Video: Breakfast at Sulimay's

Produced by Woodshop Films, "Breakfast at Sulimay's" is an endearing music review show hosted by three retirees in a diner. To keep up with the kids, they review the likes of Eminem, Animal Collective, Bon Iver, Bat for Lashes, and so much more. Who better to give us insight into modern times than members of The Greatest Generation (well, Bill looks a tad younger than Ann and Joe). Joe's comments are the only ones that touch on any musical relevance (he also happens to be the most adorable of the bunch), but it's all pretty funny stuff. Here are episodes 18, 19, and 21, with a short breakdown and highlights of each:

Episode 18:
Common - "Universal Mind Control" (Ann: "they were just mish-moshin' it")
Bon Iver - "Blood Bank" (Bill: "I like it...cause I'm a sad person"; Ann: "generic American Idol")


Episode 19:
Eminem - "We Made You" (Ann: "it's cute")
Bat for Lashes - "Glass" (Ann: "belly rubbin' music"; Bill: "I felt like gettin' a massage")


Episode 21:
Dan Deacon - "snookered" (Ann: "I like the beginning with all the ding dongs")
Doves - "Kingdom of Rust" (Ann: "It's not Rascal Flatts, but it's pretty good")

Video: Grizzly Bear - "Two Weeks"

The incredibly creepy and, of course, weird video for Grizzly Bear's "Two Weeks," featured on their new album Veckatimest (out May 26th). Why do all music videos these days have nothing to do with the song, add nothing to the quality of the song, and only serve to complete a New York art student's graduate degree requirements? Is there hope for the music video?

Video - Justin Timberlake + The Lonely Island(?) - "Motherlover"

Quite ridiculous...and quite hilarious.

Video: Modest Mouse - "Satellite Skin"

Here is the video for the new Modest Mouse single "Satellite Skin". If you find yourself scratching your head, maybe it helps to know that Director Kevin Willis also made Tool's "Stinkfist" video.  Then again, maybe it doesn't.

Album: Junior Boys - Begone Dull Care

Electronic music comes in all shapes and sizes. There’s the heavy, four-on-the-floor dance found at urban clubs, complete with seizure-inducing light shows (not to mention the ever popular, albeit grotesque, drunken make out). The dubious world beat groove heard spinning in a cheesy, dimly lit wine bar near you is actually tailored to dupe you into thinking that $15 for a martini is a reasonable price, maybe even cultured. And then there’s the avalanche of “chilled out” mixes (and remixes), which would be more aptly labeled “music for people in comas.” In short, there’s as much junk in electronica as in any other genre.

Junior Boys are indeed electronic artists, the vocals being the only discernibly non-digital element to their palette. Though, through focusing on melody and arrangements, they craft tuneful electronic music—knob twisters and samplers of the song-loving variety. 2006’s So This Is Goodbye is filled with tasty electronic morsels of song. It is music befitting the morning and the night; emotionally effective, never overdone. This is indeed Junior Boys modus operandi. And it’s not surprising the same tasteful production can be found on their newest, Begone Dull Care.

Though where So This Is Goodbye was more direct, Begone Dull Care plays with the format, extending beginnings and endings, adding space between verses and choruses, lending to a dreaded sense that maybe ideas were lacking in the studio. Yet, it is still very satisfying music, with some very memorable passages: the mellifluous verses on “Parallel Lines”, the soothing approach of closer “What It’s For”, and all of the superlative “Hazel.”

In an interview with Pitchfork.com, vocalist and co-producer Jeremy Greenspan shed some light on the album’s style: “One of the dilemmas in electronic music is how do you nurture the unpredictability of it and make it immediate? How can you do something that requires attention to detail but not over-analyze every decision? That's why the songs are so long and have these over-extended intros and outros. I wanted to say this is our process. This is us exploring some idea to the Nth degree…the record is about laying things on the table and discovering where we're at.”

Well, Begone Dull Care is not immediate, and it’s not exactly unpredictable either. It is a gratifying listen, just not Junior Boys’ career masterstroke.

Grade: B-

Begone Dull Care - Junior Boys

Video: Grizzly Bear - "While You Wait for the Others" on Later with Jools Holland

Another Grizzly Bear performance on Later with Jools Holland, "While You Wait for the Others," also appearing on the upcoming album Veckatimest.

Video: Animal Collective - "Summertime Clothes" live on Letterman

Animal Collective dropped by Letterman the other day to perform "Summertime Clothes" off the marvelous Merriweather Post Pavilion. Freaky performance art included.

Video: Grizzly Bear - "Two Weeks" on Later with Jools Holland

Grizzly Bear have come out of hibernation and will release the much-anticipated Veckatimest on May 26th. "Two Weeks" is on the album, performed live here on Later with Jools Holland. There is an unfortunate "Evaluation Copy" text over the video; it's annoying, but you'll get over it.

Video: Bat for Lashes - "Daniel" Live on Letterman

Because it's completely unnecessary, here's another live version of "Daniel" by oft-posted band Bat for Lashes. Hey, good content is good content.  And you get a little Dave banter, if you're into that sort of thing.

BvtO Album Pick: Bat for Lashes - Two Suns

Looking at the cover of Two Suns, you can't really tell what you're in for. All you can estimate is that it might include a song or two about dying stars and that it's easy to get carried away when toying with photoshop. It doesn't encapsulate the music, but it does reasonably outline it: a colorfully menacing melange of electronic and acoustic production surrounding a warm yet somewhat detached voice. Regardless of their visual art goals, Bat for Lashes aim to create cathartic, penetrating music; and they hit the mark dead on.

Much of album is filled with tension and uneasiness; a troubling sense that something malicious is lurking around the corner. Yet, it's almost a comfortable agitation, with singer Natasha Khan's breathy tenor gently guiding you through dark, unfriendly landscapes.  Lead single "Daniel" perfectly balances this odd mash of dread and coziness, propelled along by a fitting 80s pop pastiche. Though this is intentionally dramatic music, it never touches on melodrama, which is why it is ultimately so effective and engrossing.  The soft verses of "Siren Song" are spliced by an arresting, mountainous chorus, which may have sounded overdone in other, less-careful hands.  And some songs are just downright pretty: the piano ballad "Moon and Moon" is quite touching. There is also a suitable, neo-tribal quality to some songs: first track "Glass" false starts with a lullaby before a thundering drum line builds suspense for the chorus. "Two Planets" is similarly pushed along by a tribal drum pulse.  As for influences, it's hard not to think Bjork or Tori Amos when listening to Two Suns, but Khan has certainly found a voice and style of her own that is unique, not derivative. Besides, if any songwriter wants to make heart-stopping, cerebral music, tipping your hat to what amounts to female music royalty these days is not a bad idea at all.

Two Suns - Bat For Lashes

"Daniel"


"Moon and Moon" live on BBC2's The Culture Show