764-Hero and MMM #16

As much crap as we give Pitchfork, I plan on going to their festival this summer, because it's very inexpensive and has a DYN-OH-MITE lineup. I have to say I'm extremely excited to see Built to Spill, and therefore have been sneaking them into my heavy listening rotation when I get a chance. I've also been listening to similar sounding bands, including more bands off Up records, the best being 764-Hero. Here's a little ditty from the boys.

764-Hero - Sunburnt
iTunes / amazon
764-Hero MySpace

The big video of late has been the new Animal Collective video for "Summertime Clothes," which we already featured. So we're going to continue the AniCol trend, but add some additional videos for your viewing pleasure. I wanted to post "Peacebone" because a) it's a great song and b) it's one of the weirdest things I've seen. Until I saw the next video. The second is a short student film starring Noah Lennox (Panda Bear) as a person obsessed with fish. If you're looking for an odd time suck, look no further. And finally, we can't mention AniCol and videos together without posting an f/k favorite (ok, just Donovan and I) : the live version of "The Purple Bottle" with Doctess.







Animal Collective MySpace

-Chandler

Music Movies Monday #15

Blast! A day late again. Oh well, this MMM isn't very fun either. MGMT turned in a solid effort last year, along with the incredibly catchy tune "Kids." Recently, they churned out a music video for it that is getting some attention around the word wide interweb. I don't think it's very good, but it's certainly interesting. Though, it will be more interesting to discover the effects that making the video had on this poor child years down the road. In any event, it features Joanna Newsom looking mighty foxy.



-Chandler

Music Movies Monday #14

Keeping with the Grizzly Bear theme, I thought I'd quickly post this relatively new music video for their song "Two Weeks" for those who haven't seen it. I really like this video for some reason, but I'll let you guys be the judge.

Two Weeks


-Chandler

Music Movies Monday #12

Last MMM, we got a suggestion from one of our loyal readers for this week's MMM, and we're not ones to turn down a request. Plus, it's really good. Antony's voice requires some adjustment, but once you get there, he possesses one of the most haunting and beautiful voices out there. It's the only video for this week because I honestly don't have time to search for more. If you want more MMM, might I suggest watching it over again? Ripped mp3 after the video.



Antony- If It Be Your Will (live Leonard Cohen cover)
Antony & The Johnsons MySpace
Leonard Cohen Website

-Chandler

Music Movies Monday #11

I know, it's been a while for MMM. But it's making a comeback. To celebrate such a long a break, here's a few nostalgic videos from a few years ago, and some from a bit longer.

I wish I was alive to see a Joy Division performance. They don't make 'em like this anymore.

joy division - 9-15-79 transmission from cicolini on Vimeo.

This isn't that old ('92), but it continues the 'great band on late night' motif set with Radiohead a few posts ago. For the record, THIS is how you make a network television debut. With a bat!



Neil Young now:

*Photo from MySpace

Neil Young Then ('78):


Finally, another more recent one. It seems a lot longer though, considering Franky has put on quite a few since this.


Ok, that about does it. Look for MMM next week, when it will hopefully actually be on a Monday.

-Chandler

Music Movies Monday #10

So once again, the MMM post is a day late. I attribute this one being late to the fact that I had to write a paper yesterday, so hopefully this kind of tardiness won't happen again. In any event, here are some Flying Circus videos.

One of the funniest things I've seen without the use of words, The Silly Walk:


The Argument Clinic:


The Man Who Talks in Anagrams:


Not Monty Python, but Merv Griffin. Audio rip below.


Merv Griffin- I've Got a Lovely Bunch of Coconuts (Live)
Buy Song: iTunes

-Chandler

Music Movies Monday #9

This week's MMM, in addition to being a little late, is also going to be rather random. And with that, the random videos shall commence.

Passion Pit is supposed to release their debut full length later this year, after dropping one of the catchiest, if not best EP's of last year: Chunk of Change. Here's the video for "Sleepyhead," because both song and video are quite enjoyable.


Passion Pit MySpace

Voxtrot has recently released their next single from their upcoming release, so I thought I'd post a video from one of their previous ones. "The Start of Something" might indeed be my favorite Voxtrot song, but this is certainly up there. Courtesy of La Blogotheque Take Away Shows.

#54.2 - VOXTROT - SOft and Warm
by lablogotheque

Voxtrot MySpace

For those not following Colin Meloy on Twitter, he proposed a challenge to everyone to write and videotape themselves performing a song about Linda Ronstadt. He announced the winners and runner up's today, but Donovan and I agree that this one was the most enjoyable.


The Decemberists MySpace
Colin Meloy's Twitter

The last video has nothing to do with music, but should get a laugh or two. Donovan showed me this a while ago after one of his friends showed it to him, and it's basically one of the best things Shatner has ever done. Though, the other reactions of the guy next to Shatner are golden as well. "D'oh, Mr. Crain!"


William Shatner

As a side note, we'd like to plug a website of a new friend following us on Twitter. He seems like a solid fellow, so check out the website of Ben Derico.

The White Stripes- We're Going to Be Friends
iTunes/amazon
The White Stripes MySpace

-Chandler

Music Movies Monday #8

While this is in fact Tuesday, I still have the spirit of MMM. I thought this week I'd just give you some videos of things I've been listening to lately. The first is something I think all of us here at f/k would agree is quite stellar. While Donovan hopefully has a signed copy of the vinyl in the mail, the new Decemberists album The Hazards of Love leaked onto the internet a couple of days ago. The instrumentation is quite different from their previous efforts, which makes for a very interesting listen. All the songs are quite dense, and multiple listens are certainly necessary. In any event, enjoy Meloy as he croons in his usual manner, and showcases what we now know is "Isn't It a Lovely Night" and "The Rake's Song."



The next is something I've given a second chance to. Madvillainy by Madvillain is one of the most critically acclaimed hip hop album of the 21st century, though some argue that's it's not hip hop. I am by no means a rap fan, or even a hip hop fan. But there is just something about how the lyrics flow perfectly with the beat. Madvillainy was released on an indie label, so I guess that makes it fine to blog about on f/k. Here's "Accordion," a fantastic track from the aforementioned album, and probably a song that you won't hear on regular hip hop or rap stations due to its brevity and odd accordion sound.



What I can only imagine is the dream of every person in every school band, everywhere. Footage of Yorke working with the USC marching band and other backstage preparations prior to the fantastic Grammy performance. If anything, it's more of Thom dancing.



Finally, I thought this needed to be posted again. Because, let's face it, it's the world's greatest.



Beirut MySpace page

Madvillain MySpace page

The Decemberists MySpace page

-Chandler

Superpost!

I have no classes on Fridays, and yesterday was a snow day. This has caused four consecutive days of me doing nothing, including not posting my weekly posts Song o' the Week and MMM. For this I apologize, but I hope to make it up to you in this Superpost combining the two. Happy Len Cabral day everyone!

Song o' the Week #12

For the past two weeks or so I've been eating up Yo La Tengo. Having albums like Painful, And Then Nothing Turned Itself Inside-Out, and I Can Hear the Heart Beating as One on repeat on my iPod, it's really hard to pick just one song from one of the greatest and long lasting indie acts to walk the planet as song of the week. But I managed to pick one. "Little Honda" is actually a Beach Boys song that appears on All Summer Long, but it's given a very nice treatment by YLT here. To really appreciate their stuff though, go buy an album and listen to it all the way through. It's worth it.

Yo La Tengo- Little Honda
Amazon/ iTunes

Music Movies Monday #7

Liars is a three piece band that plays great music. Here's the video for "Plaster Casts of Everything" from their most recent self-titled album. I would've posted a song, but I'm scared because they're on a major label.



An animated story to help celebrate Len Cabral day:



One of my dad's favorite music videos:

Sky's The Limit - Notorious B.I.G & 112
by kaz1988

One of my favorite videos:




Superpost done! Tell some stories!

-Chandler

Music Movies Monday #6

Well tonight will be a little weird because this will be the first night without new Conan until he starts at the Tonight Show, so I'm a little sad. In memory, enjoy a couple of Walker, Texas Ranger clips that were shown on the show.







Also, here's a Mr. Oizo music video, just because I watched it recently and it's great.



Finally, I stumbled upon this by looking into one of our followers of the blog. I hope it's cool that I post it, because I'm digging it quite a bit. Anyway, it's a mashup of MSTRKRFT and Nas by Semi Automatic. Check out their MySpace here.

Semi Automatic- MSTRKRFT vs. Nas

-Chandler

Music Movies Monday #5

This MMM is a little different from the previous ones. I'm going to put up a couple of videos that I just find funny that were in my recent memory, and then throw a song that I'm digging at the moment at the bottom. So here goes.
Monty Python is best known for the Holy Grail movie, but The Flying Circus has a whole lot of laughs also. This is the best known sketch, as well as one of the funniest.



The next two are parts one and two of Norm Macdonald's Roast of Bob Saget. Now, a lot of people didn't think this was funny, including the crowd. But Donovan and I agree that this is pretty much the pinnacle of comedy, so you decide for yourself.





Finally, I don't like many CollegeHumor videos that much, but I think this is one of their best. Simpsons did it.

See more funny videos and funny pictures at CollegeHumor.

There you have it. Oh, and here's "Silent Shout," the song o' the weekend.

The Knife- Silent Shout

-Chandler

Music Movies Monday #4

I've decided to have a Radiohead edition of MMM, because they deserve it. We're going to start off with the most obvious music movie, last night's stellar performance of "15 Step," when Thom and Johnny were accompanied by the USC marching band. Donning those awesome Radiohead shirts, the band turned in as great a performance as Yorke and Greenwood, and the trombones playing the bass part was just fantastic. Although, I'm sure the people at the Grammys would have instead liked to have seen another performance by Coldplay, the greatest band on EARTH!




Next up is one of my favorite music videos of all time, the video for "Just." I get chills every time at the last scene. What does he say?!



Last year Radiohead let their fans make music videos for a couple of their songs, and this one was my favorite/weirdest. Tobias Stretch must have worked for countless hours making this, and it is just flat out weird.



Finally, what Radiohead video post would be complete without this?



There are so many other great videos of them, but I think the post is long enough as it is.

-Chandler

Music Movies Monday #3

Sorry for not posting the last couple of days, but I had an English paper to write and other shenanigans like that to attend to. Anyways, let's get right down to it. I don't really like Feist that much, but this song is money. What's more money is the music video for it, because anything involving flying toast is great in my book.



The next two are oldies but goodies. First, this is just Hurra Torpedo playing probably the greatest cover of all time. Just genius.



And finally, The White Stripes make a ton of great videos, and this one is no exception. I don't even want to think about how long it took to make this.




In addition, I wanted to throw in a song that I've played a couple times recently. The last time a few of us saw Band of Horses they played this song, and no one knew what it was for a while, until it turned out it was a cover by an obscure band. It's damn good, and I thought I'd share it to celebrate Groundhog Day.


Band of Horses- Am I a Good Man? (Them Two cover)


-Chandler

Music Movies Monday #2

I almost forgot I started this segment, but luckily I didn't because the videos this week are great ones. My favorite video of '08 from one of my favorite artists around today is the video for "Stress" by Justice. It's basically a bunch of hoodlums traveling in a gang beating people up and causing havoc, but "Stress" seems to fit it so well. Other than that I have no reason to like it, I just find it so bad ass. And damn, I would give anything for one of those jackets (I checked, they don't make them).

justice stress (official video)
Uploaded by 75_prod

Buy artist: iTunes

Next up I decided to post this video of probably my favorite song from Animal Collective's sixth studio album Feels. I absolutely adore this song, especially this version because it's so stripped down compared to the studio version. It's rough the first time through, but give it some time and you should be able to realize the genius of it. It's just Avey Tare and his wife Kria Brekkan (a.k.a. Doctess, who who used to play in the recently mentioned band múm). Anyway, I should warn you that this isn't for everyone, but I've been watching it so much recently I thought I should share. MP3's and videos of the performance can be found here.



Buy Artist: iTunes

Finally, my dad introduced me to The Jam's Compact Snap! a while ago, and I gotta say I was diggin' it. I stumbled upon this and decided I need to post it because it's freakin' awesome. I love the bass in a lot of their songs, and this one doesn't disappoint either. Enjoy The Jam covering Curtis Mayfield's "Move on Up."



Buy Artist: Amazon

-Chandler

Music Movies Monday #1

Much like Bishop's "Bands to Watch" segment, I'm adding a new series of weekly posts to fork/knife. And be honest, how cool is that title? Besides the fact that it's drenched in alliteration, which is always awesome, it also means every Monday I'm going to give you a great music video from the past or present. The idea came to me a while back, when I was driving home listening to music and the trees and mailboxes seemed to be coming into sight in rhythm to the music, much like the Chemical Brothers' "Star Guitar" music video. And so, the first 'music movie' must be this, and gee golly is it good. Directed by Michel Gondry, it's just simply amazing how well the music syncs up with the background, and you can watch it numerous times and discover new segments each time. Enjoy the first of many!




(You can also view it in high quality at the url at YouTube)

The Chemical Bros. website and MySpace

-Chandler