Audio/VisualA friend of mine recently introduced me to the band Ought. Normally I don’t take advice from people that vouch heavily for Phoenix, but I gave them a listen. And I liked their dissociative, manic sense of how rock is played. It caught my attention quickly. Now, the band has come out with a video for their song “Today More Than Any Other Day,” off their record More Than Any Other Day. The band is also touring, but sadly, no stop in the Duke City. Either way, have a looksie at the vid below.‘Member how I mentioned a while back that Kelly Rowland and Beyoncé were featured on a track (“Say Yes”) on Michelle Williams’ upcoming gospel record, making for a pseudo Destiny’s Child reunion? Well, fans of Williams and the group can bask in the visual accompaniment of the song in Williams’ new video. Go ahead and view that below.What would Lana Del Rey’s videos look like if not seen through an Instagram-filtered scope? Well, they probably wouldn’t exist. I know I’ve written about Del Rey quite a bit in the past couple months, but since her third LP (Ultraviolence) is now out and about, this one will focus on the video for album track “Shades of Cool,” which is one of the better tracks she’s put out in anticipation for the record. Watch the colorful proceedings below.Another artist that’s come out with a visual representation of a lofty ditty is the band Arctic Monkeys. The song in question: “Snap Out of It” off their latest LP AM. Is there really anything else to say? Other than you should watch it? I think not.Good news for good news loversI don’t know about you, but I’m always up for a good competition. In this case, Mac Demarco, fresh off the release of his latest LP Salad Days, is issuing a “Draw Me” contest. Participants are asked to submit a 7X7 drawing of Demarco to Captured Tracks. And if it wins, it’ll be the cover of one of his upcoming 7” series records. The submission deadline is June 27, which is a short time away, so get drawing! You can head to Stereogum for more info and guidelines. Let the games begin!‘Member how I mentioned that a tribute LP to Duran Duran was coming out soon? It’s fine if you don’t. I talk about a lot of stuff. Regardless, the record (Making Patterns Rhyme: A Tribute to Duran Duran) is ready to hit stores and online markets on July 15, with proceeds benefiting Amnesty International. And to give fans of the band a taste of what the album will sound like (or at least this one track), the song “The Chauffer,” interpreted by Warpaint, is available for listening. Enjoy!Aphex Twin was another one of those artists that slipped through my fingers. I couldn’t even name one song, though I’m sure if you played one, my mind would recall the rhythms, the cadences, the whatnots. But a long-lost album (Caustic Window) from 1994 is finally available for mass consumption, thanks to the efforts of a Kickstarter campaign that provided fans with digital copies of the record. And now it’s online, so everyone can partake in the sonic celebration. Head to Pitchfork to give that a listen and to read more ’bout it.So I mentioned a couple times that a Kickstarted documentary about Elliott Smith was in the works. Heaven Adores You, directed by Nickolas Rossi, debuted last month, but fans now have the opportunity to see the first few minutes—you know, to tide you over ’til the film becomes available in your area. Take a gander at the video below.Aaliyah’s death hit pretty hard. I still remember attending my cousin’s quinceanera and seeing coverage on the television set after the party had died down. My jaw dropped. The woman who had sung several of my favorites like “Are You That Somebody” and “Try Again” had passed away in an airplane accident. But lucky for people like me—people that will jump at the opportunity for an homage or a biopic—Lifetime is coming out with a film about the late R&B singer. The film, Aaliyah: Princess of R&B, will show some time in the fall, and it stars Zendaya. She’s apparently famous from the Disney Channel, so that’s probably why I’ve never heard of her. You can read more about it over at A.V. Club.Now, we say goodbye.If you ask most music historians about songwriting, you’ll most likely hear them reference the duo that was Goffin & King, or Gerry Goffin and Carole King—the once-married duo who penned fantastic songs like the Everly Brothers’ “Crying in the Rain,” the great “Loco-Motion” and The Drifters’ “Some Kind of Wonderful,” among others. So it’s a sad announcement that Goffin has passed on. He was 75 years old. I’m not sure what the cause of death was, but it’s sad nonetheless. So, Goffin, this one’s for you …
Rooster Roundabout: This Week’s Music Highlights
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