K.I.D. Collective

Happy Monday. Here’s a little vid of the Dirty Projectors doing their hipster, indie version of Beyoncé. Minus the dance moves, those are not so amazing. Still a great song and cool llama.

Jevan has been reminding me for a few weeks to watch this video. I’m not great at taking time to watch videos and he knows that. Hence the reminding. It’s not that I don’t trust his recommendations, he’s usually spot on when it comes to finding things that would be to my liking. My thoughts are, it’s a video, what’s so special? I’ll check it out when I get a few minutes, if I remember.

As the video begins, it has everything to me that embodies the South. In fact, it easily could have been filmed outside the front door of the house I grew up in. The grey-blue skies just before dusk, grassy fields at the end of summer and a soulful voice singing the woes of a life without. All remind me of the South. Then the dancing begins. There is nothing Southern about these moves. It could only be that of a Swede. Jenny Wilson to be exact.

If you need instant gratification, watch the Youtube version above. If you’re really interested, you can watch the widescreen version that you will have to download if you’re not on a mac. I highly recommend the latter, because the colors are more than gorgeous.

Live video of the Handsome Furs song Nyet Spasiba at the Larimer Lounge on Sunday, June 14, 2009
I haven’t posted much of anything in a few weeks. You may wonder why, you may not care. In case you are interested, my lack of posting is not for lack of want. I wish I could write everyday. At this point, other obligations have kept me from this here blog. I won’t bore you with details. As it happens, they are rather boring. But what I’m about to share with you is far from boring. It’s a great show I caught two Sunday’s ago.

Jevan turned me on to the Handsome Furs a few years back. I put their song, What We Had, on repeat for at least a month. This year, they released, Face Control. They are still the husband wife duo they started as and are rocking just as strong. A guitar and a drum machine. That’s all they really need.

They came through town a few weeks back and played the Larimer Lounge. I happened to stand on a stool and catch one song on video. The sound isn’t great, blame it on the hand held digital camera, not that I was three drinks into the evening. The energy and dance moves do however, make up for the sound quality. At least I think so. I hope you feel the same.

I’m sure most of you have already listened to Grizzly Bear’s new album Veckatimist. But before you go any further, make sure you take a couple of minutes to watch, and listen, to this video short put together by J.Tyler Helms edited with footage from Albert Lamorisse’s, 1956 film, La Ballon Rouge.

I’m tired. I’ve been working hard all day and am still feeling the aftereffects of last night’s mint julep over indulgence. There’s nothing like whiskey, mint and sugar water to make for an evil Sunday. Still, I have more work to do and a very early morning tomorrow. At this point, the only thing that is going to keep me going and also let me get some sleep tonight, read no caffeine, is listening to Phoenix’s new album, Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix. It’s true, the album is that good. In fact, it’s infectious, dance in your seats good. And it’s out in the US on May 26th.

While I’m being honest about the whiskey, and the dancing in my seat, I might as well tell you this album has been on repeat. The thing is, I don’t see myself tiring of it anytime soon. I’ve already apologized to my neighbors for the number of times they will hear it on my back patio this summer. Soon enough they will be singing Lisztomania word for word. I’m sure of it. I’m only waiting for the weather to warm up a bit. After all, it is just the beginning of May.

As with most new albums, bands need to promote. You know what this means, Phoenix is on tour. Don’t miss them if they stop by your city. Just don’t forget to get your tickets before they sell out, if they haven’t already.

Like my new media player? We can thank my hubs for that one!

I’ve been waiting to see Portland based band the Thermals live for what seems like forever. Back in January I posted about how I was hoping they would release something, anything, this year. And both wishes came true this month. On 04.07.09 they released their 4th album, Now We Can See, and last Friday night I saw them live. The best part? The wait was completely worth it. They brought the bouncing-off-the-walls-raw-punk-energy to the tiny Marquis Theater one would expect after listening to their albums. Know what’s even better? They sound great and are on tour right now. So I recommend you check out their schedule and put it on your calendar as something not to miss. You won’t regret it. Not one bit.

Here’s a little video I shot while at the show. The sound isn’t great because I snuck behind the speakers to get a better view. You know, one without dozens of bobbing heads. Normally this is something I wouldn’t do. When I decided the Thermals would be the next Music Monday’s post I became my own version of superwoman because I squeezed and bumped unapologetically past people to show you this energy. Watch Kathy Foster’s head. Her hair had me mesmerized the entire show. Props to my mom for rockin’ this killer cut back in 1989.

This post isn’t exactly all about music. But, yes there is a but. The trailer for the film I’m want to tell you about is backed by one of my favorite bands, Arcade Fire. So, since I’m the boss on this here blog then I say it qualifies. At least a little. And that’s all I have on the music end for today. I hope you are satisfied. I think you will be if you’ll just watch the trailer.

As for the rest of the post, my most memorable childhood book is Where the Wild Things Are, written by Maurice Sendak. Did you ever have a favorite book as a kid? Was it the Cat in the Hat or maybe Curious George? What about Beatrix Potter? I remember my mom reading The Tale of Peter Rabbit and Squirrel Nutkin to me over and over again too. In fact, she read all of Beatrix Potter’s books to me. While each are wonderful and I’ll probably read them to my own children at some point when the time comes, I want to tell you what I love most from Maurice Sendak’s, Where the While Things Are. It’s the illustrations, hands down. They bring the book to life. Part friendly, part scary, these illustrations give a typical story of a boy meeting up with imaginary monsters an edge. When the book was written in 1963 the illustrations were somewhat scandalous. Some parents felt the monsters portrayed were too grotesque for children.

Fast forward more than 45 years and the film, adapted by Spike Jonze’s and Dave Egger’s has similar issues. It took some time to get fully through production. Something about financial issues and the monsters made kids cry at a pre-screening. I liken the crying during the film to this generation’s equivalent to the book. Kids these days probably wouldn’t think twice about reading the book and seeing those monsters. Is this film completely kid appropriate? Not sure. I’ll leave that up to each parent to decide. Am I excited to see the film? Yes, but it will have to wait until October 16, 2009. Until then, the trailer will have to hold me over.

Image: from Where the Wild Things Are