COLDCUT: Man In A Garage

Bluesy folky creepy video from the patchwork hip hop duo who's list of collaborators include soul crooner Lisa Stansfield, defiant whisperer Saul Williams, blues rocker Jon Spencer, and hip hop regalness Queen Latifah. This track collaborates with singer John Matthias, bringing a melodic electropop infused downtempo blues to the cut and paste aesthetic with which Coldcut are often associated. The video is moody and spacious, you typical shimmering sultry apparition on the woods storyline who's only twist is the evaporating embrace at dawn. Watch the video (qt-stream).

MY MORNING JACKET: Off The Record

The web has been outraged by the pure evil that is the Sony Music rootkit. Why bring this up here? Well, My Morning Jacket's latest offering "Z" on Sony/Columbia, is one of the releases so infected by Sony's malicious, computer burrowing rootkit. And while many year-end Best of 2005 lists have been compiled with My Morning Jacket's album as a fine example of exemplary work, you will find their work tainted like an underage Thai prostitute with a .us web domain operating at a time of international shortage on condoms, ziplock bags or saran wrap. This video is as exciting as the nth-teenth Ben Affleck action thriller, but the track itself is at least a 8/10. Watch the video (qt).

MYLO: Muscle Car

Hysterical clip from the Scottish producer/deejay's rare vocal infused single. In this video a high tech robotic spy fly originating from what appears to be the Chinese espionage organization, gets a glimpse into the shennanigans of a top ranking American, say, presidential look alike, a gaggle of Capital Hill bunnies, a pile of blow, and the war on sobriety. All fictional, of course. Are you lawyers happy now? UPDATE: Mylo's people tell us that Mylo's debut album, "Destroy Rock 'n Roll", gets a proper North American release February 7th. Watch the video (qt).

CLIPTIP back ONLINE!

A couple of weeks of travel under the belt and now I'm back online. And while the Rocky Mountain cabin where I am holed up is sadly without wi-fi, I have found myself a cozy fireplace with a reliable hi-speed ethernet connection... Soon more videos once I properly settle in...

CUT COPY: Going Nowhere

Minimal, yet incredibly aerobic video from the Melbourne, Australia new wave five piece. The dude in the white room can really boogie. It's hypnotic in a totally non krump kinda way. Directed by Kris Moyes. Watch the video (qt).

SIGUR RÓS: Hoppípolla

Elderly hell raisers prank and yank about town in this playful video from the Icelandic quartet. Another triumphant joyous single and storyland music video from their lovely fourth album, Takk. Watch the video (win).

FREEFORM FIVE: Strangest Things

Perhaps it's abusive video week. Freeform Five launch a classic coming of age story for stage wrestling. How the tossed and fearful rag doll amateur turns into the chair throwing, ring leading mature muckraker like so many rare blossoming flowers. Freeform Five is another band I picked up while in London, but to little fanfare in the North Americas. May I introduce you? Directed by Jonnie Ross. Watch the video (qt).

THE PRODIGY: Voodoo People (Pendulum Mix)

Neo classic Prodigy track amped up for the holiday season. Remixed and reshot for maximum Greatest Hits compilation consumption. And why not? It's the gift that keeps on giving. While ubiquitous while sojourning in the UK, i've started to spot this special import here in North America. The video, featuring bound and blindfolded marathoners racing madly throught the streets is the perfect bloodsport for sadistic chancers with camera phones. The tune, updated with remix, proves an apt soundtrack for the full tilt mayhem that ensues. My bet's on fat dude with open jacket. Go, fat dude! Watch the video (real).

FIONA APPLE: O' Sailor

Fiona packs in another melancholy piano pop melody. Genius song and brilliant theatrical video directed by Floria Sigismondi. Like an off-Broadway mix between Titanic and Chicago. But with Fiona looking like a sour apple, but refreshingly well fed. This single keep charting well with the Filter Magazine podcast crew. And they never lie. Watch the video (qt).

ARCADE FIRE: Neighbourhood #2 (Laika)

The third Arcade Fire video is also their second animated video. Directed by Josh Deu who, according to Newpolluter is a first generation member of the Arcade Fire. Keeping it in the family. Bizarro strange images of skulls, bullet wounds, whales and mobs though. Strange family, indeed. Watch the video (real).

DANIEL AGUST: Nobody Else

Former Gusgus vocalist Daniel Agust (sometimes Daniel "August"), gets moody in this orchestal pop nugget. A melancholy New York subway video accompanies the Icelandic singer's decontructed single. While David's upbeat disco days of the Gusgus collective seem over, flecks of electronica still permeate his new solo work. Watch the video (qt).

WOLF PARADE: Shine A Light

Can you believe little indie rockers Wolf Parade have a video out? Considered by critics and hype mongers to be the next Arcade Fire (they're friends, touring mates and Montreal city mates). This is a totally lo-fi video depicting a man cursed with mutiple heads. I was really stretched to figure out how the plot line marries to the lyrics though... Watch the video (qt).

MORCHEEBA: Everybody Loves A Loser

Third single from the reincaernated trip hop trio. Great track, but totally cheaped out on this video. Regurgitated footage and kelidoscope motion pictures done in post production? That's a little weak. They're now on indie label Echo so I suppose budgets are a little more scarce. Catchy tune with weird lyrics. Watch the video (real).

THE STROKES: Juicebox

While I love the Strokes, I must say, this track makes me neither love them more nor love them less. A catchy enough lead single and video from their third long player, the track lacks the droning detachment and melodic addictiveness of earlier work. But still, the record maintains the indie sneering vibe that rocketed the New York based band to super critical darling stardom. Perhaps the third album will lead to unbridled commercial adoration like so much commodified hip. Or perhaps not. Watch the video (qt). UPDATE: director's cut (qt).

THE DANDY WARHOLS: All The Money...

I'm only half hearted posting this latest video from the Dandies. Sure, I like their impossibly catchy and clever body of work, but I am extremely tired of favourite bands getting their music mangled by the major labels and their insistence on copy protection software. My stubbornness has me not listening to or buying any of their new cd's. Call it pig headed, call it a revolution of one, it's just my own personal thing. Enjoy the video - it's a smart punch-card rockband concept - cause I ain't slapping down cash for the record, and unfortunately, that has nothing to do with the music. Watch the video (real).

GABIN: Mr. Freedom

Southern fried big band, big beat video featuring the cool swagger of Edwyn Collins and a feisty band of horny horns. Strange video of a football player fleeing the affections ofa gaggle of hot cheerleaders. That's a first. Watch the video (real).

THE WHITE STRIPES: The Denial Twist

Stretchy, twisted and wildly narcotic fever dream music video as envisioned by the incomparable director Michel Gondry. Who would have thought Conan O'Brien would evey appear in a music video with Meg and Jack? And with his bigger, square-er head, no doubt. Watch the video (real).

WEST INDIAN GIRL: What Are You Afraid Of

Swell psychedelic pop song from the nomadicly inclined but Hollywood based band. Assembling a section of varied players, the band has already opened for the likes of Brit band Gomez and French popsters Phoenix. Not too shabby. Watch the video (real).

OUT HUD: It's For You

The pick of the litter track from the second Out Hud long player gets a stop motion video treatment. The New York based band tracks its origins back to Sacramento, California. For some reason, it seems a lot of the New York based sound has ancestry back to California, including close compatriots !!! [Chk!Chk!Chk!} as well as The Rapture. This video is fun and light, but is not a replication of their outrageous stirfried live stage performance. Watch the video (qt).

JAMIE LIDELL: Multiply

I'm not entirely sure what colour Jamie Lidell's eyes are, but this track is one of the finest slices of blue-eyed soul I have ever heard. Signed to the Warp label, Jamie croons like a hip soul brother but dances like a sputtering pale brother. However, with such a genius record, all must be forgiven. A breakout artist to keep tabs on. Watch the video (qt).

LCD SOUNDSYSTEM: Losing My Edge

While Toronto shook with the thundering sounds of LCD Soundsystem and the Juan MacLean, at the Return To New York party , I was blissfully pounding pints in London's Soho district hurling explitives at Madonna's exclusive G-A-Y concert at the London Astoria. Normally, I would have killed to see the LCD Soundsystem play (they are very tight and very high energy indeed), but my fair share of DFA related mayhem was already sufficiently fulfilled with a DFA party featuring Tim Goldsworthy at London Shoreditch's Plastic People deejay gig. This classic was played to much fanfare. It's as fresh and relevant as it was when it was first released. Such a sorry state of hipsterdom at the brink of maturity. Watch the video (qt).

CLIPTIP ☹ COPY PROTECTION WORMWARE

Wired Magazine incites a riot against the deplorable machinations of Sony Music. Read the article and start your ouwn backyard revolution. Read the article. UPDATED: Cory Doctorow @ bOING bOING continues following the story on Sony's machinations.☹

MADONNA: Hung Up

It's official. Two days into my vacation and Madonna has officially ruined my holiday. Sure it's a catchy danceable tune, but it's completely ripped off ABBA. And in London, it's EVERYWHERE. When disco samples disco, truly the world well of danceable beats has run bone dry. Not only does Grandma-donna pilfer from our favourite, self-exploiting Eurovision blitzing Swedish quartet, this video continues to see lordy lordy, look who's in the twilight of her forties pillage black street culture. Borrowed hip has become so cliche, it's anti-hip. Watching the pushing 50 gyrate in a pink leotard (thank God she waxes) is borderline necrophilia. Now I need another vacation... Watch with video (win).

CLIPTIP ♥ VACATIONING

Admittedly, the recent postings have been sporatic and, as one friend of cliptip called it, "kinda plain." As with most bloggers who clock in as career climbing day jobbers, part-time bloggerati and full time social life lover, my brain has been reduced to quivering, stressed-out mush. And while I have not completely gone insane, the little spidey sense in my head tells me to "get the f*ck away" and head on vacation for some much needed rest and relaxation. So that is what I'm doing. So for the next two weeks, I will imbibe, consume, gallery hop, and wantonly spend in London, maybe Paris and lord help me if I can wrangle a trip to Marrakesh. Just for fun. And should I find my self in a nice little wifi friendly zone, and perhaps get the urge to clip a posting here or there, then so be it. But I'm not committing to it. The only thing I am comitting myself to is winding down. Amen to that!

BROADCAST: Tender Buttons

Why is this song and Ramon Bloomberg directed video so touching, gentle and tragic? Well the song itself is mesmerizing. Trish Keenans' vocals have never been more serene. The video, on the other hand, is a puzzle to decipher. What on earth is in the little box? Watch the video (qt).

BLOC PARTY: Helicopter (v 2.0)

This is the second version of the Helicopter track. While the first version was a grainy film noire clip, this one is a cartoony version of the Bloc Party as Lilliputians. There was an old science cartoon called the Mighty Mites where this group of kids would shrink down in size and explore the wonders of science through the eyes of the minute. Insects would be like giants and they'd ride around like ticks on a dog. I wonder if that inspired this video. If so, call my lawyer. Watch the video (qt).

THE SUN: Pavement Jive

From the album, Blame It On The Youth, the Ohio indie band crank up the fuzzy garage rawk and spit out pointy vocals. Quite honestly, I have no idea if this is an official music video or just some cheap handycam clips taken of them in a recording studio. Watch the video (qt).

SOULWAX: Any Minute Now

Spirited little title track rock tune from the Belgium band. This video is a wicked commentary as a bunch of stressed out business folk physically beat the shit out of each other. Instead of the typical backstabbing passive aggressive cattiness of typical office politics, the worker bees actual have a go at it. If only our enemies were so obvious...! Watch the video (win).