- Who you have played for. Unless you’re playing with them at my show, or it’s a local band with heavy draw.
- Where you got featured. There is only one paper her called The Greenville News and not many people even read that. Similar to this, I don’t care what press clippings you include in your letter or link to in the email.
- Who produced your EP. Saying that Rick Rubin produced your album is like saying Emeril Lagasse made your dinner. He’s going to do it for anyone… as long as they can pay.
- Hometown fame. Self explanatory. Unless you have a bus of hometown fans following you, I don’t care.
- How good you are. I actually do care how good you are, but I don’t want to hear it from you. Similar to the press thing. Why the hell would you give me or tell me bad things?
- Last of all, I don’t care what you sound like. If you tell me that your post-grunge, Radiohead influenced trance rock will have my crowd enthralled, I am going to stare at you and nod my head slightly (you can guess what that means). The only reason I care about what you play is so I don’t mis-match bands or overlap fan bases. Personally, I prefer to have a variety of bands, as long as it is all in the same vein of music.
I’m not bragging, but I have been involved in music in all sorts of aspects for almost 5 years now (yes, even when I was young). I started out by learning photoshop and audacity, then moved on to other computer programs. Then, I started working with different artists and bands trying to improve them. I have been the coordinator, the publicist, the producer, the critic, and occasionally, the rabid fan (Muse anyone?). But something I have noticed more and more is that bands don’t understand exactly how getting a gig works, and far worse, they usually do exactly the opposite of what would get them the show. Any band needs to put themselves in the place of the person who owns the venue, and not to make them sound like crooks, but these venues are usually concerned about how many people you will be bringing to your show. In other words, how much business AKA money will you bring them if they let you play. Even if you aren’t playing, at say, the Handlebar, whatever church or coffeehouse you are playing at is still interested in the customers or face value you’re bringing. In general, venues (or even me if I’m organizing the show) do NOT care about the following things….
One thing I have noticed about myself is that I like music with texture. What do I mean when I say this? I mean that I like music that you can feel, both on a physical (auditory) and emotional level. I'm not talking about bumpin' dance music. that takes the fun out of the texture, I'm talking about weaving and intricate music. A prime example of this is the new album, Swoon, by the Silversun Pickups. In their second full album, the pickups have taken the same formula from their first album, Carnavas, reworked the material into new tracks, and gotten a few upgrades typical of a sophomore album. On the surface, the album is a solid second attempt, but the album can do a number on you if you let it. Unfortunately, I did.
One reviewer I saw compared the entire to a beached whale. Yea, out come the metaphors. This description is right on track for the mood of the album. Follow these emotions: you go out on the beach after hearing haunting shrill moans. It is sometime past midnight as your feet hit the cool sand. You are forced to walk some distance before you come to the dark, looming figure that you now recognize as a whale. This is what Swoon is like... it is dark, mysterious, sometimes brooding, and majestic. Despite some of the altrock tracks, the album as a whole maintains this mood. The title track is an exception. It kicks off with a few guitar licks and a catchy verse hook. The 3rd track embodies that dark mood. Its bass line and shimmering guitars break out into guitar fuzz near the end. The 5th track has already received considerable airplay. "Panic Switch" is the perfect soundtrack to a bad trip (go ahead, click the link for my definition). It's a sort of schizo track, but well crafted and compelling. The album kinda drops off after "Panic Switch" but still maintains a good listen. Of particular interest is "Draining", "Sort Of", and "Catch and Release".
The one drawback of the album lies in the fact that the volume, dynamics, and overall production of the softest track is not much less than that of the loudest track. The Pickups have garnered many a comparison to the Smashing Pumpkins and the one thing that separates the two is that for every slow song the Pumpkins had, there was a robust one. All of the songs on Swoon maintain the consistency of overcooked cabbage. But again, the lack of truly alive "tracks" per se is what gives rise to what i like: a collection of musical textures. Though Swoon lacks in the epic album department, it wins in the department of well crafted alternative rock.
Final Grade: 68
Vocals/Lyrics: 13
Music: 14
Production: 13
Creativity: 15
Value (Was it worth the listen?): 13
I have to give props to my man Jeremy for this one. Kid CuDi is a sight for sore eyes in the genre of Hip-Hop. The alternative rapper shows his versatility through his style and recordings. The beats are solid, and his voice tops off the production. The music flows and the tunes and beats are pretty dang catchy. His first mixtape, "A Kid Named CuDi" caught the attention of everyone's favorite egotistical beast rapper, Kanye West, which got Cudi signed to GOOD Music (think John Legend and Common). "A Kid Named CuDi" also features the first single off of Cudi's upcoming album, Day 'n Nite. This song features a smooth Trip Hop beat sparsed with introspective lyrics about a lonely smoker. But I more prefer Cudi's other mixtape, "Dat Kid From Cleveland". This one shows a better selection of Cudi's abilities, especially on the song "Poke Her Face" and "Super Boo", a driving song with more than solid rapping.
I'm pretty sure that we are going to be hearing more from Cudi. Though it would be sacrilege to compare him to Kanye (and doing such would warrant a call from Kanye's PR team), I believe that Cudi will, like Kanye, be continuously successful. The first album, "Man on the Moon: The Gaurdians" is expected to be released August 25th.
To Write Love On Her Arms has great taste in music. Argue with me all you want, but the artists closest to TWLOHA are excellent, talented, and down-to-earth bands. I am watching the Heavy and Light show that happened last night in Orlando's House of Blues. These are the type of concerts I enjoy most. Music is personal, so why should I honor some rock god on a stage half a mile away from me? Even though I am watching a recording of a simulcast from last night, I can feel the vibe of open friendliness between those on stage and in the audience as if I was there. True, I am biased to about anything TWLOHA does, but these acoustic performances are awesome. The concert featured performaces from the lead singers of Bayside, Thrice, The Almost, and Switchfoot. If all of them on stage isn't enough, then how about them together? The encore in itself is worth the watch. The concert was not a benefit, but simply an evening of music. The kind of night where you are reassured that there is still love between people in this world. The footage will be available for a day or two. Please, enjoy.
Review: Anberlin, Madina Lake, Between the Trees and The Becoming Concert
|
Labels:
Anberlin,
Between The Trees,
concerts,
Reviews
I really hate that i don't take pictures at concerts I go to, but it's a policy of mine. I'm there for the music and the experience, not as a photographer, but this post is going to be rather difficult without the photo proof of the experience. Me and "the gang" with a few lineup changes headed to Asheville's The Orange Peel to catch this one. Concert started actually on time at 8 PM.
First up was The Becoming. I don't have much to say about them, except their sampler/keys/synth dude had a sweet set-up and they probably get this guy to do their hair. The different elements of their music by themselves were ok, but together, at least live, it didn't jive well. After listening to their music on myspace, I'm disappointed by the live show, the few good things about them didn't shine through at all, and that singer got on my nerves. Lower voice, similar to demon hunter, but devoid of all dynamic ability. OH! yea, I forgot. I swear the bassist (I think) had a tattoo of OJ Simpson on his left wrist. This band is from Nashville, just signed to Tooth and Nail, and according to them, just made it to #1 on Christian Charts. This surprised me, cause I get an email weekly with a readout of all the chart crap that way I don't have to listen to the radio to know what's "hot", yet I had never heard of these guys. They aren't anywhere on Billboard, iTunes, or Christianrock.net. After some searching, I found some chart I'm not familiar with that verily, had them listed at #1 with "Your Love" (Red @ 2, which is what I thought was #1). Go figure. Their current album, Volume I is now available.
Next, it was time for me to be frustrated. After seeing Between the Trees with Rene Yohe from TWLOHA in Greenville, I was amazed by their live performance. So I dug out their album from the massive iTunes library and gave it a re-listen and was reminded why I had ditched the band in the first place. To me, the album goes in a direction musically that this band isn't meant for. It's hard to explain, maybe these guys just need to go make a live album, but I don't feel the energy and earnestness on the album that I get live. I feel they're ok on the album, but live, the music is fuller, the vocals better (Lead Ryan Kirkland is amazing),the message clearer, and the energy far more apparent. I understand that's natural because you're actually seeing them perform, but this band still remains a mystery to me with their studio vs. live difference. Bonus points for the band being apparent diehard Florida gator fans. All but one member was decked out in Florida gear and post-concert meet and greet was postponed til the game ended. Between the Trees has a new album coming out this year... I hope the album is different than the last one, but if it isn't, I'll just have to catch them next time they come through town.
I would have left for Madina Lake had I not been stuck in the crowd. They are one of the things I hate most in music (alongside cheap popular R&B tunes made on garage band). They represent to me that brand of sub-emo punk that is embodied by bands such as My Chemical Romance, The Used, and formerly, Fall Out Boy. Their music is written decently and their ambitious concept of the fictional town of Madina Lake fits together and permits their views a musical portal. I'll admit that their performance was good, and the lead knows how to get the crowd going with invitations to take "whatever the hell is bothering you and release it". Mosh pit ensues and then comes one of the most stunning performances of the evening. Like CIA trained lifeguards, Orange Peel security breaks up what could have been an (awesome) disaster considering the blend of people at the concert and packed-ness of the venue. I'm not hatin' on Madonna Lake (my new fav nick for a band), but I can not respect their music and what they stand for--I AM hatin' on whoever signed them to this concert. Even while they were playing I tried to figure it out. At first I thought it may have been a one time thing, but Madina Lake and Between the Trees is touring with Anberlin throughout this tour. Then I thought maybe Madina Lake is also signed with Universal, Anberlin's new label, but Madina Lake is signed to Roadrunner Records which is a subsidy of Warner. There is no label connection. Their match up with Anberlin is lamentable. You expect to hear the stylings of the headliner band in the openers. This was apparent with The Becoming, and Between the Trees and Anberlin being fairly close as far as bands go. But Madina Lake represents something on the opposite side of the spectrum (they've toured with Linkin Park and cite Trent Reznor as an influence). Their music also comes from a completely different breed of post-grunge rock. Anberlin is from the home of modern alternative pop-rock (central Florida) while Madina Lake comes from the heavily pop-punk influenced hardcore scene. If you still doubt that Anberlin and Madina Lake are polar opposites, take this: Madina Lake appeared on the show Fear Factor in 2005 eating cow innards and hanging from helicopters to pay for their demo album.
Next, it was time for me to be frustrated. After seeing Between the Trees with Rene Yohe from TWLOHA in Greenville, I was amazed by their live performance. So I dug out their album from the massive iTunes library and gave it a re-listen and was reminded why I had ditched the band in the first place. To me, the album goes in a direction musically that this band isn't meant for. It's hard to explain, maybe these guys just need to go make a live album, but I don't feel the energy and earnestness on the album that I get live. I feel they're ok on the album, but live, the music is fuller, the vocals better (Lead Ryan Kirkland is amazing),the message clearer, and the energy far more apparent. I understand that's natural because you're actually seeing them perform, but this band still remains a mystery to me with their studio vs. live difference. Bonus points for the band being apparent diehard Florida gator fans. All but one member was decked out in Florida gear and post-concert meet and greet was postponed til the game ended. Between the Trees has a new album coming out this year... I hope the album is different than the last one, but if it isn't, I'll just have to catch them next time they come through town.
I would have left for Madina Lake had I not been stuck in the crowd. They are one of the things I hate most in music (alongside cheap popular R&B tunes made on garage band). They represent to me that brand of sub-emo punk that is embodied by bands such as My Chemical Romance, The Used, and formerly, Fall Out Boy. Their music is written decently and their ambitious concept of the fictional town of Madina Lake fits together and permits their views a musical portal. I'll admit that their performance was good, and the lead knows how to get the crowd going with invitations to take "whatever the hell is bothering you and release it". Mosh pit ensues and then comes one of the most stunning performances of the evening. Like CIA trained lifeguards, Orange Peel security breaks up what could have been an (awesome) disaster considering the blend of people at the concert and packed-ness of the venue. I'm not hatin' on Madonna Lake (my new fav nick for a band), but I can not respect their music and what they stand for--I AM hatin' on whoever signed them to this concert. Even while they were playing I tried to figure it out. At first I thought it may have been a one time thing, but Madina Lake and Between the Trees is touring with Anberlin throughout this tour. Then I thought maybe Madina Lake is also signed with Universal, Anberlin's new label, but Madina Lake is signed to Roadrunner Records which is a subsidy of Warner. There is no label connection. Their match up with Anberlin is lamentable. You expect to hear the stylings of the headliner band in the openers. This was apparent with The Becoming, and Between the Trees and Anberlin being fairly close as far as bands go. But Madina Lake represents something on the opposite side of the spectrum (they've toured with Linkin Park and cite Trent Reznor as an influence). Their music also comes from a completely different breed of post-grunge rock. Anberlin is from the home of modern alternative pop-rock (central Florida) while Madina Lake comes from the heavily pop-punk influenced hardcore scene. If you still doubt that Anberlin and Madina Lake are polar opposites, take this: Madina Lake appeared on the show Fear Factor in 2005 eating cow innards and hanging from helicopters to pay for their demo album.
Anberlin was everything I expected. Not really anything more than, but they did fulfill my best hopes for their show. I believe the started out with "Day Late Friend" and worked from there. They played a good mix of songs from their career, which made me happy because some of the songs on their latest album, "New Surrender" were half-baked. As much as I have written about the other bands, I amazingly don't have that much to say about Anberlin, which may be a testament to how much I enjoyed it. For everyone but Anberlin, I focused on the music, performance, and show (except for when me and Jordan made fun of bands). I let myself go during Anberlin's concert, which is the first time I've done such since a Nickelback concert 2 years ago. I can't recite the set list, but I do remember "Disappear" standing out in my mind as one of the best songs of the evening.I had mentioned during the show that I had hoped they would play either "*Fin" or "Miserabile Visu" but doubted it as they relied heavily on sampling and were longer almost alternative styled art rock pieces. After the last song (which I've already forgotten what it was), there was the usual call for an encore, which was honored with "*Fin". I could write this song it's own post, but I'll spare you that travesty. It is safe to say that the moment provided definition and closure to the evening.
All in all, this was one of the best concerts I have been to in at least a year. The music was good, the emotion good, and company was bar none the best in town. Other than Madina Lake, I feel on the same level with where these bands were coming from and I look forward to seeing Between the Trees and Anberlin in the future.
I'm working on a decent concert rating system, so bear with me. I'm digging this one I came up with, but it requires higher math for me to figure out the overall score.
Overall: 94
Venue: 18
Opening Band(s): 18
Set List: 19
Band Connection: 20
Band Energy/Intensity/Showmanship: 19
ConcertGoer Energy/Intensity: 20
Sound Quality: 19
Set and Lighting Design (SLD): 17
Lasting Value: 19
You can just skip this post if you read the next sentence. Chinese Democracy is the Titanic of rock albums. Its massive, overbloated, has errors in its construction, and most importantly, was doomed for failure before it set sail.
Lets start this review out with some logic. We all know that this album has been stuck in production hell longer than it takes Axl to actually get to a concert. So I ask you this, if the album was any good when they started working on it, do you think that Axl would have taken 17 years or whatever to release it? NO! He woulda gotten that bad boy out on the streets as fast as he could produce it. And another thing, too many cooks not only spilled this soup, No, they argued over it and spilled it on the ground. Axl has chased off every last person that embodied GNR (except for himself) yet retained their mark on the album. Still reminiscent Slash bits will ring in your ears after listening to Chinese Democracy, but what the heck is that instrumental synth rock crap that is smothering the beauty? And on some of the tracks that Axls vocals are literally burning up, their so enveloped in numetalpopalternativeindustrialrock junk that he cant shine through. Honestly, this post is going down the toilet in much the same style of the album. I mean well, I have a plan... It's complicated, but i want to surround you in my creations and communicate my emotions-do you see what I mean? Can you see that in Chinese Democracy?
Lets start this review out with some logic. We all know that this album has been stuck in production hell longer than it takes Axl to actually get to a concert. So I ask you this, if the album was any good when they started working on it, do you think that Axl would have taken 17 years or whatever to release it? NO! He woulda gotten that bad boy out on the streets as fast as he could produce it. And another thing, too many cooks not only spilled this soup, No, they argued over it and spilled it on the ground. Axl has chased off every last person that embodied GNR (except for himself) yet retained their mark on the album. Still reminiscent Slash bits will ring in your ears after listening to Chinese Democracy, but what the heck is that instrumental synth rock crap that is smothering the beauty? And on some of the tracks that Axls vocals are literally burning up, their so enveloped in numetalpopalternativeindustrialrock junk that he cant shine through. Honestly, this post is going down the toilet in much the same style of the album. I mean well, I have a plan... It's complicated, but i want to surround you in my creations and communicate my emotions-do you see what I mean? Can you see that in Chinese Democracy?
But enough of my personal vendetta against Axl for ruining Chinese Democracy, and more importantly I believe, ruining GNR, lets get down to the nitty gritty.
Looking at the album as a whole, its a collection of extended, swollen, and metastasized old GNR tracks. All opinions aside, it's still Guns N Roses, but just in Axl Rose "perfected" form from where he slaved on these tracks all the years. I like the idea of these rock soundscapes, but I don't think they come together here. I found myself trying to skip or repeat to a particular part.... then even taking out the left earbud to just get the guitar bit in the right pan. One of the places where the "over-the-topness" works is in "There Was a Time". Here, the melody actually works with the metal soundscape. The verdict is still out on Madagascar for me. I don't like the trip hop thing, but it almost works, but its not GNR.... ugh... a track like that shouldn't even be attempted by the #9 rock band in the world (according to the culture idiots). The light and bright "Catcher in the Rye" actually disappoints me (though I've heard others like it). Again, this isn't a perfected GNR Axl, no matter what you thought. Scraped is one of those songs where I dig the vocals, put its murdered by funky blown up and out grunge. I.R.S. is good, but was leaked about 7 years ago, which shows on the song. Some of this songs were created in different generations. One article I read pointed out that if you went back the 17 years to Use Your Illusion, then went another 17, you'd barely even have metal for Rose to tinker with. Your back in the proto-punk days. The final two tracks, "This I Love" and "Prostitute" are some of the best. Definitely different, and don't shoot me, but almost Queen sounding.
Forgive me for the comparison, but I believe Chinese Democracy is actually similar to the album that beat it on the charts, Kanye West's 808s & Heartbreak. While one is overproduced and armed to the teeth and the other stripped and cut of all but vocals and beats, they both expose the artists beneath to a degree. It becomes apparent throughout Chinese Democracy simply how much time and how many events Axl Rose has gone through. Music has changed and we've seen the Clinton Era, dotcom bubble, its bust, 9/11, ensuing war, housing bubble, its bust, and so much more. I'm not saying the album is outdated, but time shows through the tracks, which are not worth the hype. The album exists. That's the bottom line and Axl and whoever else better realize that. It is interesting, but almost more for the character behind it than the music itself. This is the first of a trio of new GNR albums.... we can only hope Axl Rose learns from his mistakes... and that we don't all die before the trio is done in 34 years.
Final Grade: 51
Vocals/Lyrics: 12
Music: 10
Production: so hard.... do i fail for the overuse of such or pass for the fact that some parts were good? ummm.... 9
Creativity: 11
Value (Was it worth the listen?): 9, only because the new GNR album requires a listen
I feel terrible for not doing a post in forever (2 weeks), but I have a backorder list of ideas, but after watching what the "culture" idiots thought were the best music videos of 2008, I decided I needed to make my own list. I only agreed with them on 2 songs (I think)
10. Closer by Ne-Yo (from Year of the Gentleman [September])
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZUTh3OJjWjM
This video made the list mainly for the dancing.... it lacks everything else, but the pop moves mixed with the urban style behind the hypnotic lyrics make the video, plus the cinematography is pretty good-almost as if the producers were trying to get Ne-Yo from every angle, and I do mean every.
9. Love Song by Sara Bareilles (from Little Voice [July])
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MR5xv3pt7KI
If you thought this song was about, well.... love, then your wrong. It's about how best this artist can say screw you to the music industry and get away with it. Not a love song, but a pop jingle that ended up selling over 2 mil copies. You may have missed that unless you watched the music video which features Sara trapped in a jukebox.... you'll get the idea.
8. Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa by The Vampire Weekend (from Vampire Weekend [January])
High school jock chases goth chick with the poofy hair at the beach party in preppy pantaloons. Most definitely the best slice of 80's I've seen all day... month, or year for that matter.
7. Squeeze Me by Kraak and Smaak (from Plastic People [April])
A little less unknown indie video. Flip books are the new treadmills. The idea would get old but it is used creatively up to the end. I kinda wish the music was a little more so.
6. Touch My Body by Mariah Carey (from E=MC2 [April])
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CzxR8OH-fDQ
This is exactly the kind of song that would never end up on any of my best lists, except that Mariah parodies every video she's ever done in this. The plot is Mariah has computer problems, calls the geek squad and then while the geek fixes her computer, she runs off leaving the guy to fantasize about Mariah. What follows can only be described as nerdcore.
5. Disturbia by Rihanna (from Good Girl Gone Bad [Album from 2007, single from June])
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a6zdhHLvT7k
Take Trent Reznor's creepy mad scientist lab oriented video for Closer (1994), swap out all meaning and symbolism for sexiness and don't forget that Rihanna is standing in for Reznor.
4. Time to Pretend by MGMT (from Oracular Spectacular [October '07/January '08, single from March])
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XVnRzEjpUmE
I'm glad we're pretending, or I may need to go to rehab. These are the people mother warned you about during the drug talk. I mean, we can look at it as an audacious stab at creativity, but lets admit it, its a beach party with some strong LSD. Jokes aside, this video won because when originally posted on MGMT's website, you could control the trip.... errrr... effects yourself from a color panel at the bottom of your screen.
3. Who's Gonna Save My Soul by Gnarls Barkley (from The Odd Couple [March])
http://pitchfork.tv/videos/gnarls-barkley-whos-gonna-save-my-soul
This video just really needs to be watched, and no skipping the beginning dialogue, or you'll wonder why the hell a heart is screaming soul music into a broccoli stalk on the middle of a diner table.
2. Love Lockdown by Kanye West (from 808's and Heartbreak [November])
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZVZX-W3vo9I
YES, I'm biased. I'll admit it. I love this side of Kanye, not permanently, but it's a good change. It shows that beneath the cocky Hip-Hop star there is some emotion. The video fits perfectly with the song, lyrics, and music. There is the harmony of the elegant camera action with the rawness of the shot. The contrast between Kanye's typical futuristic motifs and the "warriors". There are fantasy elements contrasted against the stark reality of his emotions. Evidence, around 2:35, when Kanye is sitting with the primitive native beside him, does it not occur to you that the native represents Kanye's raw and primitive emotion? It just works. Get off my case.
1. Pork and Beans by Weezer (from Weezer AKA The Red Album [June])
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=muP9eH2p2PI
Props to a video that at my last count, included references to 26 of the past 3 years' weirdest and most watched youtube videos of the last three years. It's unique, and if you have been online at all the last couple of years, I'm sure it will maintain your interest.
Runner Ups
--House of Cards by Radiohead (from In Rainbows [Album from 2007/Single from May])
To be really honest, this video is downright boring, but instead of using traditional film technics, the video was used with lidar technology, which uses a laser to detect the properties of the object it hits. This gives the video its grainy and gridlike feel. Not only did they use the new technology, but they also eccentuated the video by putting sheets of acrylic glass in front of the lasers to distort the image (hence the "blowing away" effect). How they did it video here.
--Chasing Pavements by Adele (from 19 [January])
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qz7vGW2_5c0
This one just told a great story in a creative way. It recounts a car crash, with the two victims on the ground, but in the chorus, the couple's relationship is recounted on the pavement on which they lay.
Footnote/Rant
If you didn't notice, I was only able to supply three of the videos on my list of 12. This is due to the fact that the bullies have disabled embedding on youtube to all their music. So take notice of the three artists that are independent or on an indie label.
10. Closer by Ne-Yo (from Year of the Gentleman [September])
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZUTh3OJjWjM
This video made the list mainly for the dancing.... it lacks everything else, but the pop moves mixed with the urban style behind the hypnotic lyrics make the video, plus the cinematography is pretty good-almost as if the producers were trying to get Ne-Yo from every angle, and I do mean every.
9. Love Song by Sara Bareilles (from Little Voice [July])
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MR5xv3pt7KI
If you thought this song was about, well.... love, then your wrong. It's about how best this artist can say screw you to the music industry and get away with it. Not a love song, but a pop jingle that ended up selling over 2 mil copies. You may have missed that unless you watched the music video which features Sara trapped in a jukebox.... you'll get the idea.
8. Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa by The Vampire Weekend (from Vampire Weekend [January])
High school jock chases goth chick with the poofy hair at the beach party in preppy pantaloons. Most definitely the best slice of 80's I've seen all day... month, or year for that matter.
7. Squeeze Me by Kraak and Smaak (from Plastic People [April])
A little less unknown indie video. Flip books are the new treadmills. The idea would get old but it is used creatively up to the end. I kinda wish the music was a little more so.
6. Touch My Body by Mariah Carey (from E=MC2 [April])
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CzxR8OH-fDQ
This is exactly the kind of song that would never end up on any of my best lists, except that Mariah parodies every video she's ever done in this. The plot is Mariah has computer problems, calls the geek squad and then while the geek fixes her computer, she runs off leaving the guy to fantasize about Mariah. What follows can only be described as nerdcore.
5. Disturbia by Rihanna (from Good Girl Gone Bad [Album from 2007, single from June])
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a6zdhHLvT7k
Take Trent Reznor's creepy mad scientist lab oriented video for Closer (1994), swap out all meaning and symbolism for sexiness and don't forget that Rihanna is standing in for Reznor.
4. Time to Pretend by MGMT (from Oracular Spectacular [October '07/January '08, single from March])
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XVnRzEjpUmE
I'm glad we're pretending, or I may need to go to rehab. These are the people mother warned you about during the drug talk. I mean, we can look at it as an audacious stab at creativity, but lets admit it, its a beach party with some strong LSD. Jokes aside, this video won because when originally posted on MGMT's website, you could control the trip.... errrr... effects yourself from a color panel at the bottom of your screen.
3. Who's Gonna Save My Soul by Gnarls Barkley (from The Odd Couple [March])
http://pitchfork.tv/videos/gnarls-barkley-whos-gonna-save-my-soul
This video just really needs to be watched, and no skipping the beginning dialogue, or you'll wonder why the hell a heart is screaming soul music into a broccoli stalk on the middle of a diner table.
2. Love Lockdown by Kanye West (from 808's and Heartbreak [November])
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZVZX-W3vo9I
YES, I'm biased. I'll admit it. I love this side of Kanye, not permanently, but it's a good change. It shows that beneath the cocky Hip-Hop star there is some emotion. The video fits perfectly with the song, lyrics, and music. There is the harmony of the elegant camera action with the rawness of the shot. The contrast between Kanye's typical futuristic motifs and the "warriors". There are fantasy elements contrasted against the stark reality of his emotions. Evidence, around 2:35, when Kanye is sitting with the primitive native beside him, does it not occur to you that the native represents Kanye's raw and primitive emotion? It just works. Get off my case.
1. Pork and Beans by Weezer (from Weezer AKA The Red Album [June])
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=muP9eH2p2PI
Props to a video that at my last count, included references to 26 of the past 3 years' weirdest and most watched youtube videos of the last three years. It's unique, and if you have been online at all the last couple of years, I'm sure it will maintain your interest.
Runner Ups
--House of Cards by Radiohead (from In Rainbows [Album from 2007/Single from May])
To be really honest, this video is downright boring, but instead of using traditional film technics, the video was used with lidar technology, which uses a laser to detect the properties of the object it hits. This gives the video its grainy and gridlike feel. Not only did they use the new technology, but they also eccentuated the video by putting sheets of acrylic glass in front of the lasers to distort the image (hence the "blowing away" effect). How they did it video here.
--Chasing Pavements by Adele (from 19 [January])
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qz7vGW2_5c0
This one just told a great story in a creative way. It recounts a car crash, with the two victims on the ground, but in the chorus, the couple's relationship is recounted on the pavement on which they lay.
Footnote/Rant
If you didn't notice, I was only able to supply three of the videos on my list of 12. This is due to the fact that the bullies have disabled embedding on youtube to all their music. So take notice of the three artists that are independent or on an indie label.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
