Jazzy Jeff and The Fresh Prince - Girls Ain’t Nothin But Trouble

Little Pictures - This House Can Fit Us All from eep! productions. The first single from the debut album “Owl+Owl”, released July 2008 on Lil’ Chief Records.

“Summer Time Love” is a single by Japanese hip-hop group m-flo. Released last summer, it is the perfect thing to turn to as winter comes to an end and the sun reminds us what it’s good for. Oh, and there’s a naked mix on the way, so keep this song handy. You are probably going to need something to cheer you up afterward.

The winners of Said the Gramophone’s Wonderful Video Contest have all been decided, with all the prizes doled out appropriately. The winning video for “Peacebone” by Animal Collective really does blow the rest away. The video is as frantic, bloody, and energetic as the song itself (plus sock puppets). But it’s really a matter of finding something great among a bunch of really good.

The video for Bon Iver’s “The Wolves (Act I and II)” came out today, and I see it easily becoming one of those videos that defines the song. Watching Justin Vernon and director Matt Amato drink solemnly over a bonfire in the woods of Wisconsin is a moving accompaniment. The story of the video compels even more:

This is by any description, a project that almost never happened. Rushing to get to Wisconsin for fresh snows and still frozen air, Director Matt Amato arrived in Eau Claire, hometown of Justin Vernon of Bon Iver, in late January. In the midst of warming up after a long journey and excitedly telling Justin about all the projects he had on the horizon, Matt received a phone call. One of his best friends had suddenly and tragically passed away. All logic and reason were thrown out. Nobody knew what to do. Matt didn’t know whether to stay or go, or how he would even manage to get back to the airport in his state of shock. Justin just tried to stay calm. Between a flurry of phone calls and attempting to contact some of Matt’s family to accompany him home, night fell. Almost by default, Matt remained in Eau Claire in the company of his newest acquaintance. Something about it was safe, and that was enough. The next morning, Matt read the lyrics to “The Wolves” and felt as if those were the exact words he needed to hear from his departed friend. That pretty much sealed it. Matt would stay and work, even as the thought of making a video became the last thing on their minds. They built a bonfire and just let it burn all day and into the night, and Matt filmed.

Today, something in tune with the rest of the website.

La Blogothéque, a French music blog with many a free mp3, has been offering videos of various indie bands performing on the streets. The idea (aptly titled The Take-Away Shows) may sound blasé, but the results are impressive. From the site’s About page:

I was first introduced to the project with a video of The Shins, in which they walk around Paris strumming their guitars, first stopping at a small park before serenading a group of outside diners:

Sometimes, the videos can be a little unimpressive (for instance, sadly, Andrew Bird), sometimes they can be fun and ridiculous (for instance, Cold War Kids), and sometimes they can be spectacular (basically, both Shins videos). (I think I’m just a sucker for the band-in-public-in-front-of-unexpected-audiences thing.)

For even more goodness, check out the American partner of The Take-Away Shows, Daytrotter.

While watching, yet again, the video for Jason Webley’s Eleven Saints, I was reminded of another video I hadn’t seen in forever: FITNESS VIDEO for being appraised as an EX-FAT GIRL. Many of you probably know it (probably by its more common name, “Poodle Exercise with Humans”, or similar), but for those who don’t, it’s a little strange. From the Wikipedia page:

The film is a typical work out video except for the fact that the video’s instructor is dressed in a body suit giving her the appearance of having muscles shaped like the fur of a groomed poodle dog. Also, exercising with her in the video are six actors dressed in dog costumes with actual live dogs’ heads superimposed over their real heads.

If you read the YouTube description, or visited the Wikipedia page, the video is directed by Nagi Noda, an award-winning art and commercial director from Japan.

Besides her commercial commercial work, Nagi Noda has also done a good many music videos. In general, her work tends to include many of the same elements (e.g., duplicates) or draw upon popular tools of other Japanese art (e.g., Scissor Sisters - She’s My Man, in which actors dressed in all black are used for a MUCH more surreal feel than usual CGI gives), but she is always enjoyable.

My favorite:

Second favorite:

Others:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JRnvPu6aY90 (Yuki - Sentimental Journey)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tb4cwRB7Sgs

Of course, her commercial work is no less interesting.

Her production company is Uchi Country.

Jason Webley released a 3-song 7″ last year with a little folk-pop gem entitled “Eleven Saints”. The single is sold out, but you can watch the lovely, amusing, lovely music video for “Eleven Saints” at Youtube.

Man oh man, what’s that guy got in his hand? It’s an egg, it’s a spoon, it’s a snapshot of the moon. It’s a coffee percolator going wheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!