things that start with V's

Voxtrot


This band is out of Austin, Texas. They have 2 EPs out, both of which are fantastic. Their sound is pretty much just a mixture of a bunch of influences. The first EP (Raised By Wolves) pretty much just steals straight from the Smiths, Belle and Sebastian, and The Cure (I guess that is why I prefer it to the second EP). The second EP (Mothers, Daughters, Sisters, and Wives) sounds more like most other contemporary indie rock, but with some pretty kick ass songwriting.

Wrecking Force - Voxtrot (Raised By Wolves ep)
Some basic math gets us this song: Sonic Youth's guitars + Morrissey's vocal delivery + the emotional payoff of a Belle and Sebastian song = this song. I think the ability to marry these influences so well as to create thier own unique statement by the end of the song is impressive.

Mothers, Daughters, Sisters, and Wives - Voxtrot
Rise Up in the Dirt - Voxtrot
(both songs from Mothers, Daughters, Sisters, and Wives ep)
These two songs are more conventional indie rockers, but man do they rock. The second ep has a little less of the direct ripping off of the influences from the first one giving the band their own personality. Can't wait for a full length from these guys.

but i promised more V's, so...

Videos

Stylus Magazine (www.stylusmagazine.com), one of the more tolerable zines online, just posted their list of the 100 best music videos ever. The list is actually a ripoff of a post from a few weeks ago by Pitchforkmedia.com (which i somehow have issues with both the people who are against this site and the people who are for it). But the good thing about these lists is that thanks to YouTube.com, they can post the videos along with the blurbs. It is definitely satisfying to read about a video then watch it.

Stylus left ALOT of great videos off. They were also a little heavy on certain directors, some justifiably (though Spike Jonze is fucking overrated). Now, without giving away where Stylus placed these videos in case you actually go read the article, I am posting a little list of my own right here. My Top 5 Videos on the Stylus List. These are not my definite top 5 favorite videos, but my top 5 taken from the hundred on the stylus list.

5.Rabbit in your Headlights - U.N.K.L.E. ft. Thom Yorke (dir. Jonathan Glazer)

4.Come To Daddy - Aphex Twin (dir. Chris Cunningham)

3.Sometimes - Kid606 (dir. Pleix)

2.Coffee and TV - Blur (dir. Hammer and Tongs)

1.Around the World - Daft Punk (dir. Michel Gondry)