Video Watch: Broken Bells + Solange/Of Montreal

Odd musical pairings are one of my favorite things. Like when Eminem and Elton John got together at the Grammy’s, or Paul McCartney and Michael Jackson stole some money. March 9th marks the release of a debut in the same vein, what some might (inaccurately, in my opinion) call this decade’s answer to the Postal Service – and that’s the Dangermouse/ James Mercer duo Broken Bells. We recently got a leak of the first track, “The High Road”, and now here comes the video.
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I thought I’d throw in a bonus odd collaboration, since it seems like I’m posting something about this love affair every week. Here’s baby Knowles, Solange, on stage with Athens, GA’s psychadelic-poppers Of Montreal covering the Jackson 5 classic, “I Want You Back”. Don’t you just love the Internet?

[Giveaway!] Elvis Costello Spectacle Season 1 DVD + Sundance Channel Prize Pack

If you like well shot live performances and artist interviews, then I highly suggest you peruse your long list of cable channels to see if you’re carrying the Sundance Channel. Along with their Live From Abbey Road program, the network also carries a performance/talk show that has nothing to do with the recent fight for late night, and that’s Spectacle: Elvis Costello With… .

Seriously, listen to this. Wendesday nights at 10 p Elvis Costello invites a wide range of artists to come on his show to perform with him and his band and talk music, from one musical genius to another. Last season featured visits from Lou Reed, Bill Clinton, James Taylor, Elton John, Bruce Springsteen, Tony Bennett, The Police, Rufus Wainwright, She & Him, Jenny Lewis, and Smokey Robinson… the list goes on. I know, right? Check out this clip from the Boss’s interview, where he admits that “Hungry Heart” was originally written for… The Ramones?

Now to the good stuff. If you missed out on Season 1 of Spectacle or desperately need for it to be in your home collection, then you’ve come to the right music blog. E-mail dustsleeve@gmail.com and you will be automatically entered into a random drawing for Spectacle Season 1 AND a Sundance Channel Prize Pack. Update: Congrats to Laura from Chicago!

Video Watch…Islands – “No You Don’t”

“No You Don’t” is the latest video from Montreal, Canada’s Islands off their 2009 release Vapours. Arrested Development fans (or, I guess, Juno and stuff, too) might want to pay attention to this one, as it stars the ever-awkward but endearing Michael Cera. The lesson here, I think, is not to do drugs or not to hang out with Canadians. Or, listen to more Islands…I’m not quite sure.

Video Watch: NME’s Best of ’09 Video Playlist

Best of the year lists are out with a vengeance, and I thought it was great to see NME put some videos along with it. Check out their youtube playlist, playing their top 50 songs of ’09 by clicking over to youtube through #50 on their list by Bombay Bicycle Club.

Video Watch: Sufjan Stevens – “That Was The Worst Christmas Ever”

If there’s one thing I love, it’s indie rock bands covering Christmas classics. If there’s one thing I uber-love, however, it’s indie rock bands penning their own Christmas hymns. Which is why the multi-album, Sufjan Stevens Christmas collection is my holiday go-to for merry music. To get us in the spirit, let’s check out my favorite of his originals, “That Was The Worst Christmas Ever”, which – as it so happens – is not too merry, after all.

Video Watch: Dodos: “Longform” + Tegan and Sara “Hell” (Acoustic)

Pitchfork just posted the newest video from San Francisco trio The Dodos. “Longform” is the second track on their Frenchkiss release Time To Die. How badly do you wish you were living inside this music video? Seems nice.

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If you’ve been missing their acoustic styles after the October release of Tegan and Sara‘s electrical Sainthood, consider this a treat. Here they are performing single “Hell” in some hallway for Fly TV…acoustic.

News Briefs

Pre-Order Allison Weiss’s New Album + MP3’s + Tour

We here at DustSleeve happen to think Athens, GA’s Allison Weiss is pretty fantastic. Not only is she cute, a master of social media, as D.I.Y as they come, and a pretty serious pancake fan, she also happens to be really, really talented. November 24th marks the release of her first full-length LP (though sixth release), and you can expect nothing less than her signature quirk-pop appeal in a clean, catchy, hope-filled collection worth keeping on repeat over this holiday season. If you can’t wait to get your hands on the disk, you have TWO DAYS to pre-order …Was Right All Along and get a ton of goodies as your reward! For now you can hear two MP3’s from the album, and check the tour section at the bottom of the post for the first string of upcoming dates.

Daytrotter For Your iPhone
Your favorite site for a daily fix of in-studio magic is now at your fingertips…literally. For all of you hip enough to carry an iPhone you can now access the entire Daytrotter library for free if you download the Daytrotter App. Impress your relatives this Thanksgiving when you seamlessly switch from b-sides, covers, and alternate versions of your favorite rockers care of one horse loving band of studio engineers. Rad!

 

King Khan & BBQ Arrested + Blame Manager + Enjoy Shroomin’

If there’s one thing you don’t want to do in Oak Grove, Kentucky, it’s get caught with some far out shroomage. Our friends King Khan & BBQ had to learn it the hard way last week when Arish and Kristin got held up in the slammer for possession of illegal mushrooms. Although the blame was tried to put off on their manager/chaperone, the Christian County (yikes) Jail set the record straight. A few shows were cancelled and fans are left mostly un-surprised.

Sub Pop Releases New Beach House MP3

While the alternative music world sits in waiting for the release of Beach House’s new one Teen Dream, their Seattle-based label Sub Pop let us at an early-download MP3 for track “Norway”. Enjoy.
MP3: Beach House – Norway

Tours: Allison Weiss, Future Islands, Rogue Wave & More

Video Watch: White Rabbits + Britt Daniel / Gainsbourg + Beck

This week we’re video watching a pair of excellent pairings. The first comes from a recent White Rabbits show in San Francisco where the Brooklyn-based six-piece was joined on stage by Spoon’s Britt Daniel for a fairly excellent cover of John Lennon’s “Instant Karma”. Enjoy it, below!

I first fell in love with Charlotte Gainsbourg when she starred in the Michel Gondry French-flick, The Science of Sleep. After netflixing everything of hers I could get my hands on, I then moved on to her music catalog, namely 2006’s 5:55. Last month she started releasing tracks from her third and Beck-produced album IRM, and now it looks like we’ve got ourselves a video. Check out the Beck duet, “Heaven Can Wait”, available for your swooning pleasure below.
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Video Watch: MOF on Fallon and the new Grizzly Bear

Jimmy Fallon knows good music, or at least someone who books his talent does. Last week the Ward/Oberst/Mogis/James super-group Monsters of Folk swung by the show to perform their title track “Dear God”, and house band The Roots couldn’t keep themselves from being involved. That’s a lot of good looking and good sounding talent, kids. (Side Note: How awkward does Oberst look in that suit and behind a bass? I love it)
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Brooklyn’s Grizzly Bear have one of the best albums of 2009 on their hands with Veckatimest, along with some of the weirdest videos to go along with it (See: “Two Weeks“, “While You Wait for the Others“). Last week they premiered this clay-mation art-school-type piece for “Ready, Able” directed by Allison Schulnik. Let’s be honest, we don’t get it but we are still left feeling like these guys can do no wrong.

Video Watch: Tegan and Sara do “Hell” on Conan

It took me a couple of spins to fall in love with Tegan and Sara’s Oct. 27th release Sainthood, but ever since I’ve been a solid fan. Recently the twins stopped by Conan’s set to play the first single “Hell”, and even though it’s a good song and I have nothing but the highest respect for T & S’s ability to rock their material live, this performance kind of sounds like…well, hell. Who to blame? The folks in charge of Conan’s new set. It’s not the first time I’ve heard a good band sound bad on his newer late night set up.