Monday, November 8, 2010





Two breezy stoner girls give us their sixties pop flavored takes on boyfriends. One is a picnic scene with a yearning atmosphere, the other has singing decapitated heads nailed to the wall. Cool cool. Enjoy.

Rating: ****

You Sat Party - Lonely's Lunch



In grade 10 we had to create a Chase Scene video that demonstrated our skills with "shot sequencing", had I had better than a crappy JVC hand held camera (whose tape cartridge needed to be duct taped shut), my very own locations scout, weird beak costumes, a travel budget to India and a partner who didn't insist on using a Linkin Park soundtrack... I think it would have turned out just like this.

Also, this video wreaks of exotic. Foreign lands, foriegn species, intrigue, sexy characters, spy micro chips, betrayal, yikes! Enjoy.

Rating: ***

Weekend - Monday Morning/Monogah,WV



Weekend make the suburbs feel scary as shit! Enjoy.

Rating: ****

Sunday, November 7, 2010

Live Music Videos





Two very excellent and most triumphant versions of the "live" music video by The National and The Flaming Lips. I was a little skeptical of the National video when I first heard it was to be live footage from various tour stops. "Terrible Love" is an incredible song, it's complex and subtle and to me seemed more fitting if accompanied by an intimate setting. Yet this whirl wind tour montage somehow fits perfectly with the song and transformed the way I now hear "Terrible Love". Definitely one of the better "camera on the road" type music videos (Robyn also had a good one this year with "Hang With Me", not that it altered the song or revolutionized anything, but basically it made something you've seen a thousand times look fresh and interesting. Check it out.)

The Flaming Lips take a more straight forward approach with "The Sparrow Looks Up at the Machine", which is your basic "live performance" music video. With striking primary colors and exposed bright lights they tear through the song and keep things interesting despite a tune based on one groove and repeated lyrics. I could watch the entire album recorded like this. Upon first hearing "Embryonic" I was blown away, but despite all the assaulting noise and percussion I still wasn't sure how the songs would look/sound live, this video answers that and then some. There is a short doc on the web about the Flips making "Embryonic", it also has some great live performance footage and for me elevated the way I heard the songs even more so once I revisited the album. Check it out. Enjoy.

Rating: *****

Tuesday, November 2, 2010

Wolf Parade - Yulia



Eventually it all ends up in space. From Tom Hanks to the Leprechaun horror franchise to Jason from another horror franchise. While the Leprechaun fellow and Jason's cosmic voyages were the death rattle of franchises long past their expire date, Wolf Parade's Yulia aligns closer to the Tom Hanks or "classier" variety of space travel. Astronaut (or more accurately, Cosmonaut) and lover have been separated by some rather significant physical distance and both seem to regret the trip. It seems that they were perhaps playing the ultimate game of "Lovers Chicken", where after an argument the antes started to drastically up:
"Yeah, well maybe I will just go to space so you won't have to deal with me anymore!"
"Fine, do that"
"I will"
"Good!"
"Really I will, I'm going now to the rocket station"
"If that's what you want to do"
"It is what I want, I'm putting space stuff on right now in fact"
"You look stupid in space stuff"
"Well then you will be happy because you won't have to see how stupid I look because I will be in outer space!"
"So go!"
"I'm in a rocket now"
"I don't care"
"Okay now I'm in the stratosphere"
"Good for you, I hope you meet someone nice there"
"Okay now I am really in outer space! I'm so sorry, oh god why did I do this, I love you so much!!!"
"I love you so much, why did I let you go to outer space, noooooooooo!"

Enjoy.

Rating: ***

Saturday, October 30, 2010

Robyn - Indestructible


Robyn 'Indestructible' Official Video

Robyn | Myspace Music Videos


Warning, you have entered the Rant Zone: Why can't this be what we hear on our radios and what we value in a pop star??? Robyn is a god in my books. She shows without fail how pop tunes can deal with all the typical pop themes of love, jealousy, partying... and still be catchy, fun and sexy without exploiting anyone. There is no pandering here, no need to exploit herself or the people in her video, yet it is still undeniably cool and sexy. It's awesome that it is basically just her expressing a real emotion in a pop context all the while still giving us the normal pop elements like cool outfits, hip style, sex, love... and not resorting to having any of those elements demean anyone. She's not sexy cuz she is flaunting her skin or playing the role of a male fantasy, she's just being herself and all the lovin' going on stays clear away from falling into the tired gender trappings of pop videos. No one is being sexualized of defined by sex, instead it's the scene itself that is being sexy, opposed to most female pop stars who get trapped into needing to represent themselves as sex. Unfortunately this is influenced by what men have defined as what a female should look like as sex incarnate. And that's just not good for anyone. Anyway, enjoy.

Rating: *****

!!! (Chk Chk Chk) - Jamie, My Intentions Are Bass



Wow! Chk Chk Chk get the full music video treatment here, reminds me of the Golden Age of music videos from the 90's. Despite all the chaos, narrative, and camera trickery - the song is never lost. It really screams massive time and effort, and penises. Whoops, I meant flowers. But really, the flowers are supposed to be penises. If I had one complaint it would be that there are perhaps too many flower penises. It kinda never lets up, first it's just a playful innuendo, then it's definitely just a penis, then the flowers themselves have penises, then it's just a break down into misogynistic money shots. But everything else is great! Enjoy.

Rating: *****

Friday, October 29, 2010

Holy Fuck - Red Lights



The internet will never tire of cats I guess. Enjoy.

Rating: *

Crystal Castles - Baptism



This is your baptism!!! Enjoy.

Rating: ****

Serena Maneesh - DIWSWTTD



Remember those days when your kid was so darn cute you could've just put a bag over his head, tied him up and beat him silly with a baseball bat... they grow up so quick. I'm just joking, they don't beat the kid with a bat, or do they... no they don't cuz you can't show that, or can you............ enjoy.

Rating ****

Friday, September 24, 2010

LCD Soundsystem - Home



Everyone wanna be a rock star, even the robots. After successfully inventing "crazy eyebrows" (they said it could never be done!!!)  an old man sets to work on creating a robot from some body's 1982 garbage (Light Bright, Ghetto Blasters, that tube thing from behind the dryer. Dryer Tube. Totally 80's dryer tube.) Anyways,  against all odds and realms of  reality, it works! But just as the robot was entering its new found world with hope and optimism, it ran into a hipster, wearing guy shorts and a mustache, oh no. But, turns out a fake robot has more aluminium brains than a hipster and ditches that scene. Yay! Our robot then becomes a rock star of sorts and really puts into perspective how elaborate this whole video really is. Look at all the people! What festival let a fake robot headline? Glad I didn't pay $250 for that, though it does look pretty fun. Enjoy.


Rating: *****

Tuesday, September 21, 2010

No Age - Losing Feeling



No Age go back to the simpler times of mouse meets mouse, one mouse finds "potion", mice drink potion and turn into "human best friends" who start playing noise pop together. Potion lable (LOL). Enjoy.

Rating: ****

Twin Shadow - Slow



Back in the 90's there were these Calvin Klein commercials on Much Music (canadian!) that featured awkward emaciated non-specific gendered teens in a wood paneled basement, with a bare light-bulb hanging (bare light bulbs and basements always = something bad gonna happen) and a off camera male voice telling the victim or teen, they looked sexy and coaxing them to remove clothing followed by more "yeah that's sexy". Total creepfest. Anyway, lots of similarities to this video, though it's deemed Not Safe For Work while the Klein ads were free for all to view as you flipped between "Videoflow" and "Animaniacs" and had wood paneled nightmares. Enjoy.

Rating: ***

The Very Best - Julia



This video reminds me of a "Criminal Minds" opening sequence, could be the sparse warehouse, the out of focus shots or the lifeless bodies. Definitely the lifeless bodies. "Hotch" and the gang are gonna have their work cut out for them as these unsubs have clearly matured in terms of their killing appetite. They are now blatently making dope tracks about it and posting flashy directed videos on the internets (they sooooo want to get caught, BAU in your face!!). Internets! Sounds like a Garcia episode. Enjoy.

Rating: ***1/2

Tuesday, September 14, 2010

Stuff I liked in 2005

HOPE OF THE STATES - NEHEMIAH

KASABIAN - CLUB FOOT

RAZORLIGHT - VICE

STELLATARR* - MY CO CO

BASEMENT JAXX - GOOD LUCK

THE UNICORNS - I WAS BORN A UNICORN

THE SOUNDS - SEVEN DAYS A WEEK

THE ZUTONS - YOU WILL YOU WON'T

MYLO - DROP THE PRESSURE


The soundtrack to what seems to have been my very misguided 2005. But let me explain. Between 2004 and 2005 I was living abroad in Ireland and finding good music without the internets and TV was not easily done, and truly was not always a main priority. So my main source of "new" music came in the form of nights out clubbing which usually resulted in up tempo music making top of the list or being unable to remember other good tunes. My other source for sounds was "Red FM", the pop radio station that played over the PA at work all day long. Cutting edge music to me soon came in the form of unrealeased Natasha Bedinfield tracks and Damian Rice doing Radiohead covers. There was also the guy at work who would charge me 5 euros to rip an album offline. Which resulted in me briefly doing my best to seek out new stuff at the Internet Cafe, returning with a note pad worth of albums that had good talk going for them, but I had not heard yet. I usually could afford to get 5 cd's a week from "my guy", none the less pairing the list down was about the epitome of stess and second guessing. But I made do and had a blast as I danced to Razorlight and The Sounds and The Zutons and Kasabian and Natash Bedinfield and easily chose, without blinking an eye, to see Snow Patrol at a club instead of an outdoor Daft Punk show. Enjoy.

Rating: *******************************

Die Antwoord!!!!





How it took me to videos 55 and 56 to put up some Die foken Antwoord I will never know! Also in regards to "Enter the Ninja" I had no idea the song "Butterfly" was a sample, but apparently it's like an anthem to all those kids with goth make up, lip piercings, and large black pants with an impressive array of buckles who hang out late at the 7-11. Enjoy.

Rating: *****

How to Dress Well - Ready for the World




This song could easily soundtrack a double vision walk through an arcade, really I could see it. Enjoy.

Rating:** (but amazing song!)

Jay Reatard - "It Ain't Gonna Save Me"



Kids go nuts at a birthday and beat up adults, yeah, yeah, yeah..., but what about that mascot at minute 00:26? What kind of parent brings that to the party? The second I saw the weird furby thing I knew trouble was comin'. Enjoy.

Rating: ***

Muscles - Girl Crazy Go



Girls go crazy and um, girls go bowling, and girls go violent, and girls go bleeding, and girls go to batting cages?, and girls get stupid hammered, and girls eat fast food, and girls take drugs by the bag and handful, and girls go clubbin', and girls go kissin', and girls take naps on train tracks, and girls wake up with massive bad terrible headaches and a bunch of home footage they are gonna want to erase. I must say minute 2:51 of the song rules. Enjoy.

Rating: ***

Sleater Kinney - Entertain




Oh my, I'm in love. Enjoy.

Rating: ****1/2

Kanye West - POWER



Love Kanye, or die suckers! He has his own heaven! Enjoy.

Rating: ****

Monday, September 13, 2010

Tamaryn - Love Fade





Yes, been waiting for something else from Tamaryn. Check out their new hazy grindhouse lookin' video "Love Fade". And just for fun, "Return to Surrender". Enjoy.

Rating: ***

Sunday, September 12, 2010

Avi Buffalo - What's In It For?



This is what "Avatar" would have looked like if James Cameron died before making the blue people effects and his high uncle took over. Great tune. Enjoy.
PS - I know the blue people are called Na'vi, fuck sakes.


Rating: ***1/2

Big Boi - Shutterbugg ft. Cutty



This is exactly what a straight up music video should look like: Great shots of the artist and interesting backgrounds along with memorable images. Cutta rug with tha Suttahbug! Enjoy.

Rating: *****

Tame Impala - Solitude is Bliss



From the band - "We wanted to represent the psychological steps you get through when you lose somebody."

Act 1: The pain of loss.
Act 2: The relief in solitude and oblivion
Act 3: Agoraphobia
Act 4: Misanthropy as a transfert of the rancour.
Act 5: Agoraphobia, confusion, desperation.
Act 6: The rejection of any relashionship. The dog is a symbol of strong links.
Act 7: Dehumanisation of the others. Leave me alone, bastards.

Enjoy.

Rating: ***

SUNNY DAY IN GLASGOW - 'SO BLOODY SO TIGHT'



Just when I'm concerned about my own writing indulgences, I find a description like this to make me feel all better.

           "Philadelphia outlaws A Sunny Day in Glasgow star in this short film about the unrelenting existential riptide that is Modernity, attempting to recapitulate the fundamental transcendental litmus tests that make up potentially multifaceted psycho-sensual behavior. Based heavily on LL Cool J's character in Toys"

What? Enjoy.

Rating: ***1/2

B.o.B - Magic ft. Rivers Cuomo [Official Music Video]



I like how B.o.B indulges in the typical hip-hop pop video antics of girls in bikinis and pool parties until he realizes he might actually be dead on his bed. I found it pretty funny how annoyed and panicked he gets at his video gurls as he tries to revive his own lifeless body.

Rating: ***

Bear in Heaven - "Deafening Love" - Music Video



Remember how we give right wingned nutballs a hard time for spewing unfounded melodramatic fear mongering nonsense like, "If we legalize abortion it won't be long before the country is full of sex fiends with personal abortion machines next to their coffee makers!". Well, according to this very "plausible" futuristic Bear in Heaven video, they weren't far off. In the future they have also brought back accordion doors and given us very groovy, but ineffective mirrors. Altogether this video (which may or not be found footage, go to some other blog for the straight up facts) reminds me of the weird sci-fi books I was reading in grade six. Although written by adults they played out with the emotional depth and vision of a 7 year old who had just seen "The Beastmaster" and "Robot Jax" over the weekend. Plus they also had the most incredible titles that would usually have more than two types of punctuation and possibly even a whole sentence. Usually you would find something akin to "Book three of the Space Vagabond Who Dared to use the Thrust Crystals Series" under the title. The best part was that they were written with zero tongue in cheek and reveled in their self-importance like nobody's business. The movie "Gentleman Broncos" actually touches upon these books and authors and has an amazing opening title sequence featuring the equally awesome cover art of these literary gems. So please Enjoy, "A Commander's Passion that couldn't be Denied" book six in the Children of the Prism Fortress Series by Bear in Heaven.

Rating: ****1/2

Friday, September 10, 2010

Kylie Minogue - All The Lovers (official music video)



It's friday, so why not some Kylie? "All the Lovers" captures what happens in a street comprising of solely ridulousely attractive people. Like elements forming natural bonds when they come in contact, there are no questions here, just instinct and underwear. The probability is low, but such an event is known to happen. My friend said he saw the same thing happen in Brazil once and it caused a power outage, true story.

The other thing I want to bring up is how Youtube has deemed this video as offensive and how videos like Katy Perry's "California Gurls" are left unscathed by such stigmas. Now I'm not sure if it was the skin, the homosexuality or the mass undulations that had people all up in arms, but I think it is absurd. While the video is "sexual" I find it in no way offensive. It does not over-sexualize one gender or the other, it is not demeening in any sense, and has zero aggression. The video is simply about attraction and passion. Perry's sexuality only helps to objectify women as nothing more than litteral eye candy for men (she is actually dressed as "sexy" candy ejucaculating from her muffin breasts! While Snoop Dogg is of course free from wearing any over-sexualized garb as he sits amongst his usaul harem of women.). That is the truly offensive stuff and is what keeps in tact the survival of very unfortunate stereotypes to both women and men. Enjoy.

Rating: ***1/2

Thursday, September 9, 2010

Miike Snow - The Rabbit



You gotta love a video that only gets stranger and more unpredictable as it goes only to bring us back to pop culture familiarity. Seriously, this thing seems to make up it's own land, culture and puberty phase until before we know it, all the pieces are fitting together at once at a 2 Live Crew "Nasty As They Wanna Be" tableau. The video itself even starts to celebrate its own awesomeness at the end with some booty shaking and wild spasms of color. I would almost liken it to Inception, only probably better. Enjoy.
PS - Nothing is better than Inception.

Rating: ****

Bat For Lashes - Pearl's Dream (HD)



Easily the coolest costume featured in a music video! Watch Bat for Lashes control our hearts, hormones and Saturn's laser beams. Enjoy.

Rating: ****1/2

Wavves - "Post Acid"



A very sober video from Wavves, it's called Post-Acid. Enjoy.

Rating: ****

Yeasayer - Madder Red and MGMT - Congratulations







Guess what happened while you were out? Disgusting fleshy alien pets became all the rage for indie psych groups. Where they obtained these abominations I'm not sure, perhaps they hallucinated them into existence? Whatever the case may be they are clearly not meant for this world. If they are not slowly losing their limbs all over the place, they are bleeding out from their orifices. Both videos try to make us grow feelings for the poor critters and their owners, but would you feel all weepy if Kristen Bell had a bleeding white rhino as her pet instead? Probably not, cuz they're fucking endangered and keeping them as pets (and neglecting their health concerns until they are three minutes away from dying) is fucking evil. I would hazard to guess that MGMT's fleshy four legged thing and Bell's one eyed tumor would put the word "rare" to shame. Enjoy.

Rating: ****

Wednesday, September 8, 2010

The Dead Weather - Die By The Drop (Official video)



"Die By the Drop" is brought to us by Floria Sigismondi, who made a splash in the late nineties with gothicky, heavy make-upped and fucked up Marylin Manson videos. Apparently not much has changed, which isn't always a bad thing, especially when that "much" turns out to be Jack White! White and Allison Mosshart whisper adorable sweet nothings into each others ears as a cast of misfits, vintage furniture, and unsettling KKK type wraiths play spectators to their, um, aggressive love. The crowning jewel undoubtedly comes at minute 1:29 when White does his best "you shall not pass" impression. The age of Jack "The White" is upon us. All I can do is thank Miss Sigismondi, as until now The Lord of the Rings and Jack White remained two very separate and sad obsessions, the marriage of these "Two Towers" will not soon be forgotten... ... .... ... ... ... ... ... oh, yes sorry, Enjoy...

Rating: ****

Laura Marling - Rambling Man Official Video



Beautiful video from Laura Marling. It's focus is upon a man who has waited far too long on making a decision. Whatever he's waiting on has kept him alone and seems to weigh heavy in his thoughts. Watching him prepare, with a quiet determination, to finally set himself free reveals more than any three minute clip should be able to accomplish. It's definitely his day. There is never anyone else around him during the video as we slowly track his progression to liberation from a tiny bathroom, to a room with four walls, to an open sky and then finally to his salvation, the waiting sea. Between the song and the images I really felt like I knew exactly how long and how hard it's been for him waiting to face what he left behind in his metaphorical suitcase and the nervous relief of finally going back to retrieve it. No smart ass comments this time. Enjoy.

Rating: *****

Monsters Of Folk - Say Please



It has been said that "war is hell", but definitely not by these soldiers who fight the good fight amongst olde timey medicine shows, festive dancing, rollerskating(!),  guitar solos and all around merriment! War fucking rocks! Okay so "real" war does suck, and it's all about oil(!) as the video's opening "hammer to the head" symbolism points out to us. But seeing a little Jim James, that never sucks. Enjoy.

Rating: ***1/2

Crocodiles - Hearts of Love



It's hipster wars!!! Alright so you need to watch a little fun in the sun first but then, BAM!!! Just like that it's on as the Crocodiles' twins finally gain proper perspective on how absurd they look and decide to deal with things in the most appropriate manner. Then it's all blood, and plaid, and leather, and switchblades, and wayfarers and other stuff sure to make even the most generically gendered hipster raise an eyebrow (ironically of course). Cool tune, and bold choice to end it all with burning corpses! Enjoy.

Rating: ***

Summer Camp - Veronica Sawyer

SUMMER CAMP - Round the Moon from Paddy Power on Vimeo.


Word on this video! Enjoy.

Rating: ****

Kings Of Leon - Radioactive



Now this is some serious self-righteous bullshit! The Kings of Leon unabashedly portray themselves as messiahs to a group of rural black children. "Look it's the guys who sang Sex on Fire, oh holy days!" The Kings proceed to patronize the children by feeding them and then proceed to torture the children by making them be part of their new song. First of all I am sure that half of the kids could play an instrument better than the KOLs and the other half could sing better than them, and all of them can obviously dance better. The shots of children being held and played with by the KOLs are down right gag inducing (they literally have no shame). Also where are the parents in all this? Why let your kid go to some run down barn with a bunch of greasy white rednecks who smell like STD's? Or perhaps the Kings of Leon think that all black children don't have parents. How offensive this all seems. I hope the children will show this to their friends as ironic, like getting your picture taken with Carrot Top in Vegas. Enjoy.

Rating: 0

Surfer Blood - Swim



Rad video from Surfer Blood. They really run the gambit here; from men in drag, people without pants, evil Disney characters, elder abuse (perpetrated by said evil Disney characters), theft and a rock show. But my favorite part would be the lead singer's morning routine. Remember how George Jetson went through an automated series of contraptions and came out fully dressed and washed in the mornings? Well the singer goes through what was probably the crude prototype of this machine, there are still some obvious glitches to be solved. Great tune aswell. Enjoy.

Rating: ***1/2

Tuesday, September 7, 2010

Restoration - The Acorn (Official Video)



In life there are many things that become supremely more interesting when the sun sets, such as glow sticks, the moon, that new black light activated shirt all your friends told you not to buy but you did anyway, neon signs, greasy sanwhiches from that place on the corner with the small sign that only reads "Open 24 hours", scary movies, and now thanks to the Acorn we can add forests! Their romp into the woods after a fine evening of open air dining and games is breathtaking. Enjoy.

Rating: ***1/2

Black Mountain - "The Hair Song" (Official Video)



The Lion, The Witch and The Side Stage Door. Black Mountain perform in a low budget Narnia for all our turkish delight! Love this song, great name and a well suited sunny video. Enjoy.

Rating: ***1/2

The Drums - Down By The Water



The internet tells me that this video is inspired by girl groups from the 50's and 60's, which it totally is as long as you take away the choreographer, stylish outfits, and add "do heroine" to the pre-shoot rundown. Lawlz..., but really now, if A&E docs have taught me anything it seems that The Drums have achingly captured what the great girl groups were feeling on the inside underneath all the "glamor" that was projected to the TV audiences. On the surface it may have seemed all white teeth and big hair do's, but many (if not all) faced harsh sexism, jealous male abuse both physically and emotionally to the extremes, and never received true recognition for their talents as opposed to their eye candy appeal. So The Drums approach seems to be to show what was being felt on the inside and put it on the outside - numb and robotic-ally going through the motions. A sad and tender video. Enjoy.

Rating: *****

Band of Joy - Angel Dance



Ever wondered what King Theoden was up to after saving Middle Earth from desending into darkness? (or what he'd look like in jeans and cowboy boots?) Well he's cruising inner city streets in the back of a chauffeured Cadillac (car people please mercilessly tear me a new one if I'm wrong, thx). By the looks of it The ruler of Rohan is still running thangs as he keeps a watchful eye on residents from his laid back vantage point. Okay so it's actually Robert Plant looking like a 70's Cowboy mafioso in the back of a caddi (is that how it's spelled?), lets just say a long red car. Now is it only me or does Plant threaten to turn into Theoden or a lion more and more each time I see him? Enjoy.

Rating: **1/2

The Bug - Catch A Fire



The Bug is known for making gritty "not to be fucked with" dub step tunes. Even as he slows things down to a syrupy (or sizzruppy) haze on the new track, there remains absolutely no general inclinations to fuck wit the Bug. In fact, the dubby crawl only makes things feel more intense and is further helped by the documentation of a dismal London housing project (definitely not to be fucked with). The dreamy (or druggy) feel to both song and video seem to reflect the submission of those looking to escape their neck of the woods that has been systematically and socially ignored into decay. Vocalist Niki Hotomi expresses her capitulation with "Let's clean this city with burning flames of fire". Enjoy?

Rating: *****

Zola Jesus - Sea Talk



Zola Jesus wakes up in the middle of the night to watch "Two and a Half Men" reruns but can't get her damn TV to work. Apparently Charlie Sheen's bad jokes broke the TVO and even disrupted the magnetic force in her general area. Sorry Zola, but it was for the best. But seriously now, cool ethereal video with a killer song, especially if you crank it up! Enjoy.

Rating: ***1/2

Monday, September 6, 2010

Built To Spill - Hindsight



A truly beautiful video from Built to Spill. Heartbreaking, nostalgic, subtle, sweet, and magical. Music and images flow sublimely, one of my favorite new videos! Enjoy.

Rating: *****

Bruce Springsteen Dream Baby Dream/ M.I.A - Born Free



Although this bloggy is purely reserved for recent music videos, I would just like to point out that while er' body is freaking out about M.I.A sampling Suicide for her "Born Free" single, Bruce "fucking" Springsteen has been ending concerts with a Suicide cover since 2005! Under the Boss' Omnipotent shadow M.I.A does however come to the table with a very intense tune and equally intense Not Safe For Work music video. Apparently "gingers" are going to be extinct in the very near future due to the mathematics of recessive genes (these are scientific facts people), but M.I.A has sadistically chosen to accelerate their extinction via over zealous military ginger hunting squads who not only exterminate them, but cruelly toy with the red headed damned before unleashing their impending fury. 'Atta kick 'em when their down Maya. Enjoy.

PS. While the extinction of gingers is a scientific equation, the catalysts for their doom rests upon society's discrimination toward their physical traits! All I can say is google the name Lily Cole or Josh Homme (maybe throw the word "nude" after the name for maximum results) and I have no doubts you will hurry and get wit some red heads. It's a numbers game people, think of it as a duty!!!!!



Rating: ***

Sunday, September 5, 2010

Liars - Scissor



A video that shows you really do reap what you "throw". The Liars singer has abandoned the ship of life. He's either running away from something he did or failed to do, but to no avail as his guilty weight relentlessly finds and threatens to drown him. He soon seals his fate as he decides once again to jump ship and comes face to face with some rotting sailors, foreshadowing his impending doom. If you managed to not vomit from the above dribble, good for you, and good for the Liars for creating a cool song and video about the age old pesky guilty conscience. Enjoy.

Rating: ***

Erykah Badu - Window Seat


Q: What do you get when you mix the JFK assassination sight, a large crowd enjoying the outside air and Erykah Badu?
A: You get a whole lot of necked Erykah of course.

What was meant as a simple commentary on what is acceptable in art and social mores in a fearful society can now be seen as prophetic. In the video Erykah strips down to what the Maker gave her as she makes her way through a crowd of on lookers until she is abruptly assassinated. Badu was recently "assassinated" for the stunt  as she had to pay a $500 fine and was sentenced with 6 months probation. Bit right in the badunkadunk by the fearful society she was trying to call out. Upon the first time seeing it I was not impressed by the so called "art" (though, truly, what isn't impressive about a naked Erykah Badu?), but watching the video again and removing myself from seeing it as a stunt and instead as a real music video, I find it quite stunning. Filmed in slow motion the video has an almost liquid surreal feel to it as Badu floats through the crowd. Matt and Kim (who apparently inspired this video) pulled the same antics in NYC, but in that video the two were just as part of the crowd as the bystanders were, basically we were just watching what happens when people try to strut in the nude in public. In Window Seat there is a dream like dynamic as Badu and the crowd are two separate entities. The crowd are honest to god onlookers, where as Badu seems removed from the crowd and intently focused on accomplishing something she feels compelled to express. She moves and acts like she is in a very personal music video while everything around her plays out separately as reality. Her actions and expressions are not that of an exhibitionist looking for a reaction, but toward something bigger. While the idea seems elementary, Badu brings a sincere depth to it all. Take a step and think about how you would feel and react as you stripped naked in a heavy crowd outside. Badu literally doesn't miss a beat and her fearlessness is soon seen as more than just being nude in the crowd, it's about achieving a larger point beyond her, the crowd and the historic location. Enjoy.

Rating: *****

The Rural Alberta Advantage - Drain The Blood


What they don't show you is that the guys in the van stole the couple's TV remote out of the house at the beginning. Don't tell me we haven't all gone to these lengths or possibly further in "lost remote psychosis". Enjoy.

Rating: ***

Saturday, September 4, 2010

Ramona Falls - Russia


While the cutesy factor is in full force I do thoroughly enjoy this video. This guy will stop at nothing to win back the object of his affection and the progression from sweet, playful, obsessive, and borderline abusive is well done. I know nothing about this band/guy, but kudos to his acting chops if the guy in the video is from Ramona Falls. Enjoy.

Rating: ****1/2

Hot Chip - 'I Feel Better'


Yes! Oh heaven's yes! So the thing starts out as if Hot Chip were re-imagined as a UK boy band, which is a nutso idea because, seconds in I found myself forgetting how the song would look done by a sophisticated UK electro pop group. Then a frail bald man in a hospital gown turns up to spoil the tweens ab oogling fun. At this point the video is already awesome! Then minute 1:52 comes around and to disclose anything further would be criminally cruel. Enjoy.

Rating: ****1/2

Tiga - Shoes


Yet another talk show that is infinitely better than Jay Leno. Enjoy.

Rating: ****

Dirty Projectors - Stillness Is The Move


"Stillness Is The Move" strikes me as what both pop music and videos look like on some distant perfect planet. Stunning. Plus Dave Longstreth demonstrates he has both mad guitar and alpaca skills. Enjoy.

Rating: *****

The National - Bloodbuzz Ohio


If red wine could ever take human form I have no doubt it would look exactly like Matt Beringer. He's one photograph-able dude and this video is carried solely by his sad eyes and sharp trench coat. Enjoy.

Rating: ***

Golden Ages - "Everything Will Be Alright" from Bryan Schlam on Vimeo.

Excellent and dark video from Golden Ages. While there's plenty of paranoia, lost children, and claustrophobic clubbing - Somehow the song and images actually give you the sense that after the storm, "Everything Will Be Alright". Unless of course you're the guy in the bathtub being mercilessly drowned by the sexy luchidore, then you're just screwed. Enjoy.

Rating: ****1/2

Dawes "When My Time Comes" Official Video


Dawes brings us the absolute most adorable prison escape video ever. Right out of Kindergarten and onto the Chain Gang for our little man here. Though we can only speculate what heinous crime landed him in the pokey, I wouldn't let those cute little eyes and blond curls fool you! They don't just lock up 5 year olds for nothin', not even back in the olde timey days. While the boys in Dawes are content to sit out their sentences like suckers, the little guy finds time to wreak all sorts of havoc on the guards and even pay some homage to Paul Newman's Cool Hand Luke. Enjoy.

Rating: ****

Röyksopp - The Drug (Official Video)


There's no two ways about it, the apocalypse sucks. As Royksopp shows us, it's full of skulls, abandoned buildings and naked mutant boys. But Royksopp also shows us that post apocalyptic fashion sense is very freeing when all human judgment has been vaporized or eaten away from existence. Our three ladies exude rockin' confidence strutting down the wasted streets of Scandinavia in early 90's TLC tops complete with no-nonsense "Full House" pony tails and bangs. Also "you're in trouble mister" cuz they are packing some serious heat as they continue their neon backcombed quest for humanity. It's kinda like "The Road" with hipsters, though I suppose their humanity would have ran out long before any apocalypse type disaster. Enjoy.

Rating: ***

Slow Animal - theFUNsun from JAXART Records on Vimeo.

Split screen, one side shows Slow Animal as a lame dirty hipster. The other simply shows a lame hipster, but of course the begging question is "How did that lame hipster get so dirty?". Well thankfully we see this sad tale unfold simultaneously from finish to start and from, er, start to finish. Shit is mindblowingly deep. Basically Slow Animal has assholes for friends who he shouldn't be doing drugs in nature with. Mom would be proud... of his older brother the accountant that is. Did I mention I like this video? Enjoy.

Rating: ***1/2

of Montreal - Coquet Coquette [OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO]


Yes! Of Montreal, you know this shit's gonna be crazy!!! Right from the get go it's on! The theme seems to be a reinterpretation of "The Warriors" set in the dark ages (who knew that hipster subculture had roots dating back to the Visagoths). General mayhem ensues, throats are feasted upon and by the end we see Kevin Barnes slay a man with a fucking sword! Enjoy.

Rating: ***

Black Mountain - "Old Fangs" (Official Video)


The folks from Black Mountain raided the Badass Accessories store and headed for the very un-cinematic Small Town, Canada. If it was any other band this would all be very unfortunate, but Black Mountain roll perfectly with the Badass kitsch in their ragged jean jackets, beards, aviators, low end production, drug abuse, gothic hallucinations, sexy hitchhikers, mustangs (the car), cult ceremonies,  sleazy motels, skulls,  vinyl mattresses, sexy pagans, and alcohol. Okay so maybe the fact that this all takes place in half a day is pretty Badass. Also watch for a scene showing the world's worst hangover. Enjoy.
To Note: My apologies to mustangs (the horses), you are also very Badass!

Rating: ***

Janelle Monáe - Tightrope [feat. Big Boi] (Video)


Now I'm not trying to tell the staff at Palace of the Dogs Asylum how to do their jobs, but if the patients are forbidden to dance, perhaps outfitting them in slick dancing shoes, fly outfits, access to musical instruments and the company of one Ms. Janelle Monae is not the best way to achieve your zero dancing results. Just sayin', you wouldn't employ a rabbit to patrol the No Hopping Zone, that's bad management! The video rocks and I will definitely be substituting all walking for "tight-roping". Enjoy.

Rating: ****

Friday, September 3, 2010

The Besnard Lakes - "Albatross" (Official Video)


Beautiful, moving, romantic and powerful. Song and video enchant the viewer in the new Besnard Lakes video. Two film noirish characters are both desperately and reluctantly compelled to a theater to see the movie "Albatross". Although they travel separately, they share the same awe struck moment together, one that perhaps they have shared before...Enjoy.

Rating: ****

LCD Soundsystem - Drunk Girls


LCD Soundsystem employs the world's most unprofessional and mischievous film crew, madness ensues! Enjoy.

Rating: *****

Grinderman - Heathen Child


Why more music videos don't have blue goddesses, haunting wolves, high powered weapons, conducting puppies, skeletons, cheesey movie clips, asteroids, creepy monsters, hairy monsters, eye lasers, hand lasers, ass lasers, and nudity I will never know, but this new Grinderman video has all of the above and I'm glad for it. Enjoy.

Rating: *****

Interpol - Lights


A new video from the sunny boys of Interpol! This light slice of half masked Japanese lactating erotica takes place in Interpol's basement where they apparently keep their gothiest girl fans in waiting to be injected full of, you guessed it, milk. They then put the goth on uncomfortable furniture and let the milk spill into The Drain of Mystery where it's collected for reasons too disturbing to even show us! If the above offends, you can thank me for not mentioning the torture instruments littered on a table and the highly sexualized, yet demeaning, outfits! These boys know how to throw a party, not my cup of tea. Enjoy!

Rating: **

Converse - "All Summer" - Music Video


Looks to be a video about young responsible artists going about their morning's cooking and cleaning chores. That is until minute 1:09 when the cereal hits the fan, the chorus drops in and all bets are off! Kid Cudi works the vacuum like a consummate professional and the Best Coast singer makes use of playground equipment found in her living room (of all places!). Plus there is of course those amazing big heads that still fail to stop delighting after repeated viewings. Enjoy.

Rating: ***

CARIBOU - Sun


Caribou's Sun video is basically the sum of your grandma and her friends ingesting high grade MDMA then wandering into David Lynch's parlor only later to be joined by urban youth with superfly coordinated dance moves and flat top hair do's. Simply put, it's the fucking best video out there at the moment. Enjoy.

Rating: *****

Drive By Truckers- This F***ing Job (HD-Dirty version)


The modern American hard luck tale complete with Deadwood stars, sleeveless jean jackets and fatal gun shot wounds (hint: the ending is in there somewhere). Great simple video by the DBT's using flashbacks, annoying burger joint managers and scruffy facial hair to illustrate the frustrations and dissonance of America's newly disenfranchised foreclosed. The point being that maybe Those Fucking Bullet Holes make slightly more sense than working This Fucking Job. Also easily the best use of "The End", or if you take yourself too seriously "Fin", credits I've ever seen. Enjoy.

Rating: ***