TV on the Radio is one of the most representational bands of the early aughts. Often dubbed art rock, the Brooklyn-based band incorporates a mélange of genres including rock, hip hop, gospel, and blues. More than anything, TV on the Radio's spirituality shines through their music, as evidenced in the breakthrough single, Staring at the Sun. The song’s distorted, heavy bass line entices while lead singer Tunde Adebimpe’s hypnotic vocals are looped together in a clean quality that is dizzyingly perfect. Staring at the Sun encompasses a frenetic, spiritual style that is flawlessly captured in the band’s minimalistic music video, directed by Elliot Jokelson. The video captures each band member in a haze of neon light. The hypnotic quality showcases TV on the Radio’s engaging live performance, which is often so esoteric that it could be considered religious. TV on the Radio is - quite simply - profound.
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Five Radical Music Videos from the Early to Mid-Aughts – Number Two: Modest Mouse’s King Rat8/25/2016 Carrying the nautical themes of Modest Mouse’s We Were Dead Before the Ship Even Sank and No One’s First and You’re Next, the music video for King Rat - directed by the late Heath Ledger - is an animated cautionary tale about animal cruelty. In his concept for the music video, Heath Ledger opposes the illegal commercial whale hunts taking place off the coast of Australia each year. Depicting a cartoon in which human and whale roles are reversed, the overall theme of the video raises awareness about this sickening practice. Although the song was released in the mid-aughts, Ledger’s music video didn’t debut until 2009. Ledger fully conceived the video and was collaborating with Brock and Co. until his untimely death. Afterwards, the animation was completed by the Masses. A sobering tale about the unethical cruelty of whaling, the video also serves as a somber tribute to Heath Ledger, a brilliant interdisciplinary artist who died way too young.
Five Radical Music Videos from the Early to Mid-Aughts – Number Three: The Strokes’ Reptilia8/24/2016 In the early aughts, the Strokes epitomized cool. Their style, their songs, their sheer sense of smug; utter hipness. For Reptilia, the band recruited Jake Scott -- son of Ridley -- to direct the second single from their sophomore album. Utilizing quick cuts, split screens, and multi-layered color palates, Scott successfully captures the band’s frenetic energy. The result is a dizzying simplicity not too unlike the Strokes themselves -- each member somehow makes the essence of cool look too easy. In the video’s final frames, lead singer Julian Cassablancas blows cigarette smoke into the camera, making that Truth anti-tobacco campaign look like a piece of propaganda banality.
Sam Beam has performed under the Iron & Wine moniker for almost fifteen years now. A solid songwriter with five studio albums and several EP’s in his catalogue, Beam also possesses the sharp skills of a visual artist as well. All of Iron & Wine’s artwork is produced by Beam, and he directs most of the music videos. With Naked As We Came, Iron & Wine truly shines. Like most of Sam Beam’s earlier work, Naked As We Came exhibits beauty through minimalism. Filmed in one single shot, the music video is anchored by one gentle kiss. Together, the song and music video create a luscious landscape that displays Beam’s sweet lyrics, which ponder life, love, and death with a soft sincerity.
Composed by Andre 3000 for OutKast’s double album, Speakerboxxx / The Love Below, Hey Ya! is a tune that knows no boundaries. In 2003, the song was played on every radio station. Dance floors everywhere were united by the funk explosions of Andre 3000’s sultry soul. Truly, everyone was shaking it like a Polaroid picture. In the music video, director Bryan Barber showcases Andre 3000’s vast acting range as he humorously portrays all eight members of The Love Below. The band performs in the same vein of the Beatles during a performance at The Ed Sullivan Show. With Andre 3000’s creative vision, however, their catchy studio performance propels an American Invasion, and the results are delicious. Hey, Ya! is one of the greatest songs of all time.
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April 2017
FootnotesSome thoughts on art, life, and theatre. Stay positive. Categories |