I know I've missed a lot of weeks but don't worry, I got you covered! I just got to edit that post a bit but be on the lookout for a mega "Weird Video Of The Week" post with probably 6 or more videos. In the meantime, Major Lazor wins again. First it was the epic video for "Zumbies" and now this!
Hands down this wins for this weeks' weird video. Not because everything is made of Legos (that's pretty average these days). No, it's because they moved all the trees to set up their rave! You can't just move trees that easily...it's a difficult and time consuming process. Also, the cops have a medieval cannon!?
What's up with the Ms. Melody look-alike trying to sing over techno beats and molesting muppets? IDK either which is why it wins the coveted title. If broken vases and flying flowers is your thing, this video is for you. On a side note, what's up with everybody that isn't hip-hop trying to look like an extra from 'I Ain't No Joke' shoot? I really need to know! Ugly neon colored everything wasn't that fly back then and is even worse now! (because it's like soooo ironic)
Here's some new content I've recently discovered...some is brand new and some isn't. Sorry about the misleading title for this post. I wasn't using the term 'eye candy' in the proper context :[ However, I WILL be starting a new section simply titled 'girls' which WILL be all eye candy :]
This video by the Magic Wands is ridiculous and honestly it's pretty lame/gay to me. I don't fully understand the whole style of rainbow colors, glitter and lasers mixed with sub-saharan wildlife. Sometimes it IS pulled off really well but sadly this isn't one of those cases. The reason I posted this video is actually not for the video at all. The music touched my soft spot for obscure '80s disco. This song is brand new but really has that sound of some super rare underground disco joint from like '83. (their song 'Black Magic' is also worth listening to)
Next up is the video for Someone Great by the almighty LCD Soundsystem. The video is simple and effective and really works with the song (which happens to be one of the best songs of 2007). Unfortunately EMI UK won't allow people to help out the band and post the video on other sites so just right click on the image and you'll go to the YouTube page for the video.
I thought I posted this next video by Robot High School a while back when I first saw it but apparently I didn't. I think the music for this is WACK! The video seemingly has nothing to do with the music but is still nice to look at. The director used a stop-action technique and emphasized the focal points in the shots to trick us into thinking we're looking at toys when in-fact everything is real.
Fuck it...I'll post 2 videos from this group I really don't care for because they have good taste in visuals..Here they use another super simple yet effective method to creative something visually interesting. If you didn't figure out how they did it by the first 30 seconds, they reveal it to you in the last part of the video. To their credit, this song isn't too bad.
I just saw this video earlier today and it kinda blew me away. It's both simple and intriguing using no special effects and the low-budgetness clearly seen....I mean c'mon, you couldn't spring for some more more exotic wild life! hahaha..Mallards are beautiful though and it's a cleaver usage of quail and standard field mice and mirrors. All the perfect elements for a live-action fractal art show. The Kraftwerk-esque music enhances the visuals to a point where we anticipate more and want to peer deeper into the complexity of the visuals to find more patterns and meaning.
AHHHH...this next one is straight up drugs! Watch all 3 parts!! Especially part 3..if you have a really fast internet connection view it on YouTube as higher quality.
UPDATE: I totally forgot to include this in the post originally. This video is weird and looks painful but is highly entertaining. Turn the volume down if you need to..I did!
I know this isn't really a weekly type of posting but this is by far the weirdest video I've seen this week. Oddly, I think this actually enhances the music in an LCD induced synesthetic kinda way.
Ok, I know you're probably thinking "Dude, what's up with this gay-ass Euro-Pop bullshit!?" I don't know...for some reason I'm feeling this track. Although, luckily for you, you'll probably never hear me play it out. I'm waaaaaay outside of the loop for getting bookings in the 'hipster' scene.
This video for Ratatat is kinda weird..I like the simple and effect technique of reversing some facial features but what I'm not getting is why there is really no storyline or any real meaning with the video.
Some people may think this video is really out there and weird. Me, well...I think monkeys are quite normal and I relate to them. But what is weird is that this song is not sung in American. I mean, c'mon dude..everyone knows that there's only one language for sangin' in. Either way, it sounds cool. I may not understand French but this is clearly a song speaking out against household chores and promoting equal rights for monkeys that want to play in bands. (I know what you're thinking..Chimpanzees are not monkeys. Stop discriminating! They can wear diapers, ride motorcycles and throw feces just like monkeys and my cousins. )
Future Shock 086 is one of the parties DJ Skipmode (ill!) does. It's a monthly party that takes place at The Kyber here in Philly. I've rocked this party with Skipmode on several occasions and although the money is short it's still one of my favorite parties to play. Everything from hip-hop, classic and underground '80s dance trax, funk and even current 'hipster' tunes. This is the only party where I get to play some of my weird punk/disco/house/rock tunes and people love it. This past month was pretty slow at the gate but everybody there was on the dance floor gettin' it in. Here's a sample from the last hour of the night (sorry about the recording quality...it sounded right in the club and that's more important than the recording. enjoy!
Live from Future Shock 086 (July 2008, end of night snippet) Download this mix
I'm covering for Skipmode this month too....bring your stankin' ass out! It's free, there's cheap beer (only $1 until 11!!) and the music is on point.
That is the title of the cover story for the new issue of Adbusters magazine. I don't think this is the full article but is still highly recommeded. Personally, I don't quite understand that culture and don't like most of the music. I'm not a hater though, and really like some of the music emerging from that scene and have dated some girls that would be considered 'hipster' and they were actually some of the best girls I've known. I guess I'm on the outskirts of it then in some weird way. I think the author of this article certainly raises some great points about how it is a culture based on following trends instead of following yourself. This has always occurred in fashion and music but not on such a broad scale. Ultimately, it is a result of the technology that has allowed for nothing to be truly underground and allows for all 'counter' cultures to have fair share of the 'mainstream' market.
The biggest difference is that en masse, the followers of this trend have traded their individual purpose for the purpose of the companies they support. Most people feel that there should be more to life than partying and consumerism which is why the 'hipster' trend is so bizarre. Governments and companies love these people though because they are very obedient and predictable without even realizing it. I'm curious though, why so many people criticize this trend. Sure it is ridiculous and funny but, is it really different than any other trend? Well, according to this article, "yes!" The main difference is the people in this scene don't acknowledge it and they themselves have no definition of where their scene fits in society or even where they fit as individuals within their scene. This is very different from other scenes driven by music/club culture. Ask a die-hard punk, b-boy, house head or rasta and they know where they and their culture stands and what it means for them and society. They have styles that they have openly adopted as theirs. Not the 'hipster' though. It is a very curious and interesting point in the global society.
As I've said before, I do not understand the whole 'hipster' scene. I think a lot of the music coming from that scene sux azz but I like some of it A LOT! Hell, good music is good music and transcends all barriers (except for commercial radio and the FCC). Here's a few selections that you should know..
First up is by Simian Mobile Disco. If you don't know, these dudes are amazing electronic musicians that are mostly analog. They do use digital recording methods but for the most part they're old analog dudes that make some really dope music. Their videos are pretty done really well and although they conflict with the music they work since they fit in with the irony and randomness of their main audience. Although these are well over a year old they still kill on the dance floor. "Hustler" is an undeniable modern club classic in my opinion. "I Believe" is a great early or late night monster..very versatile track. You really should invest in a copy of their last album- Buy it!
Next up is a video by Hollywood Holt. I really don't know much about them but this video caught my attention a while back when browsing the interweb. I know it's a spoof but I like it. It's like something Del would've done back in 98 or something. The lyrics and the video are fun. Imagine if more hip-hop was really about fun or if 'fun' in rap music didn't include violence, drugs, money, cheating, etc... (Confession: I like the original "Throw Some D's")
For this next video you just have to click on the link since you're not allowed to embed it. It's by this group called MGMT. They are super hipster, Brooklyn based and are really good. Unlike much of these hipster 'bands' they actually do play instruments and seem to know a lil' something about 'good' music. Now, I have TONS of disco and have heard a lot but this really caught my attention the first time I heard it. It really sounds like it could have been done in the late '70s or early '80s and I'm sure that's the sound they were going for. The song writing is simple and sweet the way disco should be. I would have went for a different look with the video but I do like the crazy weirdness of their choice too. I'm glad to see music like this actually becoming popular but it's still not played on the radio which is a shame. You can buy the album HERE> WATCH THE VIDEO>>
