Here’s a project I did last month with guitarist extraordinaire Marnie Stern, from her apartment in the Upper East Side in New York.
Author: Mike Katzif
Hospital Ships Summons A Weird And Sinister Ritual
In one of the opening shots in Hospital Ships’ new video, we see two people cutting up a dark purple fruit into tiny pieces and dropping it into a well full of darkened liquid. It appears to be an odd sacrifice, and it leads to something far weirder and unsettling.
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‘Space Oddity’… In Spaaaaace!
For the last five months, Canadian astronaut Chris Hadfield has served as the commander of Expedition 35 aboard the International Space Station. And while in space, he’s made some fun and surprisingly educational videos: You may have seen him making a sandwich or wringing out water from a wet towel.
Hadfield’s latest video is perhaps his best yet: a music video of a stunning cover version David Bowie’s 1969 classic and space tragedy “Space Oddity.” The video is gorgeously shot (hello lens flares!) and edited, and as you see Hadfield slowly floating and singing alone on the space station, it’s remarkably poignant.
Iggy And The Stooges: Not Quite ‘Ready To Die’
While releasing only three records between 1969 and 1973 before its implosion, The Stooges remains one of the most influential and ahead of its time bands ever. And its fearsome lead singer, Iggy Pop — famous for his commanding bare-chested performances, self-mutilation and unpredictable stage antics — is one of rock’s most iconic stars, laying the foundation for punk rock. Still, even at 66, it’s astonishing to think that someone who’s lived as hard and for so long as Iggy Pop is just as explosive and enduring.
After reforming in 2003, the band has seen a resurgence that’s culminated in both highs, like in March 2010 when the Stooges and Iggy Pop were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and lows, when Ron Asheton died in 2009. Now with a new album, Ready To Die, Iggy And The Stooges are reforming again.
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The Flaming Lips: An Unpredictable Journey Leads To Unrelenting ‘Terror’
It’s a rarity for rock bands to last as long as The Flaming Lips have, and practically unheard of to remain as artistically relevant. But over a constantly shapeshifting, nearly 30-year lifespan, Lips’ frontman and spiritual guide Wayne Coyne and company have proven time and again they’re not your typical rock band. Case in point: While The Terror — the iconoclast Oklahoma City band’s 13th record — is technically its first “proper” album in roughly four years, The Lips have been as productive and creatively curious as ever.
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Sigur Rós Getting Heavy With ‘Kveikur’
It was only last year that Sigur Rós put out Valtari, a gorgeously dreamlike, yet sedate record. Typically with the ethereal and cinematic Icelandic band we can expect a gap of a few years between albums. But now we’re already getting a new record, Kveikur, and if the first track to surface, “Brennisteinn,” is any indication, the band is apparently moving in a more aggressive direction.
Thom Yorke Shows Off His Dance Moves In Atoms For Peace’s ‘Ingenue’
I’m no expert when it comes to dance, be it watching or taking part. And yet for me, sometimes there’s nothing better than watching a straight-up dance video.
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Yeah Yeah Yeahs’ ‘Sacrilige’ A Satisfying Anthem, Complete With Gospel Choir
A few weeks back, Yeah Yeah Yeahs enticed us with a short teaser video that brought news of its long-awaited return with its fourth album Mosquito. While obviously welcome news for fans waiting for a new record, the video also hinted a musical evolution: The snippet had a gauzier pop feel, almost like a Beach House song, but refracted through frontwoman Karen O’s enigmatic point of view.
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David Fincher Directs Justin Timberlake’s Sleek ‘Suit & Tie’ Video
Just in time for Valentine’s day, Justin Timberlake has given his fans a little gift in the form of a new video for “Suit & Tie” the new single from new album, The 20/20 Experience.
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Beck Transforms David Bowie With A 170-Piece Orchestra
Beck Hansen certainly is no stranger to ambitious musical concepts — from his genre-defying albums and shapeshifting production work to his Record Club video series, video game music, and his recent Song Reader sheet music album. He’s also reportedly at work on his long-awaited first proper album since 2008’s Modern Guilt.
But now, he’s debuting something far grander: A nine-minute cover of David Bowie’s classic song “Sound and Vision” performed with 170 musicians and recorded with 360-degree microphones and camera equipment that lets viewers feel as though they’re actually there in person.
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