Category Archives: the white stripes

Today’s a Michel Gondry kind of day

Posted on by
Reply


Michel Gondry makes me happy. When I found out he was the director of Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, I almost immediately went to see it in the theater. Same goes for The Science of Sleep. The latter is almost becoming prophetic in the sense that we’re watching the combination of the real world with the imagined through the internet and gaming. Soon, who’s to say we’ll be able to tell the difference? Is it a good thing that realism is brought to such a high level? At what cost? That’s a separate discussion, however. One that I could have at length over a beer or two.

Anyhow, this week’s post is more about some of the songs and videos that Mr. Gondry has done over the years. I thought about Gondry because he loves the use of stop-motion, which sounds easy, but definitely isn’t. Not all of these use that method, but the creativity he possesses can’t be denied. First off, we go with the easy one. Daft Punk‘s “Around the World”. The entire album Homework is brilliant. Hard to say about an electronica album. This video, like the one later by the Chemical Brothers, uses the elements seen as representation of the different elements used in the song.


Download Daft Punk – Around The World

Next is one most of us probably forgot about. Lucas. Anyone? No? Okay, well just take a listen to this song and/or watch the video and you’ll remember it pretty quickly. And yes, Gondry did direct this!


Download Lucas – Lucas With The Lid Off

How about that? Most folks probably forgot about that guy. Well, next is the one that relates to the Daft Punk video. The Chemical Brothers‘ video for “Star Guitar” at first doesn’t really dazzle anyone. Pay attention to the scenery through the train window, however, and how it enters the video. The first time I realized what Gondry did, I was simply amazed and re-watched this video another half-dozen times. It’s simply brilliant. I’m watching it again right now, and just giddy. Seriously.


Download The Chemical Brothers – Star Guitar

Last up is the stop-motion I spoke of. He used a lot of this in The Science of Sleep, and used it with some of his videos. For The White Stripes‘ “The Hardest Button to Button”, we see it done, and one can only imagine how much work went into filming and editing this. It’s crazy the ambition this man has to create what is essentially art through motion. It’s now time for us to appreciate it.


Download The White Stripes – The Hardest Button to Button

Now, quit reading this and buy something.

I can take the trouble, I’m 60 feet tall

Posted on by
Reply

If you’ve never wondered what it might be like to wake up in the morning and find a handful of deadbeat, derelict, drunken rockers sprawled out all over your kitchen crackhouse style, then you don’t have The Dead Weather’s debut album and you need to obtain it… Pronto.

You blink when you breathe
And you breathe when you lie
You blink when you lie
You blink when you breathe
And you breathe when you lie

It’s called Horehound, and it was recorded in three weeks by the supergroup comprised of Jack White of The White Stripes on drums and vocals, Dean Fertita of Queens of the Stone Age on guitar, Jack Lawrence of The Raconteurs on bass, and most notably, Alison Mossheart from The Kills fronting the band with the dirtiest whiskey-soaked vocals you’ve heard since before Grace Slick tried to Build A City.

Track 1, “60 Feet Tall”, would be my new theme song if I really wanted to slip into complete debauchery and decide to enhance the dark circles that wish they could take up permanent residence on my face. Instead, I will just play it in secret when I decide to drink alone. It’s a 5+ minute track, so instead of sharing that here, I will share “So Far From Your Weapon”, serving as a warning to all of us that that vice we crave is willing and waiting. Check it out:

[Download The Dead Weather – So Far From Your Weapon]

And if that isn’t enough warning, check out “Bone House”:

[Download The Dead Weather – Bone House]

The Dead Weather is currently on tour, bringing all their demons and tempting you to come along for the ride… All over the country this summer. Tonight they play in Detroit at The Fillmore. Try to check them out at First Ave in Minneapolis on Monday. That would be a legendary show. For all dates check out their website. Mookie and I will be catching them at Outside Lands in one month!

And of course you don’t want to buy CDs anymore. You want to listen NOW! Here are some links to download the albums. Show some love. Buy the music, support the site, but most of all, support the artists.

Don’t act like you can’t act, I know I’ve seen you do it
Better learn to shake hands….