We're back in our prospecting caps once again and panning for gold in the great video vastness that is YouTube...

Finds of the week:

1 & 2. Björk “Earth Intruders” video & live on SNL
Our favorite Icelandic songstress (who hates to be called elfin), Björk, wowed on Saturday Night Live. Check out the clip of her performance of “Earth Intruders” (from the forthcoming Volta) below. The crayola-robed back-up singers/Greek Chorus/horn players rule! After the SNL performance, you can check out the single’s Michel Ocelot-directed video. A future-primitive iPod commercial?

“Earth Intruders” Live on SNL


“Earth Intruders” video


3. Von Sudenfed “Fledermaus Can't Get It” video
Von Sudenfed is The Fall’s Mark E. Smith backed by German electronic duo Mouse On Mars. The unlikely trio’s debut album, Tromatic Reflexxions, trumps much of The Fall’s recent material, mostly because Smith’s indecipherable ravings- and famous punctuations of “UH!” are backed by MOM’s eclectic and excitingly quirky beats. The video for the album’s first single, “Fledermaus Can’t Get It,” features several very serious ladies getting down.



4. Jamie T “Sheila (2007 Version)” video

For those Americans not familiar with British singer/songwriter Jamie T, imagine a male Lily Allen with fixations on Bob Dylan and The Clash. That’s a flip description, but it gets you somewhere on the right track. Jamie’s been making waves since last year in his homeland, but just like with Allen –the U.S. is bound to catch up. Especially now that Jamie has famous friends and fans. Yes, the singer snatched veteran thespian Bob Hoskins to star in a new video version of his 2006 single “Sheila”. Check out Eddie Valiant mime his way to a sad conclusion.




This Week’s YouTube Gold:
Top pick of the week.

5. Peaches “My Dumps” video parody

A Parody of Parody? That’d be Sleaze Queen Peaches getting all postmodern on our asses, with a gross-out parody of Alanis Morrisette’s parody of Black Eyed Peas’ “My Humps” song/video. Phew! Did ya get all that? *WARNING: If you cannot handle scatological reference or images of (fake) poo, do not watch the following video. If, however, you enjoy third grade bathroom humor (like this writer) …please proceed!

Here's this week's picks for your post-Oscars viewing pleasure.

1. The Arcade Fire did an awesome job last night on SNL. The band performed two songs, “Intervention” and “Keep The Car Running, “ as well as participating in this week’s digital short with Guest Host Rainn Wilson. Here’s the band’s very fine performance of “Intervention.” Frontman Win Butler breaks a string during the performance that leads him to a frustrated Cobain/Townshend-inspired guitar smashing.

2. Guest Host Rainn Wilson & Arcade Fire in last night’s SNL Digital Short. Arcade Fire just look so precious all huddled in that corner.



3. Glaswegians Shitdisco release their debut album, Kingdom Of Fear, on April 17th. The band has created a buzz in the UK with its brand of dancey post-punk ala Talking Heads. Here’s the video for the band’s most recent single, “Reactor Party.”

4. LCD Soundsystem release their hotly anticipated sophomore disc, Sound Of Silver, on March 20th. The lead single, “North American Scum” is available starting tomorrow (February 26th), and has already been bumping in clubs for nearly a month. Watch LCD mainman James Murphy fill out his silver lamme in various poses.


YouTube Gold:
Top Pick Of The Week

5. Boy From Brazil (AKA Berlin-based musician/provocateur Razi) makes garage and electro-sleaze inspired by the likes of Velvet Underground and The Stooges. Queen of Sleaze, Peaches, believes BFB out-does her.

Here’s BFB’s latest video for his single “Out Of The Past.” It features Transvestitism, pills, high-heels and dildos. What else could you want?

It's time once again for this week's installment of "Recommended Viewing" (now in two parts), where we act as prospector, panning through YouTube and posting some of the gold we find.

1. With this week's news of a new Throbbing Gristle album, we were happy to find this little gem of an interview with TG co-founder Genesis P-Orridge. P-Orridge talks about his transformation into a "Panandrogyne," and a host of other fascinating subjects. This is part 1 of the interview, part 2 will follow in our next post.

part 1


2. Legendary songstress Marianne Faithfull takes another turn as an actress (She returned to film last year in Sofia Coppola's Marie Antoinette), starring in what is sure to be one of the most controversial films of the year, Irina Palm. Here's a brief synopsis of the film:

We found a little teaser trailer on YouTube, but you can also view a full trailer at the film's official website.


3. Ex-D-Generation frontman Jesse Malin releases his new (and excellent) solo album, Glitter In The Gutter, on March 20th. Here's a pretty decent quality live clip of Malin performing the lead track, "Don't Let Them Take You Down", from the forthcoming LP.



4. Britpop is seeing a lovely resurgence lately with bands like The Long Blondes and Klaxons making marks with excellent debut long players. Larrikin Love is also one of these bands as proven on last year's solid The Freedom Spark. The latest single from the album, "Well Love Does Furnish A Life", is a jangly, stunning Smiths-esque number and also the LP's stand-out track. Here's the track's very worthy video.



5. Peaches's new video, "Boys Wanna Be Her", is beyond fun. It features her touring band of girl-rock elite in The Herms (Radio Sloan ex-The Need, JD Samson of Le Tigre, and Samantha Maloney formerly of Hole and Motley Crue) in a gloriously glam rock sleazefest.



Stay Tuned for Part 2!

Here's an easy way to make an album, and one that will sell. The only caveat is that you need a back catalogue and a name that was made famous by your incredibly legendary husband. Ok, two caveats.

That was step one. Step two is you offer up said back catalogue to incredibly talented and hot, young artists, and ask them to rework one of your songs, and you provide them with the original vocal track.

Done. Well, then you have to release it in February on Astralwerks.

That's the Yoko Ono guide to getting your name back in to the hearts of the youth.

When Yoko picked up the phone she called Jason Pierce (of Spiritualized), The Flaming Lips, Cat Power, Antony (from Antony and the Johnsons), Polyphonic Spree, Peaches, Le Tigre... you get the idea. The results are Yes, I'm a Witch an album that walks the line of remixes, duets, and covers. It's like a venn diagram in a CD. The artists were offered the background music as well, but apparently almost all just took the vocals and reworked the supporting music. Go figure.

Oh, Yoko. You got an awesome rolodex.

Still Got It

Peaches has announced a US tour beginning in November to coincide with her current world tour. The tour is in support of Merrill Nisker's latest, and her third since assuming the Peaches moniker, Impeach My Bush released in July on XL Records.

Here is video for her latest single "Boys Wanna Be Her."

It's strange to me how Karen O. has gone from just a Williamsburg band person to LA glamour queen and rock star. It's rare when one person can not only adapt to LA after being a NY fixture, but also seem to fit in so well there. Here's to you, O. But Karen is uprooting her life for a little bit, and over the next couple of months, Ms. O will be on the go.

She and her Yeah Yeah Yeahs have announced their fall touring plans. Supporting this years long-awaited Show Your Bones, the band will hit North America as well as the European festival cicuit. They are a dynamo live, so your attendance is encouraged.

In related news, Karen and teamed up to record a song called "Backass" for the upcoming Jackass 2 movie, and a Peaches remix of the Yeah Yeah Yeahs track "Cheated Hearts" appears on that tune's recent UK single release.

Yeah Yeah Yeahs dates:

Photo Location