IN DEPTH: TV On The Radio "Province"

It's easy to focus on the controversial nature of this TV On The Radio, which is probably the first video since Jay-Z's "99 Problems" to prominently feature somebody getting struck down by a hail of bullets. Director Jeff Scheven of Canadian production house Soft Citizen would rather focus on other aspects of the production and he's right. "Province" is not about acts of violence; It's about the love and the beauty that is still somewhat evident even when humans fall to our basest instincts. To put it another way, violence may lurk right in the middle of the screen, but hopefully not in our hearts.

Jeff Scheven, director: "The last time TV On The Radio played here in Toronto, [band member] Dave Sitek mentioned this vision he had of a beautiful, stoic USO girl being shot by animals. We've known each other fairly well over the past couple years through music and discussed the idea in detail one day while suit shopping. I really liked the theme of the natural world banding together and rising up  to take on war-hungry man. And, I really liked the idea of man being represented by this pure and beautiful element, which is something that we all have inside of us. I told him I wanted to bring it to life.

It was important to me that everyone involved was excited about the project, as I knew that it was going to take a lot of hard work to pull it off. Luckily for me, every single person that came on really put his or her heart and soul into the project. The sets were all hand crafted and painted by art directors Rob Southcott and Mate Szemeredy. The costumes were hand stitched and made from scratch by my beautiful girlfriend and costume designer extraordinaire, Vanessa Fischer. We shot in black & white under the skilled hand of DP Chris Sargent to give it a timeless, classic feel, but also to help make the sets stand out more. The idea with the gunshots was not to be violent, but to focus on the beauty in the moment. Interscope was somewhat concerned about the concept and we actually did shoot a no-gun version as a back up, but never did anything with it.

The star, the beautiful Cynthia Udriot, is a friend of my girlfriend and I here in Toronto.  I immediately thought of her when Dave mentioned the beautiful soldier girl. She's from Switzerland and her first language is French, so it took a while for her to learn the words of the song, but she really came through. There was a lot of pressure on her, because she's front and center the whole video. If the performance was off, the whole video would be lost. So, Dave came down the week before the shoot to help Cynthia with the lyrics and explain where they were coming from. Through this process, she and Dave became close, and in the most magical outcome of all, they fell madly in love! In a video where heart was so present, it seemed so fitting that both great friendships, and close relationships where formed. Just goes to show that once in a while all the right people come together and everything clicks. Love truly is the province of brave."

--> watch "Province"

TV On The Radio "Province" (Interscope)
Jeff Scheven, director | Nick Sorbara, producer | Soft Citizen, production co | Chris Sargent, DP | Michelle Czukar, editor

NEW RELEASE: Teddybears "Punkrocker"

Being that this Teddybears song is best known for its inclusion in a Cadillac campaign, you would think it'd be unwise for the video to feature a Cadillac being driven through NYC streets. Thankfully, it's a vintage model and the clip does reveal itself to be more than just another Koyaanisqatsi (or "Ray Of Light," for all you youngsters) montage. Legendary punkrocker Iggy Pop is the featured guest here, delivering his deadpan vocals as the lone passenger in this driverless car. The feelings of Pop's alienation from the current prefab scene that are evident in the lyrics are replicated in the video concept, which depicts Pop as the last human left in a city populated by people who all wear those comical Teddybear heads. Not only that, but the video also shows that the  "teddymogrification" has affected some familiar Times Square billboards and the Statue Of Liberty. All in all, a fine video and song, but hardcore punk fans are forgiven if they find themselves wishing Pop was en route to a session with his reformed Stooges and not just out on an evening joyride. --> watch "Punkrocker"

Teddybears feat. Iggy Pop  "Punkrocker" (Big Beat/Atlantic)
Teddybears, directors | Sarah Grey, producer |  Black Dog, production co | Klas Ahlund, editor

BOOKED: Shadows Fall - Zach Merck, director

artist: Shadows Fall
song: "Redemption"   
label: Atlantic
director(s): Zach Merck   
production co: @radical.media

BOOKED: The New Atlantic - Greg Jardin, director

artist:  The New Atlantic
song: "Wire And Stone"
label: Eyeball
director(s): Greg Jardin
production co: @radical.media

BOOKED: Lloyd - Erik White, director

artist: Lloyd
song: "Get It Shawty"
label: Universal Motown
director(s): Erik White
production co: Uncle

SHOT: !!! - Ben Dickinson, director

artist: !!! (chk chk chk)
song: "Must Be The Moon"
label: Warp
director(s): Ben Dickinson
production co: Greencard/Black Dog

Video being independently produced by Greencard. Director Ben Dickinson is signed with Black Dog.

NEW RELEASE: Grizzly Bear "Knife"

Most videos take a few weeks to go from conception to finished product. This video for Grizzly Bear has been in production for so many months that it's taken on almost legendary stature. If you were hoping for something as unique, beautiful, odd and enveloping as the band's music, you are in luck. The video is ostensibly a science-fiction parable that I like to think is about the band's, and perhaps mankind's relationship to rock — both in terms of the music and the geologic mineral formation. Or, maybe it's just weird eye candy with a creepy dude who looks like an alien, some quicksand and a contraption that would make Rube Goldberg proud. Either way, it's one compellingly strange world on display here.   --> watch "Knife" (via Stereogum)

Grizzly Bear "Knife" (Warp)
Encyclopedia Pictura, directors/DPs/editors | Mark DePace, producer | Ghost Robot, production co

NEW RELEASE: Snowden "Like Bullets"

You could just say this Snowden clip is "creepy" and be pretty accurate, but that's not really fair, especially since it's creepy on purpose. Footage of the band members gets projected — that's right, no green screens —  onto dancers wearing full body  leotards. Since these "screens" are naturally lumpy and constantly in motion, we get treated to lots of weird images — enough, in fact, to make their heads explode at the end of the video. --> watch "Like Bullets"

Snowden "Like Bullets" (Jade Tree)
Geoffrey Plauger, director | Jake Cohen, producer/editor | Refrigerator Art Productions, production co | Paul Marschall, DP

BOOKED: The Willowz - Ace Norton, director

artist: The Willowz
song: "Evil Son"
label: Dim Mak
director(s): Ace Norton
production co: Partizan

BOOKED: Aqueduct - Charles Spano, director

artist: Aqueduct
song: "Living A Lie"
label: Barsuk
director(s): Charles Spano
production co: Commondeer
commissioner: Jill Kaplan/Skyway Productions

BOOKED: Kings Of Leon - Adria Petty, director

artist: Kings Of Leon
song: "On Call"
label: RCA 
director(s): Adria Petty   
production co: Pablocita
rep: Robin Frank Management

SHOT: Beyonce - Ray Kay, director

artist: Beyonce
song: "Freakum Dress"
label: Columbia
director(s): Ray Kay   
production co: Rockhard Films
rep: Robin Frank Management

NEW RELEASE: Asobi Seksu "Goodbye"

We've seen origami in music video before — see Regina Spektor's "Samson" or The Format's "The Compromise" for two completely different takes — but the computer-crafted 3D paper decorations seen in this clip serves as a fine, if not perfect match to the dreamy and constantly unfolding multi-cultural indie pop of Asobi Seksu. --> watch "Goodbye"

Asobi Seksu "Goodbye" (Friendly Fire)
Ryan Bosworth & Major Lightner, directors | Fenix Collective, production co | RW Media, rep

BOOKED: Vanessa Hudgens - Darren Grant, director

artist: Vanessa Hudgens
song: "Say OK"
label: Hollywood
director(s): Darren Grant
production co: Karma Kollective
rep: Visual Artists

BOOKED: Young Buck - Bernard Gourley, director

artist: Young Buck
song: "Get Buck"
label: G Unit/Interscope
director(s): Bernard Gourley 
production co: Immigrant Film
rep: Yell Productions

BOOKED: Faber Drive - Frank Borin, director

artist: Faber Drive
song: "2nd Chance"    
label: Universal Republic
director(s): Frank Borin
production co: Shadow Screen Productions
rep: Yell Productions

MTV Adds for the Week of 2/12/07

MTV2 Adds: Akon "Don’t Matter" (SRC/Universal)
Diddy feat. Keyshia Cole "Last Night" (Bad Boy)
Finger Eleven "Paralyzer" (Wind-Up)
Gnarls Barkley "Smiley Faces" (Downtown/Atlantic)
The Killers "Read My Mind" (Island Def Jam)
Three 6 Mafia "Doe Boy Fresh" (Columbia)

MTVU Adds:
Akon "Don’t Matter" (SRC/Universal)
Felt "Early Mornin’ Tony" (Rhymesayers) 
Good Charlotte "The River" (Epic)
The Killers "Read My Mind" (Island Def Jam)
Mistah FAB "Ghost Ride It" (Thizz/Atlantic)

MTV Jams Adds:
Akon "Don’t Matter" (SRC/Universal)
The A'z "Yadadamean" (TVT)
Collie Buddz "Come Around" (Epic)
Diddy feat. Keyshia Cole "Last Night" (Bad Boy)
Fergie feat. Ludacris "Glamorous" (A&M/Interscope)
Lil' Scrappy "Oh Yeah" (BME/Reprise)
Sammie "Come With Me" (Rowdy) 
Three 6 Mafia "Doe Boy Fresh" (Columbia)

VH1 Adds for the Week of 2/12/07

Adds:
Ciara "Promise" (LaFace/ZLG)
Justin Timberlake "What Goes Around..." (Jive/ZLG)
The Killers "Read My Mind" (Island Def Jam)
Robert Randolph "Ain’t Nothing Wrong With That" (Warner Bros.)
Rock Star Supernova "Headspin" (Epic)
The Shins "Phantom Limb" (Sub Pop)

VH1 Soul Adds:
Musiq Soulchild "Buddy" (Atlantic)
Nas feat. Chrisette Michele "Can't Forget About You" (Island Def Jam)
Diddy feat. Keyshia Cole "Last Night" (Bad Boy)
Amy Winehouse "You Know I'm No Good" (Island Def Jam)
Elan "Girl" (Interscope)
Miri Ben-Ari "Symphony of Brotherhood" (Universal)

BET Adds for the Week of 2/12/07

Adds:
Diddy feat. Keyshia Cole "Last Night" (Bad Boy)
Musiq Soulchild "Buddy" (Atlantic) 

Rap City Adds:
Eightball & MJG "Relax And Take Notes" (Bad Boy)
Three 6 Mafia "Doe Boy Fresh" (Columbia)
UGK  "The Game Belongs To Me" (Jive/ZLG) 

FUSE Adds for the Week of 2/12/07

Adds:
Bayside "Duality" (Victory)
Good Charlotte "The River" (Epic)

Oven Fresh Adds:
Alkaline Trio "Warbrain" (Vagrant)
Bayside "Duality" (Victory)
Diddy feat. Keyshia Cole "Last Night" (Bad Boy)
Dustin Kensrue "Pistol" (Equal Vision)
Good Charlotte "The River" (Epic)
Jamie Kennedy and Stu Stone "Circle Circle Dot Dot" (JKiss Records/Warner Bros.)
Relient K "Must Have Done Something Right" (Capitol)

IMF Adds for the Week of 2/12/07

Adds:
Clinic "If You Could Read Your Mind" (Domino) from England
Cold War Kids "Hang Me Up To Dry" (Downtown)
The Game feat. Kanye West "Wouldn't Get Far" (Geffen)
Joss Stone "Tell Me 'Bout It" (Virgin) from England
The Pack  "I'm Shinin" (Jive/ZLG)
Unwritten Law "Shoulda Known Better" (A2M)

Specialty Adds:
Malajube "Montreal -40°" from France

Music Choice Adds for the Week of 2/12/07

Adds:
Amel Larrieux "For Real" (Blisslife)
Amerie "Take Control" (Columbia)
Black Label Society "Blood Is Thicker Than Water" (Roadrunner)
Common f/ Will.I.Am "A Dream" - from Freedom Writers - (Hollywood)
Converge "No Heroes" (Epitaph)
Dir En Grey "Agitated Screams Of Maggots" (Warcon)
Emilie Simon "Fleur de Saison" (Milan)
Faith Hill "Stealing Kisses (live)" (Warner Bros.)
Fort Minor "Remember The Name" (Machine Shop/Warner Bros.)
Josh Groban "You Are Loved" (143/Reprise)
Kittie "Funeral For Yesterday" (X Of Infamy)
KMW "Diamond Girl" (Balboa)
Life Of Riley "When We Were Young" (Kikstart)
Lucky Twice "Lucky" (Ultra/Sequence)
Mana "Bendita Tu Luz" (WEA Latin)
Norma Jean "Blueprints For Future Homes" (Tooth & Nail)
The Pack  "I'm Shinin" (Jive/ZLG)
Pakito "Living On Video" (Ultra/Sequence)
The Pastor Rudy Experience "Already Here" (Spirit Rising/Music World)
Slipknot "The Blister Exists" (Roadrunner)
Tonex "Fail U" (Nureau Ink)

CMT Adds for the Week of 2/5/07

Adds:
Bruce Hornsby & Ricky Skaggs "Superfreak" (Sony Legacy) - from Crossroads
Kenny Chesney "Summertime" (BNA)

Much Music Adds for the Week of 2/5/07

Adds:
Nickelback "If Everyone Cared"

NEW RELEASE: Mistah FAB "Ghost Ride It"

If you're gonna be ghostriding the whip, is there a better choice of vehicle than the Ghostbusters car? Not only does this 101 guide to hyphy sample the famous Ghostbusters theme, it also features Bay Area rapper Mistah FAB using the famous car as a platform for "ghostriding" — a stunt in which the driver exits the car, as it's still rolling, and dances on the hood and roof. Even though doing silly and dangerous things with cars is a well known teenage rite — have we forgotten the car surfing scenes in Teen Wolf? — ghostriding has set off a wave of controversy and publicity that's even included an appearance by FAB on the Fox News show Hannity & Colmes. --> watch "Ghost Ride It"

Mistah FAB "Ghost Ride It" (Thizz/Atlantic)
Rock Jacobs, director | Gio Hidalgo & Geno Imbriale, producers | Rush Films, production cos | Brian "Garbo" Garbellini, DP | The Janitor, editor

NEW RELEASE: RX Bandits "And The Battle Begun"

RX Bandits may count a trombonist among it's members, but don't hold it against them: This band is more likely to appeal to fans of tuneful/spacey emo stuff like Brand New, than those who have a soft spot for by-the-numbers SoCal ska. The video for "And The Battle Begun" features the band performing in a room where the footage gets simultaneously projected on giant screens that line the walls. --> watch "And The Battle Begun"

RX Bandits "And The Battle Begun" (MDB)
Adam Thomson, director/editor | Ron Najor, producer | Refused TV, production cos | Michael Rizzi, DP

BOOKED: Trivium - Artificial Army, directors

artist: Trivium
song: "The Rising"   
label: Roadrunner
director(s): Artificial Army
production co: Refused TV 

NEWS: Mike Kaminsky New Rep For Refused TV

Mike Kaminsky has joined Refused TV as the production company's new rep. He will also be assisting Cathy Pellow as executive producer. Full contact info will be in the weekly/free Video Static newsletter.

NEW RELEASE: The Decemberists "O Valencia!"

What is it about the Pacific Northwest that breeds murderous tendencies, even among indie rockers? First you have Long Winters frontman John Roderick as a reclusive killer in "Fire Island, AK" and now you have Decemberists leader Colin Meloy as a ruthless renegade ready to flee town with his girlfriend, who happens to be the Boss' (think mafia, not Springsteen) daughter. His plan for a clean getaway is foiled by various factions hired by the aforementioned Boss to prevent their escape by any means necessary. Most of the styling is lovingly swiped from the work of director Wes Anderson — as was the case in director Aaron Stewart-Ahn's clip for the band's "16 Military Wives" — along with a little dash of Kill Bill for good measure. As for those who were curious about the results of the Decembersists' green screen challenge? It got them on The Colbert Report and a shitload of press. Wasn't that the point? --> watch "O Valencia!" (MTV.com)

The Decemberists "O Valencia!" (Capitol)
Aaron Stewart-Ahn, director | Sarah McMurray, producer | Food Chain Films/Otaku-House, production cos | Joe Meade, DP | Rob Ryang, editor

SHOT: Mike Jones - Syndrome, directors

artist: Mike Jones
song: "Mr. Jones"   
label: Warner Bros.
director(s): Syndrome 
production co: HSI
rep: Robin Frank Management

SHOT: Young Jeezy - Chris Robinson, director

artist: Young Jeezy feat. Keyshia Cole
song: "Dreamin" 
label: Island Def Jam
director(s): Chris Robinson
production co: HSI
rep: Robin Frank Management