I am a huge fan of the New Zealand comedy duo Flight of the Conchords. Bret McKenzie and Jemaine Clement are geniuses and bring to the table a refreshing creativity that makes life much more fascinating. As absurd as it may sound, their music makes it much easier to understand the world we live in, and if everyone took the time to listen to this album, the world would be a better place. People just need to be able to poke fun at themselves!

While I do enjoy the HBO show, I much prefer their stand up, as I believe, for the most part, their songs work best when the listener can visualize their lyrics in their head. The next best thing to stand-up video is stand-up audio, and on April 22, Sub Pop will be releasing a full-length Flight of the Conchords self-titled album for your listening pleasure. Our friend at Jonk Music put together a great post that shows the track-listing for the new album, plus links to each song as seen in the show.

Thanks to Jonk Music, here is the track-listing plus video links. Go to his site to see all the video links:

Flight of the Conchords‘ track listing is:

1. Foux du Fafa
2. Inner City Pressure
3. Hiphopopotamus vs. Rhymenoceros
4. Think About It
5. Ladies of the World
6. Mutha’uckas
7. The Prince of Parties
8. Leggy Blonde
9. Robots
10. Boom
11. A Kiss is Not a Contract
12. The Most Beautiful Girl (In the Room)
13. Business Time
14. Bowie
15. Au Revoir

The Distant Future EP (2007):

Flight of Conchords – Business Time

Flight of the Conchords – I’m Not Crying

Site| | iTunes |HBO| Amazon (Season 1)

Jenny

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For those who like: Feist, Cat Power, Emily Haines & The Soft Skeleton, Andrew Bird

I rarely come across an album that I want to listen to from beginning to end. There is always at least one song, often more, that tempts me to hit the skip button. With the Toronto band Forest City Lovers, that is not the case. In fact, I have already put the album on repeat quite a few times. I only came across the band a few weeks ago, and am absolutely in love with their 2006 debut album, The Sun and The Wind. If you are only plan to purchase one album within the next month, this is the album I recommend.

Forest City Lovers make me feel warm inside—something about their music is so familiar, yet new at the same time. The first time I listened through The Sun and The Wind, I felt that the band mastered knowing exactly what I wanted to hear; it is a talent to be able to not only know good music, but consistently produce it. This album entertains horns, banjos, chimes, violins, piano, and other surprises that make it the masterpiece that it is. The instruments never intrude on the vocals or guitar though. They just gently poke their heads out to say hello.

The female vocals are welcoming and comforting—and among the best out there next to Cat Power and Feist. Kat Burns’ voice is real and personal and sounds superb when sung in conjunction with their beautiful instrumental arrangements.

I know I am going to be gushing over this album for a while. And it deserves every second of it. This is truly a remarkable piece of work, and I love everything about it. I love the track placement. I love how all of the eleven tracks are less than three and a half minutes in length (and seven tracks are under three minutes). It’s not a second shorter or longer than it needs to be. It gets to the point. And now so will I. Buy this album. It is essential to have in your music catalogue. Listen from start to finish. And embrace.

Forest City lovers is based in Toronto, Canada and consists of Kat Burns (vocals/guitar/piano), Kyle Donnelly (bass/guitar/vocals), and Mika Posen (violin/piano/vocals). They have a new album coming out March 11, 2008 on Out of this Spark, entitled Haunting Moon Sinking. Some songs can be previewed on their Myspace, and I will be reviewing the album within the next few weeks. I’m also going to quickly mention that they released The Sun and the Wind independently, so the proceeds are going to the band.

The Sun and the Wind (2006):

Forest City Lovers – Song For Morrie

Forest City Lovers – In Flight

Forest City Lovers – Beneath Rocks & Sands

Deciding which songs to feature was nearly impossible. They are all great. If you like songs, you will love the album.

Site | Kat Burns’ site (check it out)| iTunes| Zunior| Myspace (Buy CD directly from band)

I love this music video for “Don’t Go, Please.” It was filmed by the band in 2007 when touring Western Canada, from Toronto to Victoria.It goes perfect with this music.

MP3: Tim Williams – “Novel”

Directed by: Josh Horowitz

Basically created from tons of stills, the video above is a perfect example of bringing something new to the table. While it exists in a genre that has been seen and done, this video takes an interesting perspective and its movements draw you in.

One thing I’m always looking for is innovation in the world of the video. Being the visual accompaniment to music opens the doors to all kinds of style and oftentimes it’s the twists on the usual that make for the most striking video. Still, the possibilities are almost endless. Today, I’m sharing a few of the more innovative videos I’ve seen in a while.

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This just turned up in my library or something, but I’m truly glad I found it.

Charlemagne’s 2007 release, We Can Build An Island, is a raw, original album with a current of tradition running through. It’s a happy bit of twee rock and introspective shoegaze sharing the air with grunge and heartland rock mixed in.

Formerly located in Madison, Wisconsin, Carl Jones moved to New York and created the album, reminiscent of his previous group, NoahJohn, but with much more depth. It is an interesting creature that definitely doesn’t deserve to be sold short. The type of music they create is definitely something classic, but with a strong sense of vitality… and it makes all the difference.

MP3: Charlemagne – “First Day of Spring”

Charlemagne is not terribly complex or progressive in their songwriting. They call upon many tropes that are familiar to the listener and tease at the stylistic chord progressions of various generations. Hidden in the spaces, however, are the unidentifiable undertones that make the album feel honest, classic and truly, a pleasure.

MP3: Charlemagne – “Saturn Return”

Mp3: Charlemagne – “We’re Gonna Hate All Over This Town”

Home | MySpace | NoahJohn | SideCho Records | More Tracks @ Hype Machine

Get yoself some Charlemagne on: iTunes | Amazon | eMusic | SideCho

Here’s their video for “New Train”

http://youtube.com/watch?v=uFKIGGrEbt0

Looking to put the thrill back into chill? Look no further than Dublin’s Electric Penguins. Besides their sick name, which they got from Paul McCartney (he used the name as password for his Cavendish Square apartment in the ’60s), they have some great ambient, electronic/pop music. Think Kraftwerk meets Album Leaf meets David Bowie meets the Flaming Lips meets Super Furry Animals. Man, am I good. But besides my amazing talent of being able to categorize bands, keep in mind that the mixture leads to some great songs and a few that go a little astray at times.

Electric Penguins has one album entitled Goodbye from the Electric Penguins. Really funny name for a debut album. Personally, I would have gone with Electric Penguins: Greatest Hits 2006-2006. The beginning of the album is definitely the most solid with “Supergirl,” “Soft Landing, and “Translantic Part 1” being among the highlights.

Electric Penguins is based in Dublin and consists of Mark Cummins, Paul Murphy and Sean Quinn. On Goodbye from the Electric Penguins, you will hear some unique instruments such as Moogs, Mellotrons, and Farfisa organs. That’s right. Mellotrons. Apparently, the Electric Penguins have a philosophy of only using instruments from the 70’s. They are signed to Psychonavigation.

Goodbye from the Electric Penguins (2006):

Electric Penguins – Supergirl

Electric Penguins – Soft Landing

Myspace | iTunes | Amazon | Podcast Interview

[myspace 19115244]

Gorilla vs. Bear was kind enough to post The New Pornographers newly released music video for “Myriad Harbour.” The song is one of my favorites from TNP, and up there in my top songs from 2007. Two shows at the 9:30 club in DC have just been announced, April 14-15, and I’ll definitely be attending one of them. Click site link below to see other tour dates and get tickets cheaper than through standard ticket outlets. This is a pretty cool music video directed by Mark Lomond. Check it out.

The New Pornagraphers – Myriad Harbour Site | iTunes

Liam Finn’s debut album, I’ll be Lightning, has been one of my favorite new albums to listen to recently. The album released late January on Yep Roc Records. Similar to some other musicians we have featured, the twenty-four year old New Zealander plays almost every instrument you hear on his songs. He manages to somehow play his shows solo as well, using a pedal to control loops. It’s hard to give Liam Finn an exact comparison, because his influences vary from song to song, and the best band comparison formula Rolling Stone could come up with is: Elliott Smith – Despair+ a Leprechaun. I know, weird, RIGHT? I would probably go more with the formula: Elliott Smith * (1/3) + Matt Costa * (1/3) + Pink Floyd * (1/3) – x + x = Liam Finn, where x = RS is going downhill.

Picture Courtesy: Rolling Stone

“Second Chance” has been one of the main promos for I’ll Be Lightning , and while I do enjoy the song, I don’t think it’s the best track on the album. I would say “Gather to the Chapel,” “Fire in The Belly,” and “I’ll Be Lightning” are several of my personal faves. Overall, this is an excellent album to put on if you just want to sit back and relax. Finn has nice riffs spread throughout the album, and his music is that much more intriguing when you realize all the orchestration was done by him. His vocals sound great and are most of the time in perfect harmony with the instrumentals. In my opinion, his tracks with a slower tempo are his best songs because they bring out how talented and ranged he is vocally.

As I mentioned earlier, Liam Finn is from New Zealand and he is the front man for the band Betchadupa. He is the son of musician Neil Finn (Split Enz and Crowded House), and after Crowded House reunited in 2007, Liam became part of the touring band. Many think Liam’s voice is influenced by Neil. He will be doing a solo tour (myspace) in the States between February and April, and I hope to catch him in DC, March 9, at DC9. Watching the video below from a live show Finn did in Seattle, he looks like an awesome performer. Finn says, “No two shows are the same.. it’s been constantly evolving all year, and it’s so enjoyable to let the spontaneous moments guide the show..absolutely anything can happen.”

I’ll Be Lighting (2008):

Liam Finn – Gather to the Chapel

Liam Finn – Energy Spirit

Other recommended songs: I’ll be Lightning, Wise Man, Wide Awake on the Voyage Home, Music Moves My Feet. This Place is Killing me. Pretty much everything. Buy this album.

Site| iTunes | Amazon

[myspace 19267180]

Nice.

Merce Death: Home | MySpace | more MP3’s | Wiki

You may have already seen this video somewhere, but it’s too good to pass up for those who haven’t had the privilege yet. For some reason, I don’t see think this led to a big outrage. The funniest parts of the video in countdown order:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vCWnKBmeRVs

10.The stage

9. The way the guitarist in the black shirt swayed back and forth. And the drummer. And the whole band.

8. The level of awfulness of their music.

7. The fact that such an awful band would lip sync. Sorry to break it to you, it won’t help.

6. The fall.

5. The confusion on the band member’s faces not knowing what to do after the fall.

4. His redeeming hop back on stage.

3. His hand motion before the fall.

2. “Maybe no one saw” attitude he had after falling. His amazing failure to lip sync his own song. The way he sits on his knees in the corner. the grandma still clapping in the audience. The way that the audience has no expression. Everything in the last 10 seconds.

1. The disappearance of his sunglasses after the fall.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=6gLc4FVEYpYThat’s The Flaming Lips WONDERFUL video for “Mr. Ambulance Driver”

MP3: The Flaming Lips – “Mr. Ambulance Driver”

Something I realized lately is that music videos, with the “perversion” “corruption” of MTV, the value of a music video is totally overlooked. So every once in a while I’m going to post some videos with the intent that you, the reader, look not only at the pretty moving pictures but analyze it as an entity itself. There are some amazing creators and artists that are missing the credit they deserve. It is a humble community that begs to receive credit long overdue. I’m not going to give my input out just yet, but I’d love to know how these move you. The underground of the music video business is exploding with creativity and character. Click below to read this installment of Rediscovering the Video.

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