M.I.A. - "Born Free"

Here is the new video for M.I.A.'s latest single "Born Free" by director Romain Gavras.  The video is probably NSFW unless you happen to work for some sort of revolutionary establishment, yet I would say the video is important enough to risk a lunch break viewing. 

In nine minutes the video gives a graphic example of the lunacy and perils of military sponsored violence towards civilians in a society.  You may not identify specifically with any of the people in the video, but you should be able to understand how violence similar to that in the video has been acted out on countless numbers of groups with equal force and reasoning.  This video should make you think, and if it does not you need to think again.

M.I.A, Born Free from ROMAIN-GAVRAS on Vimeo.

Kid Cudi: "Soundtrack 2 My Life" Music Video

Good video for a good song.

DatNewCudi.com: KiD CuDi - Soundtrack 2 My Life (Directed by Jason Goldwatch) from DatNewCudi / DP on Vimeo.

The Morning Benders - Big Echo

The Morning Benders are allowing fans to listen to a stream of their new album Big Echo for the entire week leading up to its release on March 9th.

Additionally, the video for "Excuses" is great and you can watch it here.

For more information on The Morning Benders visit their website.

The Morning Benders "Excuses"

Yours Truly Presents: The Morning Benders "Excuses" from Yours Truly on Vimeo.

This is a great video for a great song by a band that I just heard of.  "Excuses" is the first single off of The Morning Benders new album Big Echo.  Big Echo was produced by Chris Taylor of Grizzly Bear.  In addition to the greatness of this video, The Morning Benders are giving away a free download of "Exuses" on their website.   

Big Echo is out on March 9th.

Passion Pit - "Sleepyhead"

Passion Pit-Sleepyhead from ssarenofun1 on Vimeo.

A great video by a great group.

Me and the Devil

"Me and the Devil" is the video for the first single from Gil Scott-Heron's latest album I'm New Here.

Gil Scott-Heron is most famously know for his poem "The Revolution will not be Televised".

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X Factor vs Rage Against the Machine

In the UK having the top-charting single during the week leading up to Christmas is a very big deal.  The Beatles did it four times, the Spice Girls did it three times, and Queen did it twice.  Being top of the charts come Christmas is very big indeed in the UK and only the best recieve this accolade, yet over the last three years winners of Simon Cowell's show X Factor, essentialy a British American Idol, has provided the top single for this week.  To make matters even worse, the winners of X Factor have topped the charts by covering a song from Kelly Clarkson, and singling a song from The Prince Of Egypt Soundtrack.  This should not be the best Britain can do, and the Brothers Morter feel the same way.

To voice their outrage Jon and Tracy Morter launched a campaign on Facebook to select Rage Against the Machine's song "Killing in the Name" as the top song over the Christmas week.  When Rage heard about it they through their support behind the cause and even agreed to have a free concert if they won.

Well the results are in and "Killing in the Name" is the top song over the Christmas week with 502,000 downloads compared to X Factor winner Joe McElderry's inspirational cover of Miley Cyrus' "The Climb" with 450,000 downloads.

Here is the video of Rage performing live on BBC Radio 5

For more info on the historic upset go HERE.

Miike Snow "Silvia" Music Video

This song is up beat and the video is dark, which I find appropriate. 

If you like the song buy Miike Snow's self-titled album.  It is a very good album.

Royksopp: Music and Videos

 

 Royksopp are a Norwegian electro-pop duo and if you have not heard of them, you need to.  They combine electronic beats seemlessly with the vocals of celebrated, mostly Scandinavian, singers such as Robyn, and Karin Dreijer Andersson (The Knife, & Fever Ray).  This combination of electronic, pop, and alternative music creates albums that are diverse yet seemless, and easy to listen to all the way through.  Their latest album Junior is one of my favorite albums of the year, yet their previous efforts The Understanding and Melody A.M. are quite good too.  I highly recommend listening to this band, but additionally you need to see them.  Concernts may not be an option, but music videos constantly are.  Below I have four music videos that Royksopp has released in the past year, and they are all great.  The first three are from Junior and last one is from The Understanding.  They are all fascinating and diverse, and I hope you enjoy the videos in addition to the music.

Röyksopp 'This Must Be It' from Röyksopp on Vimeo.

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Pitchforks Top Song of the Year

Animal Collective - "My Girls"

Animal Collective "My Girls" from Chad von Nau on Vimeo.

For more info on Pitchfork's Top of 2009 go HERE.

Phoenix Performing On The Streets of Paris

We all have La Blogotheque to thank for producing these three fantastic videos, and Pigeons and Planes for posting them.

Phoenix - 1901 - A Take Away Show from La Blogotheque on Vimeo.

Phoenix - Lizstomania / One time too many - A Take Away Show from La Blogotheque on Vimeo.

Phoenix - Long distance call - A Take Away Show from La Blogotheque on Vimeo.

Grizzly Bear "Two Weeks" Music Video Battle Royal

Good morning.  As many of you who follow The Knightly News know, I am a big fan of Grizzly Bear.  I like their music, but additionally I feel they make superb music videos.  However, the fans of Grizzly Bear also make great Grizzly Bear music videos.  When it comes to "Two Weeks" I am having a hard time deciding which video I like the best.  Your feedback will be much appreciated.  The first video will be the official one, and the following two will be from the fans.  Let me know which ones you like the best.

Grizzly Bear - "Two Weeks" Official Video

Grizzly Bear - Two Weeks from Suspicious Sounds on Vimeo.

Grizzly Bear - "Two Weeks" by fan Gabe Askew

Two Weeks - Grizzly Bear from Gabe Askew on Vimeo.

Grizzly Bear - "Two Weeks" and The Red Balloon

Grizzly Bear / Two Weeks from Minimaxwell on Vimeo.

The Visual Decline of Empires & Mozart

This is pretty cool, and educational.  The bubbles grow and explode based on the acquisition and loss of territories.  At the bottom left corner is the date tracker for when these events occurred in history.  Also even though this is cool I felt it needed some music so I added Mozart's "Requiem".  Start the music and then start the video. 

Visualizing empires decline from Pedro M Cruz on Vimeo.

 Mozart's "Requiem"

Thanksgiving & Adam Sandler

Happy Thanksgiving and Adam Sandler from the 90's has a great song for all of us.

Paul Robeson "Old Man River"

A classic song for all times and all people by one of the most iconic actors/activists in American history.  

Paul Robeson commands respect and admiration.