Idiot Box - Lots of Videos About Music 5/21/09

Idiot Box - Lots of Videos About Music 5/21/09

Idiot box

n. Slang

A television.

Little Joy's self-titled debut album was easily one of my favorites from last year. Heretofore (I use that word ever chance I get), Little Joy has been known as (former Stroke's drummer) Fab Moretti's band. Now he is out (and performing under the Strokes moniker again) and Little Joy are still getting attention. I like that. I would like to encourage that behavior. Pavlov says salivate over the video.

This has absolutely nothing to do with music except for maybe the Jeoparody (see what I did there?) theme song. It's just ridiculously funny. Tom Hanks, so hot right now. Tom Hanks.



If you ever need to explain the concept of "ignored," you could adequately reference what I have heretofore (told ya) done to the Vivian Girls. Also, if you wanted to explain the concept of "short," you could reference this video. It clocks in it at an overwhelming 2:05 and the first 12 seconds are silent. Lo-fi jangly pop for the way too busy. But I actually really like this song. Its got the whole Deerhunter vibe to it and its fairly similar The Pains of Being Pure at Heart, for whom my love is well documented. Lastly, if you wanted to give a presentation on the concept of "panning," you could totally show this video.



Here we have friendly Sub Poppers The Vaselines performing at Brooklyn's Music Hall of Williamsburg with a backing band that included members of Belle & Sebastian. This is a new song entitled “Picked a Cherry Tulip,” in which they say things about having nothing to say. Awesome.

The Vaselines @ MHOW (New Song!) from Patrick Duffy on Vimeo.

Also, as a special note, the 35th annual Seattle International Film Festival begins this Today. Along with Bumbershoot, Hempfest, Sasquatch and Folklife, SIFF is one of the things that I love about Seattle in all its hippy-west-coast-arty-gloriousness. Definitely try to catch a film or two if you can. Its running through June 14th so you have some leeway as to when you go. I think we here at BCB might try to give you a few suggestions/reviews of some of the films if all goes well. For the time being, check out Three Imaginary Girls' SIFF coverage here.

Idiot Box - Lots of Videos About Music 5/14/09

Idiot Box - Lots of Videos About Music 5/14/09

Idiot box

n. Slang

A television.

I am pretty sure that the best podcast ever is This American Life from NPR. And even more sure than that, Andrew Bird is pretty much the most NPR friendly musician ever. This all makes this video not only make sense, but be really awesome. The track is called “Eugene”, via here.

One of the albums that I absolutely cannot get enough of this year comes from the francophone Amadou and Mariam whom Scott turned me onto last year. The song is right from the middle of their album Welcome to Mali and is called "Masiteladi." For sure worth a watch. The whole album is this immediate and listenable so if you dig this, definitely check out the album.

On the Shins current tour they have been playing a couple new songs. One is called "The Rifle's Spiral" and the other (below) is called "double bubble" which features the rhythmic stylings of Modest Mouse's drummer Joe Plummer. It certainly is a lot more bouncy. Look for a new album 2010ish maybe. Via Stereogum

SNL. JT. Blah Blah. Funny etc.

Here we have The National playing their Dark was the Night Favorite "So Far Around the Bend" on Fallon. I really dig this track even though its a little peppier than most of Boxer. I would love to see them center around an album around this "its fall and I am melancholly but still in a good mood" vibe.

Uhhh. Half of Death Cab doing an interview on...CNN? Yeah idk why. For ten minutes too. Best question ever "How do you guys get your mojo?" Chris Walla looks like Luke Skywalker. Also apparently Death Cab is the "perfect marriage of four guys."...Sexy.

Idiot Box 5/5/09 - Lots of Videos About Music

Idiot Box 5/5/09 - Lots of Videos About Music

Idiot box

n. Slang

A television.

From Billboard: "A star-studded medley of musical guests played tribute to Pete Seeger at a benefit concert for the legendary folk singer's 90th birthday. Bruce Springsteen, Dave Matthews, Emmylou Harris, Ani DiFranco and" (and Arlo Guthrie) "were among the 40 musicians performing in Madison Square Garden for the Sunday night show, a benefit to raise awareness for Hudson River Sloop Clearwater.

In what is most certainly the best description, the ubiquitous Dark Was the Night features the biggest names in "NPR-friendly indie music." That being said, the vast majority of the two disc set is filled with ethereal covers and collaborations for an really good cause. And that being said, the recent live performance of the albums, featuring most of the people that contributed must have been fantastic. However, the best part about the NPR friendly nature of this performance was hands down, the moment when it became completely self conscious. That was thanks to Sharon Jones who effectively says "This land is your land, but this song is mine now." Ooooh, burn.

Once upon a time Train Conductor Rivers Cuomo lead a group of eager fans from Long Beach, Calif. in a lively rendition of the Pinkerton Classic, "El Scorcho." This is not a dream that I had once. This happened. In a record shop. The clip is from the DVD Not Alone Rivers Cuomo & Friends Live at Fingerprints. High points include Rivers getting all gangsta around the half minute mark, singing (a beautiful) harmony on the chorus, everyone yelling "how cool is that" way too early, and the actual train whistle (to fit his apparel) that he utilizes about 1:55 in.

Mr. Banhart (whom you can dress) has graced our ears lately with some new tunes. Now there is also this Ameoba Music in-store performance video that features a pretty rad version of "Little Yellow Spider" among seven other stellar takes. (At the 25 min mark, I swear Robin Pecknold of Fleet Foxes fame shows up on screen). Also check out this awesome interview.

Ólöf Arnalds is from Iceland and writes songs that sound like other things that dont sound like much else. And she probly know that Bjork references will rain down upon her like frogs in Magnolia, but she is still playing a show with her (and the Dirty Projectors) on the 8th. If you are in New York and not going I hereby declare you foolish.

Yesterday I posted a live Akron/Family video that made me physically exhausted just by watching it. This is way way beyond that. This video is by a song called "Celebrate the Body Electric" from Ponytail off their 2008 album Ice Cream Spiritual. If you can watch the whole thing straight through, I will give you a dollar. Also, this song sounds like it would make the best show ever.

Idiot Box 4/9/09

Idiot Box 4/9/09

Idiot box

n. Slang

A television.

Phoenix play three songs from their upcoming LP Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix on SNL. Thomas Mars lets out a few yelps like he's Vampire weekend. Also it looks like Jesus is working the synths in the background.

"Listzomania"

"1901"

"Too Young"

The second single from maestro Dylan's soon to be released 42nd album Together Through Life. I actually like this one a lot more than the first. Let me know your thoughts.

"Feel a change comin on"

Two bits of Joanna news(om) in two weeks? This is just getting gratuitous. Here, the beautiful music from Milk Eyed Mender's "Sprout and the Bean" lifts up (ahem) this Victoria's Secret commercial. Strange pairing, no?

"Sprout and the Bean"

Canada's finest, Leslie Feist and Kevin Drew discuss Drew's new film project which features Feist's "The Water." The movie also apparently stars Cillian Murphy aka Scarecrow from Barman aka definitely awesome. This clip is actually really fascinating if you are a fan ofBroken Social Scene and/or Feist and/or Cillian Murphy and/or experimental film.

In case you weren't satisfied with the silhouette + weird mouth combo of Animal Collective's official "My Girls" video, here is an awesome unofficial Alternate video that is as trippy and beautiful as Animal Collective's music. Pretty sure I spotted some Andy Goldsworthy in there too.

"My Girls"

I've never really listened to Man Man but this video for "Rabbit Habits" makes me feel weird and strangely happy.

"Rabbit Habits"

For a bonus video, Youaintnopicasso has Sacha Baron Cohen’s Bruno trailer which looks hilarious.