The AP released a clip that they claim is the last known performance footage of Michael Jackson, supposedly recorded on during a June 23rd rehearsal for his forthcoming O2 shows. The video doesn’t feature much singing, but it does have a lot of dancing, which certainly runs contrary to the reports that Jackson was too frail to walk during his final days. [NahRight]
Beck
“Femme Fatale” (The Velvet Underground cover) Video
Beck‘s Record Club project chugs along with a third track from The Velvet Underground & Nico (previous efforts include “Waiting For the Man” and “Sunday Morning”). “Femme Fatale” gets a percussive reworking, lending the cover a decidedly different aesthetic from the smoky Nico-helmed original. In other Record Club news, Beck and pals now have a weekly DJ section on his website called Planned Obsolescence. Beck says P.O. is a mix of what’s been in heavy rotation on his and guest DJs’ iPods. Mix No. 1 is called “Autobahn Hologram.”
“In the Blackout” is the B-side of The Twilight Sad’s new single “I Became a Prostitue.” Like much of their forthcoming sophomore LP Forget the Night Ahead, there’s plenty of feedback and reverb slathered all over this one. “Blackout” is much darker than the more melodic “Prostitute.” The single (cover above) arrives August 3rd, via FatCat.
Central Market is the forthcoming solo LP from Battles guitarist/keyboardist/chipmunk vocalist Tyondai Braxton. It drops September 15th in the States (September 14 in the UK) via Warp. That’s the multiple personality disorder album cover above and the tracklisting is below the stream link. This week, Pitchfork premiered a stream of the first song off Market, called “Uffe’s Woodshop.” It’s a highly kinetic and meticulous instrumental piece that was composed, arranged, and produced (like the rest of the 7-song set) by Braxton. “Woodshop” features a flurry of kazoos, violins, violas, piano, guitars, choir vocals, synths, and a stitch of whistling. It’s also a marked departure from Braxton’s work with Battles, instead harkening back to his work as a guitarist for Glenn Branca‘sHallucination City: Symphony for 100 Guitars.
Here’s another simple, yet memorable music clip from Franz Ferdinand, this time for their brand new single “Can’t Stop Feeling”, available via Domino on July 6th. I think my favorite screen wipes are the hair dryer, push-ups, and slapping bits. The single also features the band’s cover of LCD Soundsystem‘s “All My Friends”. The Glaswegian lads were featured in our Winter ‘09 issue.
Austin, TX punk unit Riverboat Gamblers have a new music video from director José Jones. The sand paper punk the group have recently honed on the road with Rise Against and Rancid are on full display here. Single, “Victory Lap” is the focal point, as the footage shows rousing live shows and behind the scenes tomfoolery. “Victory Lap” is off the fivesome’s latest album, Underneath the Owl (Volcom Entertainment). The group is heading overseas for a Euro tour, including dates at Reading and Leeds Festivals.
Former Seventh-day Adventist pastor’s kid, Diane Birch has a soulful debut album out that’s coyly titled Bible Belt. On it she blends enough rock, blue-eyed soul, gospel, and pop to make the heads of Adele and Duffy spin. Belt actually hit the Top 10 album chart on iTunes and #7 on Amazon. Much of that sucess is due to Birch’s runaway radio hit / Aretha Franklin-esque first single “Nothing But A Miracle.” The clip flies through “The 5 Stages of Grief”: Birch denies her plight over morning coffee, bargains with an unpictured man, angrily cuts up her former lover’s favorite shirt, pounds out depressive chords on her piano, and finally accepts her fate on a twilighted street. The remarkable singer’s first TV performance on The Late Late Show With Craig Fergusonre-airs this week. Appearances at Late Show With David Letterman on July 22 and Jimmy Kimmel Live on July 31, will follow. Birch has already hit up Last Call With Carson Daly, so Conan O’Brien looks to be the next late-night comedy show in her sights.
Alan Cohen Experience
“Your Mother Should Know” (The Beatles cover, feat. Sarah Silverman) Video
This funnySeth Kroll and Alan Cohen-produced video for the Alan Cohen Experience cover of The Beatles’ “Your Mother Should Know” will appear on Beatles Complete on Ukulele July 21st. The brainchild of producer Roger Greenawalt (Ben Kweller, Nils Lofgren, The Pierces) and David Barratt (Jimmy Page, David Bowie),they pulled a Record Club and set to re-imagine every Beatles song every week. An essay is also accompanied with each new track. Get all of them here. The interpretation of the song “Your Mother Should Know” conflates the mythological story of Oedipus Rex with The Magical Mystery Tour cut. The video also includes a special guest spot from comedian Sarah Silverman. Alan Cohen Experiencecollaborated with Greenawalt on his upcoming Southern rock EP, Eat the Peace, due out November 3.
Here’s the narration in the clip:
Behold the tragedy of Oedipus the King. So says the Oracle. Oedipus of Thebes, heed this warning well. It is your destiny to murder your father and marry your mother. It is your fate to become a great King. All that you love and hold dear will be laid waste by your own hand.
No man is considered fortunate until he is dead. No man is considered fortunate until he is dead.
