Music Video of the Week: Radiohead - "Idioteque" (live at Outside Lands)

Radiohead were one of the headliners at San Francisco's Outside Lands festival last weekend. I didn't go, as I'd seen Radiohead a few years back at Coachella, but by all accounts it was amazing (despite a pair of technical glitches). Our friend Barbara saw Radiohead in Seattle last week and gave us this lovely review. All this hearing about Radiohead made me want to track down some recent live footage. I found a performance of my favorite Radiohead song from Outside Lands, and perhaps this is what it would have looked like if I had been there. I remember when I did see Radiohead, there was a moment when all the lights went out, and things got quiet. Then the glitchy intro to "Idioteque" started and that was just a great moment.

For daily music videos, visit the N&UR Music Video Blog.

Music Video of the Week: A.C. Newman and Will Sheff (of Okkervil River) - "Lost Coastlines"

Okkervil River has a new record called The Stand Ins due September 9. In anticipation of the album, the band is releasing a set of videos featuring collaborations on album tracks with other notable artists. The band is joined by New Pornographer A.C. Newman for this living room recording of "Lost Coastlines." Newman also has a record of his own called Get Guilty (his second solo set) tentatively slated for a January release. I loved Okkervil River's The Stage Names (2007) and Newman's The Slow Wonder (2004), so something tells me I am going to love this new records as well. [Via Pitchfork]

For daily music videos, visit the N&UR Music Video Blog.

Music Video of the Week: "Do It," Nelly Furtado

Music in the 80s was pretty good - dance, slow jams, new wave, R&B. Though when you listen to it these days, some times it just lacks a certain amount of "oomph" in the production. Not a problem. Much of modern music is about borrowing the ideas of the past and improving upon them. I prefer the Killers' Hot Fuss to much of Duran Duran's catalog, and I usually found Kanye's tracks a cut above where their samples have been drawn from. It would seem that Timbaland's work with Nelly Furtado is all about returning to the fun 80s dance vibe and just doing it better. "Do It" is just catchy as hell and boasts a phenomenal chorus. In fact, it's really been the choruses that have made Furtado's tracks stand out over the past year.

Music Video of the Week: "My Rights Versus Yours" (live on Letterman) - The New Pornographers

Music Video of the Week + Bowie Sunday ... On Monday!

I was having some trouble with YouTube this weekend, so these weekly spotlights are coming at ya today ...

Music Video of the Week:
Barry Bonds ties Hank Aaron at 755 career home runs.


Bowie Sunday:
"Space Oddity"

Music Video of the Week: "That's the Way" (live on Letterman) - Smashing Pumpkins

We will objectively review the new Smashing Pumpkins album sometime soon. Meanwhile, here's a performance of new song "That's the Way (My Love Is)" ...

Music Video of the Week: "The Underdog" - Spoon

Before you watch this video, enjoy a tasty snack...

Ok, and now on to the new Spoon video...

Music Videos of the Week:"Cant Tell Me Nothing" & "Stronger" - Kanye West

Kanye West's first two videos from his forthcoming Graduation - both directed by Hype Williams - could not be more different from one another. At the same time, they are both distinctly Kanye.

"Can't Tell Me Nothing" is a bit of a minimalist epic. The focus is mainly on Kanye, with the camera gently jolting every now and then. The camera movement is very much unlike that of your typical music video, and I was quite impressed with the restraint Williams shows on this one.


"Stronger" is anything but restrained. Built around a Daft Punk sample, it again finds Kanye reconciling his excessive tendencies with his personal drive. The video fulfills many music video fantasies - robots, a trip to Japan, expensive sunglasses, a motorcycle gang and lots of colored lights.

Music Video of the Week: "ABC" - The Pipettes

The Pipettes were in San Francisco this past week and though I did not get out to see them, it did get me re-intereseted in their debut, We Are the Pipettes, one of my favorites from 2006 (see my review). Seems like this video for "ABC" has been out for sometime, but it's new to me. Cartoon music videos are always a bit hit-or-miss in my opinion, but it's hard to think of another band right now more deserving of one.