Music Video: Vampire Weekend - Giving Up the Gun

(Indie Rock)

Giving Up the Gun appears on Vampire Weekend's second album, Contra.  Contra is easily one of the best releases of 2010, so far.  Vampire Weekend burst onto the scene in 2008 with their eponymous first release, which melded the worlds of Ivy League "preppyness" with their distinct love for world beats/African rhythm.  This style is carried over nicely on Contra, but, unfortunately, is not shown very well on Giving Up the Gun.  I personally didn't like this song on the album.  It was simply... too simple.  Too regular.  Nothing about makes it appealing to me, whereas the rest of the album is unbelievable.

The video for Giving Up the Gun is entertaining, however.  This song has nothing to do with tennis, but that's all that is conveyed in the video.  With actors and artists such as RZA, Jake Gyllenhaal, Lil Jon, and Joe Jonas, it becomes more comedic than meaningful.  I feel it's worth a view.

Buy Contra on CD: Contra or vinyl: Contra

Music Video: Owen Pallett - Lewis Takes Off His Shirt

(Indie Rock, Baroque Pop)

Owen Pallett is a one man genius.  I love his work.  Heartland is his latest release, and the first under his own name.  Prior records were released under the name Final Fantasy, based off the popular Japanese video game series (which is what originally drew me to his work.  With Heartland he used a lot of violin arrangements melded together through digital bleeps, and carried along with his voice.  Definitely a nice album for anyone interested in softer music.

Probably the most popular song on the album, Lewis Takes Off His Shirt, is the first track to get it's own music video.  Personally, I didn't find the video that entertaining. It was just off in my opinion. Symbolism? Maybe? Idk, there is a lot of hidden themes it was trying to convey.  Orange soda, stabbing yourself, hockey mask, blowing dust, stacking soap... Anyway, check it out. Great song.

If you like Owen Pallett, or Final Fantasy, get the CD: Heartland or LP: Heartland (2 LP)

Local Natives - Gorilla Manor (2010)

(Indie Rock, Freak Folk)

I had friends and family over this past weekend and it's been a great time; for me, and for them.  Like I've mentioned, we went record shopping and such.  This particular album, though, was just introduced to me.  It is Local Natives debut album, Gorilla Manor.  If it wasn't introduced to me by one of my friends, I probably would have let this album float down the stream and into the ocean of unheard items I will never listen to.  But it was, and I am oh so grateful for it.  I fell in love immediately.  The tunes, different as they are (freak folk style), melt effortlessly into your mind, and you'll find that you'll be humming them in your head at the most mundane of times, wishing they were playing.  This is an instant indie classic, for all (cultured) audiences out there, and any occasion, be it on the road, at a party, or to put you to sleep.  It's amazing.  As bands from the West Coast go, I usually don't find myself too amused by artists coming out of the Los Angeles region too often, but this is most certainly an exception.  I just find that many LA bands copy each others sound way too often and there's no originality, whereas I believe most of the good indie/underground scenes come out of the East Coast area.  I am very glad to have given this a listen.  Some of the few highlights you'll find are tracks 1, 2, 4, and 5: Wide Eyes, Airplanes, World News, Shape Shifter.  Not that the rest of the album isn't highlightable, because it ALL is.  It's a wonderful album, but these few songs just catch me by surprise and take me to that fortress of solitude where I can ponder EVERYTHING.  World News in particular is my favorite on the record.  It feels, to me, like their take on A Day in the Life.  Completely different song, but it gives you a glimpse of how they as people perceive the world, just as the Beatles did in their song.  It is equally as depressing and reminiscent as it is playful and new.  Genius.  The whole thing. 9.5/10

Take a listen to World News, and tell me it isn't a beautiful thing:

World News - Local Natives

Buy CD: Gorilla Manor Buy Vinyl: Gorilla Manor (For all you daring souls switching back to it)