I Love Shamu

With songs like "Beard Lust" and "Sophisticated Sideways Ponytail", Natalie Portman's Shaved Head obviously has a fascination with hair... not to mention serious, sophisticated videos. This one's only one minute and thirty seconds long, for your hurried-life pleasure:


natalie portman's shaved head - sophisticated side ponytail from thatgo on Vimeo.

Neon Bumbag

A new one from Stereolab - some nice visuals to perk up a rainy Tuesday. Excellent timing on this one too since Rachel just sent me Stereolab's 1996 album "Emperor Tomato Ketchup" the other day. Woo-ho:

Neon Beanbag


Song :: Neon Beanbag by Stereolab

It's well weapon
(yes, I've been into this lately).

Keep it dusty, yeah.

Canada: Number One in Fourth Place Finishes

Hey, I really don’t care if we get shut-out throughout the entire games but it is interesting how the COC’s “own the podium” talk has seemingly shifted to more of a “medal counts are meaningless” stance. What else are they going to say? I feel for the athletes in their time of agonizing defeat, but I can’t see anyone having any sympathy for the red-faced suits trumpeting Vancouver 2010.

Canada rounded out the first week of Olympic competition in a tie for 53rd (ie: last) and trailing the superbly superior (ie: one medal) efforts of the Tajikstanians and Lithuanians. We even got beaten by a muppet..

Video :: Champion by Kanye West

Left of Centre

Putting aside Swedish uke-n-accordian tunes for a mo...

A smiley summer single from this hip young dude... the video shows Mr. Esser, all retro'd up, having a block party with his fellow Chelmsfordians.
Headlock


A new single from Mr. Bright Eyes...
Video :: Souled Out!!! by Conor Oberst


Eugene Hütz starred in “Everything is Illuminated” but is really getting a name for himself on the touring circuit through his band Gogol Bordello - a gypsy-themed punk band that has done for gypsy music what The Pogues did for Irish music (bastardized and sped up). Gogol Bordello are a band that "the Scot down the road" will go to any lengths to see live. I can see why...
Video :: Wonderlust King (live) by Gorgol Bordello


Song :: Headlock by Esser
Song :: Souled Out!!! by Conor Oberst
Song :: American Wedding by Gogol Bordello

The Format's Nate has a new band: "Fun". They sound like a cross between The Format (those vocals are just too distinctive) and The Hidden Cameras...
Song :: Benson Hedges by Fun (UPDATED link)

Beaten by Togo and Uzbekistan... again

While the twin super powers of China and the US battle it out for supremacy at the Olympics, let us take a moment to recognize the true meaning of these Games through their motto “Citius Altius Fortius” - which apparently translates, in Canadian, to “Somewhat Fast, Not Too High, and Stronger (possibly) than a Chihuahua”.
But even though Canada’s medal haul – after 5 days of competition - currently sits somewhere between nada and squat… that doesn’t really matter all that much when you have lots of “prospective medals on the horizon” and when you’re number one at finger pointing.

The excellent, and Oscar-nominated, “I Met The Walrus” clearly defines Canada’s place in the world (hint: “nothing”). This despite that the short film was a wholly Canadian production. Oh, we love our self-deprecation:

Video :: I Met The Walrus

Bottle Rocket

The Go! Team tops my list of bands-I-must-see-before-I-get-really-old-and-can't-bop-my-head-up-and-down-anymore. Here's a fan's eye view of the energy they created recently during their hour long, daytime stint at the palooza...

Fan Video :: The Go! Team live at Lollapalooza, August 1, 2008, Chicago

Song :: Bottle Rocket by The Go! Team

Bob's yer uncle

Newly announced support act for James' North American tour... Egh, maybe they'll grow on me - not raising any hairs just yet. Definitely good enough, however, to not get booed off the stage like we did Gallon Drunk ahead of The Moz. Of course, Gallon Drunk were crap.


Video :: The Hit Parade by Unkle Bob

Glósóli-leg hún

Here's a newly available live performance... yet more proof that Sigur Rós may very well be the most brilliant band on the planet, or at least the most brilliant band on the planet that continues to upload free, exceedingly lengthy, high quality video clips. Doubters can tune in between the 5 and a half and 7 and a half minute marks where Glósóli reaches its crescendo and Jónsi's perfected, other-worldly vocal melds effortlessly with the smashing wall of noise. This should not be possible:

Video :: Sigur Rós live at MOMA, NYC, June 2008

Looks like Jónsi's mullet's coming in just fine. A new one from them, the excellent Við spilum endalaust (featured in the MoMA clip, beginning at 16:37):
Song :: Við spilum endalaust by Sigur Rós