Music Video

One of the best songs/videos of the year comes from Ramona Falls, the solo venture of Brent Knopf of Menomena. The album entitled Intuit is out now via Barsuk Records. I just spotted it on eMusic.

Ramona Falls – I Say Fever

Video: Ramona Falls – I Say Fever

One of the best surprises for me at our SxSW party last year was seeing Tigercity perform. They took the stage about 8 hours into the party after a series of alt-country acts like Joe Pug, Justin Townes Earle, The Deep Dark Woods and others. Their set was the turning point in the party. People ordered fewer beers and more red bull + vodka cocktails and things got a little weirder.

I haven’t had a chance to spin the album, but the 80’s inspired “Fake Gold” is here as an mp3 and the video features the bald, bearded lead singer scoring a hot chick. The album is out now and the band is touring.

Tigercity – Fake Gold

Video: Tigercity – Fake Gold

Tour dates:

11/6 – Chicago, IL – Schubas
11/7 – Kansas City, KS – The Brick
11/8 – Des Moines, IA – Vaudeville Mews
11/10 – Denver, CO – Larimer Lounge*
11/11 – Salt Lake City, UT – Kilby Court*
11/12 – Boise, ID – Nuerolux*
11/13 – Missoula, MT – The Palace*
11/15 – Seattle, WA – Nectar*
11/17 – Portland, OR – Mississippi Studios*
11/18 – Salem, OR – Willamette University*
11/20 – Los Angeles, CA – Echoplex*
11/21 – San Diego, CA – Beauty Bar
* w/Neon Indian

Fleet Foxes drummer and solo folk troubadour and Jesus look-a-like, J. Tillman, has released a new video for the song “Though I Have Wronged You” from his ‘09 album Year In The Kingdom.

J. Tillman – Though I Have Wronged You (via Steregum)

Video: J. Tillman – Though I Have Wronged You (via Pitchfork)

Another video appropriate for Halloween. White Water, White Bloom is available now via Dangerbird Records.

Video: Sea Wolf – Wicked Blood

Yesterday we posted The Low Anthem’s claymation video for “Charlie Darwin” and today I ran across this video from Land Of Talk. It’s a great video for Halloween week with dark imagery and a dreamy landscape. It’s like getting wrapped up in an M.C. Escher drawing.

Land Of Talk – It’s Okay

Middle Distance Runner hail from our nation’s capital and are releasing their new album, The Sun & Earth, on October 20th via Engine Room Recordings. Their first single is a nice lil’ indie pop gem.

Middle Distance Runner – The Fury

Watching The Low Anthem perform in studio was like entering a transcendent reality. They stopped in on Sunday morning, the final day of Lollapalooza and a morning that greeted most of HearYa with paralyzing hangovers. Somehow we each managed to put down a 32 oz Gatorade and a couple Jimmy Dean sausage biscuits prior to the band’s arrival, which provided just enough energy to load in gear that included a pump organ, clarinet, crotales, upright bass, alto horn, a couple guitars and a few harmonicas. Several of these instruments were completely foreign to me, which only added to the mystical allure of The Low Anthem.

We hustled around to get the cameras in place while The Low Anthem warmed up, singing familiar lines “Oh my god, the water’s all around us. Oh my god, it’s all around” from the song “Charlie Darwin.” Everyone in the studio stopped in their tracks to listen. Those sorrowful lyrics floated around a room that was custom built for sound and I knew immediately that this session would be special. And it was.

The session starts with “Ticket Taker,” featuring Ben Miller on acoustic guitar, Jeff Prystowsky on upright bass and Jocie Adams on clarinet. Ben remains on lead vocals, but that’s the only constant. Each band member seems equally comfortable with any instrument in their arsenal. “Charlie Darwin” follows with Jocie moving over to the crotales, an instrument that amazes me. Then, one of my favorite tracks from What The Crow Brings emerges in “This God Damn House.” Ben starts off with his alto horn while Jeff gets the feet moving on the pump organ. We were all taken by surprise when Ben stepped away from the mic to grab his cell phone. We started switching cameras from him, assuming he had pressing business that required an urgent text message. But then he grabbed a second phone and lifted them up as he whistled to create a spectral sound to finish the song.

The band brings a focused energy and intensity to their craft and Ben comes across like a quiet perfectionist that wants each note to sound just right. The Low Anthem return from touring abroad to bring their music stateside alongside Blind Pilot. Check out their MySpace page for dates.

Exclusive: The Low Anthem – Ticket Taker

Exclusive: The Low Anthem – Charlie Darwin

Exclusive: The Low Anthem – This God Damn House

Exclusive: The Low Anthem – Cigarettes and Whiskey

Download The Low Anthem Live Session as a zip file.

Video: The Low Anthem – This God Damn House

We just finished up a great live session with Port O’Brien, featuring several tracks from their about to be released new album, Threadbare. I haven’t finished writing it up yet, but it’s one of those at the top of my list for 2009. Here’s the video for “My Will Is Good.”

Here are the Threadbare tracks we were given to post:

Port O’Brien – My Will Is Good

Port O’Brien – Sour Milk/Salt Water

Video: Port O’Brien – My Will Is Good

We have a live session scheduled with The Dodos in late October and this video has me all hot and bothered. Their recent release Time To Die is their best yet and this video for “Fables” captures the band’s magic. I’ve walked away from every show mesmerized by their percussion. This is best illustrated by the tambourine duct taped to the foot.

The Dodos – Fables

Video: The Dodos – Fables (via Pitchfork)