Show and Tell

Posted on fb: Tuesday, June 30, 2009 at 4:00pm

SHOW AND TELL

In the interest of sharing cool things that influence us, i was hoping that maybe this might help someone if they are looking for new and cool stuff. And hopefully you will share too!

Here's a compilation of videos that have either introduced me to, given me new appreciation for, or solidified my admiration for different artists in the past few years.

1. Sigur Ros - Glosoli

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

-Sigur Ros introduced me to "post-rock." I am now a raving post-rock junkie. And yes, I know that most of their lyrics are Icelandic, but come on... who really cares when the music is so beautiful. Additionally, Sigur Ros knows that most of their fans are English-speaking and have purposefully put gibberish amidst the Icelandic, just for fun. Tell me that's not awesome. And with name like "Victory Rose" (named after the lead singer's sister that was born around the same time as the band), Sigur Ros is a must-listen, endlessly re-listenable.

A few additional Sigur Ros video recommendations:
Hoppipola - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_EyI4p0yjDQ
Saeglopur - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7yjurf5d6X0
Trailer for their tour film "Heima" - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RZYIfUdIyfs
Random Life Appearance in Paris - http://vimeo.com/3814849

2. Battles - Atlas

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IpGp-22t0lU

- I was walking through the mall a couple of years ago and literally stopped, turned around, and went into a shoe shop to finish watching the video and find out whose song this was. Battles is in the genre of "math rock," which is another snooty yet amazingly cool sect of musicians that specifically construct their compositions around odd time signatures. Their vocals are meant as instrumentation and add an odd robotic and almost menacing feel to the already rather intimidating music.

Additional video suggestions:
Live performance of Atlas on Jools Holland - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z5LvoBRS1Mk
Tonto - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1LLAN29W-4w
NOT FOR THE FAINT OF HEART: An entire concert - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3PbYLafK1OU

3. Arcade Fire - Neighborhood #1

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Hh45-yBMXY

- Finding these live videos were some of the most invigorating few minutes that I've had online in a very long time. I had listened to their album "Funeral" on and off for a few weeks and was about to give up on them... i couldn't really find a way in. But when I figured out that they are really only a massive ragtag band from a random Canadian music school and named after a fire that happened in an arcade there, and saw their huge stage presence and fun theatricality, I came to love them. Please check out the video suggestions to get the full experience. You really can't miss the "helmet-as-percussion" bit on Neighborhood #2. Or the crowd reaction at the end of Rebellion (Lies). Goose bump city. In top 3 of my "I really want to see them live" list of concerts.

Additional video suggestions:
Neighborhood #2 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3vMjM7FKjIg
Oh Sweet Creativity - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y-5XK-2Ufd4
One of the best Letterman performances I've seen - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Mum6ggkBJs
Being way bad-A - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nRm1tkMs1mw
Greatest Audience Response on Rebellion (Lies) - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z5l7fBwAmmc

4. Animal Collective - My Girls

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zol2MJf6XNE

-"My Girls" isn't necessarily my favorite Animal Collective song... HOWEVER... I feel it is probably the most accessible one that I could find. Animal Collective is weird. And yet, so awesome. It takes patience to find the groove, but the reward for doing so is... well, quite. So! I found out that it isn't the band that's having problems with their music, it was my ears. And now I'm a huge fan. So start with "My Girls" and then move on to the other suggestions... it totally opened me up to a whole new side of music. And that's the whole point of this note, isn't it?

Additional video suggestions:
You'll prolly need this explanation before full exposure: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Animal_Collective
Animal Curses - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h7GZLRxVzvg
Peacebone - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fxvGHQHiY70
Live 1- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v3ConWnoe5g
Live 2 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YLL_RuWjgP8
Oddest Letterman Performance - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ehLEHxvl9rA

5. Slam Poetry

- Fine, so these next videos aren't necessarily music, but they might as well be. I'm only putting my favorite favorites because there are too many good ones to just put them all. So... Start at the top and go down, i guess. Drink deeply and have your life rocked.

The first slam poem I experienced -
Scratch and Dent Dreams - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JfTa4B7wQ_8

ANIS MOJGANI
3 poems - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=znIXyFh6dsI
Milos - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cbYmRaPirnY

VERSIZ
Out There - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hYMy5Mp-X6A
The Process - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Bckjq6TlyY

BUDDY WAKEFIELD
Flockprinter - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jw2MZ2xpdUA

SAUL WILLIAMS
Coded Language - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JpEAsSzmS34



OK... enough of the epic stuff. Here are just some good videos that I've dug up or been sent that have influenced some of the ways that I view performance.

6. Imogen Heap - Just For Now
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=25VGdNU3nrU

7. Grizzly Bear - Two Weeks
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tjecYugTbIQ

8. Avett Brothers - Distraction #74
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4-15vouXYVs


So now, if you will, please respond in kind. Let me know of the artists, videos, performances, experiences, or whatever that have influenced you in the past few years. Among all of us, we can keep the well of influence nice and deep.