The latest video for “How Are My Thoughts Not My Own” from dark pop group Challenger plays out like the travelogue from some cross-country tour.  Between slowly changing scenes of various places and landscapes, singer John Ross softly coos above a gently plucked acoustic guitar before the synths and 80′s pop influences which the band so covetously employs make themselves known.  You could say that the repeated line “tell me it’s just chemicals” is indicative of something untrue–something that must be covered over by artificial means.  But the slowly rising synth thump and emotionally charged vocals make it clear that whatever is being conveyed here is raw and expressly direct, with the duo trying to remove any distractions between the listener and music.  But as the song reaches its long-awaited crescendo, the intent of that line about chemicals turns inside out, and it seems as though Ross is simply saying that we are all synapses and chemical responses and that this is how we come to know each other–though these quickly firing physical and mental reactions.  Watch the video for “How Are My Thoughts Not My Own” below.

HOW ARE MY THOUGHTS NOT MY OWN VIDEO from Catherine Rehwinkel on Vimeo.

One of our favourite records in the early months of this year was Foxygen’s We Are The 21st Century Ambassadors of Peace and Magic. With spring in full bloom and summer just around the corner, we’re sure many of the sunny tracks from that album will be on people’s playlists over the coming months. Appropriately, Foxygen are releasing one of the album’s highlights, “No Destruction,” as a 7″ single on May 28th, which can be pre-ordered here. The duo have also released a comical video for the song, which you can watch below. The video features clips of the two guys from as long as eight years ago when they would goof around with their friend Bryan Felber, who compiled some of the clips and has directed this video.
(more…)

Savannah sludge heads Kylesa are known for mixing psychedelic washes of thick guitars with a penchant for metal virtuosity and have even thrown in some raggedly pulled together pop melodicism in their songs from time to time. On the latest single “We’re Taking This” from their upcoming record Ultraviolet, the band doesn’t disappoint. Chugging guitars and a chest thumping rhythm section mix with singer/guitarist Phillip Cope’s vocals to create the perfect soundtrack for some late night demolition.  But there is more to the song that its superficial anthemic-ness (though that would be enough on its own). Look beneath the swirls of casually tossed off guitar notes, pounding drums, and angular bass thuds, and you’ll hear a band who relishes in picking apart the conventions of the genre within which they work and doing it effortlessly.  Ultraviolet is due out May 28th via Season of Mist.

Queens of the Stone Age’s long awaited new album …Like Clockwork is just under a month away from its release date (June 4th on Matador) and today the band have released a creepy new animated video for a new song from it entitled “I Appear Missing,” which follows on from the ripping lead single “My God Is The Sun.” The more somber single matches nicely with the video, which is animated by UK artist Boneface. Have a watch and listen below.
(more…)