Watch this video. I've been a fan of the song for months, and now it's the free music video of the week on iTunes. Mellow vibe + interesting visuals = I'm there.

moonlight and brandy, sweet talk and candy

In August 1981, network known as MTV aired its very first broadcast.  That December, MTV hosted it's first Christmas special.  Enter Billy Squier, who had recorded a new Christmas tune in the studio and was ready to perform it live with the "MTV Chorus."  In a truly great television moment, Billy and the MTV-ers performed Christmas Is The Time To Say I Love You for viewers all across the country.  As everyone knows, this is one of my most favorite Christmas songs of EVER.  And this live performance is without a doubt the most stellar version of the song that exists.  

And now, I give you a historic moment in music television:

great late-night performances

Last night's late-night lineup on NBC featured two really great musical performances.  First, Relient K did a really fun version of Sleigh Ride on Jay Leno:

Then, my boyfriend Robin and the rest of the Fleet Foxes graced the Conan O'Brien audience with their presence, performing a lovely rendition of English House:

Hooray for the television!

the strokes + the o.c. = japanese motors

If you're a fan of The Strokes (who isn't), and if you like jamming to West coast lo-fi, then LISTEN TO THIS.  They're called the Japanese Motors, and they sound like the love child of Santa Barbara and Williamsburg.  With their first L.P. released only four days ago, these boys are getting lots of internet attention and playing a slew of gigs along the East and West coasts (how appropriate).  For a lesson in how to perfectly meld together the two coasts, watch the new video for Single Fins & Safety Pins below:

Bonus: they sound great live.  Watch this video for proof.  Then click here to hear more from the Japanese Motors.  

my bb's still got it

As you all are surely aware, I'm a die-hard Beck fan (UNTIL THE DAY I DIE).  During a recent live appearance on Letterman, Beck proved that after all these years, he's still in it to win it.  I don't know what it is that he's in, or what he's attempting to win, but he's mos def in the race. 

"Gamma Ray," off this summer's Modern Guilt, is arguably the best Beck track to hit the airwaves in quite some time.  Just watch, listen and learn from the master:

photo credit: 1

again and again, and again, and again

Like Sia and many of her other contemporaries, Inara George of The Bird and the Bee has a soft but powerful voice that adds a rather sweet element to the band's songs (yes, she's the one who covered the Bee Gees' How Deep is Your Love in the Sex and the City movie).  I recently discovered the video to their 2007 track Again and Again, and immediately became more enamored with the song after hearing it in parallel with the visuals of the video.  Like the song, the video goes from an odd, almost creepy beginning to an upbeat, dance-y, but still slightly serious feel.  Ok, just watch for yourself:

If you like what you hear, check out La La La, also from The Bird and the Bee's self-titled album.

After New York Fashion week flew by (and then everyone in the industry customarily ignored London's time in the spotlight), I'm restless and desperately need a break from style.com slideshows. Just my luck--the creative geniuses at Prada commissioned the band Antony and the Johnsons to compose a piece representing their Fall/Winter 2008 collection, and produced an animated vid to go with.  (The video for "Fallen Shadows" finally hit the net in conjunction with their fall merch rollout.)

The video incorporates the overall surreal, dreamy vibe of the collection, as well as directly referencing the ever-present guipure lace and organic shapes critics raved about this fall (see photo above).  This collaboration is the sequel to last season's "Trembled Blossoms," featuring music by Cocorosie, although this time around, the animation takes a backseat and the music can be appreciated as a stand-alone piece.

Antony and the Johnsons can also be heard covering Bob Dylan's "Knocking on Heaven's Door" for the I'm Not There soundtrack.  Their 5 song EP Another World is set to be released Oct 7, with a full album, The Crying Light, to follow in January.

credits: photo, video can be viewed and downloaded for free (in quicktime, ipod, and prada phone formats) at prada.com.  thanks to michael, whose title idea was probably better than mine.

come on mood shift, shift back to good again

The countdown to the release of Skeletal Lamping has begun.  On the verge of their 9th studio album, Of Montreal has been pumping up the states with listening parties, including a special Seattle fete, during which the album was accompanied by a LASER LIGHT SHOW.  Can you think of anything better?

Anyway, let's take a look back at at my all-time favorite video from Kevin and co. (and pretend that it's set to lasers):

check check checkkkk it out

I just found a really amusing website.  Blackcabsessions.com is a collection of videos of indie acts playing one of their songs in the back of a cab.  Some sound surprisingly good.  The New Pornographers' mobile version of "All the Old Showstoppers" is my favorite so far.   Mainly because of the accordion.