The Daily Swarm

Gil Scott-Heron “Me And The Devil”

To be honest, I am inclined to watch any video put together for Gil Scott-Heron’s latest album. It is so interesting lyrically that I’m predisposed to think the visuals that could be attached would be equally odd. In the case of “Me And The Devil” I was right. This video looks like what could have happened if the NYC blackout of 2003 had gone horribly wrong. I especially like how everyone wears a mask, illustrating the symbolic idea that men can detach from their humanity do horrible things if they hide behind masks.

Los Campesinos! “Romance Is Boring”

Finally, after a few lo-fi seaside videos, Los Campesinos! release their first concept video from their third album. They opt for a director with a very different aesthetic this video around. The pulp novel style is appro for them and the film comes across as a touch reality TV, which is actually perfect once it becomes apparent how over the top the storyline goes. Everything feels just weird enough to be absurdly real and terribly disturbing. You know, not unlike real life.

KillaQueenz & South Rakkas Crew f/ Lady Chann “Double Up”

Ok, new game: hipster or hip-hop? It’s harder than Google or gay in Chelsea and about on par with hipster or homeless. Let’s start playing with this video. So, there are American Apparel-style outfits/colors, but mixed with actual African accessories. Three dancers who appear to be actually from the Bronx, but a white girl floating in a bathtub. Production nods to old school hip-hop, but also an (ironic?) standard Mac voiceover on the track. Guy with an eyepatch cooking stew, mute Indian. I don’t know if I wanna bet on red or black.

Arsis “Forced To Rock”

I fucking loved “Hot For Teacher.” So did these dudes. Check the singer’s homage to David Coverdale’s guitar face.

Follow columnist Courtney E. Smith on Twitter or read her blog.

Lil’ Wayne “On Fire”

So, this whole music project of Lil’ Wayne’s where he plays guitar and blends elements of recording himself playing Rock Band with hip hop was always a fascinating idea. Now we get to see his first music video as a rock star. He’s got old-school music video director Chris Robinson at the helm and the video is exactly the merger of rock and hip hop iconic video styles that it should be. Unfortunately, it’s so cliched that it is actually boring to watch. Why play it so safe, Wayne?

Lightspeed Champion “Devil in Disguise”

And now for someone who never plays it safe: Lightspeed Champion covering Elvis. This gorilla video shot in flammable fabrics all over the decaying bits of Los Angeles brings forward immediate thoughts of both Black Elvis/Kool Keith and the sad spectacle of Vegas Elvis. There is something unspeakably sad about LA’s landlocked East side that this video really nails.

Unknown

These little electronic music blips have been circulating on the Internet and half the people I follow on Twitter are trying to figure out who they are. My best guess: it has to be the Knife. The footage looks very much like the work of Andres Nilsson, their longtime video director, and the visuals fit nicely into their Darwin Opera theme for the forthcoming album.

Jay-Z f/ Swizz Beatz “On To The Next One”

Jay-Z is just about the only person who can change the evolution of hip hop videos. In this you can see influences coming from everywhere: Gaga’s performance art, True Blood, Kanye – all amounting to not the same old shit. Sam Brown, who has helmed a few Foo Fighters and several Brit rock videos, takes on his first hip hop directing job with this video and really brings something fresh to the genre.

Animal Collective “Brother Sport”

AnCo, as the Runoff likes to call them, bring you a Wild Things-inspired story line with this new video, that takes an odd break here and there to seg into neon paintballs. Of course their music brings on a sense of childlike wonder and often invokes in me the sense of both making an omelet and getting the evil eye, but who knew they’d go so literal with a video.

Follow columnist Courtney E. Smith on Twitter or read her blog.

An Interview with John Adams (12.12.09) from Dustin Nelson on Vimeo.

Video of an interview with composer John Adams conducted before a retrospective of his work by the AXIOM Ensemble at (le) Poisson Rouge on December 12, 2009. The interview is conducted by one the artistic directors at (le) Poisson Rouge, Ronen Givony.

via Christian Nightmares