Video: Several Dudes from Minnesota Rapping
- story Sam Hockley-Smith
At first it was like, The last thing we need in our lives is a six-minute posse cut featuring a grip of rappers we’ve mostly never heard of, but it turns out that is exactly what we never knew we wanted. Every dude on this song raps like this is his big moment, and maybe it is. Maybe Minnesota can be the next Philadelphia (or maybe it already is and we don’t know?), turning out rappers that get us excited about the entire concept of “lyricism” without sounding boring. (via Cocaine Blunts)
Vampire Weekend, “Cousins”
- story Peter Macia
Just judging by their previous videography, you could’ve guessed Hammer & Tongs would become the Winston Churchill to Vampire Weekend’s Franklin Roosevelt (they were bros, right?). After a decade of directing high concept videos for erudite Anglos such as Pulp, Blur, Badly Drawn Boy, Radiohead and Hot Chip, and adapting A Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy to the big screen, the director/producer duo consisting of Garth Jennings and Nick Goldsmith made their way back to the colonies for last year’s twitchy “A-Punk”. For their reunion, H&T put VW on a dolly track a million times. What does it mean? Nothing!
Video: Bushwick Bill, “Testimony of Redemption”
- story Sam Hockley-Smith
In the scheme of things, this isn’t one of Bushwick Bill’s best songs. Not even close. Instead it works as a primer to those who might not know what his deal is (there is a lot to recap). If we’re judging it by that, it’s pretty good. If we’re judging it by the final scenes, in which Bill is giving a motivational speech flanked by KRS One and Lil Wayne, then it is great and maybe also confusing. When did this happen? Where were we? Can we come next time?
Video: Charlotte Gainsbourg f. Beck, “Heaven Can Wait”
In a way, the waify offspring of Serge Gainsbourg and Jane Birkin is a perfect match for the vagabond scientologist Beck, and this video shows why: they can have lazing-around Boho slumber parties where they muse about philosophy, art and making love while cuddling; or they can meet odd new people doing extraordinary things, like holding a WWII bomb graffiti’d with the word “Nachos.” Hey man, we wanna play shirtless guitar when our parents are arguing, too. However, we have to draw the line at doing our make-up with a life-sized dino-man in the bathroom. It’s just too intimate. (via Spinner)
Video Premiere: Dragon Turtle, “Island of Broken Glass”
- story Sam Hockley-Smith
Terrible band name aside (sorry dudes! If we saw a real Dragon Turtle we’d probably be pretty psyched though), Dragon Turtle’s “Island of Broken Glass” works because even as it’s going balls to the wall and throwing all sorts of guitar lines everywhere, those hand drums keep everything centered and in control. It’s a full-on downer jam, but with studied restraint. While making this video, the duo decided they’d burn the organs they used to record their album, Almanac, signifying a fresh start and also signifying that making a big fire is really fun.
Video Premiere: Christy and Emily, “105 & Rising”
- story Matthew Schnipper
This video by Christy Edwards of Brooklyn folk duo Christy and Emily is an eloquently composed silhouette animation, interspersed briefly, but frighteningly, but a lot of people running from something ominous. “105 & Rising” has an Apocalypse Now feel, both in sound and in vision, the latter made explicit by use of images from the final days of the Vietnam War. 105 is the emergency threshold of the human fever, though it could be just the heat outside. Either way, “& Rising” is not a good sign, and the song’s got a wary strum to match the possible ensuing mayhem. Christy and Emily’s debut is out today and they have a release party for it at The Stone in New York City December 9th. Details of all the players are after the jump.
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Video: Beyonce f. Lady Gaga, “Videophone”
TOO MUCH GOING ON IN THIS VIDEO. First Beyonce is Rihanna complete with bleached-blonde Misfits lock, then she is a robot from a Bjork video, then she’s a Bond girl, Bettie Page, Neneh Cherry/Monie Love (in a Gerlan tee!) and like, the hottest/cattiest tranny since Amanda Lepore. Never mind that she looks HOT AS SHIT through the video, we just kinda think she needed to choose a couple themes and go with them.
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posted on Nov 17, 2009 in MUSIC VIDEO tags Bettie Page, Beyonce, bjork, Lady Gaga, Neneh Cherry, r&b, Rihanna
Video: Zomby, “Aquarium”
Here is what this video says to us: A. Zomby keeps mitochondria as pets B. Zomby is down with French-Polish experimental filmmaker Piotr Kamler C. Zomby’s musical palette is consistently more extensive D. Someone maybe dosed our morning coffee? (via Zomby Twitter)
Video: Crystal Fighters, “I Love London”
We would love London too if we were there and saw this nouveau Rayanne Graff gonking the hell out on some real personal rave wave. Then we would be her friend and run around and giggle cause we’re so fragile and astute but, like, READY TO BREAK FREE, you know, like Angela. Only we’re in New York, Crystal Fighters are Spanish and this song officially drops tomorrow on Kitsune. (via Discobelle)
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posted on Nov 16, 2009 in MUSIC VIDEO tags Crystal Fighters, electronic/dance, Kitsune, My So Called Life
Video: Crookers f. Kelis, “No Security”
When our Milanese partystarters Crookers came through about a month ago, they did a drop for our show on East Village Radio that may have set a world record for longest and most random drop of the decade. It consisted of them talking about how much they love animals, and then making interpretive animal noises for about three minutes, imitating monkeys, bears and dogs among other creatures including what sounded like a small dinosaur. We thought it was funny (and having met Phra’s adorable dog Spino, true), but it was totally non sequitur—until we saw this video for their heavy next single from their forthcoming full-length, Tons of Friends, which further clarifies their love of animals then proceeds to blow away little deer in a hunting expedition by two dudes that look more like US storm troopers in the Middle East. Not sure if there’s some commentary there or not, but after their old-lady make-out video, we’re gonna assume yes.
