I absolutely wore out Danish singer/songwriter Teitur Lassen’s debut album Poetry & Aeroplanes.  It may have been the most played album for me from my college days. In fact my wife and I had some of our best friends play one of the songs off the album for us in our wedding.  That is how much this album meant to me.  Well if you’re like me, you waited for his follow-up with great anticipation, only to be disappointed when Stay Under the Stars finally released in the US in late 2006.  With the troubles/breakup with Columbia records and  follow-up to Stay Under the Stars being written in his native tongue and a foreign release, I gave up on Teitur and kind of assumed that was the last I would hear of him.

While I gave up on Teitur Lassen, fortunately, he did not give up and has continued to write and record some great music over the past several years, following up his Faroese release, with another English album in late 2008, called The Singer, which I have yet to hear.  And his most recent album, Let the Dog Drive Home, released back in October of 2010 in Europe, has fully restored my love for this extremely talented songwriter.  The album is wistful and beautiful and everything I adored about his lovely debut.  And most importantly it has finally been released digitally in the US.  You can sample a few songs below and then you can buy the whole album here: Let the Dog Drive Home

Teitur – Let The Dog Drive Home

Teitur – You Never Leave LA by blaavinyl

Download the whole album for $8 -Making Mirrors

September
17 – San Francisco, Calif. @ Bimbo’s 365 Club
18 – Los Angeles, Calif. @ Masonic Temple
20 – Los Angeles, Calif. @ Troubadour
22 – Chicago, Ill. @ Lincoln Hall
23 – Toronto, Ontario @ The Great Hall
24 – Montreal, Quebec @ Corona
25 – Boston, Mass. @ Brighton Music Hall
27 – Washington, D.C. @ Sixth & I Historic Synagogue
28 – New York, N.Y. @ Webster Hall

Listen to the new song, “Sophia” below

Get their new album for only $5 on Amazon right now – Sidewalks

Block After Block (Single Version) by mattandkim

August
13 – East Hampton, N.Y. @ Music To Know Festival
20 – Hollywood, Calif. @ Sunset Strip Music Festival
27 – Annapolis, Md. @ Silopanna Music Festival

September
7 – Saint Paul, Minn. @ Xcel Energy Center
9 – Bonner Springs, Kan. @ Sandstone Amphitheatre
10 – Noblesville, Ind @ Verizon Wireless Music Center
11 – Clarkston, Mich. @ DTE Energy Music Theatre
13 – Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio @ Blossom Music Center
15 – Burgettstown, Pa. @ First Niagra Pavilion
16 – Saratoga, N.Y. @ Saratoga Performing Arts Center
17 – Camden, N.J. @ Susquehanna Bank Center
18 – Virginia Beach. Va @ Farm Bureau Live
20 – Charlotte, N.C. @ Charlotte Verizon Wireless Amphitheater
21 – Atlanta, Ga. @ Aaron’s Amphitheatre at Lakewood
23 – West Palm Beach, Fla. @ Cruzan Amphitheater
24 – Tampa, Fla. @ 1-800-ASK-Gary Amphitheatre
26 – Woodlands, Tex. @ Woodlands Pavilion
27 – Dallas, Tex. @ Gexa Energy Pavilion
29 – Alburquerque, N.M. @ Hard Rock Casino
30 – Tempe, Ariz. @ Tempe Beach Park Amphitheatre

October
1 – Anaheim, Calif. @ Honda Center
2 – Wheatland, Calif. @ Sleep Train Amphitheatre
5 – Mountain View, Calif. @ Shoreline Amphitheatre
6 – Chula Vista, Calif. @ Cricket Wireless Amphitheatre
7 – Las Vegas, Nev. @ Red Rock Resort
8 – Hollywood, Calif. @ Hollywood Bowl

Foster the People‘s debut album, Torches  is out now and you can get for $10 on Amazon.

The Age of Adz is on sale on Amazon for only $5 for just a few more days. If you haven’t bought it yet, I suggest you get it here now!

Snow Patrol – “Make This Go On Forever”

The Arcade Fire – “The Suburbs”

Sleigh Bells – “Treats”

Frightened Rabbit – “I Feel Better”

Walk the Moon – Anna Sun

OK Go – This Too Shall Pass from OK Go on Vimeo.

When I first shared the song “Say Please” with you all back in July, I wasn’t really impressed.  It has since become one of my favorite songs of the year.  And I really enjoyed the video that they created to accompany it.  Enjoy the Music Video of the Week. And then listen to a few songs from the record that are streaming below.

I have been following CoT quite closely since they were so kind to grant us our first, of what is becoming a really fun series of videos, Bloody Interview:

And speaking of Bloody Interviews, once I get around to finishing the edit, I shot one a couple of weeks ago with ridiculously talented Other Lives. I promise promise to have it up by next week (or so help me editor).

Grizzly Bear – Two Weeks

This Camera is Lovely from Justin Metcalfe on Vimeo.

Charles Mingus – Goodbye Pork Pie Hat

Charles Mingus – Better Git Hit In Your Soul

Modest Mouse – Satellite Skin (Live)

He certainly has an interesting sound (the label referres to it as “Folktronica”) and I am curious to hear what the rest of the album sounds like.  Currently he only has an EP out (which features 2 songs and then several remixes of “No Pins Allowed), but he has a new album out on May 26th entitled “Turning Down Water for Air.”

James Yuill – No Pins Allowed

The director gave this short description on how it was acheived:

Video made with shredding machine. Every third frame of the footage was printed, shredded and shot three times blended with adjacent frames by different stripes configuration.

Ridiculous.

I think this video is the prime example of what I love about both music and music videos; despite the fact that I have not a clue what the band is singing about, this video does such a brilliant job of capturing the essence and spirit of the song.

An interesting note about La Otra Banda, they won the 2008 John Lennon Songwriting Grand Prize in the World category for their song “Indigenous”.

Black Lips – I’ll Be With You

The director has this to say about the retro feel and look of the video:

I hope your ears (and eyes) bleed.

Bat For Lashes – Daniel

I gotta admit I wasn’t too keen on her voice the first time I heard it, but something about her deep and smokey singing drew me in.  This video has a pretty fare sampling of what to expect on the forthcoming album, Two Sons:

Samantha Crain & the Midnight Shivers – Get the Fever Out

All songs by Samantha Crain
samanthacrain.com

Find her Daytrotter Session recordings at
daytrotter.com/article/1562/samantha-crain-and-the-midnight-shivers

Special thanks to Ramseur Records
ramseurrecords.net

All video shot and edited by Justin Metcalfe
theysaybuildproductions.com

This first video is from Winter Gloves, a band based out of Quebec/Montreal.  What is most stunning about this video is the fact that nothing you see is done in post-production.  So yeah, they took that many pictures and pieced them all together.

Winter Gloves ‘Let Me Drive’ from the album ‘about a girl’ from Paper Bag Records on Vimeo

Video directed by BENJAMIN WEINSTEIN

Winter Gloves’ full length album, about a girl, comes out March 24th (Paper Bag Records).

This next video is from the Sydney based folk-duo Angus and Julia Stone:

Fans of lo-fi folk featuring hushed vocals and lush intrumentation will have a hard time resisting their album “A Book Like This”.

Angus & Julia Stone – Mango Tree

Produced, Edited and Directed by Aaron Copeland and Johnny Fitzsimons.

Guggenheim Grotto – Her Beautiful Ideas

The Guggenheim Grotto – The Girl with the Cards

You can hear the rest of their sophomore album in its entirety, “Happy the Man,” here.

——————————————————————————————————-

Next Monday I will have another Bloody Interview with one of our favorite up-and-coming artists here at IHYEB, Samantha Crain and the Midnight Shivers.

If she is coming to a city near you I highly recommend checking out her show:

All music by Greg Laswell
greglaswell.com

Thanks to Vanguard Records
vanguardrecords.com

Greg Laswell – What A Day

Greg Laswell – That It Moves

If you are a band (or know of a band) coming through the Atlanta area we would love to have A Bloody Interview with you!  Just send us an e.mail with a link to your music to nathan@ihopeyourearsbleed.com.

The Rifles – The Great Escape from Bob Harlow on Vimeo

The Rifles – The Great Escape

Shot on 16mm and directed by Bob Harlow.

The Steps – Dagger

On a note completely unrelated to this video or band…

Next Monday I will have a new Bloody Interview from the fantastic singer-songwriter Greg Laswell.  Needless to say, I am pretty excited about the oppurtunity to talk with him, mostly so I can ask him what it was like to work with Elijah Wood.

I hope your ears (and eyes) bleed.

A Bloody Interview: Company of Thieves from Justin Metcalfe on Vimeo

Company of Thieves – Oscar Wilde

All music by Company of Thieves
companyofthieves.net

Thanks to Wind-up Records.
winduprecords.com

ihopeyourearsbleed.com Music Video of the Week: Frontier Brothers from Justin Metcalfe

Download a copy for your iPod

Check out the full-length HD version of the music video here:
vimeo.com/2925475

Also, be sure to check out the other Kinetiq HD videos:
vimeo.com/user346742
kinetiqhd.com

Songs featured in this video:

Cape Fear

I’ve Got Friends

Jump Blues

It actually was my plan to give you a video edition, but dumb work and dumb Super Bowl got in the way.  But I didn’t want to completely ignore the day dedicated to the art that is music video, so I am going old school today with this MVW post (can it really be considered old school, though?  I mean, technically there has only been one video edition…)

This quirky creepy video is directed by Edward Housden, and the cinematography is by Ariel Kleiman (shot with the much coveted RED 4K).

Foxx on Fire – Mission Abort from Foxx on Fire on Vimeo

Be sure and check out this Australian based bands website, especially if you are a fan of ’80′s pop.

I promise (maybe) a return to the new video edition format of the Music Video of the Week.  Until then, I hope your eyes (and ears) bleed.

ihopeyourearsbleed.com Music Video of the Week from Justin Metcalfe on Vimeo.

Here is the link to the HD version of the video if you don’t care to see my face:
http://www.vimeo.com/987234

Also availible as a video podcast: ihyebpodcast1

And make sure to check out the other videos by director Rick Alverson.

Songs featured in this video:

TV on the Radio: “Halfway Home”
Gregor Samsa: “First Mile, Last Mile”
Gregor Samsa: “Jeroen van Aken”
Conor Oberst: “Moab”

Okay, enough with that schtick.  I thought about writing an entire post in slow motion, but I hardly made it through one sentence without wanting to punch myself in the face.  I can only imagine how painful, and confusing, that would have been to read.

And wanting to punch myself is often the response I have when watching a music video in slow motion.  I am not sure why, but there seems to be a large influx of directors using this technique in their music videos.  Heck, even I am guilty of it (more on that later).  I can only guess the reason for the rise in this technique is because digital video cameras are becoming much more sophisticated and can mimic films ability to “overcrank” the footage.  I would try and explain what that means, but as is the case with most of the things I want to say, wikipedia does a much better job (read this article if you give a crap).

Anyhow, this video, brought to you by Left Eye Blind does a fantastic job of utilizing “overcrank” and “time-remapping” techniques.  Also, do yourself a favor and click the icon in the upper right hand corner to turn the “HD on”.  It is well worth the extra couple of seconds of streaming time.

Vessels – A Hundred Times in Every Direction from LEFT EYE BLIND on Vimeo

Vessels – A Hundred Times in Every Direction

And here is my far less refined video demonstrating the “overcrank” method.  The danceble little track accompanying the video is “Hotel” by Broken Social Scene.

Overcranked Fights: Episode 2 from Justin Metcalfe on Vimeo

Broken Social Scene – Hotel

And finally, there are some exciting changes coming to the Music Video of the Week section. I’ll just say that starting next week things are going to start getting more “visual”. Until then, I hope your ears (and eyes) bleed.

The publisist of Dead Oceans/Jagjaguwar/Secretly Canadian sent in this video, and I will start with her words to describe it:

“It is dark and amazing.  You will be awestruck for approx. six minutes.  I cannot stress this enough, please watch this video.”

Well, the publicist was right.  It was dark and amazing, and I was awestruck for approx. six minutes.

Bodies of Water – Under the Pines

If you are a music video director, an artist hoping to get some face time, or you stumble across something that you feel is worthy of a mention on IHYEB, email us at nathan@ihopeyourearsbleed.com. I hope your ears (and eyes) bleed.

Thanks to Dan Thompson for sending this music video in. If you are a music video director, or you stumble across something that you feel is worthy of a mention on IHYEB, email us at nathan@ihopeyourearsbleed.com. I hope your ears (and eyes) bleed.

I feel like this is the conversation that took place between the director and the artist:

Artist: My band really needs a music video.

Director: But your music is terrible.

Artist: I don’t care, I want a music video.

Director: Alright, fine, here is a video camera, make it yourself.

And thus the video was born.  Your ears and eyes will certainly bleed after seeing this.

Here is a great version of Silent Night, performed by Johnny and his wife June Carter.

Here is the great gospel tune “This Train is Bound for Glory” performed by Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis, Roy Orbison, and Carl Perkins.

The late, great Andy Kauffman showing off his expertise by doing Elvis Presley’s “That’s Where Your Heartaches Begin.”

Here are a few more versions of possibly one of the most gorgeous Christmas songs ever written.

Ben Harper & the Blind Boys of Alabama – Silent Night

Bing Crosby – Silent Night

Bright Eyes – Silent Night

Damien Rice & Lisa Hannigan – Silent Night

Hugh Laurie – Silent Night

Johnny Cash – Silent Night

Lifehouse – Silent Night

My Morning Jacket – Silent Night

Priscilla Ahn – Silent Night

Relient K – Silent Night; Away in a Manger

Sarah McLachlan – Silent Night

Stevie Nicks – Silent Night

Sufjan Stevens – Silent Night

Tom Waits – Silent Night

Wow…kind of exhausting.  So if you dared to actually sample them all please share with us your favorite.  Were you suprised by which one you liked the most. I know I was.  I hope your ears aren’t actually bleeding, I just want you really enjoy the music.

Justin Metcalfe – Cracked

The Album Leaf – Over the Pond

Efterklang – Swarming (removed 2/13/09)

Efterklang – Caravan (removed 2/13/09)

Efterklang – Cutting Ice to Snow (removed 2/13/09)

It should also be mentioned that the last video is not technically a music video, but rather clips from the documentary “In A Dream” by Jeremiah Zagar.  I felt it was too beautiful a song and video to exclude based on a technicality.

I hope your eyes (and ears) bleed.

If for some reason you still aren’t sure that you should give The Silent Years a chance, then don’t just listen to my words, take it from someone else.  Like Pitchfork, who gave them a 7.3, or Spin Magazine, who named them “Underground Artist of the Year” in 2007.  So I don’t care who you believe, just listen to the record.  Your ears are sure to thank you for it.

Here is the best song I’ve heard since Okkervil River’s ‘Our Life Is Not A Movie Or Maybe’.

The Silent Years – On Our Way Home (removed 2/13/09)

And here is a great live version of another one of my favorites from the album, courtesy of Daytrotter.

The Silent Years – Black Hole (Daytrotter Version) (removed 2/13/09)

And since we missed on Music Video Mondays, here is a fun video for a fantastic song off of their self-titled debut.