Mark this entry under clever, catchy, and well done. As a part of Converse’s newest campaign, they’ve teamed up with a rather large and eclectic group of musicians to further their cult status among youngins. The most exciting part being the collaboration between Julian Casablancas, Santogold and N.E.R.D. on a song called My Drive Thru, which to me sounds like something Mark Ronson would have put together, but it’s actually Pharrell’s handiwork. The video itself is reallllly fun, featuring animated photo cut-outs of the artists performing. My favorite parts are mostly when Santogold is dancing around, she looks damn adorable, but there’s also the part where Julian Casablancas is falling down through the sheets of paper, that’s really rad. Other then that, I have this song stuck in my head most of the day, it’s totally catchy and fun.

The campaign otherwise is pretty rad as well, someone picked a pretty random group of folks that are actually pretty “hip”. There’s Bradford Cox from Deerhunter, the guys from Does It Offend You, Yeah?, Eleanor from The Fiery Furnaces, the dudes from MGMT, Yacht… you get the picture. The stark black and white images, the cut out paper effect, everything is pretty spot on. Check out the site by clicking here, and be sure to download the song for free as well (that was a good call, Converse).

Toe Jam by The BPA feat. David Byrne and Dizzee Rascal
June 17, 2008 | Categories: Music Video

Update: This is getting pulled down all over, so watch it while you can.

I saw this video yesterday but didn’t have the volume on while I watched it, I was watching for it’s supposed cheeky use of nudity and censor bars. Well I saw mention of the video again this morning, only this time I saw that it was a music video for a band called The BPA (Brighton Port Authority) and that it featured David Byrne and Dizzee Rascal. I didn’t really think the censor bar thing was that funny, I mean it’s a clever idea, but it wasn’t as clever as I thought it was going to be. What is amazing though is the song itself. David Byrne was totally made for this song, like I want this to play on repeat all day long today. I am a little confused why they needed Dizzee Rascal for that 10 second part he did, but I’m thankful it was so short, I’m not a fan.

You might not want to watch this if you’re at work, someone will probably lame and think you’re watching porn, but you could definitely leave it playing in the background while you listen to the song.

Bobby

13 Messages

Nude Remix by James Houston
June 6, 2008 | Categories: Music / Music Video / Technology

Artist James Houston was somewhat frustrated with Radiohead’s Nude Remix contest, as he put it, “Nude is in 6/8 timing, and 63bpm. Most music that’s played in clubs is around 120bpm and usually 4/4 timing.” So he went an entirely different route, drawing inspiration from the lyrics and alternate title, Big Ideas: Don’t Get Any. From that he recreated the song using some really weird shit, a Sinclair ZX Spectrum, an Epson LX-81 Dot Matrix Printer, a HP Scanjet 3c, and a Hard Drive array, turning these weird odds and ends into his instruments.

What he ended up creating is nothing short of genius. It’s not only the way the song came out sounding, but also in the way he shot the video above. Visually it reminds of the way that Scott Hansen colors his photos, like old sun-damaged film, as well as lots of steady close up shots of all the different pieces doing their part. Radiohead needs to get this guy on the phone and have him make a commercial or something for them, I mean the video has been viewed over 100,000 times in the last 2 days alone, that’s definitely saying something. Here’s hoping we see more from this brilliant guy.

Bobby

7 Messages

Going On by Gnarls Barkely
June 2, 2008 | Categories: Blogs / Music Video / Photography

I saw this a couple weeks ago but I thought I’d post it because it makes for a good later night post. This the new Gnarls Barkley video for the song, Going On, definitely one of the best tracks off the new album. What I think is so cool about this video is that it was totally inspired by Clayton Cubitt’s Lagos Calling series, which he notes in his blog. But Clayton is so rad about the situation that he calls it a “lovely happenstance”, something I think very few people would do.

I think the imagery definitely works for the song and the video, and even though it could be called a rip off, a topic I am definitely not fond of, I think they do the idea a great deal of justice. The desaturated colors with the bold yellow fonts, the fast-paced dancing in the street… I’m totally into it. Well, except for the end, that effect in the door frame looks ridiculous, haha…

Bobby

2 Messages

New Mcginley Inspired Sigur Ros Video for Gobbledigook
May 27, 2008 | Categories: Art / Music / Music Video / Photography

Holy crap. Out of nowhere Sigur Ros just released this new single and video for a song called Gobbledigook, an Animal Collective-esque song that makes me really frigging excited for their new album, Með suð i eyrum við spilum endalaust (With A Buzz In Our Ears We Play Endlessly). Yeah, seriously, that’s what it’s called.

But what really takes the cake is how awesome the music video is! It was directed by Arni & Kinski, and inspired by Ryan McGinley who I guess also collaborated on the video. To me that sounds like they asked him if they could shoot in his style so he wouldn’t sue them and he said yes, haha… Anyhow, the video, in classic McGinley fashion, features a bunch of hot, young things running around naked in the woods. It’s not shot quite like a McGinley photo, but I think the essence is there at the very least. I think combined with the song it’s particularly amazing, definitely pretty fun and out there.

If you’re at work, you probably shouldn’t watch it, as there are boobs and weens ALL OVER the place in this video, so that’s you’re warning. But I highly suggest sneaking behind your bosses and co-workers back and watching it, it’s damn beautiful and the song is way fun. I mean, it’s artsy nudes, they’re not having sex, so whatevs.

Found through Gorilla vs. Bear

Bobby

11 Messages

New Ratatat Video for a New Ratatat Song, Mirando
May 23, 2008 | Categories: Music Video

Chris over at Gorilla vs. Bear posted this great video for an upcoming Ratatat song called Mirando. The song is gonna be on their next album called LP3, and it’s pretty damn rad. As Chris describes it, it’s sort of has an 8 Bit/Bollywood sound to it, which is kind of weird in writing but good to hear. The video itself is really damn great, and was create by Evan from Ratatat. All he did was edit together some footage from the movie Predator, but man it looks good/is hysterical. I love the ending with all the thermal imaging… I think thermal images might be the cool next thing, so I’m gonna do some research and see what I can find.

Bobby

4 Messages

Light and Music by Cut Copy
May 19, 2008 | Categories: Music / Music Video

Tonight around 8 I’m headed over to the Echoplex to see Cut Copy, who just so happens to have one of the best records of the year. I’ve heard good things, that they definitely play really well live, but I’m still a little worried. I’m also worried that the Echoplex is going to be 4 trillion degrees inside and I might melt. I’m definitely going to have stay well hydrated ; )

The video above is for Lights and Music, which I think is their newest single off their album. This is exactly how I imagine tonight being, except you’d see me right in front dancing really hard and screaming, haha… I’m really not one of those people, I swear, but there will be a little dancing coming from my direction. If you’re going tonight email me and let me know!
Bobby

4 Messages

My Year In Lists by Los Campesinos!
May 18, 2008 | Categories: Music Video

I hope everyone is having a good Sunday! Last night and this morning I’ve been busy putting together a teepee, which is all I can say for right now, I think. I’m not sure if the project I’m building it for is a secret or not, but if it isn’t I’ll post photos in the next couple days. But this whole time I’ve been building I’ve had My Year In Lists stuck in my head, this awesome song by the band Los Campesinos!

I’ve posted the video above, and even though the song is only 1:49 long, it’ll be the best 1:49 of your day today. The song “essentially mulls over the process of living out a relationship via Royal Mail, and bemoans the tedium of the New Year.” I love the quick cuts, seeing how damn cute the entire band is and all the fun badges in the video. To listen to more of their songs, check out their Last.fm page here.

Bobby

9 Messages

Wanderlust by Bjork
April 20, 2008 | Categories: Art / Design / Music Video

This is pretty old news for most people, but I just got around to watching the video for Bjork’s Wanderlust like two days ago. Usually when I see something posted all over the blogs I frequent I tend to just get annoyed and ignore whatever everyone’s talking about. I know, I’m lame, whatever. But I was having dinner with some friends last weekend and one of them suggested that I really should watch it, that it does live up to the hype, and I totally agree with that conclusion.

The video is hard to pinpoint, it’s like something between CGI, claymation, and live action, all coming together to make this really crazy but beautiful world. I really have no idea what the video is about, it’s sort of like her backpack has some sort of raisin-looking chick in it that tries to kill her or something and then some sort of fruit bat-god-thing with a silly tongue shows up and starts messing with her. I really love the ending where she’s falling though, it looks soooo epic, and the water kind of looks like strings or spaghetti is really beautiful as well.

If you’re lame cool like me and haven’t seen it yet, click here for a really nice hi-res version of it.

UPDATE: Wired just posted a photo essay of showing a ‘Making Of’ of the Wanderlust video. Sure enough the video was inpsired by Hayao Miyazaki, which I totally thought about the whole time I watched it.

Bobby

3 Messages