Video Rewind: 03.09.2012

Posted on 03.09.2012 by AdamGrabowski

Here We Go Magic “Make Up Your Mind”

From their upcoming album A Different Ship due out on May 8th, Here We Go Magic release the video for their single “Make Up Your Mind”. What it has to do with making up one’s mind, I’ll never know. But lead singer Luke Temple gets to play some sort of leather wearing mystic with the ability to take control of women’s bodies. Needless to say, there’s obviously some sort of sexual connotation here. Still, there’s something to Temple’s odd performance that does make this video standout.

Nite Jewel “One Second of Love”

Due out this month through Secretly Canadian is Nite Jewel‘s One Second of Love. The video for the title track is out already, and is quite the show. What begins as a group of women seemingly preparing themselves for some male strippers, turns into anything but. Is there some type of dark magic at work here? Not particularly. Just a really strange get together.

Bjork “Hollow”

Bjork is one of those artists that I swear I haven’t heard from in years, but continues to come out and be relavant of some sort. Her new video for the track “Hollow” was made by Drew Berry who is a biomedical animator. Makes sense when you learn “Hollow” is off of her Biophilia project. The video literally looks at “microscopic and molecular landscapes inside Bjork’s body.” I kid you not. What you see comes from inside Bjork herself. There is no limit to the weirdness she will go to. And yet, it’s quite an interesting end product.

Steve Aoki ft. Lovefoxxx “Heartbreaker”

It’s a bit like the 80′s but in the modern times. Get your skates out. In this video for Steve Aoki‘s “Heartbreaker” featuring Lovefoxx we get a taste of the rollerink scene. You get the rink’s resident heartbreaker skating around just teasing the boys. This is why, guys, you don’t go running after the girl. You may not actually explode, but you’ll feel like you have.

Aleon Craft “Look Twice”

Off his 2011 release Mothership Decatur, Aleon Craft shares with us the video for “Look Twice”. The video features B-Boy Lilou, who is an “elite b-boy” of the Pockemon Crew. The video follows Lilou as he does his b-boyestness around New York City. On the streets, over a cop car, down into the subway, on the train, and back up top. It’s always fun for me to watch people who can dance like that and make it look easy. It helps that the track is good, too. So, enjoy the b-boy.
MP3: Aleon Craft “Look Twice”

Music in Marketing: Celldweller “ShutEmDown”

Posted on 03.07.2012 by Adam Morgan

Part of being in marketing and advertising is attempting to have a pulse on the nation. Very rarely are advertisers ahead of the curve when it comes to music. If you look at dubstep, it has been blowing up for almost two full years now but only recently has it permeated television advertising. Late last year, dubstep became the official soundtrack for Southern Comfort. Now it is finding its way into other places, like the new Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance trailer. The trailer utilizes “ShutEmDown” from Detroit producer, Celldweller. The track’s aggressive sound makes it perfect for a comic book, action movie like Ghost Rider. Although the track is not opening the floodgates for dubstep as that glass ceiling has already been broken, I am sure it is kicking off a year where dubstep will be fairly pervasive on television advertising.

#TuesdayTop10: “Super” Tuesday Songs

Posted on 03.06.2012 by Adam Morgan

I believe this will be my last politically themed #TuesdayTop10 of the year; one can only be snarky about Mitt Romney for so long. With the listlessness of the Republican party right now, seemingly marching into inevitability, “Super Tuesday” has never seemed so un-super. Unless the race gets really interesting over the next few weeks or months, my guess is we will see Mitt Romney emerge from the convention as the GOP nominee for President.

10. Bad Plus “Super America”
Since “America, Fuck Yeah!” did not have the word “super” in its title, the next best selection was “Super America.” Although “Super America” is slightly less fun considering it an instrumental track from Minnesota jazz trio The Bad Plus, but the sentiment remains the same.
MP3: Bad Plus “Super America”

09. The Flaming Lips “Waitin’ For a Superman”
I thought that the Flaming Lips’ “Waitin’ For a Superman” was a particularly poignant choice for the countdown. For one, the phrase “Waiting for Superman” has become synonymous with the debate over education since the 2010 documentary of the same name. Secondly, the Republican party is still clearly waiting for their superman. There was a resurgence in talks of maybe Jeb Bush gaining the nomination if the party is not more taken with Mitt Romney by convention time. That is how desperate the party is for a “superman.”
MP3: The Flaming Lips “Waitin’ For a Superman”

08. Lupe Fiasco “Superstar”
In Lupe Fiasco’s “Superstar,” Matthew Santos sings “If you are what you say you are, a superstar/Then have no fear, the crowd is here/And the lights are on/And they wanna show.” Superstars are supposed to draw a crowd and excite them. Mitt Romney has the crowd (although some half empty Detroit area stadiums last week said differently) but he just does not get them excited. They want the show but always seem to leave sadly disappointed.
MP3: Lupe Fiasco “Superstar”

07. Hot Rod Circuit “Supersad”
It is hard to write little political barbs when the word that must be in common in all the song titles is “super.” “Super” is generally paired with positive words but leave it to defunct Connecticut emo band Hot Rod Circuit to change that. “Supersad” seems like the perfect anthem for Super Tuesday. Super Tuesday is generally the day when one candidate separates himself from his opponents and truly begins to be embraced by his party but there are no signs of Mitt Romney feeling that warm embrace despite being almost assured the nomination. Instead if his wins on Super Tuesday are met with a lukewarm reaction from the party’s base then it will only heighten talks of a brokered convention making Super Tuesday feel super sad for the GOP.
MP3: Hot Rod Circuit “Super Sad”

06. Say Hi To Your Mom “Super”
When I listen to this song today, I like to pretend that Eric Elbogen, aka Say Hi To Your Mom is singing it directly to Mitt Romney. The track drips in sarcasm as Elbogen sings “You’re super/you really are/just like your tee-ball trophy says you’ve come so far” and perhaps even better “you take a bow/the crowds all cheer/it took a lot of super stuff to get you here.”
MP3: Say Hi To Your Mom “Super”

05. Our Lady Peace “Superman’s Dead”
Our Lady Peace’s “Superman’s Dead” seemed like an appropriate selection today as people think about what super Tuesday actually means. Last election cycle it was when Obama gained momentum and garnered the enthusiasm he needed to become the first black president. At this point, no candidates for the Republicans and not even Obama himself are garnering much enthusiasm. Is the political “superman” dead? Has the country become too jaded to be taken with a candidate? Only time will tell but it seems we have for at least this election cycle.
MP3: Our Lady Peace “Superman’s Dead”

04. Nicki Minaj “Super Bass”
Two great occurrences happened in May 2011. On May 13th, Nicki Minaj released her track “Super Bass.” Just two days early on May 11th, former Speaker of the House of Representatives Newt Gingrich formally announced that he would seek the Republican Party Presidential nomination. We know Nicki Minaj’s track went on to be one of the biggest singles of the year. As far as Newt Gingrich goes, we do not definitively know his fate but most can see the writing on the wall barring a huge super Tuesday comeback.
MP3: Nicki Minaj “Super Bass”

03. R.E.M. “Superman”
R.E.M. frontman Michael Stipe has been an outspoken political activist since the mid-80s. He was a critic of the both Bush administrations and a supporter of president Obama. He has kept a pretty low profile since the disbandment of R.E.M. but one can guess his opinions on the current cast of the Republican primaries.
MP3: R.E.M. “Superman”

02. David Bowie “Scary Monsters (and Super Creeps)”
Regardless of your political affiliation, I think everyone can agree this republican race has had some super creeps in it. Between Newt Gingrich’s extra-marital affairs and the accusations against Herman Cain, there have been and still are some less than savory candidates. I’m sure the British-born David Bowie could not careless, although if rumors are true that he lives in Manhattan maybe he could.
MP3: David Bowie “Scary Monsters (and Super Creeps)”

01. The Clash “Lost in the Supermarket”
The Clash‘s ode to lost identity, “Lost in the Supermarket” seems like an obvious choice when choosing “super” songs. Especially regarding what I talked about in the open, “Lost in the Supermarket” is all about sleepwalking through life just as the republicans seem to be sleepwalking towards the convention. I do not see the race being very exciting from Super Tuesday forward. It will almost certainly not be as exciting as listening to “Lost in the Supermarket” is.
MP3: The Clash “Lost in the Supermarket”

Video Rewind 03.02.2012

Posted on 03.02.2012 by AdamGrabowski

Bon Iver “Towers”

As Bon Iver gears up for a new tour, he releases the video for “Towers” off Bon Iver, Bon Iver. At first, I didn’t know what to make of him. I have to say that once in a while I get his music. Other times, it doesn’t do much for me. It seems that’s the divide that people have. In this video for “Towers”, shot in Washington state, we get some very beautiful visuals. I’m not sure what to make of the lyrics or their correlation to the scenes shot. But it is beautiful to see the towers in all their forms: drawn, scale models, and the large ones at the end. And there is something to be said about the way the video ends. I keep coming back to it.

Spose “Pop Song”

People think of Maine, and rappers don’t come to mind. But Spose is out to change that. His third album The Audacity! comes out April 17th. But you can check out the video for “Pop Song” from his last album “Happy Medium” now. In it, Spose tells us of the often told tale of getting signed to a record deal and then showing up to record and being told what kind of record you’re going to make. The story of the song is that the record lable wants to turn Spose into just another pop act. Literally. He goes through some interesting costume changes.

Ane Brun ft. Jose Gonzalez “Worship”

Ane Brun‘s video for “Worship” plays out like some sort of macabre circus sideshow. A man strapped to a bed, being fed something that makes him hallucinate. It creates for some interesting scenes that include a flying whale that consumes him whole. Certainly, the video itself is a work of art that makes you think. The fact that it accompanies this song makes it more the so. “Worship” appears on the new album “It All Starts With One” that is being released May 1st.

Mouse on Mars “Polaroyced”

With the release of their first album in six years “Parastrophics”, we see the return of Mouse on Mars. Their new video for the track “Polaroyced” was inspired by Gold Inferno. Who is that? He’s an American jumpstyle dancer. Needless to say, they could not track down the infamous masked man. So, instead they found a replacement and gave it a go. Not entirely sure how I feel about this video, but I figured it was worth a look.

DJ Muggs ft. Dizzee Rascal “Snap Ya Neck Back”

Cypress Hill fans should know producer DJ Muggs. He’s just signed with Ultra Records to record his solo album “Bass For Your Face”. The first single “Snap Ya Neck Back” features British sensation Dizzee Rascal in a dub-hop banger. Nice to see Dizzee rocking an Oakland Raiders jacket; I had no idea he was an NFL fan. There’s a lot of Dizzee Rascal in the video, rapping for us the way he knows how. But they do go to town on a car. It’s like a hip hop show tailored for the Discovery Network. You know the people at Myth Busters enjoy wrecking stuff. This kinda resembles that.

#TuesdayTop10: Michigan Songs

Posted on 02.28.2012 by Adam Morgan

Although Arizona is having their primary today, the big story of the day is going to be how Mitt Romney fairs in his “home” state of Michigan. While it has been a foregone conclusion that Romney would win the state, in recent weeks Rick Santorum has been surging. So in order to get pumped for returns tonight, lets celebrate the Great Lake State.

10. The Milk Carton Kids “Michigan”
Eagle Rock, California acoustic duo, The Milk Carton Kids sing “Michigan/what am I supposed to do with you?” which seems like a fitting refrain for Mitt Romney. Many hypothesize that a loss in the state could put the Republican party in an odd place, perhaps even leading to a brokered convention.
MP3: The Milk Carton Kids “Michigan”

09. Willie The Kid featuring Guilty Simpson “Yes! Michigan”
With a remarkably similar title to another song on our countdown (spoiler alert: it’s the number one song), Willie The Kid‘s “Yes! Michigan” is not the joyous Michigan anthem that the title suggests.
MP3: Willie The Kid featuring Guilty Simpson “Yes! Michigan”

08. Ted Nugent “Motor City Madhouse”
Everyone pretty much knew that there was no way to have a countdown about Michigan and not include the Motor City Madman, right? Although Nugent is probably better known as a reality show star than a musician at this point, “Motor City Madhouse” still is an unofficial Detroit anthem.
MP3: Ted Nugent “Motor City Madhouse”

07. Catch 22 “Motown Cinderella”
Detroit seems to be battle ground for Romney vs Santorum but, maybe just like Motown is coming back, Gingrich will play Cinderella and pull off an upset? The chances are slim but great enough for a weak tie in to Catch 22‘s “Motown Cinderella.”
MP3: Catch 22 “Motown Cinderella”

06. The Gay Blades “Why Winter in Detroit?”
Primaries go right up until June, so why do state with significant snowfall insist on having primaries in the winter months? Detroit saw a decent amount of the white stuff this past weekend, although today is supposed to be a balmy 45. I only assume this is what the Gay Blades were thinking when they wrote “Why Winter in Detroit?”
MP3: The Gay Blades “Why Winter in Detroit?”

05. Superchunk “Detroit Has a Skyline”
In a career that is entering its third decade, I would venture to say “Detroit Has a Skyline” is one of the top 5 best Superchunk songs. Mac McCaughan’s lyrics of a crush that never panned out combines with his anguished vocals created the perfect anthem for sad teenage boys.
MP3: Superchunk “Detroit Has a Skyline (Live Acoustic Version)”

04. Kiss “Detroit Rock City”
Much like everyone knew the Nug would be on this countdown, everyone knew Kiss’ “Detroit Rock City” would be here. The song is so great that a mediocre teen comedy was made about it in the 90s. That is pretty great.

03. Chad Kush “Michigan”
Detroit rapper, Chad Kush attempts to summarize the existence of the average Detroit resident in “Michigan.” With lines like “It’s Detroit/everybody seems unemployed,” he seems to do a more than adequate job.
MP3: Chad Kush “Michigan”

02. The Anniversary “D In Detroit”
The Anniversary wrote the perfect presidential song with “D In Detroit.” The D (democrats) have owned Detroit (and Michigan) for since the presidential elections of 1992. Obama certainly hopes to keep that going in 2012.
MP3: The Anniversary “D In Detroit”

01. Sufjan Stevens “Say Yes! To Michigan!”
The often economically hurting Michigan got a big boost when native son and indie rock darling, Sujan Stevens released his album Michigan in 2003. Taken from an old state tourism board slogan, “Say Yes! To Michigan!” is what candidates have been doing all week with many of them doing the majority of the campaigning in the state. Who Michigan will say yes to, we’ll have to wait and see until tonight.
MP3: Sufjan Stevens “Say Yes! To Michigan!”

Video Rewind: 02.23.2012

Posted on 02.24.2012 by AdamGrabowski

YONAS “Fall Back”

YONAS releases the new video for his single “Fall Back”. It’s a coming of age song, or at least a reset button of sorts. If I had to guess, YONAS has had some difficulties. But he’s letting everyone know he’s still in the game. We all need people “banking on” us, so we all need to “fight through”. Big ups to YONAS for this inspirational track and a vid of him out in the real world. He’s not gone. He’s here. And he loves us all.

DALEY ft. Marsha Ambrosius “Alone Together”

From DALEY’s debut mixtape Those Who Wait we get a video for the track “Alone Together” featuring Marsha Ambrosius. Wow, the subject matter of this song hits close to home. Maybe that’s why this video gets in the rewind this week. Or maybe it’s more to do with the interesting visuals, and that hair. Just look at it defying gravity. Similar to how he’s denying that she-devil that tore through his heart. Anyways, he’s not bitter. He’s quite practical. And so are the painted models. Sort of reminds me of a film school project, or in better quality. You can download the mixtape “Those Who Wait” at www.daley.tv.

Cypress Hill and Rusko “Roll It, Light It”

Cypress Hill collaborate with Rusko for the five track EP Cypress X Rusko. As Sen Dog says, “I think dubstep is a natural progression of hip-hop,” so it apparently goes. Not sure what pure Cypress Hill fan’s will think. It’s different from there previous work. But it does have a ring to it. And the video features some sharp rhyming skills on a train that doesn’t make it over the bridge. That’s a real bridge, and not a bridge in the song.

Lazerbeak “Lift Every Voice”

Lazerbeak of Doomtree fame is releasing an instrumental disc entitled Lava Bangers. The first single “Lift Every Voice” has an interesting video. Often, particularly when listening to instrumentals I envision animations I wish I could draw that would tell a story that coincides with the song. An interesting mix of animation and colors makes this an eye-catching vid. THough, if you suffer from seizures, beware.

Yuna “Live Your Life”

It’s her U.S. debut, and Yuna is lucky enough to have released this track with some production of the always popular Pharrell Williams, but worked with Chris Braide who has done work for Lana Del Rey, Sia, and Theophilus London for the album. The self-titled album will be out in April. It’s an interesting song. Musically its a bit upbeat, but lyrically, or maybe more vocally, it’s downbeat. We follow Yuna as she walks outside and describes her search for something amazing. Again, maybe this one hits too close to home. But there’s something about her that just screams “Keep an eye on me!” How can you not respect that. It’s called growth. The difference between being buried and planted.

#TuesdayTop10: Basketball songs

Posted on 02.21.2012 by Adam Morgan

There is a lot of good stuff going on this weekend. Oddly enough the NBA All-Star game is pinning itself up against the Oscars. I have to admit I am more excited about the Oscars but since the academy has further distanced themselves from music this year, the NBA All-Star game seems to be the more compelling subject matter for the #TuesdayTop10. So without further ado, we look at our picks for the best basketball songs.

10. Adrian Grey “Basketball”
Hailing from Kentucky, you can bet that Adrian Grey is a Wildcat fan. He created this beat mostly made up of noises commonly heard at basketball games. The only thing that could make it better is some actual words.

09. John Wesley Coleman “Oh, Basketball”
There are not that many rock songs written about basketball surprisingly. One of the better ones is from Austin proto punk John Wesley Coleman. “Oh, Basketball” is a fuzzed out track that most just includes the words “oh” and “basketball” but its still a pretty solid track.
MP3: John Wesley Coleman “Oh, Basketball”

08. Lil Bow Wow featuring Jermaine Dupri, Fabolous & Fundisha “Basketball”
Who could forget the Hollywood classic Like Mike? It is like Air Bud but with people which makes it even better. And who could forget the soundtrack featuring Bow Wow when he still had “lil” in his monicker.

07. B.A. Johnston “Love=NBA Jam”
Goofy Canadian singer/songwriter B.A. Johnston wrote a song that summarized pretty much what everyone from their mid-30 to late-teens believe which is “Love-NBA Jam.”
MP3: B.A. Johnston “Love=NBA Jam”

06. Barry White & Chris Rock “Basketball Jones”
Barry White & Chris Rock‘s collaboration was one of the hidden gems on the Space Jam Soundtrack. Their cover of Ceech & Chong’s 1974 “Basketball Jones” got lost between the cracks, but remains the most basketball oriented song on the soundtrack.
MP3: Barry White & Chris Rock “Basketball Jones”

05. Talib Kweli “Drugs, Basketball, & Rap”
Most songs on the list celebrate basketball, but “Drugs, Basketball, & Rap” is a little different. The ever socially conscious Talib Kweli uses the track to explain that there are more ways to escape poverty than sports, music, or crime.
MP3: Talib Kweli “Drugs, Basketball, & Rap”

04. Rhymefest “Bang the Ball”
Before he was Chicago’s 20th ward alderman, Rhymefest was quite the rapper. Although he was generally a socially conscious rapper, he wrote “Bang the Ball,” an unapologetic basketball anthem.
MP3: Rhymefest “Bang the Ball”

03. G. Love & Special Sauce “Shooting Hoops”
Hailing from one of the great basketball cities in the country, Philadelphia’s G. Love & Special Sauce have written several hoops-leaning tracks. The most memorable of these tracks is “Shooting Hoops” from their 1994 self-titled album.
MP3: G. Love & Special Sauce “Shooting Hoops”

02. Skee-Lo “I Wish”
Skee-Lo‘s debut single and biggest hit, “I Wish” is basketball song wrapped up in a classic tale of wishing you were someone else to win the heart of a girl. While it may not be a “basketball” song per se, there is no mistaking its hoop tilt when you look at it basketball court featuring front cover.
MP3: Skee-Lo “I Wish”

01. Kurtis Blow “Basketball”
In 1984, the NBA had an All Star lineup that included Isiah Thomas, Larry Bird, Julius Erving, Robert Parish, Magic Johnson, George Gervin, and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. Talk about a loaded team? Seems like 1984 was a great year for Kurtis Blow to release his single “Basketball.” The godfather of hip hop’s track remains hip hop’s ultimate ode to the game.
MP3: Kurtis Blow “Basketball”

Video Rewind 02.17.2012

Posted on 02.17.2012 by AdamGrabowski

It’s always fun when there’s a big holiday that was just celebrated in the past week. Of course I’m talking about February 15th and Singles Awareness Day. Sigh…fine, it was Valentine’s Day as well. No matter how you spent it, alone, just meeting that special someone, spending a romantic evening with that someone who’s been around for years and got it right, or perhaps just spending it with that someone who’s been around for years and doesn’t try any more (if they ever did), let’s sit back and enjoy this weeks Video Rewind.

Damien Fairchild “Valerie”

For all the Girls, the debut record by Damien Fairchild (troubadour-barber Drew Danburry’s alternate persona). The first video from the album is “Valerie.” The song plays out like my adolescence. The video, how I’d like my adolescence to be. You never find out if the boy gets a kiss, or takes one to the kisser. I don’t think most socials for the kids go down like this anymore. I have a feeling there’s more liquor and they’re not all pining for that kiss. And who drinks out of juice boxes anymore? I would. But it would depreciate my already low cool factor.

Sleeper Agent “Get Burned”

Sleeper Agent debuted their brand new video for “Get Burned” on MTV. It’s a typical American tea party. One girl, four guys. A pastry monster. A tye-dyed doll. I’m not sure what’s exactly happening here. At times it seems fun. At other times I think it’s some kind of psychological horror story. And in between, that creamy center to this Oreo cookie, is the band rocking out. I think they may even take a page out of Willow Smith’s “Whip My Hair”.

Curtiss King “Dues.Paid”

I’m not really sure what about the video for “Dues.Paid.” I just know that it does. You get Curtiss King sitting on a bench. An empty outdoor basketball court behind him. There are plenty of places in CT that look just like this. In the summer at least. I think it might be the way I perceive hanging with Curtiss King, just the two of us, out at the court would be one of the more memorable moments of my life. Probably not his. So, in lieu I’ll take this video.

Crooked Fingers “Our New Favorite”

Learning how to walk. Losing teeth. Trying to catch an airplane in your hands. Taking baths with others. All these are part of the trials of growing up. The young girl in the video takes a solitary stroll through the local woods. How she finds her hidden treasure, I’ll never know. But what she does with the treasure I can only take for a metaphor as to how children can help put our lives back together.

DOSVEC “Not Afraid of Fireflies”

DOSVEC dropped his mashup “Not Afraid of Fireflies” earlier this week. Now, there’s a video to accompany his track. It’s interesting to watch what DOSVEC does with two videos. Mash them up, of course.

#TuesdayTop10: Valentine’s Day Songs

Posted on 02.14.2012 by Adam Morgan

Valentine’s Day’s modern association with love can be traced back to a poem by Geoffrey Chaucer, written in 1382. Since that time many famous Valentine’s Day poems have been written by poets such as Shakespeare, John Donne, and Edmund Spenser. In modern times, poems have given to Valentine’s Day songs. We countdown ten of our favorite Valentine’s Day songs.

10. Drew Danburry “Gary’s Valentine’s Day Song”
The closing track from Drew Danburry‘s 2010 album, Goodnight Gary, “Gary’s Valentine’s Day Song” is an odd little track that sounds like a combination between Modest Mouse and The Microphones.
MP3: Drew Danburry “Gary’s Valentine’s Day Song”

09. Chuck Ragan “Valentine”
Hot Water Music frontman, Chuck Ragan has released several solo acoustic albums. His latest album was last year’s Covering Ground which included the track “Valentine,” a male/female duet.

08. The Replacements “Valentine”
Pleased to Meet Me was the Replacements‘ first album without Bob Stinson and their only album recorded as a trio. Although not the most famous cut from the album, “Valentine” is the most Valentine’s Day related song on the album.
MP3: The Replacements “Valentine”

07. Bruce Springsteen “Valentine’s Day”
Tunnel of Love is one of Bruce Springsteen‘s least performed set of songs. It might be because most of the songs are abut Springsteen’s divorce from actress Julianne Phillips. The album’s closing track is “Valentine’s Day,” a heartbreaking mostly acoustic ballad that includes lines like “So hold me close honey, say you’re forever mine/And tell me you’ll be my lonely valentine.”

06. Paul McCartney “My Valentine”
If you missed the Grammys this past Sunday, you missed Paul McCartney busting out a sweet white tux to sing his new single, “My Valentine.” The track is on McCartney’s recently released album, Kisses on the Bottom.

05. Tom Waits “Blue Valentines”
Released in 1978, Tom Waits‘ Blue Valentine was his third Gold album in the UK. The album’s closing track, “Blue Valentines” is a slow, barren track that includes Waits’ finest guitar solo.
MP3: Tom Waits “Blue Valentines”

04. Justice “Valentine”
There really is nothing very lovey about Justice‘s instrumental “Valentine” but the track has always been one of my favorite non-single tracks from their debut album, Cross.
MP3: Justice “Valentine”

03. Bad Plus “My Funny Valentine”
I am not a big vocal jazz fan but if there is one vocal jazz standard I enjoy, it is “My Funny Valentine.” Written in 1937 by Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart for the musical, Babes in Arms. The track has been recorded by the likes of Chet Baker, Frank Sinatra and Miles Davis.
MP3: Bad Plus “My Funny Valentine”

02. Outkast “Happy Valentine’s Day”
Taken from Andre 3000‘s The Love Below, “Happy Valentine’s Day” is probably the most upbeat song included in this countdown. Andre experiments with funk and neo-soul on the hand-clapping jam.
MP3: Outkast “Happy Valentine’s Day”

01. The Get Up Kids “Valentine”
When I began brainstorming for this list, the first song that jumped into my mind was The Get Up Kids‘ “Valentine.” Taken from their 1999 album, Something to Write Home About, “Valentine” was the ultimate emo Valentine’s Day anthem.
MP3: The Get Up Kids “Valentine”

Video Rewind 02.10.2012

Posted on 02.10.2012 by AdamGrabowski

Another week in the books. It was busy for me, I hope you all had a better one. On top, there were tons of great videos that dropped. Unfortunately, not everybody makes the Video Rewind. But for your enjoyment, I picked a fresh bunch.

Ok Go “Needing/Getting”

Ok, let me say this: no one, and I mean no one, puts together a music video like Ok Go. I don’t know how they have time to write music. Putting together videos is a real art for this band. If you watched the Super Bowl, you saw a commercial where Scion said they made their first music video. This is that video. Shout out for the fancy driving. And the time and effort put to set this whole shoot up. I know they didn’t complete it in one take. Can’t wait to see what they come up with next.

M.I.A. “Bad Girls”

Snagging attention at the Super Bowl for the wrong reason isn’t all M.I.A.‘s about. The video for bad girls has an Islamic feel. She’s obviously trying to get into the minds of our Middle Eastern friends. I mean, her group of backup dancers are covered up, but those moves…well. I’ll give her credit for standing on car that’s driving on its side. I really wanna know how she got permission to shoot this video. But hey, when causing a stir is part of your swag, the world should expect no less. “Live fast. Die Young. Bad girls do it well”. Funny message with those lyrics. You know M.I.A. isn’t ready to die. But I wouldn’t be surprised to find some idiot out there wants to send her a death threat, for this video alone. So, as an American, what more can I say than: Enjoy!

Krewella “Killin’ It”

Krewella has been making some noise with their “Killin’ It”. The video follows Krewella’s Jahan and Yasmine, doing what any good video should, bragging about how the group is killin’ it. Is it a video that follows the youngsters having a good time? Yes. Do I feel like an old man saying that I don’t party like that? Yes. But still, whenever there’s a good song it’s always worth it to watch the video. You get a feel for the artist, and since Krewella’s just starting out, enjoy. I’m sure we’ll be hearing from them in the future. They’re killin’ the blogs, that’s for sure.

De La Soul’s Plug 1 and Plug 2 Present First Serve “Must B The Music”

De La Soul, minus one, isn’t a bad thing. These guy’s serve everything on a gleaming, hot dish of awesome. The song is a banger, and the video is a mix of Plug 1 and Plug 2 in your face with some animation in the background. Through in the obligatory little kid dancing, and oh snap!, you’ve got a hit. The video does leave you in a trance. Or else, you have no soul.

The Magnetic Fields “Andrew in Drag”

We’ve all been there, right? Fall in love with your best friend or just your best friend’s drag identity. The song is catch, poppy, a bit ridiculous. And so is the video. But that just adds to the quality. Can’t say anything more than The Magnetic Fields have a winner here, both with song and video. Oh, and there is a brief moment of nudity. So don’t watch this one at work.

Jay-Z & Kanye West “Ni**as in Paris”

This one dropped in the last week. Hope it was good to you. If not, next week is another chance. Just watch this, and get ready for the weekend. Just watch. You’ll thank me later.
MP3: Jay-Z & Kanye West “Niggas in Paris”