Archive for the ‘Video’ Category

Track Review: Joel Plaskett Emergency - “Fashionable People”

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August 14, 2008 by Matthew Montgomery

Joel Plaskett EmergencyJoel Plaskett Emergency
Ashtray Rock
“Fashionable People”

Joel Plaskett Emergency - “Fashionable People” | download

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“Fashionable People,” named for the falsetto-inflected chorus line from this song, a track from 2007’s Ashtray Rock, is an entertaining romp in power pop that experiments with a variety of instrumentation styles to reach its easily listenable destination. Top it off with an entertaining video (embedded after the jump,) and you’ve got a song that sounds almost Weezerish (if I can coin a term, like all good music journalists) in its methods; however, there’s an unrestrained feel here that would place it above most recent efforts from the band Joel Plaskett undoubtedly drew some influence from.

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Video: Noah and the Whale - “5 Years Time”

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August 14, 2008 by Matthew Montgomery

Noah and the WhaleNoah and the Whale, a nice little indie pop group from London, are releasing their latest, Peaceful, the World Lays Me Down, on Cherry Tree Records on September 16th; to promote it, they’ve released a video for “5 Years Time,” which I’ve embedded below. The track’s cute, happy, the works — in it’s own way, it fields a certain twee feel. I’m not complaining. Watch the video after the jump, or watch it on imeem.

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Sub Pop hits 20, shares anniversary with Microsoft’s Zune

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August 14, 2008 by Matthew Montgomery

So, Sub Pop, the infamous record label from Seattle, has hit 20 years old; to celebrate, they’ve released a number of exclusive items to the Zune Marketplace. Now, I don’t necessarily endorse the Zune (nor do I necessarily endorse the iPod,) but the content’s worth checking out if you’ve already got one of those neat devices. Plus, you can get $2 off each album from Sub Pop (for a limited time, of course) — so if you’ve been waiting to grab the latest from The Jesus and Mary Chain, wait no longer. Check out the video after the jump for a nice look at Sub Pop at 20.

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Video: They Might Be Giants at TED2007

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August 12, 2008 by Matthew Montgomery

They Might Be Giants performing at TED2007.Okay, this video might be a little old — don’t ignore it for that reason, please. Besides, if old counts as around a year and half ago, I suppose there’s plenty I ought to ignore instead of give some attention. At any rate, it’s apparently the earliest the band’s performed (or so they claim) and is full of witty banter. The video’s embedded below, but for your convenience, here’s a link: They Might Be Giants at TED2007. TED (Technology Entertainment Design), a conference taking place in Monterey, California, features all sorts of interesting speakers and performances, many of which are available at their official site, TED.com.

The site includes a great MP4 download for those looking to watch this extravaganza on their favorite media device.

Plus, there’s a great performance of Apollo 18 favorite, “Fingertips,” that’s not to be missed. The video’s embedded after the jump.

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Spotlight: A Faulty Chromosome

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February 19, 2008 by Matthew Montgomery

A Faulty Chromosome / Courtesy of Fanatic PromotionA Faulty Chromosome produces fairly engaging music that, while pulling from a variety of influences, maintains a fairly distinct shoegaze tone. At times a little offsetting, the band doesn’t “pull any punches,” per se, with their usage of several slightly grating guitar tones. Still, the two tracks I’ve posted below, “Jackie O” and” Them Pleasures of the Flesh” are interesting and worthy of a listen, but if you’re looking for the melodic tendencies of Lush, it’s probably best to work elsewhere. This band isn’t going to be known for ethereal, beautiful vocalizations, but more a more-or-less gentle sort of repetitivity that, while not the high point of musical achievement, does provide something interesting and surprisingly listenable, considering. Two tracks are posted below for listening and downloading, and a video is posted after the jump.

A Faulty Chromosome — “Jackie O” | download

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A Faulty Chromosome — “Them Pleasures of the Flesh” | download

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Spotlight: Cryv | Japanese shoegaze, huh.

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February 15, 2008 by Matthew Montgomery

Cryv / via MySpaceIt’s not often I come across something so compelling as this: Cryv is a Japanese shoegaze and electroclash group — they’re twin brothers — that, well, are far from bad. Yes, that’s really just a roundabout way of calling this band good, and they are deserving of more than such clumsy trepidation. Cryv isn’t well known outside Japan, it seems, as a cursory web search will reveal. It’s a pity, really, because this band is really very good. A video for “Lonliness” [sic] from their 2007 self-titled debut is posted below. Check out their MySpace for some tracks.

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Music Geek #8: Love is… Spiritualized?

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February 14, 2008 by Matthew Montgomery

Matthew Montgomery wears funny glasses in a Cedar City, Utah park.Let’s get one thing straight: I don’t know what “love” actually means. It’s a terribly abstract thing, and we’ve been taught that it’s some mystical, valuable emotion we should all strive for. Maybe it is, maybe it isn’t — but I think I have a vague (and when I say vague, I mean vague) idea of what it is. I’ve certainly felt strong connections before, and if that’s what this is, then perhaps I can affirm some things.

Whatever the case, I love music. Sure, I will confess to ignorance of what love really is (chemical reactions! but isn’t everything? We can break down everything to chemical reactions in mental workings, but it doesn’t bring us any closer to understanding or predicting human action,) but I will likewise profess to be a lover of music.

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Spotlight: City and Colour

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February 10, 2008 by Scott Mathews

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