Balloons have an appropriately maximal presence in the premiere video from Maximum Balloon, a new solo-project from TV On The Radio co-founder Dave Sitek. "Tiger" is a jubilant dance grinder featuring newcomer Aku on vocals and a music video that has a Chinese Parade Dragon chasing people through a field of red balloons. (PS: Might just be me, but I think the Tiger, Dragon and Balloon stuff is all proof that Sitek has been watching way too much Ni Hao Kai Lan in his off-time) --> watch "Tiger"
It's not Jazzmatazz or Us3's Blue Note plundering smash, but certainly in the realm and an unexpected clip from the usually gritty Talib Kweli + Hi-Tek. Estelle adds a jazzy vocal and some flapper beauty to complement the spiffed-up Reflection Eternal duo who look way smoother than usual in this post-effected retro jazz-age panache. --> watch "Mignight Hour"
Cypress Hill dive back into the rock/rap well — anyone remember "Rock Superstar"? — with "Rise Up," a metal/funk/rap rave-up featuring Tom Morello of Rage Against The Machine. The visuals are essentially a Shepard Fairey revolutionary propaganda poster come to life, pulled off with the usual skill by Syndrome. --> watch "Rise Up" (YouTube link / No embed, because Blog Embedding Is Killing The Music)
Vampire Weekendreturn with their most manic blast of preppy punk, a scorching sort-of Mexican Oompah tune called "Cousins" to properly introduce the sophomore album, Contra. The Hammer & Tongs video team return to the fold — they directed the simply effective clip for "A Punk," which in many ways is a precursor to this new one.
Alicia Keys is lonely at the top. There she is, sequestered in a window-lined NYC glass tower, playing a Plexiglass piano and surrounded by other objects that you can literally see right through.
