METRIC: The List

2006 POLARIS PRIZE NOMINEE Another assault from another indie Toronto band. This one is admittedly an older track, from the poptastic Old World Underground, Where Are You Now album. If I am not mistaked, the footage from this live performance video was taken during the first Arts & Crafts and friends Toronto Island gig, roughly two years ago. It was a rather pleasant show that included Metric, Kid Koala, the Most Serene Republic, Broken Social Scene and Modest Mouse. Quite a nice summertime, loitering-in-the sun kind of line-up. If you're interested in videos from the Polaris Prize nominated Live It Out album, find them here and here. Otherwise, take a glace at this video directed by Chris Grismer. Watch the video (qt).

GENTLEMAN REG: Over My Head

The Toronto indie hipster mafia is taking over again. This time it's the fair-haired, Toronto based folk rock minstrel infecting our ears with a pop gem. There's something quite intriguing about Reg's vocal that playfully draws you in. And compounding every Canadian stereotype, video director Sara St. Onge sets the video in Reg's space aged bachelor igloo with all manner of illustrated forest friends. The granola crunching, snow shoeing Canadian sterotypes won't likely go over anyone's head. Watch the video (qt).

MUSE: Knights Of Cydonia

V FESTIVAL TORONTO / 2006 MERCURY PRIZE NOMINEE Maybe it's the heatwave, but I think this track may this generation's Bohemian Rhapsody. It's probably the heatwave. Aside from the signature Muse epic sound , the video is a mind blowing collection of spaghetti western, sci-fi retro futurism, Planet of the Apes and classic kung-fu grind house courtesy of ace director Joseph Khan. If you have a chance to catch them live, as I did at the mind blowing private viewing at Toronto's Mod Club, do it. Watch the video (qt - stream).

MASSIVE ATTACK: False Flags

V FESTIVAL TORONTO A new track from the collected double album, this track focuses on a contemplative rhyme by 3-D and a sombre piano riff that recalls earlier work circa the Protection album. Cleaner, less clostraphonic but, lyrically, as sharp and challenging as ever. The video is directed by Paul Gore and features the slow motion capture of desperation, fear and fury. I recently witnessed Massive Attack play the Coachella festival this year. The live show is powerful, haunting and much improved from their original underlight and motionless stage production. Watch the video (qt).

STARS: Sleep Tonight

Another great track from the stunning "Set Yourself On Fire" album featuring the vocals of Amy Millan. Perhaps one of the great pop reacords of the past year, Stars have received a rather bitter snub from the Polaris Prize because it was release 3 months prior to qualification. Oooo the burn. Directed by Benjamin Weinstein Jonathan Vardi. Watch the video (qt).

THE STROKES: You Only Live Once

Locking the New York band into a space-aged septic tank and pouring in black oil is probably not the easiest concept to sell any rockband, but for some reason this video works. Perhaps its the ruined white outfits. Maybe its the deep condition their lower-east-side hairdos will receive. Maybe it's because America is drowning in its insatiable oil lust. Or maybe it's because the song is so damn catchy. Watch the video (qt - stream).

KASABIAN: Empire

Semi-political agitators Kasabian could not have picked a better time to release an anti-war themed music video. "Stop! Said it's happening again! We're all wasting away!" Rock and roll makes war look unsexy with arty metaphors and period war costumes. Mind you, the band still looks sexy those mutineers. Errr... were mutineers. I wonder if the whole shooting thing is a metaphor for lead guitarist / keyboardist Chris Karloff leaving the band. This is the title track from their sparkling new album to be released this fall. Watch the video (qt - stream).

JAMIE LIDELL: What's The Use

Did you know that Jamie Lidell is bloody cool? Not only is he one of the most soulful cats out there, he writes, plays multiple instruments and produces much of this own work. Plus he's mates with Toronto to Berlin ex-pat Mocky. For more name checking, pick up his latest collection of remixes entitled Multipy Additions. This digital video is directed by Markus Wambsganss from Kaliber 16. Watch the video (qt).

PEACHES: Downtown

Trashiness meets Los Angeles high gloss from Peaches's third long player, Impeach My Bush. Earlier critics may have pawned her off as a raunchy novelty act, but the Toronto native is still pumping her queer-shock lyrical agenda. Although not apparent on this lead single, the theme of her work is becoming increasingly more rock oriented, yet with more playfulness versus abject confrontation. The electro slapping beats are somewhat relegated to a secondary position while the guitar amps are dialed up. Directed by photographer Timothy Saccenti, who has apparently successfully convinced Peaches to wear a red dress. Watch the video (UPDATED qt) or video (real - stream).

FRANZ FERDINAND: Eleanor Put Your Boots On

Folksy single the Scottish quartet. I barely recognized the sound, save for Alex Kapranos's recognizable pipes, as it owns a space very much remote from the jangling disco floor pleasing pomp of previous singles. The video is a animated and features 'Eleanor'- a combination of big-eyed collector doll, Blythe, and sullen neo gothic Emily Strange. I miss the dancing. Does this mean Goth is back? Watch the video (qt - stream).

LANSING-DREIDEN: Glass Corridor

From their brilliant and esoteric first album, this is New York art / design / music corporation Lansing-Dreiden. Mashing influences as diverse as eighties pop, alternative rock and runway-friendly electro, this single provides a ridiculously stylish pop gem for hipsters and fashionistas alike. The video showcases the vector animation of a eighties era retro futurism. Download the video (qt) or watch the video (qt).

SNOW PATROL: Chasing Cars

Alright, confession time. I occasionally watch evening tv dramas. Sunday nights. I am so ashamed. But, balanced with some mindless entertainment, I think the music programmers on ABC's Grey's Anatomy are pretty cool. The music they feature balances recognizable pop charters as well as a whole gammut of emerging artists and showcases them to a really wide audience. This heart-wrenching ballad from a favoured Irish quintet was featured in their season finale. I had to choke back the tears as they exited off that psychotic yet hopelessly in love Dr. Izzy Eyecandy while this track played. Finally a proper music vide is released. Directed by Icelanders Arni and Kinski (formerly of Gusgus), it is simple, rich in warm and cooling colours, exactly like the the song. Watch the video (qt).

WE ARE WOLVES: LL Romeo

V FESTIVAL TORONTO For some reason, Wolf bands alway appear on cliptip in packs of two. We Are Wolves are a post punk electro band from the one of global epicentres of cool, Montreal. The threesome of Alexander, Vini and Antonin employ such lo-fi analogues as classic drum machines, skittish snares and punk rock guitar and count contemporaries (Liars, Clinic) and old school legends (Rick James) as influences. Watch the video (qt).

WOLFMOTHER: Woman

V FESTIVAL TORONTO What happens when you tear a sheet out of magazine and get the paper all crinkly? Well you get this video, which features the Australian psychedelic rockers in full performance mode, with sheet ripping transitions featuring fashion magazine model types. I still love this entire album and I pretty much worn it out. Watch the video (qt - steam).

MALAJUBE: Montreal -40ºC

2006 POLARIS PRIZE NOMINEE For a Canadian indie record award, there is only one French language entrant. That entrant is Montreal based pop quintet Malajube. Lifted of their second and Polaris Prize nominated album, this video, directed by Louis-Philippe Eno, showcases the deep freeze of the Montreal winter with cute animated doodles dancing across the screen. Very charming, indeed. Watch the video (qt).

RINOCEROSE: Cubicle

This is a splintering track and video from the French pachyderm. You probably recognize the song from the iPod Nano commercial, but now a more artistic interpretation of the electro house single has come to light. From discussion with directors Alex and Liane: "The band actually got in touch with us directly via our Myspace page and we started a dialogue in broken English with them. There were two main things that the band wanted us to include in our idea; 1) To work with the choreographer Mathilde Monnier who is based in their home town of Montpellier. We Already knew Mathilde's work and immediately into it. 2) To somehow represent the "cubicle" idea visually. In the context of Music television, it made sense for us to present the dancers as a fake band. We liked the idea of channel hoppers thinking it's a performance video, then getting something else. We used to be in an arts collective and knew that the group dynamics theme was a rich source of the kind of tension that the song expresses." Brilliant, glimmering satire. Watch the video (qt).

THE NEW PORNOGRAPHERS: Sing Me Spanish Techno

2006 POLARIS PRIZE NOMINEE Fresh new video from the Twin Cinema album of Vancouver's power pop collective. Unlike previous feature posts, this is a track from the Polaris Prize nominated album (which I guess goes to show that these nominated records could benefit from increased exposure and marketing dollars). The video, which features a potential The Crying Game scenario cum Priscilla: Queen of the Desert twist is directed by Michael Palmieri. Lead singer Carl Newman is passed out in the Tiki bar throughout much of the narrative. Watch the video (qt).

GNARLS BARKLEY: Smiley Faces

V FESTIVAL TORONTO Okay, all that crap floating around the internet with the Smiley Faces video being composed of some cheap-ass emoticon animation should just STFU. This is the real deal video with all the crazy high concept drama and theatrics we have come to expect from the Gnarls. Complete with a cast of conspiracy theorists (played by Dennis Hopper and Dean Stockwell) Danger Mouse and Cee-Lo Green have been green screened into various historical music related footage from early Motown, Thriller-era Michael Jackson, Andy Warhol pop art, the dawn of Hip Hop, David Bowie and psychedelic Woodstock. Who is the real Gnarls Barkley? Watch the UPDATED: video (qt) or video (win - stream). .

SKYE: Love Show

A perfect summery heartbreaking pop song from the former voice of Morcheeba. This video is stunningly captured by director Paul Minor with beautiful portraiture of a myriad of real, photojournalism style faces. The colour transfer projects a raw, undoctored earthiness, representing the authentic richness of Montego Bay and its local cast of inhabitants. Watch the video (qt).

JOSE GONZALEZ: Hand On Your Heart

V FESTIVAL TORONTO The Swedish born Argentinean troubadour has a knack for taking none folk songs and making them into touching acoustic numbers. Gaining notoriety for his cover of the Knife's "Heartbeats", Jose takes on this late eighties charter for Kylie Minogue and makes it a gorgeous pastoral strummer. I have heard nothing but praise from San Francisco to Toronto on Jose's live show. A new collection is hopefully on its way. The video, which takes its inspiration from the elegant traditional of Japanese art prints, is directed by Andreas Nilsson. Watch the video (qt).

YEAH YEAH YEAHS: Turn Into

The New York art-rock trio are too freaking cool for school. This simple, elegant video matches so bloody well with this single, I nearly licked the screen. Patrick Daughters directs and continues to build an A-list roster of great music videos. In the meantime, the dazzling lead singer Karen O. breaks up with Spike Jonze and wills the paparazzi away. Watch the video (qt).

FINAL FANTASY: This Is The Dream Of Win And Regine

2006 POLARIS PRIZE NOMINEE While there is no video that I can find for the nominated Final Fantasy record "He Poos Clouds," I've chosen to regurgitate a particular cliptip favourite from his debut album. Final Fantasy's driving force, the mercurial Owen Pallett, pays tribute to friends, collaborators, fellow musicians Win Butler and Régine Chassagne (they of the Arcade Fire). The Arcade Fire are coincidentally recording their follow up to their critical darling Funeral album, apparently playing church organs with such verve until they break down into tears. This video is directed by Sara St. Onge. Watch the video (qt).

BOARDS OF CANADA: Dayvan Cowboy

It's been a while since I posted some squiggly IDM electronica so out sputters the delicious Boards of Canada. The deconstructed nature of Boards Of Canada always left me a bit awestruck, particularly when the songs collide with synthetic and organic textures into a stirring cressendo. Example? This latest track- perfectly musical, beat laden and atmospheric, gloriously capturing a mood of wonder and matched with equally invigorating motion and image of surf and sun. A special request for Danyon R. Watch the video (qt).

THE KNIFE: Silent Shout

Finally the Swedish brother / sister electronic duo of Olof and Karin Dreijer have made it stateside, courtesy of Mute Records USA. This trance-like title track with mesmerizing blinky light visuals is directed by Andreas Nilsson. That squishie faced character with the Cousin It hair-do featured in the video just terrifies me. Believe me, when I wake up screaming in horror thanks to the dark, twisted imagery in this video, my shouts won't be so silent. Watch the video (qt - stream).

MSTRKRFT: Work On You

Second single from the MSTRKRFT debut "The Looks". More jubbly bubbly electro house from the Toronto studio duo threatening to animate the paralysed sufferers of dancefloor hipsteritis. The vocoders are laid on thick like a Daft Punk tribute record, while the cool animated video has two sexy robots in love. No, they are not driving down Interstellar 5555. Watch the video (qt).

WOLF PARADE: Shine A Light

2006 POLARIS PRIZE NOMINEE I've posted this video here before, but I've got to work my way through the entire Polaris Prize nominee list so deal with it, alright? Sheesh. Anyway this video gets better with age. The multi-headed protagonist really does deserve your empathy. When it first came out, I just thought "cheap cheap cheap". Now that its got some dust kicking on it, I think "classic classic classic". Well done director Matt Muroz. Who new your lo-fi genius would age like a fine aromatic cheese? Watch the video (qt).

THE KILLERS: Mr. Brightside

Why the flip am I posting this old toot? Well, I do enjoy this track even though it has been blared from black Camero crossing the New Jersey turnpike more times than I can shake a stick at. And the video is a gorgeously opulent slice from director Sophie Muller. But the real hidden agenda was to link this new Killers streaming track entitled "When You Were Young" from their forthcoming and yet untitled sophmore album. Lead singer Brandon Flowers proclaims their new output as the best record in the past two decades. Take a listen and decide for yourself. And then watch this older video (qt) for a much better song.

TIGA: (Far From) Home

Montreal electro mogul Tiga's second video of the Sexor album is campy popcraft at it's feather haired, concealer soaked finest. Despite the roots in dance music, it's no club storming anthem. Yet it's groovy enough to keep the toes tapping. The video is Mr. Rogers meets the Birds meets Confessions of a Teenage Drama Queen. Genius how the birds form the notes to the chorus. Directed by Nagi Noda. Watch the video (qt - stream).

THE HORRORS: Sheena Is A Parasite

Plucked off their MySpace site, nothing brings more attention to an upcoming band than when a very well known avant guardian video director, say Chris Cunningham, comes out a seven year hiatus to direct their debut music video. Yes record labels, its time to pay attention to Music Videos once again as a powerful marketing tool instead of a mere cost to control. Also starring British indie actress Samantha Morton, the visualization of this punk thrasher is brilliantly energetic, shocking and gloriously theatrical. UPDATED: I've discovered this video is affiliated Universal Records. Now, instead of the usual major label equals sell-out disappointment equals hipster ball-of-hurt-feelings sulking, cliptip gives props. Nice viral and chancey A&R. Watch the UPDATED: video (qt) or video (win).

K'NAAN: Soobax

2006 POLARIS PRIZE NOMINEE / V FESTIVAL TORONTO The Mogadishu born, Toronto-based MC mixes traditional African rhythms with hip hop raps for one of the most ground breaking fusions between world music and urban. Produced by the Track and Field team that collaborated on the latin/trip-pop/soul style of the first two Nelly Furtado records, all signs point to pop potential if K'Naan can keep up the momentum of this very catchy first single. Watch the video (flash).

BROKEN SOCIAL SCENE: I'm Still Your Fag

2006 POLARIS PRIZE NOMINEE Yes, yes, everyone knows who Broken Social Scene is, blah, blah, blah. Although this video is not from the self titled Polaris Prize nominated album, it is a video that has not appeared on this space prior. So get out your weepy high-school dejected eyeliner, black 18-hole Doc Martins and feel the pain of the 16 year old neo-gothic social pariah like so many awkward suicidal homosexual teens in unrequited love with the handsome varsity football jock quarterback. It's practically universal, like Romeo and Juliet or Brokeback Mountain or Romancing the Stone. Watch the video (qt).