Audiovisuals...Father John Misty- "Hollywood Forever Cemetery Sings"

      From what I've gathered, I would say that you can pretty much classify music videos into three categories-

1. Videos that consist of random shots of the artist/band preforming the song interlaced with more random shots of the artist [or in the case of a band, the lead singer] walking around aimlessly in an attempt to make some story. [ex.] [worse example]

2. Videos that take on a narrative form, in which the sequence of shots makes up a short story, almost like a short film. This video eliminates the useless shots of the artist/band preforming/singing the song [ex.] [ex.]

3. Other- The very general fall back category for the videos that do neither of the first two categories. [ex.]

     This particular video for the recent single of Father John Misty, the now former drummer of the Fleet Foxes, probably falls across my second and third categories.  

     "Hollywood Forever Cemetery Sings" is the title and like the recent movies, Martha Marcy May Marlene and Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy, the title pulls together four words that could easily be rearranged and no one would even figure.  'Hollywood Cemetery Forever Sings' would make more sense to me, but whatever.

     And that is exactly what this video feels like.  Seriously, it has more settings than many full length movies.  There's the road, the hipster funeral, the hipster party, and the forest, which then turns into a some sort of dreamy nightmarish sequence of the girl fighting some mysterious woman and everything's painted red. And then she wakes up back on the road where it all started.

     Like the lyrics, the video follows a young girl mourning the death of her grandfather.  But the video looks too complex to be just that.  Also, it seems too perfect that the girl of the video is played by the same actress who plays April Ludgate, the emo girl from Parks & Recreation (Aubrey Plaza).

     While I really love the song, I am not sure I can say the same about the video.  Without a doubt, its one of the best directed videos I've seen in a while.  But at the same time, its one of those hipster projects that maybe I'm not hipster enough to instantly embrace as masterful art.  I will say though I enjoy watching it and its definitely worth a click.  After watching the video a handful of times, on every view, something new managed to slip its way into the video that I had not seen before.  Its like the Black Swan of music videos.  (48 Hidden Images in Black Swan)

+ If you like "Hollywood Forever Cemetery Sings," a couple other Father John Misty songs are up on Grooveshark- and if you're a fan of the Fleet Foxes than his stuff should suit you too | tny.gs/GY59hj |

Useless Clatter...2012 Album Releases [Apr+May]

      Now that March is coming to an end, I see that my most anticipated albums of 2012 post- (Jan-Feb-Mar) is becoming a bit useless.  So I’ve finally found some time to browse about the web aimlessly and put together Part II of the list which includes April and May.  Despite only being two months, it’s packed very tightly with plenty of new releases from some of my favorites like Best Coast, The Dandy Warhols, and The Brain Jonestown Massacre [and that’s not even counting the Willow Smith album out on April 3^rd]  I've also seen the convenient release from bands I have recently discovered like Alabama Shakes and Father John Misty, who I literally discovered this morning.  

      I couldn’t find many for June at this point [plenty of rumors] but figured I would wait a bit and post that later.  Of course, if I missed anyone important or you feel generous enough to send a complimentary recommendation my way feel free.

+ Album artwork and preview tracks/singles will be updated when the info arrives.

April 3
Of Monsters & Men- My Head is an Animal
 

April 10
Alabama Shakes- Boys & Girls

 

Hear This..."Myth" by Beach House

      Since their third album, Teen Dream, from 2010, Baltimore duo Beach House have remained relatively quiet.  When the music site Consequence of Sound released news of an upcoming album from them in February, the post was mysteriously deleted.  Thankfully, the news has officially resurfaced and confirmed as truth.  Beach House does in fact have a new album in the works titled Bloom and its set to be released May 7th.  With that comes the release of the album's first single, "Myth."

      While never really indulging too far into the likes of dreamy, transcendent pop music, I've taken a liking to Beach House.  Ever since hearing their song in the trailer for that weird looking film, The Future, I have since considered myself a fan.

      The new song is mot much of a change from the band's trademark sound, but that's no bit of criticism on my part.  "Myth" is an especially cool track.  Its constant synth back-beat mixed with Victoria Legrand's voice gives the song a peaceful tone.  For a few seconds at the refrain when the guitar kicks in with one simple strut, everything becomes amplified and doubly intense, serene, mesmerizing-however you want to call it.  The song can really hypnotize you if you are not careful.

      In short and to take from its lyrics, "Myth" is a"momentary bliss" of sound and with it, we can expect more good things from these two come May 7th.   

      

Useless Clatter...[Hear This] Brian Jonestown Massacre Announce New Album + Latest Single "Blue Order New Monday"

      I wouldn't be going out on a limb in saying that The Brian Jonestown Massacre could be the most diverse band out there right now.  But whether that's because of the numerous genres they've tapped into throughout the years or just due to the immense line up changes that have come their way, The Brian Jonestown Massacre are truly in a class of their own.  Those of you who've seen DiG! know what I'm talking about. But to base the band's reputation solely on the hot headed temper of band leader Anton Newcombe is a bit one sided.  Maybe he is a little wacky, but the stuff he and his band-mates put together in the studio completely makes up for it.

      On that note, I am thrilled to report the news of a new BJM album to be released May 7th called Aufheben.  As of late, Anton's made his home in Berlin so its not completely bizarre to see the German word appears as the album's title.  And thanks to the possibilities of web translation, I've tracked down the meaning of the word which now leads to an assortment of interpretations on why he chose that word.  Aufheben (pronounced auf+he•ben) is a verb lending itself to a variety of actions- 'to pick up, to abolish, to lift, to reverse, to capture to preserve' to name a few.  Anton could have had any number of these in mind when choosing the word and unfortunately I don't think we'll ever  know what he truly intended.  But that's alright because the greater concern, as it always is with a new BJM album, is what the stuff will sound like.  Thankfully we won't have to wait until May because with this news came the release of the first single from Aufheben titled "Blue Order/New Monday." 

Useless Clatter...Best Coast Unveils Artwork For Upcoming Album

      Bethany Cosentino takes everything us non-Californians crave during these cold winter months and shoves it in our faces.  You and I both know we would too if we lived in sunshine all year round.  But we don't.    We see snow.  Seriously, I feel like the only time I ever see those "Visit California" commercials on TV is during the dead of winter.  Sometimes they really are tough to watch. And I have to admit when Best Coast shuffles its way into my ear-buds during these cold months I have to press next because I know that when I walk out the door I won't be wearing sandals, holding a surfboard on my way to the beach.

      But despite the envy and seasonal ignoring I embark on every winter with Best Coast, that can all end soon enough.  And I really shouldn't be complaining because this has been one of the warmest winters on record but, nonetheless when I wake up, I'm not in California.  And its perfect timing for Bethany and company to release the some news about their forthcoming sophomore album titled "The Only Place" [I wonder what that's a reference too...]  The album comes out May 14th and recently Bethany has been so kind as to release the album's and art work.

Audiovisuals...Arctic Monkey's "Fluorescent Adolescent"

One of the best aspects of music is its ability to mesh the most unlikely disparities into one very pleasing tune.  Think about the new Jack White song, “Love Interruption.”  He sings longing for love, but that request comes the most an array of unromantic desires- “I want love to roll me over slowly stick a knife inside me, and twist it all around...” to name one.   Another example goes by the name “Pumped Up Kicks,” the popular Foster the People song.  [Check out those lyrics.]  These two songs share the perverse ability to turn such shocking statements into a something far from unfavorable. 

That isn't the exact case of the Arctic Monkey's song "Fluorescent Adolescent."  No, its lyrics doesn't demand any such ill mannered requests; here it’s the visuals that are called to questioning.  The music video for "Fluorescent Adolescent" involves a man and his posse dressed up as clowns trying to bash the brains of a rival group.  Other than the unfortunate association these characters have with serial killers and messed up B-horror films, clowns used to be seen as symbols of impeccable joy and childlike entertainment.  Bu these clowns share none of these qualities. 

When I first watched this, I immediately called to mind a comparison with a scene from Stanley Kubrick’s 1971film adaptation of “AClockwork Orange”- you have a bunch of weirdoes dressed up in outlandish clothing trying to kill each other.  But unlike the mindless chaos brought forth by Alex in “Clockwork,” our clown here seems to acknowledge his wrongdoings.  Working in stride with Turner’s lyrics- “Where did you go?” the clown puts down his fists for a moment to think.  He looks back and remembers what he was once-a sweet-hearted and innocent young boy, now grown up and dressed up as a clown mindlessly whacking people’s brains out.  “The best you ever had is just a memory...”  Something he realizes a bit too late.

                                  

Hear This [Audiovisuals]...Arctic Moneys- "R U Mine?"

      Why can't everyone be as cool as the Arctic Monkeys? Once again, my favourite British  band have done it again producing yet another uber-cool song to rock out to.  "R U Mine?" is the band's latest work, but from what I've heard, its not an early release of any upcoming LP nor is it a b-side from their latest album, Suck It and See.  They just felt like releasing another song, and we can all be thankful for that.
      "R U Mine?" stuck me as an interesting title choice for a band who has made their name on being the bad boys of rock 'n rolls.  I thought for a second the Arctic Monkey's dropped off the deep end and teamed up with Ke$ha for a sequel single to "We R Who We R."  Thankfully I was wrong.

      "R U Mine?" comes as no shock for Arctic Monkey fans as the song reaches back to the traditional heavy rock sound the band veered away from on their last album Suck It and See.  It's a surly combination of heavy guitar chords and drums that we all came to love in the Arctic Monkeys.  As always, Turner's dyamic vocals sit above all the noise pushing the song forward. 

      Sure I would prefer "Are You Mine?" over the abbreviated title, but that just goes to show you how the Arctic Monkeys can make anything cool.  Don't believe me? They prove it to us by pulling off one of the most misused and abused fashion statements with ease- sunglasses at night [while driving].

Hear This...Beach Fossils- "Shallow" | "Lessons"

      "Lo-fi" rock always seems at risk of steering into certain criticism.  I used to think that lo-fi  and garage bands sounded the way they did  because they could't find an adequate singer.  To hide this, they go ahead and scratch out the vocals.  In no way is that true, but its something I've always thought of. What's the point of distorting the vocals like that? I'm not going to criticize Sealings here but a song like "Rails Means Rails" kind of led me to that assumption early on.  But when I try to imagine "Rails Means Rails" without the scratchy, lo-fi voice blaring into the microphone, it just doesn't sound right.

      But I've taken a new stance on the idea of lo-fi though the more and more I acquaint myself with it.  This band, Beach Fossils, have steered me the right way.  "Shallow" and "Lessons" are the band's latest release since their What A Pleasure EP came out last May.  Commonly associated with lo-fi is the term "fuzzy" , there's actually nothing really "fuzzy" about these songs.  Both songs achieve a very clean sound in which every guitar stroke and drum tap are heard individually, all coming together in a very ornate manner.  "Lessons" and "Shallow" both possess some of the smoothest and uncomplicated guitar solos I've ever heard, and it works immensely with the mesmerizing sound of lead singer, Dustin Payseur's voice.  They do not try to do anything too fancy, [I could probably score these songs in Rockband pretty easy], but that's the beauty of their sound.  Beach Fossils don't strive for any sort of technical rock n' roll mastery and as a result, they standout in the midst of a vague and poorly defined genre such as "lo-fi."