Check out the new video from the duo of DFA Records lovelies known as Prinzhorn Dance School. We last heard from Tobin Prinz & Suzi Horn in 2007 when their self-titled debut album was released on DFA. We’re overdue for some wonderful new d-punk, and I think this is a sound introduction to their second full-length Clay Class which comes out on 30 January 2012.

Prinzhorn Dance School – Happy In Bits

Mikael Colombu heads on a breath-taking ride to an Ethiopia of the future with The Weeknd? That’s what this video / short film is, and it goes deeper than maybe you’d planned. As you might recall, this track appears on the House of Balloons mixtape, but the video is brand new, just in time to make the Best Video of 2011 considerations. Enjoy.

The Weeknd – The Knowing

Controversial? New video? Common? Am I seeing this right? Well, this was filmed in Haiti, and the track … well, it’s definitely not what I’m used to from Common. He went H-A-R-D.

New York City is pretty much already the definition of sensory overload, all by itself, on a random Tuesday, in the middle of nothing, when half of the city calls in sick. So when it’s time for the annual cluster-you-know-what known as the CMJ Music Marathon? If I were Johnny-Five, my circuits would have shorted. Lucky for you, I just eeked by in the “living to tell about it” category, so I here I am, living. And telling you about it! In no particular order, I present to you: my favorite finds from CMJ 2011.

BUXTON

It’s possible that when I saw Buxton at the Living Room on Thursday, I wasn’t even planning on staying. In fact, I think there might’ve been something upstairs or next door or across the street or in the ladies’ room that I’d actually intended to see — until I walked in and heard Buxton.

Most any six-piece can’t help but catch your attention by sheer size alone, but these guys caught my attention and kept it. Well, guy. Singular. Jason Willis, lead guitar, at your service for fast, effortless and wildly roaming guitar melodies. Right underneath them you’ll find a rich layer provided by two more guitarists and keys and these big, unabashed drums. And then, just fade it all out for a minute so you can sink into the unassuming vocal — sort of sweetly drunken, love-song-folk.

DATAROCK

The Datarock set at Brooklyn Bowl Thursday night sort of happened to me, the way really good things often do. I’d actually come for the DJ set that was happening later but then there they were, in all their track-suited glory, like the uncle you should probably find creepy but is somehow pretty endearing.

Upon further investigation, I’m fairly sure that this was a legitimately impromptu-type situation. Not sure who was meant to be there that night, but after the guys reenacted the final scene from Dirty Dancing (complete with appropriate soundtracking) and had everyone sit cross-legged on the floor, I don’t think anyone cared. They sang “California” for the crowd that resembled, from my vantage point, an oddly grown-up-sized kindergarten class during music time. It was perfection. I only wish I could’ve joined them all down there, but the ensemble I’d chosen that evening would not have supported floor-sitting without me showing everyone my Britney Spears.

Alas. Next time, guys.

BLONDE SUMMER

Never was a band better matched with its name and its homeland. (Okay, maybe once.) Danceable, surf-inspired rock with solid pop songwriting and just enough reverb on the guitar to never let you forget you’re in the Sunshine State.

Blonde Summer – Silver Jesus

WIM

The award for best on-stage banter definitely goes to the lead singer from WIM, who paused before the song “Moth” to remind us that a moth only lives for 24 hours. And a lot of stuff can happen in 24 hours. One can live, one can love, one can die.

One can buy shrooms?

Incidentally, though, I can’t stop listening to that very song. It’s got these big playful choral hooks and bouncy, jam-band-prog-inspired organ/guitar melodies with about three different movements that ebb and flow into each other — it wants to be its own little opus. When I listen to WIM I sort of feel like I should be at a planetarium. Or watching one of those weird shape-shifting screen savers from early versions of Windows.

One can buy shrooms?

CITIES AVIV

Cities Aviv said “fuck all you bloggers” during his set more times than I can count (thankfully somebody did it for me), but you can’t really take it personally when he also did a few rounds of “fuck everybody here.” Fuck everybody? I’m not even special anymore. All fucking aside, I’ve liked this kid since I first heard Digital Lows and he’s one of the few solo rappers who rhyme with DJs that I even care to see live. Maybe it’s that fuck-all attitude or just the style of his flow, but I tend to forget there’s no band and just lay into the tracks. His CMJ show was no different, and I think the packed house at Pianos agreed.

Planet (ft. Clement Roussel x Alexia Gredy) by Cities Aviv

ARMY NAVY

Army Navy was possibly the only band during CMJ that I saw more than once, and though I knew they would make this list I was having a hard time articulating exactly what it was that I liked about them so much — until I came home, starting writing and found the music video you see above. You’re welcome.

A HOUSE FOR LIONS

I had a 90s alternative rock dream, filled with the kind of music best punctuated by the rhythmic passing of streetlights on some interstate in the middle of nowhere. But then I woke up. Turns out? I was at The National Underground on Friday night, seeing A House for Lions. In my case (unlike Biggie’s) it wasn’t all a dream — but while there are flashes of Gin Blossoms or Toad the Wet Sprocket or Better than Ezra in there, there are also these lovely little patches of John Hiatt and veritable miles of Lyle Lovett.

All nostalgia aside, this is a band that has figured out how to craft a song, entirely in the present tense. The writing is simple, but evocative and intelligent. Mike Nissen’s guitar work is smart and versatile — warm where it needs to be, piercing through the texture where it needs to, calling up country and bluegrass on one track and settling into alt-rock reverb on the next. And on just about every track, my ear jumps at an inescapable comparison to Mark Knopfler. It’s these subtleties of tone that allow them to take their sound into a lot of different territories — so far they seem to be charting all of them with ease.

A House For Lions – Come On Let’s Go

The CMJ Music Marathon is held every fall in New York City. Details are available year round at cmj.com/marathon

The Michel Gondry-directed video for Björk’s song “Crystalline” from her app-album Biophilia has arrived. Enjoy.

::: Purchase Biophilia for iPhone or iPad :::

Few relationships in music video history have the longevity of the Beastie Boys creative partnerships with Spike Jonze. Once again, the Academy Award-winning director/screenwriter teams up with the B-Boys (as he has so many times) to whip up an inventive video, this time turning everyone involved into action figures. “Don’t Play No Game That I Can’t Win (feat. Santigold)” is one of the standout tracks from what is arguably the best Beastie Boys album since Ill Communication. Watch this video and tell me what you think.

And since they were kind enough to premiere it last night, check out the short version from Funny or Die.

Yesterday, Calgary’s Chad VanGaalen released his newest album, Diaper Island on Sub Pop. I’ve been quite impressed and curious to see what direction the notoriously guarded songwriter will take which, in this case, seems to be somewhat more of an album of rock songs painted with his trademark dark restraint. Check out this song from the album, “Peace on the Rise” & the accompanying video.

Chad VanGaalen – Peace On The Rise

Sleepy Rebels is exactly what I needed to soundtrack my Saturday afternoon: light, uncomplicated acoustic pop that is simultaneously anything but light and uncomplicated.

This is a three-piece that masquerades as a 75-piece, playing a laundry list of instruments (including an ocarina!), and making liberal use of the syncopated hand-clap where necessary. Perfect example: “Unbelievable.” The video for the single premiered yesterday, and they’ll unleash their sophomore full-length Yellow Tree on the world this Tuesday.

The video is directed by Christian Loubek — you might remember his work from the opening credits of Six Feet Under — and it’s the classic tale of what happens when a few handsome men randomly fall out of the sky by parachute into a village full of virile young women. And of course, we can’t forget the old people who laugh at the ensuing girl fight and (naturally) clap their hands.

Check out the “Unbelievable” video here. You can order your copy of Yellow Tree at SleepyRebels.com.

Here’s the official video for the song “Make Some Noise” from the Beastie Boys forthcoming Hot Sauce Committee Part 2 album & 30-minute film Fight For Your Right – Revisited. Count the guest appearances? NOT EVEN GONNA TRY.

PS: Check out the full 30-minute video by clicking here.

Toro y Moi’s “Still Sound” (from their instant classic Underneath The Pine) gets another sweet remix, this time from Chuck Enciso & the video that Popeye Jawns created to go along with it is pretty clever. Judge for yourself.

Toro y Moi – Still Sound (Chuck Enciso Remix)

Chuck Enciso, an American music producer, songwriter, and recording artist from Southern California. A sound that can be described as futuristic spacey West Coast music. His music embodies a Hip Hop foundation and combines elements of Experimental, Progressive, Electronic, Indie Rock, Rnb, Dub-Step, Classical, and every other genre you can think of.

This brand new video from Justin x Adam aka She Wants Revenge was directed by none other than Justin Warfield himself. Reinventing themselves with a fresh new sound & completely different direction, I can’t wait to hear the new album Valleyheart from the Los Angeles duo due out 24 May 2011.

PS: OFWGKTA makes an appearance in this video #swag

[ She Wants Revenge official website | She Wants Revenge on Twitter | She Wants Revenge on Tumblr ]

[ PHOTO CREDIT: Patricia Spanjer ]

[ Little Dragon on Twitter | Little Dragon Official Site ]

Been missing The Cars? Me, too. Ric Ocasek & co. have returned with a new album, entitled Move Like This [Amazon] due on 10 May 2011. A couple of weeks ago, they released a video for the song “Blue Tip” which got tongues wagging. Today, they’ve released a second video for the track “Sad Song” from the much-anticipated album which (as you’ll hear) marks a pretty solid return to form for the band.

[ Pre-Order Move Like This from Amazon ]

Fresh off its premiere at Live From Memphis’ MVS 2011, the new video from notorious ‘aristocrunk’ pioneers Lord T and Eloise for the song “Wu Hui” is all up in your grill. Directed by Christopher Reyes, this video is guaranteed to give you 10000% of your Recommended Daily Allowance of Tommy Kha and may cause a desire to spontaneously get up and dance..

_{Full disclosure: I actually voiced several characters on their latest album, Rapocalypse 2013 which is currently available direct from Lord T and Eloise.}