Jeff the Brotherhood “Bummer”

Reminiscent of old home videos, Jeff the Brotherhood shot their video for “Bummer” while in Hawaii. All I can say is, they sure look like they had some great fun. Drinking coconut water, surfing, fishing, skateboarding. The song is the perfect soundtrack to the video. It seems more like two friends on a lacksadaisical adventure than anything else. The song is laidback, too. The only bummer here is that their trip must have come to an end.

Dare Dukes Band “Meet You at the Bus”

Puppy love. That’s what we got going on here. Sitting next to that pretty girl. Holding her hand. Teasing one another. A funtastic bicycle ride. “Two lovely creatures pressed against the plexiglass”. If we ever get to meet one, just one, person who can share a day like this with us, we should all consider ourselves lucky.

Nada Surf “When I Was Young”

I heard this song from Nada Surf a while back. I really do like it. The video shows more of a youthful puppy love budding romance. All lost by being stuck on a subway train that takes you away from the girl. This young man makes the most of it, by running the sidewalks of the city with a big ole’ grin on his face. This is the kind of self discovery I’m thristing for right now. It’s a touching song with an interesting visual aid here in the adventures of a misfit prep school adolescent.

iAm1 “Watching”

This is an interesting video. The animation here is brilliant covering different styles. The song is good too. iAm1‘s vocals give a personal, intimate feel tot he track. And the animation of a dancing man drawn in outline gives the sense of a hollow feeling to the track. Not in terms of lacking anything inside, but more about how sometimes we can just feel empty. But, for every down there must be an up. Like when the rocket takes off. You’ll see.

Unicycle Loves You “Piranha”

I don’t know what it feels like to have a piranha, or entire school of piranha attack you. But this video for “Piranha” by Unicycle Loves You might just be the visual equivalent. A lot of filmschool style, let’s just point a camera and see what happens antics going on here. But then again, I don’t think the song itself is really about anything. No message here, just jamming away. Hope you all had a good week. Good luck on your weekends.

Secret Original “Arson”

Independent hip hop artist Secret Original gives us his first video for a track called “Arson”. It’s a video fitting of the song. It gives us shots of young adults as I think most people imagine them not to be as they should, but as they are. There is a party mentality that’s not so much about having a good time as just getting fucked up. I guess hip hop in general has taken that path which is unfortunate. But the question is does this song and video breath life imitating art, or art imitating life?

Miley Cyrus “You’re Gonna Make Me Lonesome When You Go”

Funny how young people are so eager to grow up. I have to admit, because of her Disney beginnings, and the fact that she was a teenager when she started performing, but I’ve never thought much about Miley Cyrus. Particularly when she got a bit of emancipation and more control over her music. She became your typical party-going teen. Just out to have fun, and she was wealthy enough to do it. But I have to say, there is something about this song that is appealing. Cyrus doesn’t sound like her normal self. She sounds older, singing about a more serious topic. But the video is just her singing with musical accompaniment. There’s nothing flashy. It’s just down to earth, a place I thought she had forgotten. But maybe singing about heartbreak, or actually going through it, have a way of refocusing your life.

Cloud Nothings “No Future/No Past”

Co-produced by Urban Outfitters is the video for Cloud Nothings‘ “No Future/No Past”. You follow a middle aged man as he hovers on his back, face up nonetheless, out of his house and on his way. It’s an interesting watch. Particularly when it seems like the terrified look on the man’s face is because he is looking right at you. I have a feeling it’s a philosophical work. But don’t quote me on that.

Town Hall “The Middle”

Whenever someone does a cover it’s an awkward spot to be in. You have to be able to keep enough of the original piece’s integrity while adding something to it so that the song becomes a bit your own. Town Hall‘s take on Jimmy Eat World‘s “The Middle” seems more like the song should be. It’s a song about putting your life together. It takes some time, but everything will be all right. So this down to Earth number gets it down with more of a serious tone as a friend talking to you personally rather than someone trying to get you to come around in the middle of a loud party. And the chance to see the band performing and the facial movements as the duet sing show how emotionally packed this song really is.

And the Giraffe “Underground Love”

And the Giraffe‘s vidoe for “Underground Love” follows the journey of a box with a mysterious gift inside. Packaged, then left on a subway train, the package makes its way from person to person. Ultimately, it arrives at the feet of a young woman, who brings it back to the guy who wrapped it in the first place. He unwraps it, hands it back to her, and they embrace. Do we ever find out what is hidden in the box? I’m not telling.

Me “Naked”

From Melbourne, Australia we get ME. The band is looking to release their debut single “Naked” on March 5th this year. We get a taste of it from their video. Musically, they remind me of Muse with the movements of their song. Video-wise, we get the band in black and white all dressed up. Some gritty effects add some character, but we can’t look past the politically infused clips that are cut in. There is a message there somewhere between the lyrics, and shots of people being pushed back with fire hoses.

Joe Cool “I Wanna Sell Drugs”

Another black and white video. The song is about Joe Cool, who wants nothing more than to make money. But it’s hard to do that, so he’s thinking about selling drugs. There’s a metaphor there with the gun that is pointed at Joe’s head throughout the video. “I’m not a junky or a thug/I wanna do what I love/ makes me wanna sell drugs”. The realism of having a dream and struggling to achieve it, so you find yourself making bad decisions. Striking is the way that Joe writes on a pad, rips up the page, and rolls it into a joint.

Santigold “Big Mouth”

Honestly, I pretty much love everything Santigold does. After her killer flow on Major Lazer‘s “Hold the Line” I’ve been impressed by what she brings. On her track “Big Mouth”
she takes a stance against trash-talkers. The music is simple with a carnival beat. And though the video looks hokey, it’s worth the time. The ridiculousness of the animation and the fun loving feel of the video should work to lessen the meaning of the song. But honestly, when you’re as badass as Santigold I wouldn’t be surprised to know that this is the shit that goes on in her head when she’s about to hit the “on” button.

Jessie Baylin “Hurry Hurry”

It’s become rather cliche the way that movie stars want to be directors. But fortunately for us, there are music videos that need to be directed. This video for Jessie Baylin‘s “Hurry Hurry” was directed by Scarlett Johansson. The video has offset colors and was done in one take on The Manhatten Bridge. The video features Jessie herself strolling around “me”, as the perspective, on the bridge with a glow emanating from her from time to time. Perhaps it’s meant be a blur because Jessie, or “I”, are hurrying so fast. The old, if you moved fast enough time would seem to stand still theory. Only, time’s not so much standing as slowing. Still, gotta love someone who wants to try new things. And there certainly isn’t anything terrible about this video. Think of it as a film school project with a bigger budget. Or at least a famous director.

K’naan featuring Nas “Nothing to Lose”

If I had a “boy”, K’naan would be that boy. And I gotta admit, hearing that he’s got Nas on a track makes my eye
twinkle with some pride. The video for “Nothing to Lose” doesn’t have much to it. Some street views overlayed with the lyrics rolling in different ways, there’s not all that much to appreciate. But at the very least you won’t have to wonder what anyone is saying.

Doomtree “Bangarang”

Speaking of lyrics on the screen, Doomtree bring us a karaoke party with their video for “Bangarang”. This could be any of us, except me because I have a much cleaner look, getting together with our friends to
have a karaoke party. There’s also this local public access tv thing going on with the effects being the members in front of a green screen with some rather National Geographic backdrops. Still, the song is pretty tight. And if you’re not gonna go crazy with a vid, at least let the talent show off their skills.

Belleruche “Stormbird”

Belleruche have a new LP “Rollerchain” coming out this year. Their first single “Stormbird” will be released in March. The video for it is out now. It reminds me of the early music videos when MTV first launched. Kathrin deBoer appears in front of the camera singing and dancing. The dancing seems to say, “I don’t know what I’m really doing, just look how cool I am in front of the smoke.” The video does feature some interesting shots of fencers going at it, and some footage of a match blown out played in reverse. There’s also a few shots of water and a feather, and plenty of more smoke.

The Asteroids Galaxy Tour “Heart Attack”

The new video from The Asteroids Galaxy Tour is a throwback to the psychadelic videos. Then it’s modern with flashy dancing in front of a room of mirrors. And back and forth. It’s a bit bi-polar with it’s modern and retro feels. Basically, it’s “Groove is in the Heart” mixed with Britney Spears. The songs fun, so’s the video. “Hey, are you ready?”

Loverush UK featuring Bryan Adams “Tonight in Babylon”

I had no idea that Bryan Adams was still involved with music. I’m sure some of the readers here don’t know who he is. Two interesting facts about his work with Loverush UK. One, he directed the video for “Tonight in Babylon”. Two, he got Roman Polanski’s daughter to appear in it. A musician directing a director’s daughter. The video features some partying, and not to say that the track isn’t a party track, but it’s Bryan Adams that gives the song a serious feel. The way he sings you feel he’s more sad than ready to party. And his antics on stage are far too serious. Turn the sound off and you’d assume he’s belting out another love ballad rather than rocking the disco. Still, the song’s good and the video is shot well. Give the band and Adams their due.

Death Cab for Cutie “Underneath the Sycamore”

Walter Robot directed Death Cab‘s 2009 video for “Grapevine Fires”. They’re back to have a crack at “Underneath the Sycamore”. The animated video follows a film noir themed private eye who-dunnit. It’s quite impressive.

Trae The Truth featuring MDMA, Lupe Fiasco, Big Boi, Wale, and Wiz Khalifa “I’m On”

Trae The Truth‘s “I’m On” isn’t flashy even with it’s all-star cast. It’s still a great song. The video stays true to form. No dancing girls, clubs, or million dollar mansions. It appears to feature each artist on the streets where they come from. From Chicago to Philly, down to Atlanta and back up to D.C. It’s nice to have a look at these rappers as who they are rather than the personas we see them as.