MARJORIE FAIR: Empty Room

There's a ton of great new music coming out of Los Angeles these days and admittedly it's been hard to keep up. One such California notable is four piece Marjorie Fair. The band lead off with an instantly catchy first single that is 75% insanely infectious chorus. Reminiscent of such UK acts as Travis, Snow Patrol or Iceland's Leaves, Marjorie Fair keep it pretty real with a mature organic sound without trying to be something other than what they are. The debut "Self Help Serenade" is out now on Capitol. The cliptip call? Postpone the US tour and head straight for the UK. Why waste time? Fish where the fishies are. UPDATE: Apparently they already did. The album was released in the UK a year ago and now it's time to storm America. Watch the video (qt).

ELECTRIC SIX: Radio Ga Ga

I could never really tell if Electric Six was making music or making fun. Considering their long standing friendship with fellow Detroit rockers The White Stripes, who also may or may not be making fun with their tales of sibling marital incest, we have a real issue to solve. Perhaps the axe playing spectral poodles in this Queen remake will provide me with a clue. Watch the video (real).

THE CORAL: Something Inside Of Me

Although charming, the enslaught of Britpop wonders does not seem to cease. The Coral have always impressed with interesting production comprised of varied and unusual instruments and a live show that barrages the sense by sheer numbers on stage. Although melodic, I'm not quite sure how well this song will fair with the competing voices in my head. See for yourself. Watch the video (win).

INTERPOL: C'mere

Interpol leave the Manhattan city limits for this back woods video inspired by Hansel and Gretel. Are they elegantly slumming? Very unusual for the typically Heidi Slimane tailored band. Watch the video (qt).

THE CARDIGANS: For What It's Worth

With a new album on the way (we hear it's called "Super Extra Gravity") here is a clip from their fifth studio recording of the Stockholm band. With a decidely country twang, perhaps influenced by band vocalist Nina Persson's solo work as A Camp, the Cardigans seems to be able to make any genre they try their had at sound cool. Watch the video (real).

RÖYKSOPP: Sparks

Downtempo video from the Norwegian duo. Although I am rehashing older material while awaiting hating the copy-protected North American release of the their second album, the Understanding, video wise this is a elegant example of how well a single, smoothly edited continuous take can look. Watch the video (qt).

XIU XIU: Muppet Face

I would never have assumed indie experimentalists Xiu Xiu would have released a music video. But they have. And it's loaded with a clash of video game imagery with anti-military action themes. Watch the video (qt).

HOT HOT HEAT: Middle Of Nowhere

Second single from the Vancouver based band. A great pop song only marred by Steve Bay's unfortunate manfro. It is such a good song, such a bad hair day. Is it any wonder why all other sentient beings in the video have fled Steve's hair? I think not. Watch the video (win).

DIZZEE RASCAL: Graftin

Dizzee keeps it real with the dark grime. The thing with Dizzee? He can keep it sounding fresh while keeping the production on the down low. Lots of throbbing bass and chopped electro percussion. No fuss. Watch the video (real).

THE ORGAN: Brother

The Organ released one of the most impressive debuts from an indie band I have heard in a while. Consistent, mopey bride of Morrissey style indie pop. The only problem with this all-girl-don't-call-us-an-all-girl band is their dramatic lack of stage presence. They tend to just stand there like stage-frightened childen at a elementary school recital. Don't get me wrong, I do love this Vancouver based band, and lead singer Katie Sketch's vocals are chilling with a tense balance between strength and eerie vulnerability. But dammit girls, move! Just watch the video. You'll see for yourself. Watch the video (qt).

NINE INCH NAILS: Only

Brilliant new video from a more mature, less demented Trent Reznor. Directed by visualist extraordinaire David Fincher, he of Seven, Fight Club and Panic Room feature fame. Trent appears only as an animated impression on one of those nail image toys. Does anyone know what those things are actually called? I may have to ask for one for Christmas. Watch the video (qt). Updated linked video (win).

CIRCLESQUARE: 7 Minutes

Well, the track isn't really 7 minutes long. But it features lingering vocals and spacious instrumentation that only Vancouver's electronic ambientistos Circlesquare can conjure. Delightfully suicide inducing. Watch the video (qt).

VHS OR BETA: Night On Fire

What is with the eighties sound that keeps spawning bands aping the past? Reinterpreting the past or fear of the future? VHS or Beta are such a band. And this track, as retro eighties dance party as it sounds, is a brillaint rehash. Watch the video (qt).

MAXÏMO PARK: Going Missing

Dour Newcastle rockers have released their third, and my personal favourite album track off their debut on Warp Records. Less twitchy than previous singles, the track still maintains Maximo's signature angular delivery despite the very hooky melody. Watch the video (qt).

THE JUAN MACLEAN: Tito's Way

DFA's The Juan Maclean brings robo-beats and party funk to the New Hampshire based mix. Vocoder voices bark orders in a squealing blippy manner that is cheezy enough to annoy, but catchy enough to grow on you. Watch the video (qt).

WEEZER: We Are All On Drugs

Weezer or Meatloaf? Either way, this epic rock video features some classic Mad Max vs. Masters Of the Universe meets eighties metal hair gods inspired imagery. No Rivers and crew in sight, though, apparently too messed up on their confessed drugs to make an appearance. Amusing to say the least and certainly a hard rock sound ressurected. Watch the video (win).

WHITE ROSE MOVEMENT: Love Is A Number

Huge buzz is following this eighties inspired band now signed to Independiente. Named after the anti-fascist movement of the 1930's the five piece update the sound to their storied list of influences which including The Sound, Depeche Mode and DAF. Watch the video (win).

KID KOALA: Fender Bender

Kid Koala, the Montreal based cut and scratch marsupial, provides a cute debut video from his first long-player with Ninjatune. Himself a cartoonist, the deejay musician forges a long-time collaboration with doodlist director Monkmus. Watch the video (qt).

M83: Don't Save Us From The Flames

French synth musician goes epic with a strange video which features spooks and teenage love. Synths washes abound. Watch the video (real).

ERIC PRYDZ: Call On Me

Clubland videos seem to be able to get away with soft porn. This video is a the most accurate representation of that. If you've been in an aerobics class, I can guarantee you, the women do not all look like this, not even in Carmen Electra's striptease aerobics.Watch the video (win).

SIGUR RÓS: Untitled 1

Heart wrenching single from the Icelandic ambient prog-rock quartet from their mysteriously titled third album, "( )". Sung in the made-up language of Outlandish, this post-apocalytic video of gas masked children frolicking in post nuclear blackened sky fall-out is both emotionally powerful and forebodingly dystopian. Again, masterfully directed by Floria Sigismundi. Watch the video (qt).

JAGA JAZZIST: Day

I normally quite enjoy the work of Jaga Jazzist. Their usual brand of drum 'n' bass clashed jazz is a refreshing hybrid of genres. I gotta say, their new LP, What We Must, is difficult. Perhaps challenging is a better word, as the song tend to meander around the six minute mark with dramatic changes in cadence and structure. This video, from their second long player entitled The Stix, is a reflection of some of their earlier material- more concise and structured. Watch the video (qt).

FATBOY SLIM: The Joker

Who gets Bootsy Collins on a record and asks him to sing instead of playing the bass? That's just plain silly. So naturally, its a funked up cover version with the music video equivalent of cat blogging. Watch the video (qt).

THE POSTAL SERVICE: We Will Become Sihouettes

I was very reluctant to post this video as it completely undermines the cool indie kid factor the Postal Service tend to enjoy. The video tries so badly to be bad, it goes from bad to good to back to bad having had its ass kicked by good three times over. At first glance, it was like watching dad sing karaoke. And then when they brought out the food dehydrator? I pretty much lost it. Watch the video (qt).

GORILLAZ: Dare

Is that Shaun Ryders bloated giant head in this video? How terribly unflattering. A catchy, electro hip-hop tune with the requisite Jamie Hewitt illustrations.... and Shaun Ryder's looming, oversized head. Watch the video (qt)(updated: win).

SHIVAREE: New Casablanca

Dark, romantic and melancholic pop music from the brink. After the wreckage of their second album label mishap that saw their record released only in very limited distribution, the trip-cabaret country sounds of this California trio get a shot of adrenaline from Quentin Tarantino's inclusion of on the Kill Bill soundtrack. Thus rejuvenated, Shivaree return with a third album of chilling pop blues. Watch the video (real).

LOUIS XIV: God Killed The Queen (v2.0)

Want to watch the original? it's here. For the this lewdy newdy new version, the San Diego band employ some pretty easy porn star types. Amusement ensues. I mean, come on- which red-blooded, straight rock and roll band would pass up a chance to remake a video like this? Watch the video (qt).

BULLFROG: Extra Track II

Cute cuddle bear fans and the cartoon follies of record deal shopping. Montreal soul jam ensemble, with scratch contributions by Kid Koala, collaborate with friend and visualist Monkmus. Watch the video (qt).

!!!: Hello? Is This Thing On?

Brooklyn, New York!!! Dance!!! Lo-fi video!!! New single on the way!!! This older track to hold you over until then... Watch the video (qt)!!!

TIMO MAAS: First Day

The Düsseldorf trance deejay joins forces with Placebo's androgynous vocalist Brian Molko for this grim dance tune. The video is an exercise in backward and forward video looping which I can only describe as a walk through the theatre set of the musical "Rent." Watch the video (real). UPDATE: video (qt).

BONNIE "PRINCE" BILLY: No More Workhorse Blues

Folk madman, Will Oldham, aka Bonnie "Prince" Billy, aka Palace, aka Palace Songs, aka Palace Brothers... gasp... partners on this little song with the brilliantly damaged Harmony Korine. If it wasn't so arty, it's be almost racist. Watch the video (qt).