Neil Young Covers Will Smith

Neil Young on Jimmy Fallon.

[via]

Charlotte Gainsbourg/ Beck Music Video

Nellie Nguyen – Oak Tree

Apparently this is the only recorded material Ms. Nguyen has but it is a beautiful melodious folk song all the same [via].

will smith?

bahahahahha. some portland (i think?) hipsters doing a will smith medley. just for you guys. and whoever reads "look at this fucking hipster".

Pearl and the Beard - Will Smith Medley from Goddamn Cobras Collective on Vimeo.

Big Fan of Phantogram

Phantogram.
I just wanted to jump on this before it was old news. I was bumbling around the blogosphere the other day and stumbled upon a new-ish band from New York called Phantogram.
I haven't really stopped listening to them since (minus an interlude for the new Yeasayer track, which is pretty sweet).
I've been trying to think of ways to describe Phantogram's sound, but I will let them speak for themselves:

"We wanted to incorporate all our own influences and created our own sound that's a combination of Serge Gainsbourg, sampling and Detroit hip-hop. How I explain it to the customers who come into the restaurant where I work is that we sound like a combination of Kanye West and Radiohead" - Singer, Sarah Barthel

Well I don't really hear the Gainsbourg, but I can get behind the Kanye/Radiohead description. Phantogram has attempted to layer two genres that are rarely successfully combined (If it's safe to call Kanye West and Radiohead genres)--and they pull it off.
As far as other influences, lets just throw in School of Seven Bells, Beach House, The xx, TV on the Radio, and M83 for good measure.
All genre confusion aside, Phantogram just write good songs. Barthel's voice is dynamic and nuanced as it soars over thick beats and subtle electric guitar lines. The songs are crisp and fresh; new but utterly familiar. I highly recommend it. Lets just start with the first two tracks of their forthcoming LP Eyelid Movies:

Phantogram :: Mouthful of Diamonds
Phantogram :: When I'm Small

Kings of Convenience: Soirée de Poche

Norwiegan duo Kings of Convenience's new album, Declaration of Dependence, has been in heavy rotation for me of late. Which makes this (charming) video that much better. For reserved Scandinavians, these two are extremely expressive and full of antics.

And as a side (bottom?) note, I need to mention that I absolutely love La Blogotheque, and not just because they are French and I like to pretend I can read French. I love them because they make videos like this all the time. "Les Soirées de Poche," according to the website "sont des concerts acoustiques et intimistes organisés par la Blogothèque dans des lieux privés." Love it.