The Daily Swarm

Mew “Repeaterbearer”

Dear idiots who can’t understand what’s going on in this video: the band are undergoing hypnotherapy. It’s pretty fucking simple. Under hypnotherapy one’s unconscious can be unlocked. Realistically hypnotherapy is only used to modify one’s behavior, but some more manipulative types, like the “doctor” in this video, might use it for their own amusement. This is why there is air guitar, the sweats and random crawling on the floor to nowhere. I do believe Mew are the first to highlight evil hypnotherapy in a music video, so well done.

American Yard “No You Didn’t”

In my opinion the greatest thing about rap songs is when the lyrics are so ridiculous that they make you laugh. This song has about five of those moments. It’s a good take on your average hip hop video: light brite. Really clever take on low budget.

Lightning Dust “Never Seen”

There is something very creepy going on in this video. Somewhere between the blue tint, which always makes me think of the hours before school when the sun wasn’t quite out yet, and the weird kid dressed like an eskimo in the back of what at first glance appears to be a kidnapper van I am put completely off my guard and unable to anticipate where this video is going. Ultimately it goes nowhere. It’s a study in the mundane mixed with some childhood wonder. It’s executed so nicely however, that you will watch all the way through.

Amerie “Heard ‘Em All”

If Pitchfork can be believed we’ve all been waiting for Amerie to successfully follow up “One Thing” since about 2005 and that makes this a must-see video. The aesthetic is very Rhythm Nation era Janet with a tinge of Rihanna thrown in for modern measure. A female urban artist can almost never go wrong with a post-modern wasteland or any sort of set that looks like a nice nuclear blast site. I’m not into the troupe of Lady Gaga-esque dancers – it feels a little desperate. It’s for sure a hit song for the radio, but in the next video I’d like to see a little more of Amerie’s personality and less of a mish-mash of sure fire generic things that look like everyone else’s music video right now.

Some Days are Better than Others (trailer) from matt mccormick on Vimeo.

From the movie’s website:

Katrina (Carrie Brownstein) is a twenty-something reality TV enthusiast, video diarist and animal shelter worker whose world falls apart when she finds that those important to her are often not what she hopes they would be. Eli (James Mercer) is a mid-30s slacker who could offer a thoroughly researched social critique explaining all the reasons why he shouldn’t get a job; his experiences temping only reinforce his assertions. Camille (Renee Roman Nose) is a socially handicapped thrift store attendant who spends her days sorting through the donated discards of other people’s lives, and Otis (David Wodehouse) is an 84-year-old eccentric filmmaker and inventor who strives to be recognized for his work.

Some Days are Better Than Others is about the nuances of communication, the desperation of heartbreak, and the struggle to maintain hope through the passing of time. It’s a sad valentine to the forgotten discards of a throwaway society, and a story about knowing when to hold on, and when to let go.

via NPR

Blitz the Ambassador on scoring PBS Documentary from MVMT on Vimeo.

Bronx Princess is part of PBS’ award-winning “POV” Documentary series, the longest-running televised showcase for independent non-fiction films. The POV series is celebrated for its intimate storytelling and ability to put a human face on social issues.

“I related to Bronx Princess because it’s about a young Ghanaian-American who’s trying to reconcile her growth in America with her family experiences in Ghana. So, one thing that was really important in writing and composing this score was trying to capture that authentic sound and do it how it is done back home,” Blitz says.