The 5 best music videos of the year so far.

I was planning on making a list of the best music videos of 2007, but its time to look forward to the future people. Or at least the recent past!

2008 seemed pretty futuristic when I was growing up, I figured we would be zooming around on hover-boards in silver suits eating pills for food. I never will forgive television for raising my hopes so high only for them to be dashed against the rocks of disappointment, or something.

One thing I never thought about was that one day we would be able to watch videos online, which might explain why I’m blogging right now not being paid to theorise about the future.

Maybe these audio-visual treats will help you (and me) to overcome the disappointment that is living in the future.

1. Hot Chip - Ready For The Floor

Hot Chip have a knack for great videos. Lots of bright colors and geeks dancing, what more could you want?

2. Boris - Statement

Perhaps not the most exciting video ever but the song is great. Experimental Japanese Doom anyone? For the epic album Smile.

3. Art Brut - Pump Up The Volume

Art Brut have always been pretty ‘meta’ and tongue-in-cheek (their first single was called ‘[We] Formed A Band’) so I’m going to assume this wasn’t really filmed for an Australian television station. EMI didn’t actually tell the band they were releasing this single, which seems a little bit rude.

4. Kanye West - Flashing Lights

We all know that Kanye throws a hissy fit if his videos don’t receive enough attention so I’ve put this one in at number 1. If you find rappers being killed with shovels by women in fancy lingerie offensive, don’t watch this (sorry, that might have given away the plot a bit).

5. MGMT - Time To Pretend

This video is amazing, if somewhat un-embedable. As The Complete Sound points out, ” Record labels seem to have forgotten that videos are PROMOTIONAL material”. Below is a link to the hi-res version. Click if you like flying dolphins, tribal themes and really low quality effects. This is my favourite song of the year so far, by far.

Quicktime Link.

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3 Actresses 3 (hopefully not rubbish) albums

Nobody seems content mastering just one medium these day. It has become the norm for actresses to sing, rappers to act and artist tho direct. Most of the time when actors and actresses start making music it turns out to be sub par rubbish which wouldn’t get released if they weren’t famous. Anybody remember keanu reeves’ band dogstar? These three upcoming albums by actresses (one is more of a mix-tape than an actual album) sound like they are going to be worth downloading and maybe even paying for!

Zooey Deschanel

Deschanel stared in Almost Famous, Elf and The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy. She is going to release an album, called Volume One, as ‘She And Him’ alongside singer/ songwriter M. Ward in March. They met on the set of the forthcoming film The Go Getter. The album will be released on Ward’s record label Merge

Here is a clip of the pair at LA’s Disney Concert Hall:

Mp3: M. Ward and Zooey Deschanel - When I get To The Border Zshare download link

Stream: The Go Getter Myspace page.

Update: recently released track listing:

01 Sentimental Heart
02 Why Do You Let Me Stay Here?
03 This Is Not a Test
04 Change Is Hard
05 I Thought I Saw Your Face Today
06 Take It Back
07 I Was Made for You
08 You Really Got a Hold on Me (Miracles cover)
09 Black Hole
10 Got Me
11 I Should Have Known Better (Beatles cover)

Scarlett Johansson

Johansson is due to release an album of Tom Waits covers on May 20th. How on earth she is going to pull this off is anybodies guess, Tom Waits sings about two octaves lower than your average singer and sounds like he drinks whisky for breakfast (in a good way). The album will either be called Scarlett Sings Tom Waits or Anywhere I lay my head depending on who you believe and will be released by Atco (Rhino) records. I haven’t managed to find any clips of Scarlett’s Tom Waits impression and I’m still not convinced this is actually gonna happen.

The album is produced by David Sitek of TV On The Radio and features members of the Yeah Yeah Yeahs. No track listing details yet. Its also worth mentioning that Scarlett sang with The Jesus And Mary Chain at Coachella so she clearly has great taste in music. Here a very shakey video of the Coachella performance:

Natalie Portman

This one is kind of a cheat as its already released and its a compilation but its an excuse to see a photo of Natalie Portman, so stop complaining. Last October Portman curated an album which was released on itunes with all the profits going to FINCA (Foundation for International Community Assistance)

Tracklisting:

1. Be Good (Tokyo Police Club)
2. My Night With the Prostitute From Marseille (Beirut) [exclusive]
3. Plaid Lined Jacket (Tom Brosseau)
4. Tudo Bem Malandro (Curumin)
5. Australia (The Shins - Bjorn Yttling Mix) [exclusive]

6. Ain’t No Reason (Brett Dennen)
7. Turnaroundturnmeon (Sean Hayes)
8. Oh Yes, Another Mother (Thee More Shallows)
9. The Beast (Angus & Julia Stone)

10. Paddy’s Gone (Antony & The Johnsons)
11. Idle Ties (Vetiver)
12. Broken (Norah Jones)
13. There’s Always Something Happening (Devendra Banhart) [exclusive]

14. What Is a Soul? (M. Ward) [exclusive]
15. Forgiveness Figg (Bethany Hotel Blues) (Wooden Wand)
16. How We Landed (Rogue Wave) [exclusive]

itunes link

Top 10 Albums of 2007

I know its a bit late but here are my top 10 albums of 2007, in no particular order. Let me know what you think!

 

Jens Lekman - Night Falls Over Kortedala

(Service/Secretly Canadian)

 

Who: Soulful indie crooner.

Sounds like: Sufjan Stevens but with a Morrissey-like sense of melodrama.

Best bit: ‘Postcard to Nina’ a story about pretending to be a lesbian’s boyfriend in order to appease her father.

Listen to: Mournfully in your bedsit.

 

Justice - †

(Ed Banger/Vice)

 

Who: French electro duo.

Sounds like: Fuzzy synths, disco grooves and huge basslines.

Best bit: The single ‘D.A.N.C.E’, complete with school assembly choir.

Listen to: At maximum volume in a car with an unnecessary spoiler.

 

Kanye West - Graduation

(Roc-A-Fella/Def Jam)

 

Who: Sampling genius and owner of the biggest ego in hip hop.

Sounds like: Funky, soul-sampling hip hop.

Best bit: “They say I talk with so much emphasis,
OOOO They so Sensitive.
Don’t ever fix your lips like collagen
Say something where you gone end up apologing”

Listen to: In your private jet.

 

Burial – Untrue

(Hyperdub)

 

Who: Secretive south London Dubstep genius.

Sounds like: A stark, cinematic journey through a decaying landscape.

Best bit: The completely out of place vocals.

Listen to: Driving around deserted inner city streets.

 

Les Savy Fav - Let’s Stay Friends

(Frenchkiss)

 

Who: Fugazi with a sense of humor.

Sounds like: Loose, catchy indie punk.

Best bit: ‘The Equestrian’

Listen to: Whilst crowd surfing.

 

LCD Soundsytem - Sound Of Silver

(DFA/EMI)

 

Who: James Murphy, master producer and music geek.

Sounds like: Stripped down disco punk.

Best bit: ‘New York I Love You but You’re Bringing Me Down.’

Listen to: In converse.

 

Battles – Mirrored

(Warp)

 

Who: American Post-Rock super-group.

Sounds like: A Math-rock band playing funky prog songs. In Space.

Best bit: The weird, looped vocals on ‘Atlas’.

Listen to: Through headphones.

 

The National - Boxer

(Beggars Banquet)

 

Who: Brooklyn based indie rockers.

Sounds like: Editors but with a whisky swigging crooner on vocals.

Best bit: ‘Fake Empire’

Listen to: Staring dramatically towards the horizon on a windswept beach.

 

Animal Collective - Strawberry Jam

(Domino)

 

Who: American indie mavericks.

Sounds like: Epic, almost tribal indie songs built from loops rather than riffs.

Best bit: The vocal whoops on ‘Fireworks’

Listen to: Dancing around in an animal costume.

 

The Tough Alliance - A New Chance

(Sincerely Yours)

 

Who: Swedish pop duo.

Sounds like: Catchy synthpop, kind of 90’s yet kind of amazing.

Best bit: ‘Something Special’

Listen to: In a tie dyed t shirt.