VIDEO OF THE DAY: some Shins

Do check out the music video, directed by Jamie Caliri, for Port of Morrow's opening track, "the rifle's spiral." Caliri's animation features a quixotic children's tale grouped with the Shins' bouncy/energy-infused tune. 

The Shins: The Rifle’s Spiral on Nowness.com.

VIDEO OF THE DAY

BEAR IN HEAVEN - "THE REFLECTION OF YOU" (2012)

The best videos are those that compliment the song. Literal videos lack creativity. My favorite kinds are those that contain moving pictures that are a reflection of the mind-blowing beats of a song- be it color, movement, the panning of a camera, or scenery. I am currently obsessed with John Lee's video for Bear in Heaven's "the reflection of you." So much that I set it at 1080p and waited several minutes to view it in the best quality. And all is better with extra-bass over-the-ear headphones.

VIDEO OF THE DAY

The beat is raunchy, seductive, and just does too much for me. Plus it involves the fabulous J.Tillman. "Hollywood Forever Cemetery Sings" is a nicely packaged song. Check it:

FATHER JOHN MISTY - "HOLLYWOOD FOREVER CEMETERY SINGS" (2012)

short and sweet, video of the day

Porcelain Raft does "drifting in and out" piano style...

PORCELAIN RAFT - "DRIFTING IN AND OUT" (2012)

VIDEO OF THE DAY: genevieve

Fun video, fun song by Lucius:

LUCIUS - "GENEVIEVE" (2012)

listen to their entire EP on spinner.com!

VIDEO OF THE DAY

If you saw the Grammy's on Sunday you probably saw the Chipotle commercial showcasing the unnaturalness of intensive pig farming (or anything non-organic). The background music is Willie Nelson singing to Coldplay's "the scientist." The video was directed by Johnny Kelly. Check it:

VIDEO OF THE DAY: two against one

Great video of Danger Mouse and Daniel Luppi song, "two against one," was released today [via NPR]. Video directed by Chris Milk and Anthony Francis Sheppard. It features cool animations and images of the deep and dark. Check it:

VIDEO OF THE DAY: vcr

I'm going through a Frankenstein phase. I read the book for class and now it's all I think about. Okay, not all the time. I like to exaggerate. But I do think of it often. Case in point: I was listening to "VCR" by The XX and for some reason a scene from Bride of Frankenstein played in my mind (which I've never even watched before). So I searched youtube.com for classic Frankenstein clips and found one that fit "VCR" perfectly. It happened by accident but now I'm contemplating doing one of those fan-videos. But for now I'll have to do things the Phoenix way (you may recall the Grizzly Bear remix they sort of released). The clip reminds me more of Lennie Small from Steinbeck's Of Mice and Men, than it does of Mary Shelley's novel. You'll see why.

step 1: Press play here and mute the audio. Now immediately scroll down for step 2.

step 2: press play here to start The XX's "VCR" song.

step 3: scroll up to watch the Frankenstein video and Enjoy :-)

VIDEO OF THE DAY: victim of trap

Watch the video and see the products of neglect unravel before your eyes. The video was shot at the abandoned Six Flags in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina. It was filmed and edited by Teddy Smith Studio and released in 2010. I like how this video captures how what once was a place of fun and adventure is now a desolate ghost-town. I can't help but connect this to memory and all that is lost and left behind as time moves forward (be it childhood, people, places, etc.). And when we look back we see joy, sadness, and maybe disaster. But never fear, there's always hope for a better future. Enjoy:

"I've seen plans, they turn to dust. Does it remind you of things you've been trying to deny?"

virtual concert experience

At the moment I am a virtual audience member of the Black Keys live in concert. You can be too! They won't be touring anywhere in or around Texas next Spring so, for me, this will have to do. Check it:

The Black Keys
Get More:
The Black Keys, MTV Hive

VIDEO OF THE DAY: how come you never go there

What do you get when you combine Feist, crazy long hair extensions, a black and white filter, wooshing wind, and a forest? Answer: The very mystical video for "how come you never go there." You can seriously feel the weather in this video. It was directed by ? [unidentified]. Check it:

VIDEO OF THE DAY: love on top

"Love on top" is proof that Beyonce is the coolest chic in the game. Video directed by Ed Burke and Beyonce. Check it:

VIDEO OF THE DAY: paradise

A fresh new video off of Coldplay's Mylo Xyloto was released today. It's a story of an elephant (Chris Martin in disguise) trying to find his way home. Who new Chris Martin could ride a unicycle? Pretty impressive. The colors are vivid and you get a sense of reality--in spite of the faux elephants. It was directed by Mat Whitecross in South Africa and London. Check it:

Ghost of city Life

wow!



VIDEO OF THE DAY: on the water

I had forgotten all about this video until I heard The Walkmen play the song at ACL. "On the water" was directed by Nir Ben Jacob. It features shades of black and blue (like the song) and rabbits minding their business on a crop field. But there's more. There's action, guns, a chase, and an ultimatum. It's a sad dark tale built around this melancholy song. Check it...

VIDEO OF THE DAY

The self-titled track "congratulations" is perhaps my favorite MGMT song so far. Perhaps. And there's a video for it. It's quite calming and transient, just like the song...nothing crazy. Well, except for the dinosaur-ostrich thing. Check it...

Congratulations-MGMT from Jöl Brito on Vimeo.

VIDEO OF THE DAY: powa

Amazing live video of tUnE-yArDs performing "powa." Percussion, ukulele, bass... ACTION!

VIDEO OF THE DAY: close to me

After watching this video, I was left feeling empty and deceived. But then I laughed. Watch it. It's not long either, since it involves the short song by Teams vs. Star Slinger called "close to me." This song features some of the coolest beats reminiscent of 70's disco but with a twist. Check it...

VIDEO OF THE DAY: what's a girl to do

This one's a song about falling out of love. The video features impressive bicycle tricks in sync with the song's beats. It's like watching a very short eerie-musical. A cool video indeed, directed by Dougal Wilson.



VIDEO OF THE DAY + LYRIC DIVE: name in stone



If you have not seen this video or heard this tune then you should.

Simple song, simple video, great lyrics, transcendental. Check it:

NAME IN STONE

Ooh ooh ooh
Your name in stone.
We come here all alone,
And all that’s left is your name in stone.

I raise my flag up into your heart,
And you let the winds come tear it apart.

We walk through the stones,
Through the stones,
To your name in stone.
And we walk through this stone,
To your name in stone,
To your name in stone.

I raise my flag up into your heart,
And you let the winds come tear it apart.

In the end we’ll make a home;
A name in stone,
A name in stone.
In the end we’ll make our home;
A name in stone,
Your name in stone.

I raise my flag up into your heart,
And you let the winds come tear it apart.

I raise my flag up into your heart,
And you let the winds come tear it apart.
 

Winds come tear it apart;
The winds come tear it apart.

 

"Name in Stone" reminds me of Emily Dickinson's "Success is counted sweetest." I think its the whole flag raising part. I can imagine the speaker in "name in stone" feeling like the speaker in Dickinson's poem. Both deal with un-reciprocated love, despair, defeat, and desire.

Success is counted sweetest

By those who ne'er succeed.

To comprehend a nectar

Requires sorest need.

Not one of all the purple host

Who took the flag to-day

Can tell the definition,

So clear, of victory,

As he, defeated, dying,

On whose forbidden ear

The distant strains of triumph

Break, agonized and clear.