Thursday Bears: New Modest Mouse Video - Whale Song

Modest Mouse's "Whale Song" off the recently released No One's First and You're Next collection of b-sides received an envisioning video treatment from director Nando Costa. The six minute-plus video epic looks dirty and sombre, with frontman Isaac Brock journeying through the grime of the Pacific Northwest thanks to help from Portland image company Bent Image Lab.

The odd swirls of direction capsuled the sound of "Whale Song," in the oft-messy, twangy sounds of guitars, with the colors swaying in and out of monochromatic tones to an almost noir finish.

Modest Mouse - Whale Song (Video Here.)

Wednesday Bears: The Avett Brothers on Ferguson

The Avett Brothers, the off-blogged about folk trio out from North Carolina, hit the Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson stage last night to support the release of the band's new album I and Love and You, performing their single "Laundry Room."

Not so often do you see such seemingly humble folk-bluegrass (is that indie? some how this is indie) go off on a freak-folk explosion at the end of their songs, but the band seems to exude an unprecedented amount of energy for whatever perception their sound may give them.

The group will appear at Philadelphia's Electric Factory on October 16, and Terminal 5 in NYC the night after. Tickets for both are still available.

The Avett Brothers - Laundry Room (Live on Craig Ferguson)



Bonus: Check out the Avett Brothers performance of "Telling Time" at Laudro Matinee here.

Tuesday Bears: Tape Deck Mountain

Another Lefse Records name that has been coming out of the woods is Tape Deck Mountain. The San Diego trio's new album, Ghost, set to be released November 17, features the slow, murky almost psychedelic lo-fi is akin (according to Brandon at Stereogum) the likes of 90's lo-fi legends My Bloody Valentine, Sonic Youth, and Sebadoh. So it sounds roughly like all of them and nothing like them at the same time.

Tape Deck Mountain - Ghost Colony - MP3

Tape Deck Mountain - Bat Lies - MP3

Monday Bears: New Vampire Weekend - Horchata

"Horchata," the opening track and first single from Vampire Weekend's upcoming album Contra, debuted earlier today at the band's official website. The single features more earthy-ambient tone, full of marimba and kalimba sounds, while still keeping in tact the joyous sounds that Vampire Weekend has already mastered.

"Horchata," for those who do not know, is sweet Mexican cinnamon rice milk. Why lead singer Ezra Koenig recalls the song's affectionate character drinking it in in the cold winter of December probably has as much to do with the actual subject matter of the song as Cape Cod did with "Walcott" from the band's self-titled debut album. Incidentally, "Horchata" is just as enjoyable, if not more than a lot of the band's previous work, which was pretty damn good in the first place.

Contra is scheduled for release January 12 in the States (11 in UK) via XL Recordings.

Vampire Weekend - Horchata - MP3