creative deconstruction

Music Video Pick: Kings of Convenience ‘Boat Behind’

Posted on 25. Sep, 2009 by refe.

I’ve been a fan of Kings of Convenience ever since hearing ‘I’d Rather Dance’ in a cafe a few years ago. They play a kind of subtle folk-pop, often encroaching on tongue-in-cheek.

It’s been about 5 years since their last album Riot in the Empty Streets, but a follow-up is finally set to be released on October 2nd. The new album is called Declaration of Dependence, and ‘Boat Behind’ is the first single.

This simple video captures band’s quirky laid-back style perfectly with a quiet, sun-drenched road trip through the country. The duo’s tiny hatchback soon begins to fill up with a few conveniently female hitch-hikers with surprisingly large carry-ons. Mellow harmonies and jazzy acoustic guitars seem to float along with the car.

The songs first lyrics seem to acknowledge the band’s extended hiatus:

“So we meet again
After several years
Several years of separation.”

‘Boat Behind’ seemed like the perfect video for a Friday afternoon in late September. Let me know what you think.

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Video: Dirty Projectors – Stillness is the Move

Posted on 15. Jul, 2009 by refe.

‘Stillness is the Move’ was shot on location on Mount Equinox, Vermont to accompany Dirty Projectors’ latest single by the same name.

First of all, the song is great. Despite all the hype around their new album Bitte Orca, I only recently had the chance to sit down and really listen to a few of the tracks. I was pleased to find that band leader Dave Longstreth and his latest cast of characters have put together a solid offering of fun, creative songs.

‘Stillness is the Move’ is a great example of Bitte Orca -- even if it is one of the dorkier music videos I’ve seen recently. One YouTube commenter sums it up pretty well: “Hooray for lazy susan guitar players, wolves on leashes, and MC Hammer Pants with [an] awkward hooded hipster dance.” Oh, and don’t forget the llama.

Directed by Matthew Lessner.

Buy Bitte Orca by Dirty Projectors

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Animated Moby Interviews Himself

Posted on 02. Jul, 2009 by refe.

As a sort of follow-up to my earlier post about Moby’s new album Wait for Me, I thought I would post this interview (which you can also find on Moby’s website.) In it, an animated Moby is asked questions about Wait for Me by Dog, another animated character who is also voiced by the musician.

I wanted to share it with you mainly because I enjoyed it, but it’s also a great example of how a little bit of creativity can help you to stand out. How many new artist interviews pop up on the web each day? If this was just more of the same no one would be bothering to talk about it, and I wouldn’t have bothered to post it. Instead Moby has produced something that’s clever and fun, and that gives him an opportunity to tell more people about his new album.

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Video Pick: Phoenix ‘1901′

Posted on 17. Jun, 2009 by refe.

The epileptic new Phoenix video features the french sextet performing their single ‘1901′ while being lit up by an impressive LED lightshow. Aside from the initial novelty of the lights and patterns flashing in time with the music, this video could have been more exciting. The sleek, disco drenched ‘1901′ feels like it wants to dance right past the six band members just standing around on the dark stage. The film-makers appear to have been content letting the lights do all the work on this, even if it meant the musicians had to stand still and stay on the right mark.

Nevertheless, the video is worth the three minutes and 24 seconds it takes to watch it, even if just for a fun track and some neat flashing lights.

Directed by Bogstandard (Ben Strebel and Dylan Byrne) and produced by Dazed Digital (Ken Woo.)

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Video Pick: White Rabbits ‘Percussion Gun’

Posted on 12. Jun, 2009 by refe.

White Rabbits’ aptly named ‘Percussion Gun’ is a clever, well-crafted barrage of tribal rhythms, plunking pianos and raw, melodic vocals. In the video, the stage spins around as if to represent what happens to your head after the three minutes and eight seconds are just about over. The imagery, like the music, has a stark intensity about it and never quite stands still. This is one of the best recent examples of a video that consists of little more than the band performing their song, yet remains engaging and even entertaining throughout. It also does what a great music video should do -- makes you want to see them do it live. Directed by Andrew Droz Palermo.

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Video Pick: Carina Round ‘Backseat’

Posted on 11. Jun, 2009 by refe.

‘Backseat’ hails from Carina Round’s new EP Things You Should Know, which was released digitally on May 12th and is otherwise only available at her shows. The track is a quiet lullaby to lost love sung with affection, not bitterness -- “Do I lie in the backseat of your mind?”

The video takes advantage of the lilting style of the music and features a sometimes comical, sometimes beautiful cast of characters who sing along with the vocalist. Each individual seems to have their own reasons for singing, and the seemingly disconnected  faces come together in the end as the music swells and builds to a sad, hopeful climax.

I really like this video. Technically speaking there are some things I would probably do differently -- for example, the static shot at the end would have been better served by some movement. Pulling back and letting the viewer take in more of the crowd would have added a lot to the climax, especially if it found it’s way back to the close-up in the end. But in all, I think this video does the song a lot of justice. Hope you like it -- let me know what you think.

‘Backseat’ was directed by Seth Dalton and Carina Round.

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Video Pick: St Vincent ‘Actor Out of Work’

Posted on 06. Jun, 2009 by refe.

Actor is the sophomore album of 26 year old Annie Clark. Clark began her career touring with the eclectic Polyphonic Spree and Sufjan Stevens, and has now recorded two solo albums under the name St. Vincent. Clark built her arrangements differently this time around -- in Garageband, actually -- and the result is something of a departure from the guitar rock of her first album, Marry Me. The track ‘Actor out of Work’ is an exception, with every bit of its two minutes and thirty-seconds propelled forward by fuzzed out guitars and driving toms.

The video itself is clever, featuring a group of actors crying on cue during an audition. In an interview with Spinner Clark admitted that she was hesitant to film such a literal take on the song, but that she was sold on the idea by directors Ian Kibbey and Corey Creasey -- better known collectively as Terri Timely. “There is something so darkly comic and eerily unnerving about the act of crying on cue. It feels like such a lie -- a betrayal in a sense -- to see someone burst into hysterics in one moment, and then, as if it had never happened, stand up, smile and go back to checking their text messages. Sometimes I had to restrain myself from laughing out of discomfort, and sometimes I had to restrain myself from crying -- it’s as contagious as yawning.”

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Video Pick – Grizzly Bear ‘Two Weeks’

Posted on 31. May, 2009 by refe.

Grizzly Bear have been doing alright for themselves lately. The Internet is buzzing with talk about their new album Veckatimest, and their current single Two Weeks is already a certifiable indie rock hit.

Two Weeks’ video was shot by Patrick Daughters and employs an eerie, slow motion aesthetic that sort of sucks you in and compels you to keep watching even though very little appears to be happening. An appropriate choice, as the song itself has a similar effect. In all, another interesting addition to Daughter’s impressive videography. Make sure you keep watching until the end.

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Memorial Day Video Pick – Ben Folds ‘Army’

Posted on 24. May, 2009 by refe.

Just a quick post to wish my American readers a happy Memorial Day. First of all, to our service men and women: Thank you. To everyone else: Have fun, be safe and eat twice the number of burgers you think you can handle.

Here’s a little tune to get you in the mood.  Sorry about the ad at the beginning, by the way- a certain major record label didn’t allow embedding on the ad-free version… (Thanks to @DionRoy for the song suggestion.)

Happy Memorial Day everyone! Tomorrow: WHY THE WORLD STILL NEEDS TASTEMAKERS.

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