NEWS: 2008 Plug Music Video Nominees

Nominees have been announced for the 2008 PLUG Awards, which celebrates the best from the independent music community. Nominees were picked by the PLUG Cartel — a wide collection of industry professionals and tastemakers like Video Static (hey!) — but the ultimate winners will be chosen via online voting at plugawards.com, so if you're passionate: Vote early, vote often.

Nominees for Best Video are...

• Aesop Rock "None Shall Pass" (Definitive Jux)
  — Ordinary Kids, directors
  
• Bat For Lashes "What's A Girl To Do?" (Caroline)
  — Dougal Wilson, director
  
• Battles "Atlas" (Warp)
  — Timothy Saccenti, director
  
• Emily Haines And The Soft Skeleton "Our Hell" (Last Gang Records)
  — Jaron Albertin, director
  
• Escort "All Through The Night" (Escort Records)
  — Irvin Coffee, director
  
• José González "Down The Line" (Mute)
  — Andreas Nilsson, director
  
• Justice "D.A.N.C.E." (Downtown / Vice / Ed Banger)
  — Justin & Francois, directors
  
• Liars "Plaster Casts Of Everything" (Mute)
  — Patrick Daughters, director 
• Maximo Park "Our Velocity" (Warp)
  — Nima Nourizadeh, director
  
• Menomena "Rotten Hell" (Barsuk)
  — War & Julius, directors
  
• St. Vincent "Jesus Saves, I Spend" (Beggars Banquet)
  — Andy Bruntel & Bucky Fukumoto, directors
  
• The Shins "Phantom Limb" (Sub Pop)
  — Patrick Daughters, director

NEW RELEASE: Super Furry Animals "Run-Away"

Fuck Mystery. Wanna know who has real Game? Matt Berry, the star of this Super Furry Animals video. He hits a woman with his car and she's instantly and hopelessly in love with him. Sure, it might just be the amnesia or the likely brain damage caused by the crash, but so what. She loves him and he loves her. Things take a tagic turn that leads Berry to take his own ill-advised sprint through the night but even that winds up quite all right. --> watch "Run-Away"

Super Furry Animals "Run-Away" (Rough Trade)
Richard Ayoade, director | Diarmid Scrimshaw, producer | Warp Films, production co

SHOT: Fear/March Of Flames - Lex Halaby, director

Director Lex Halaby says his upcoming video for Fear Before the March Of Flames can be best summed up as "Paris Hilton meets David Lynch." Sounds scary, which is also how I'd describe this photo of Halaby on set with DP Johnny Ching (left) and producer Mark Staubach (right).

artist: Fear Before The March Of Flames
song: "My Deer Hunter"
label: Equal Vision
director(s): Lex Halaby
production co: Refused TV

SHOT: Five A.M. - Ryan Travis, director

Los Angeles band Five A.M. won't be in the upcoming video for their track, "Still In Love With You," but they've got some notable names to take on the starring roles. Look for the clip to feature Ice-T, Edward Furlong — both are seen in the stills attached — and Rumer Willis.

artist: Five A.M.
song: "Still In Love With You"
label: Authentik Music
director(s): Ryan Travis
production co: Shadow Screen Productions
rep: Yell Productions

NEW RELEASE: Mary J. Blige "Just Fine"

Mary J. Blige is back. Did she leave? Well, not for very long, but the Queen of Hip-Hop Soul title is still squarely in her court. For "Just Fine," the first single from her new album Growing Pains, Chris Applebaum directs and in turn delivers one of the flashier videos of his career — Mary's too, arguably —  by letting her do what she does best: Be herself. A lot of "Just Fine" is exactly what we have come to expect from a Mary video: simple yet professional setups that let her beauty shine. But Applebaum takes Mary to the next level by adding a groovy set of backlights, some electro-charged angelic wisps, and more than a few kick-ass wardrobe changes. (review by Kevin Holy) --> watch "Just Fine"

Mary J. Blige "Just Fine" (Geffen)
Chris Applebaum, director | John Hardin, producer | Reactor Films, production co | Mike Sarkissian/Three Foot Giant, rep  | Jonathan Sela, DP | Nabil Mehchi, editor

SHOT: Rashad Morgan - Dennis McKinley, director

Detroit's own Rashad Morgan and director Dennis McKinley pay homage to the city's r&b roots by recreating some vintage performance set-ups inspired by Motown that slowly transition into more contemporary scenes.

artist: Rashad Morgan
song: "Way It Is"
label: Grand Hustle/Atlantic
director(s): Dennis McKinley
production co: McKinley Presents Productions

NEW RELEASE: Mark Ronson "Valerie"

Is guest singer Amy Winehouse's absence from this video a purposeful creative decision or the result of her unavailability due to rehab or worse (yes, yes, yes)? Who cares. The point is she's not in the video and — even though I find the notorious Ms. Winehouse truly compelling — I don't necessarily think that's a bad thing. Mark Ronson is one of those behind the scenes dudes who certainly deserves the spotlight and let's face it: There's no way to compete with Amy Winehouse and her gravity-defying beehive hairdo and overwhelming cult of personality. Ronson appears comfortable and cool on stage at what appears to be a posh, yet off-the-cuff performance when he realizes that his guest singer is not there to take the mic. So, he remains calm and pulls some girls — who all looks like pedestrian versions of Winehouse — from the audience to sing "Valerie" en masse. Whether any of these ladies will have a career path like the one that Courtney Cox enjoyed after her dark dancing with The Boss remains to be seen, but I think Mark Ronson will certainly continue to do just fine. --> watch "Veronica"

Mark Ronson "Valerie" (Allido/RCA)
Robert Hales, director | HSI, production co

BOOKED: Blake Lewis - Sanji, director

American Idol's beatboxing runner-up is set to make his proper video debut...

artist: Blake Lewis
song: "Break Anotha"   
label: 19/Arista 
director(s): Sanji
production co: Siblings
rep: Yell Productions

BOOKED: Casely - Dale "Rage" Resteghini, director

artist: Casely
song: "Emotional"
label: Epic
director(s): Dale "Rage" Resteghini
production co: Raging Nation Films
rep: Yell Productions

BOOKED: Adele - Mathew Cullen, director

artist: Adele
song: "Chasing Pavements"
label: XL
director(s): Mathew Cullen
production co: Motion Theory

NEW RELEASE: Black Tide "Shockwave"

Just when I thought that I was in the last generation to care about the New Wave Of British Heavy Metal — Iron Maiden! Back on tour!  The Powerslave stage show! — along comes the teenage rockers of Black Tide to prove that metal is indeed just like Cats, as in it's now and forever. Black Tide hails from Florida — aka the Finland of America in terms of loving that metal — and is comprised of four teenagers. The touchstone influence evident on this track is clearly Metallica's debut album Kill 'Em All, which reignited interest in the NWOBHM when released in 1983 — five years earlier than the birth of Black Tide's oldest member. The video keeps it as simple and straightforward as it should be with director Jason Bergh mixing together performance with a bit of "day in the life" B-roll. --> watch "Shockwave"

Black Tide "Shockwave" (Interscope)
Jason Bergh, director/DP | Jason Bergh & Daven Henson, producer | UX Entertainment, production co | Kevin Barth, editor

BOOKED: Los Campesinos - Cat Solen, director

artist: Los Campesinos
song: "Death To Los Campesinos"
label: Wichita
director(s): Cat Solen 
production co: Partizan
commissioner: Jill Kaplan/Skyway

BOOKED: Mountain Goats - Ace Norton, director

artist: Mountain Goats
song: "Sax Rohmer #1"
label: 4AD/Beggars Group
director(s): Ace Norton
production co: Partizan

PHOTO: Hot Hot Heat and Roboshobo

Hot Hot Heat singer Stephen Bays and video director Roboshobo on the set of "Harmonicas & Tambourines" without either instrument in sight.

The video supports the band's new Sire album, Happiness LTD. Director Roboshobo is repped by Labuda Management and signed with The Revolver Film Co.

MTV Adds for the Week of 11/19/07

Adds:
Flo Rida f/ T-Pain "Low" (Atlantic)
Lupe Fiasco "Superstar" (1st & 15th/Atlantic)
Rilo Kiley "Silver Lining" (Warner Bros.)
Serj Tankian "Empty Walls" (Serjical Strike/Warner Bros.)

MTV2 Adds:
50 Cent f/ Akon "I Still Will" (G Unit/Interscope)
Armor for Sleep "Williamsburg" (Sire/Warner Bros.)
Korn "Hold On" (Virgin)
Sixx: A.M. "Life Is Beautiful" (10th St. Ent)
Soulja Boy f/ I-15 "Soulja Girl" (Collipark/Interscope)

MTVU Adds:
Alicia Keys "Like You'll Never See Me Again" (J)
Blue Scholars "Joe Metro" (Mass Line)
Kate Nash "Foundations" (Fiction)
Korn "Hold On" (Virgin)
Menomena "Evil Bee" (Barsuk)
Panacea "Pops Said" (Rawkus)
Schoolyard Heroes "Plastic Surgery Hall Of Fame" (Stolen Transmission)
Scissors for Lefty "Lay Down Your Weapons" (Eenie Meenie)
Styles P f/ Swizz Beatz "Blow Ya Mind" (Koch/D-Block)
The Killers "Shadowplay" (Island)
The National "Apartment Story" (Beggars Banquet)

MTV Jams Adds:
3 Deep "Watch My Shoes" (Trill/Asylum)
50 Cent f/ Akon "I Still Will" (G Unit/Interscope)
Alicia Keys "Like You'll Never See Me Again" (J)
Beanie Sigel f/ R. Kelly "All Of The Above" (Roc-A-Fella)
DJ Khaled "I'm So Hood (remix)" (Terror Squad/Koch)
DJ Drama "5000 Ones" (Grand Hustle/Atlantic)
Lil' Keke "I'm A G" (TF/Swishahouse)
Nas "Surviving The Times" (Columbia)
Pitbull "Go Girl" (TVT)
Wyclef f/ Akon & Lil Wayne "Sweetest Girl (remix)" (Columbia)

VH1 Adds for the Week of 11/19/07

Adds:
Common "I Want You" (Geffen)
Jay-Z "Roc Boys (And The Winner Is)..." (Roc-A-Fella/Def Jam)
The Killers "Shadowplay" (Island)
Matt Nathanson "Car Crash" (Vanguard)
Seal "Amazing" (Warner Bros.)

VH1 Soul Adds:
Alicia Keys "Like You'll Never See Me Again" (J)
Jay-Z "Roc Boys (And The Winner Is)..." (Roc-A-Fella/Def Jam)
J. Holiday "Suffocate" (Capitol)
Lupe Fiasco "Superstar" (1st & 15th/Atlantic)

BET Adds for the Weeks of 11/19/07

Adds: 
Alicia Keys "Like You'll Never See Me Again" (J)
Chris Brown "This Christmas" (Jive/ZLG)

Rap City Adds:
DJ Khaled "I'm So Hood (remix)" (Terror Squad/Koch)
Mike Jones "Turnin' Headz" (Ice Age/Asylum/Warner Bros.)
Trap Starz "Get It Big" (OnDeck/Universal Republic)

Fuse Adds for the Week of 11/19/07

Adds:
Wyclef f/ Akon & Lil Wayne "Sweetest Girl" (Columbia)

IMF Adds for the Week of 11/19/07

Adds: 
Babyshambles "Delivery" from England
Omarion & Bow Wow "Girlfriend" (Columbia)
Foo Fighters "Long Road To Ruin" (RCA)
The Killers f/ Lou Reed "Tranquilize" (Island)
Plastiscines "Mr. Driver" from France
Sea Wolf "Winter Windows" (Dangerbird)
Sugababes "About You Now" from England
Tony Parker "Premier Love" from France

Specialty Adds:
Circo "Antes Del Fin" (Sony/BMG)
Gatineau "Pow Pow Te Mort" from Canada
The Midway State "Change For You" from Canada
Snook f/ Veronica Maggio "Inga Problem" from Sweden
Valeria Gastaldi "Inventario" from Argentina

Music Choice Adds for the Week of 11/19/07

Adds:
Arch Enemy "Revolution Begins" (Century Media)
Band Of Horses "Is There A Ghost" (Sub Pop)
Barshem "Thug Rain" (B&B)
Bob Sinclair f/ Fireball "What I Want" (Tommy Boy)
Bruce Springsteen "Long Walk Home" (Columbia)
Colette "If" (Om)
Consequence "Uncle Rahiem" (G.O.O.D.)
Daft Punk "Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger" (Virgin)
David Guetta f/ Cozi "Baby When The Light" (Virgin)
Enur f/ Natasja "Calabria" (Ultra/Sequence)
Every Time I Die "We'rewolf" (Ferret)
Gyptian "Beautiful Lady" (VP)
Heart "Crazy On You (Live)" (Shout! Factory)
Huey "Nobody Loves The Hood" (Hitz Committee/Jive)
Jay-Z "Blue Magic" (Roc-A-Fella/Def Jam)
Kevin L "U Got Somebody" (BK Music)
Kimberly Locke "Change" (Curb)
Kirk Franklin "Imagine Me" (Fo Yo Soul/ZLG)
Korn "Hold On" (Virgin)
LCD Soundsystem "Someone Great" (DFA)
Linkin Park "Shadow of the Day" (Warner Bros.)
Lupe Fiasco "Dumb It Down" (1st & 15th/Atlantic)
Mat Kearney "Breathe In Breathe Out" (Aware/Columbia)
Michael Buble "Lost" (Reprise/Warner Bros.)
Nathan "Do Without My Love" (Mona)
Nelly "Wadsyaname" (Derrty/Universal Motown)
Omarion & Bow Wow "Girlfriend" (Columbia)
Soilwork "Exile" (Nuclear Blast)
Strange Fruit Project "Pinball" (Spilt Milk/OM)
Strong Arm Steady f/ Talib Kweli "One Step" (Blacksmith)
Timbaland f/ OneRepublic "Apologize" (Blackground/Interscope)
We The Kings "Skyway Avenue" (S-Curve)

CMT Adds for the Week of 11/12/07

CMT Adds:
Alan Jackson "Bluesman" (Arista Nashville)
Brad Paisley "Letter To Me" (Arista Nashville)

CMT Pure Adds:
Alan Jackson "Bluesman" (Arista Nashville)
Brad Paisley "Letter To Me" (Arista Nashville)

Much Music Adds for the Week of 11/12/07

Adds:
Chad Hatcher "Do It All Again"
Neverending White Lights "Always"
Plain White T's "Our Time Now"
The Reason f/ Sara Quin "We're So Beyond This"

NEW RELEASE: H.I.M. "Kiss Of Dawn"

Any sociologist student in need of a good thesis subject could do worse than traveling to Finland and figuring out what drives the thriving Finnish metal scene. My theory is they love the black metal to compensate for that Midnight Sun phenomenon where the sun stays visible at midnight. While most of Finland's musical exports are either too weird — see the symphonic metal band Nightwish, for a good example— or just too darn scary  — Satanic Warmaster, anyone? —  H.I.M. has been having some mainstream success in the U.S. with an a Gothic and Romantic version of hard melodic alternarock. The video for "Kiss Of Dawn" — a song title which  isn't probably  a reference to the aforementioned Midight Sun, or a reference to a chick named Dawn —  accentuates all those spooky castle elements that are probably required in any H.I.M video while keeping the focus on singer Ville Valo, who comes across as the brooding Goth love child of Jim Morrison and Morrissey. Director Meiert Avis also delivered a series of virals for other songs off the band's new opus, Venus Doom. --> watch "Kiss Of Dawn" plus some virals virals virals virals

H.I.M. "Kiss Of Dawn" (Sire/Warner Bros.)
Meiert Avis, director | Kris Eber , producer | Pusher, production co | Labuda Management, rep |  Danny Hiele, DP

BOOKED: Backstreet Boys - Bernard Gourley, director

artist: Backstreet Boys
song: "Helpless When She Smiles"
label: Jive/ZLG
director(s): Bernard Gourley
production co: Immigrant Film
rep: Robin Frank Management

BOOKED: Johnta Austin - Ray Kay, director

artist: Johnta Austin
song: "The One That Got Away" 
label: So So Def/Island Urban Music
director(s): Ray Kay
production co: Rockhard Films 
rep: Robin Frank Management

NEW RELEASE: Seether "Fake It"

We hold these music video truths to be self evident: Most rap and rock stars don't have lear jets, sexy booty girls do not follow them around all day ready to fulfill their ass-shaking needs and all those beautiful people you see on-screen are only so beautiful because of all the "beauty work" that gets applied to each and every frame. It's all a sham and everybody knows it and, perhaps more absurdly, most fans expect and demand it. Director Tony Petrossian — who previously turned a caustic eye on the two-dimensional artifice of the Hollywood life in his Stone Sour video "Throught The Glass" — takes viewers behind the scenes on a series of faux-videos created to perfectly match Seether's new "I can smell the bullshit from here" single, "Fake It." Each clichéd set-up looks hot and expensive and over the top, but in the end they are all just videos and far from anything you — or most stars, for that matter — would experience in real life. There a few jabs at specific video trends and directors — the letterbox flourishes pioneered by Hype Williams, for example — but they come across as playful nods of respect and not playa hatin'. --> watch "Fake It"

Seether "Fake It" (Wind-Up)
Tony Petrossian, director/editor | Dave Robertson, producer | Rockhard Films, production co | Robin Frank Management, rep | Michael Bernard, DP

NEW RELEASE: Brandi Carlile "Turpentine"

I don't know if wine can actually turn to turpentine — although a Google search led me to this interesting link — but I understand the song's sentiment of a good thing that eventually becomes a bit overwhelming and, besides, I believe a pretty song trumps any small gaps in logic and this latest from Brandi Carlile is downright gorgous. The video is rightfully content with beauty as well, showing off lush cinematography of the singer as she browses through old photos and letters —all in an effort to uncover some truth from a haze of memories like turpentine would eat away old paint on a brush. --> watch "Turpentine"

Brandi Carlile "Turpentine" (Columbia)
Roman White, director | Tameron Hedge , producer | Revolution Pictures, production co | Norman Bonney, DP | Daria Koreiba, editor