Tobacco
"Grape Aerosmith (feat. Beck)"
Maniac Meat, Tobacco’s latest album, was released in May via Anticon. According to Allen Cordell, the video’s director:
When I was given the opportunity to direct the video for “Grape Aerosmith,” I really wanted to make something that worked perfectly with the song, but at the same time was something you wouldn’t normally expect right off the bat. I tried to establish this frustrated guy at work and present it in a playful, docu-drama aesthetic, something akin to The Office. That way, by the time he’s in the woods going insane there’s a pay-off because you don’t see it coming. It makes you wonder about the guy you just met moments before. And by the end, after being confronted by the psychedelic spirits, our protagonist is cleansed, enlightened by the surreal experience. One of the inspirations for this video, aside from the music, was the Japanese horror film Tetsuo the Iron Man, particularly the scenes in the subway when he starts to lose it.
Tetsuo the Iron Man meets The Office. Good lord!
• Tobacco: http://www.myspace.com/tobaccoband
• anticon.: anticon.: http://www.anticon.com
Jens Lekman
“The End Of The World Is Bigger Than Love”
Jens Lekman is at it again. With his world-famous smirk and long-ish pubes, Lekman has returned with a new single, “The End Of The World Is Bigger Than Love.” Music to slit your wrists to. (Though, that’s not quite how Lekman puts it.)
• Jens Lekman: http://www.jenslekman.com
• Secretly Canadian: http://secretlycanadian.com
La Otracina
“Raze The Sky”
La Otracina are releasing Reality Has Got to Die September 21 on Holy Mountain. This news makes the Chocolate Grinder so, so excited.
• La Otracina: http://www.myspace.com/laotracina
• Holy Mountain: http://www.holymoountain.com
Arab Strap
“Daughters of Darkness”
Arab Strap, not to be confused with Arab on Radar (!!), are reissuing their first two albums, The Week Never Starts Round Here and Philophobia, on August 17 via Chemikal Underground. This track, “Daughters of Darkness,” was an older, unfinished track that the band finally recorded and released last year on Chemikal Underground’s Arab Strap box set, Scenes of a Sexual Nature.
• Arab Strap: http://www.chemikal.co.uk/arabstrap.htm
• Chemikal Underground: http://www.chemikal.co.uk
Marnie Stern
“For Ash”
Marnie Stern, with help again from Zach Hill, is releasing her third album, Marnie Stern, on October 5 via Kill Rock Stars. “For Ash” is the album’s leadoff track.
• Marnie Stern: http://www.myspace.com/marniestern1
• Kill Rock Stars: http://www.killrockstars.com
[Photo: Marnie Stern]
Broken Social Scene
“Meet Me in The Basement”
From Broken Social Scene:
This video was made as a response to the G20 Summit in Toronto June, 2010. The rest speaks for itself. It was sent to us by a lover of our music who wants to remain anonymous. We are very proud to share this mash-up with you.
• Broken Social Scene: http://www.brokensocialscene.ca
• G20 Summit Toronto 2010: http://bit.ly/dzJsyU
