Pitchfork brings tidings of the latest from TMI darlings, The National. Their latest is called "Far Around the Bend" and apparently it's classic Matt Berninger. You can hear it streamed here, which happens to be the site of a charity compilation project produced by band members and brothers Aaron and Bryce Dessner. More about that song later... happy listening.
Coldplay as puppets. I wish I could have heard that pitch meeting.
Despite the seemingly misguided choice to turn the band members into Punch and Judy type dolls, the video is actually funny and endearingly self-effacing.
The song is "Life in Technicolor II" and the idea is that Coldplay puppets take over the small stage and turn it into a small scale epic arena concert complete with crowd surfing, pyrotechnics, retractable runway, and an exit via helicopter. It's ridiculous and great.
It's a creative, clever idea, certainly better than either of the "Viva la Vida" videos. The confusion on the faces of the children and parents watching is priceless.
The best part? Coldplay channels The Who and destroys the stage. You won't see that in the flesh. Take a look.
Garden State fans/indie music aficionados, heads up! Dave Grohl, Norah Jones, Eddie Vedder and Jack Johnson are working on a Nick Drake tribute album. Strange little bunch, isn't it? That's not all either, apparently Heath Ledger was working on a film version of "Black Eyed Dog," which will find a home on an accompanying DVD.
As anyone who's ever heard Pink Moon will tell you, Drake died way too soon at a mere 26 years of age.
Keep an eye out for the project later on this year.
As I said in last night's post, I missed the first song that Fleet Foxes performed, but I feel better because Pitchfork didn't bother to stay up to watch at all. At least TMI was conscious. Anyhoo, that first song, "Mykonos" has already popped up on Youtube. Check it out before it gets pulled or something.
Is it old age? Is it sheer disinterest? No, but I feel guilty. While working on a podcast, I totally forgot about the Fleet Foxes, so I missed their first song, but never fear, TMI is on the scene. Anyway, someone want to explain the new random house band they keep cutting to?
Fleet Foxes are playing "Blue Ridge Mountains" and I'm quite thrilled that they sound so strong live. I don't think I could cope otherwise. On a related note,my friend has been sufficiently inspired to take up tambourine.
They're not the most energetic bunch, but they don't need to be. That haunting, rustic sound is entrancing. I will be searching out the first song tomorrow. Stay tuned.
Once again NME serves up the news of the day. John Mayer is set to shoot a pilot for CBS. What kind of show would Mr. Mayer have, you ask with one eyebrow arched suspiciously? A variety show. You know, the kind that died a couple decades ago. The kind that hasn't been successful since Carol Burnett left the airwaves. The kind that just bombed recently under the care of Rosie O'Donnell. What a fantastic idea.
This could either turn into a full series or several specials. No word on that yet. It gets better. Mayer's dabbled in TV before with the one-episode wonder, John Mayer Has a TV Show.
No, this doesn't seem doomed at all.
TMI's got a lot of respect for Mayer as a musician, but this feels like that infamous ego of his rearing its ugly head. He should cage fight Kanye. That would be awesome.
