deliver what his fans have been waiting for to the best of his ability. The Dreamer manages to deliver 12 songs without conforming to current trends of auto tune or monotonous subject matter. Common managed to cover everything from machismo/cocky MC to positive, uplifting tracks on the album like The Believer and Pops Belief. If you long for a solid hip hop album, then this is a release that you need in your life this New Year.

RATING – 3.75/5 

This movie is so damn good. Warrior movie image from Chuck Zlotnick/http://www.warriorfilm.com/index2.html#/photos/?imageid=1.

This movie isn’t a movie about mixed martial arts (MMA).

It’s a movie about underdogs, brotherhood, fatherhood, fears, facing your past, overcoming challenges, hate, alcoholism, abuse,  death, family, marriage, pride, love and life.

The two main characters just happen to fight MMA.

Don’t get me wrong, the fight scenes are intense and realistic.  Half the movie they are either in the gym or training or fighting.  But to say this is an MMA movie would be to seriously sell it short.

From to the official Warrior website:

Rising stars Tom Hardy and Joel Edgerton command the screen as two estranged brothers facing the fight of a lifetime in Lionsgate’s WARRIOR, a moving, inspirational action drama from acclaimed director Gavin O’Connor (Miracle).

Haunted by a tragic past, Marine Tommy Conlon (Hardy) returns home for the first time in fourteen years to enlist the help of his father (Nick Nolte) to train for Sparta, the biggest winner-takes-all event in mixed martial arts history. A former wrestling prodigy, Tommy blazes a path toward the championship while his brother, Brendan (Edgerton), an ex-fighter-turned teacher, returns to the ring in a desperate bid to save his family from financial ruin.  But when Brendan’s unlikely, underdog rise sets him on a collision course with the unstoppable Tommy, the two brothers must finally confront each other and the forces that pulled them apart, facing off in the most soaring, soul stirring, and unforgettable climax that must be seen to be believed.

A rousing ode to redemption, reconciliation and the power of the human spirit, WARRIOR is also a moving testament to the enduring bonds of family.   WARRIOR stars Tom Hardy (the upcoming The Dark Knight Rises, Inception, Black Hawk Down), Joel Edgerton (Animal Kingdom, Star Wars: Episode III), Jennifer Morrison (“House”, Star Trek) and Nick Nolte (Tropic Thunder, The Thin Red Line).  The film is directed by Gavin O’Connor; screenplay by Gavin O’Connor & Anthony Tambakis & Cliff Dorman and story by Gavin O’Connor & Cliff Dorfman.

Each and every member of this ensemble cast does an unbeleivable job at keeping the viewer glued to the screen and engaged in each and every story of their lives.

This movie is amazing and is definitely on our top ten list of the best movies of all time.

In case you haven’t seen it yet, go rent it.  You’ll be thinking about the movie days after watching it.

For more information about Warrior, the movie you can check out their official site at http://www.warriorfilm.com/index2.html.

Boom. We're hooked on Cinemax's original series Strike Back. Image from http://www.cinemax.com/strike-back/.

We are officially hooked on Strike Back, the original anti-terrorist badass series on Cinemax.

From the official Strike Back website:

A high-octane, globe-spanning thriller with storylines ripped from today’s headlines, Strike Back, Cinemax’s first scripted prime-time original drama series, focuses on two members of a top-secret intelligence agency known as Section 20: Michael Stonebridge, a British sergeant on the elite counter-terrorism team, and Damien Scott, a former U.S. Delta Force operative who was discharged on the eve of the U.S. invasion of Iraq. Stonebridge, Scott and the rest of Section 20 criss-cross the globe on the trail of a deadly international terrorist named Latif, who is planning a major attack involving a cache of WMD that could have global repercussions.

If you’ve been looking for a show that mixes in guns, explosions, dudes killing terrorists, beautiful women who get naked more often than necessary and two badasses that are almost to par with Mr. Chuck Norris himself, Strike Back is definitely the show for you.

Strike Back's two resident badasses, Michael Stonebridge and Damien Scott. Image from http://www.cinemax.com/strike-back/.

The two most recent episodes we watched are the ones that got us hooked:

• 5 EU officials in Kosovo get kidnapped by the biggest heroine trafficker in the area and requests the freedom of his cousin (who also happens to be a terrorist) in exchange for the hostages
• The two main characters are asked to deliver the cousin terrorist and en-route to the airport, the transport vehicle is blown up by other terrorists who kill themselves with cyanide pills because they were chased down by the main characters (luckily, they put the cousin terrorist in the trunk of the car).
• Once there, the two main characters decide to not do the exchange because they felt they were going to get killed if they followed the plan.  They decide to kill all the terrorists at the exchange.  The odds are 15 terrorists with automatic weapons to the 2 main dudes.  They kill them all anyway.
• They run out of gas.
• They have to find another vehicle to transport their rescued hostages.  To do that, they have to invade a heavily fortified heroine processing plant.  They kill everyone, but the vehicle they intended to commandeer explodes in flames.
• A team from the American military finds them and brings them back to their base.  Unfortunately, the American team’s leader is corrupt and in the back pocket of the aforementioned heroine dealer and the main characters are betrayed.
• Women are sent to be drugged up on heroine and sold as sex slaves.
• Lead characters are sent to another location to be killed, but escape from their transport vehicle because another American hid a firearm in the head of a decapitated victim and throws it into the transport with them.
• They go back and rescue hostages by killing everyone in the prison.
• As they are escaping and en route to save the women about to become sex slaves, a military team catches up with them in a standoff.  One lead character escapes because the other lead character stays and covers them.
• Lead character that stays is presumed dead.
• Other lead character and freed hostages try to find and save women about to become sex slaves.
• They find themselves in a mine field and one hostage gets blown up by a mine because he goes temporarily insane from all the stress.
• They find where the women are found, remaining lead character goes into another heavily fortified enemy area and single-handedly kills the rest of the terrorists who are hand-picking their sex-slaves.
• Lead character finds other presumed dead lead character who was actually alive, badly wounded and brought back to a room where they are dissecting war victims and harvesting their organs.
• Presumed dead lead character frees himself and is picked up by other lead character with all hostages in tow.

Just writing about the two-episode plot is ridiculous.  You have to watch this show.

For more information about Strike Back, the ESM-approved original series on Cinemax, you can check out their official site at http://www.cinemax.com/strike-back/.

Since we’re talking about kick-ass movies today, we might as well talk about Haywire, an action movie from our favorite Ocean’s 11 director Steven Soderbergh:

This dynamic action-thriller directed by Oscar® winner Steven Soderbergh (Traffic) boasts a talented cast that includes Channing Tatum (GI Joe: Rise of the Cobra), Ewan McGregor (The Ghost Writer), Michael Fassbender (X-Men: First Class), Antonio Banderas (The Legend of Zoro), Bill Paxton (“Big Love”), Michael Douglas (Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps), Michael Angarano (Almost Famous); and introduces mixed martial arts (MMA) superstar Gina Carano as Mallory Kane, in a demanding lead role that has her performing her own high-adrenaline stunts. Mallory Kane is a highly trained operative who works for a government security contractor in the dirtiest, most dangerous corners of the world. After successfully freeing a Chinese journalist held hostage, she is double crossed and left for dead by someone close to her in her own agency. Suddenly the target of skilled assassins who know her every move, Mallory must find the truth in order to stay alive. Using her black-ops military training, she devises an ingenious—and dangerous—trap. But when things go haywire, Mallory realizes she’ll be killed in the blink of an eye unless she finds a way to turn the tables on her ruthless adversary.

Trust us guys, this movie isn’t your typical burned spy movie.   Probably because Gina Carano is a legit MMA fighter who also happens to be hot.

Scary hot.

For more information about Haywire, you can check out the official movie site at http://www.haywiremovie.com/. 

If you’re not excited to see The Dark Knight Rises featuring our ESM Icon, Bruce Wayne, maybe you shouldn’t be reading our website.

This movie is going to be rad.

Although we were originally a little worried about Anne Hathaway playing catwoman, we are more concerned about not making it to one of the first showings of this movie.

For more information about The Dark Knight Rises, you can check out their official site at http://www.thedarkknightrises.com/.

Jim Caviezel as John Reese, former CIA super spy on the CBS TV show, Person of Interest. Images from http://www.cbs.com/shows/person_of_interest/

Sometimes being a former CIA Agent has its advantages.

You get to travel the world, get the best covert operation experience and you get to kick ass and take names.  Unfortunately, you’re just not as highbrow as your MI-6 counterparts.

If you watched the most recent episode, you'll know John Reese isn't his real name. Image from http://www.cbs.com/shows/person_of_interest.

For John Reese in the CBS tv show, Person of Interest, being a (presumed dead) former-CIA agent has its advantages because it allowed him to team up with reclusive and (also presumed dead) billionaire Mr. Finch to stop violent crimes before they happen.

According to the official Person of Interest website:

PERSON OF INTEREST stars Jim Caviezel, Emmy Award winner Michael Emerson and Academy Award nominee Taraji P. Henson in a crime thriller about a presumed dead former-CIA agent, Reese, who teams up with a mysterious billionaire, Finch, to prevent violent crimes by using their own brand of vigilante justice. Reese’s special training in covert operations appeals to Finch, a software genius who invented a program that uses pattern recognition to identify people about to be involved in violent crimes. Using state-of-the-art surveillance technology, the two work outside of the law, using Reese’s adept skills and Finch’s unlimited wealth to unravel the mystery of the “person of interest” and stop the crime before it happens. Reese’s actions draw the attention of the NYPD, including homicide detective Carter, and Fusco, a cop whom Reese uses to his advantage. With infinite crimes to investigate, Reese and Finch find that the right person, with the right information, at the right time, can change everything.

So what makes John Reese a great candidate for this week’s ESM Icon?

He’s a dude in a nice suit that can kill a team of trained assassins with his bare hands.

Need a better reason?

For more information about John Reese and the CBS show Person of Interest, you can check out their official site at http://www.cbs.com/shows/person_of_interest.

Since the movie and car industries essentially grew up together there has always been a fundamental link between them. Directors quickly realised that by combining their elements they could create scenes of absolute style, or climactic and epic chase situations which appealed to men everywhere – as they watched their tough as nails heroes defying the odds by pushing beautiful cars to the limits through crowded city streets.

The classics have been recorded and re-recorded on many occasions so I’ve decided to look at more recent films which have been able to make use of impressive advancements in camera and stunt technology to produce some heart pounding moments which we’ll never forget.

 The Matrix Reloaded (2003)    

That SUV doesn't even know what is about to happen to it.

With the creepy martial arts twins hitting the highway in a sleek black Cadillac Escalade EXT in hot pursuit of the rebel lieutenant Trinity and her cohorts, making top speed in a silver coupe, it seemed that the action was going to be impressive. Little did anyone know that they were about to bare witness to car chase history, as Trinity boarded a transport truck and hijacked a ridiculously stunning black Ducati 996 and proceeded to race into oncoming traffic.

With mercenary programs, machine AI’s and local police forces chasing and firing at her, she proceeded to dodge bullets, cars and leaping agents. The scene left no room for modern contenders as it climaxed with Morpheus slicing through the Cadillac’s tires with a katana and then fighting off an agent atop a truck amidst a slow motion explosion.

The Bourne Identity (2002)      

Cars aren't supposed to go down stairs.

When Matt Damon took on the persona of amnesiac CIA assassin Jason Bourne we all knew that we were in for something special, which might give 007 a run for his money. While Bourne has a greater capacity for ‘wetwork’, we didn’t realise that he could compete with Bond until he was forced to pit a vintage Austin Mini Cooper against the local police authorities of Paris. With only a tiny Mini as an asset he proceeded to take on the entire city by making use of its diminutive stature and performing crazy stunts like descending stairs at high speed. Through the hair raising twists and bends Borne managed to lose or destroy most of his pursuers, culminating in the final officer being derailed due to a collision with a Peugeot 405.

Return of the Jedi (1983)    

Watch out for that tree!

One of the most classic of references here, this scene was a major win for Lucas Arts as Luke and Leia battled or sought to escape imperial troopers. Considering the break neck pace that these speeder bikes cruise at it’s hard to imagine how anyone who doesn’t have ‘Jedi reflexes’ could manage, but the troopers did a fine job as they pursued the fleeing princess through the densely packed forest floor of Endor. With blaster bolts firing and massive trees blurring past continuously, every viewer was on the edge of their seat awaiting the inevitable bone crushing impact of Stormtrooper on pine tree.

Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991)  

Nice bike kid.

This is, without doubt, one of the most amazing car chase scenes of all time. Take the masculine Harley Davidson motorcycle complete with a robotic Arnold Schwarzenegger and a shotgun VS the imposing liquid T-1000 Terminator and an equally imposing big-rig truck. Put these elements in a tiny canal and what you have is a hair raising, blood pumping chase scene that had every man jumping up and down in anticipation and every woman staring wide eyed in distress.

As the massive truck slams through concrete, our hero sails his bike into the canal and snatches his ward from his bike at full acceleration – all the while firing his rotary-cocked shotgun at the mammoth chasing them. The scene climaxes with the truck exploding and the intimidating T-1000 walking through the flames in his liquid metal form.