This video is incredible. Give it a minute to warm up.

To see more videos like it, check out ThruYou.

Honestly, I’ve heard worse songs and seen worse videos, but Mark Gormley underlines the importance of stage presense in a way that I have never encountered before. He is so awkward it makes me uncomfortable.

Mark Gormley doesn’t have any of the charm BJ Snowden exudes.

Speaking of charm, let’s talk about “A Cause Des Garcons” by Yelle. Yelle is my newest favorite French rapper — sorry, MC Solaar. This song is so infectious and I could watch the Tecktonik dancers all day.

I found three great bands this week.

First up is School of Seven Bells. I love the band’s name. The rhythm of “Iamundernodisguise” mesmerizes me.

From Alpinisms:

“Iamundernodisguise”

Ladyhawke dusts off the musical idioms of the 80s and shows us why we loved them again.

From Ladyhawke:

“Crazy World”

Photo by thepiratehat

She Keeps Bees might sound a lot like Cat Power at first blush, but She Keeps Bees is definitely worthy of more attention than that. Nests is full of great bluesy songs, especially the super sexy “Gimme.”

From Nests:

“Gimme”

Photo by Blind Pilot Music

I went through a really long musical drought. Nothing sounded good. I made a brief detour at Pandora and left unhappy: my digital radio station didn’t introduce me to anything I liked and repeated the songs I didn’t like too often. Honestly I love listening to complete albums. Pandora doesn’t suit me. I don’t like the next song I hear being selected by a computer program. It’s too cold, too calculated. I would rather listen to a podcast that someone has curated with songs he or she has heard and has made an emotional decision to share with me. If you feel the same way, check out Cheryl Waters from Music That Matters. Cheryl has impeccable taste. Cheryl introduced me to Blind Pilot and the drought was over.

Blind Pilot’s 3 Rounds and a Sound is simply breathtaking. The album is so rich I find myself getting lost in the lush melodies, the fidelity of the recording, the brightness of the instruments, and the warm, velvet vocals. Seriously, these guys can sing.

3 Rounds and a Sound vaguely reminds me of more melancholy moments of The Pernice Brothers’ Yours, Mine, & Ours, minus a little pop and electric guitars. Regardless, this album is definitely one of my favorites of the entire year.

From 3 Rounds and a Sound:

“Poor Boy”

“The Bitter End”

Photo by Josh Miller

Ra Ra Riot is back in New York City playing two sold out shows tonight and tomorrow night. That’s no surprise. They put on a fun live show and their album, The Rhumb Line, is great. They are one of my favorite bands to see. If you’ve got the chance to go, GO!

From The Rhumb Line:

“Ghost Under Rocks”

If you can’t find a ticket, everyone’s favorite Queen tribute band, Dairy Qween, is playing tonight:

Just a final reminder that our Dairy Qween Live Tribute to Queen will be tonight at 9:30 PM at Ace of Clubs, which is located on the corner of Great Jones Street and Lafayette Street. It is downstairs from Acme restaurant.

Dairy Qween has a mesmerizing DYI-punk spirit.