THE KNIFE: Marble House (version 2)

Is this an official The Knife video? According to Pitchfork it is. But it aint at all like the video I've posted here for the very same track. Can Pitchfork be wrong? I mean, this video features cutesy weasel/rats in domestic situations like reading bedtime stories, having tea and writing letters. Certainly not the customary freak show juxtaposition of jumble images and concepts that The Knife are notorious for. Either way, I like single. Although this version of the video is a little too Anne Geddes for me. Just saying. Watch the music video (qt - stream).

MISSY ELLIOTT: We Run This

This is the video, from Missy Elliott's sixth (sixth!!!) platinum selling album, which hobbled our poor hip hop superstar. It was during the shoot that she tore her Achilles tendon and sent her packing to the promotion circuit sidelines. But alas, this is not the end of Missy, as she sprung back with a greatest hits collection (why no North America release, Missy?) and this single added to the Stick It soundtrack. But music does look temporarily sidelined as the rumour mill has Missy apparently starring in the Universal Pictures feature length of her life story. Although Missy's casting is currently only speculation, attached producers include Robert De Niro and Jane Rosenthal. Shit, Missy really does run this. Watch the music video (qt - stream).

SNOWDEN: Anti-Anti

Well, it's officially 2007. While the postings have been rather sparse as of late, it is rather intentional. You see, I've been doing what is commonly know as "Future Blogging" which means I have for almost the past 2 years, been posting not in real time, but in the future. So 2007 will be the year that I return to "present blogging." Funny that. Cheers to Aaron F for the tip on this video. It's the second video from the Atlanta based four piece. It's rocking and rolling with that charming disaffected swagger that all the kids in skinny jeans love. Directed by Donald Emerson. And it's not a Lite Brite. Watch the music video (qt).

REST IN PEACE: JAMES BROWN 1933 - 2006

The Godfather of Soul, remembered for his pivotal influence on soul, funk, hip hop and contemporary music, his remarkable showmanship, and his pioneering of African American culture into mainstream, passed at 73 on December 25th, 2006.

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

Season's Greetings and holiday cheer from cliptip.

FREEMASONS: Rain Down Love

Gaydar senses are tingling! Not only does this house stomper shake and shimmy like a tranny showgirl, the video riffs off the popular Michel Gondry Daft Punk video for Around The World with pretty much the exact same sound stage. With vocals by Siedah Garret (who sang with Michael Jackson and the Brand New Heavies at various points of her career), and a video featuring every possible gay cliché (chapped cowboys, police officers, sailors boys and vegas chorus girls), it's a booty shaker for boys who like boys and their respective hags. Directed by Sarah Chatfield @ Colonel Blimp. Watch the music video (qt).

JENNY WILSON: Let My Shoes Lead Me Forward

What is with these Swedes? Unofficially, Jenny Wilson is a loon. Perhaps its the fact she's on fellow Swedish loony toons the Knife's Rabid Records. Its a very happening single, this track, having been invited by the eminent French tastemasters, la Maison Kitsune, to appear on one of their esteemed compilations. Her smooth, siren vocals blend well with the stripped down electronic pop sounds she writes and produces herself.The video is also a bit loony. It's a stop motion affair, with Jenny freeze framed into various positions and shoes. It's joyful and odd, just like the track. I'll be hunting down her debut album, Love And Youth. Watch the music video (qt).

SNOWDEN: Like Bullets

Epic Atlanta indie band, Snowden, concoct a crunchy rocker with this killer album opener. With pulsing basslines layered over syncopated kicks, lead vocalist Jordan Jeffares affects the lilting disaffected ennui of a world weary romantic. The video is starkly white, contrasting with the dark moodiness of the audio. The actual band members are projected onto white catsuited dancers who serve as scultured projection screens. The effect is both jarring and mesmerising particularly when their heads are exploded at the song's climax. Directed by Geoffrey Plauger @ Refrigerator Art Productions. Watch the music video (qt).

UNKLE: Be There

Oldie but a rare goodie, Unkle's collaboration with the original monkey man Ian Brown still sounds relatively fresh considering the plundered trip hop sounds of the 90's. Naturally ominous and dark in mood, director Jake Scott captures the dreariness of London's afterhours tube system and the joy of portable cassette players. Watch the music video (qt).

THE RIFLES: Peace & Quiet

When the Rifles play, there ain't nothing further from my mind than peace and quiet. Jaunty, overtly British punk pop that is instantly catchy and undeniably fresh. From the debut album No Love Lost, the London band is slick enough and raw enought to elicit attention from the hipster set and the fashionista set. The video was directed by Terry Hall, who is not this Terry Hall. Watch the music video (qt).

LILY ALLEN: Smile

Nothing warm the winter blahs like a reggae / island ska tinged pop song. And such is the signature of MySpace breakout star Lily Allen. Yes, the cool cats have been on top of Lily's music for quite a while now. But now even the Fashionista's are on top of the hellion's style. Couture kaiser Karl Lagerfeld, he of Fendi, Chanel and his own fashion house bearing his namesake, has personally asked the diminutive London artist to appear in his advertising. Considering his recent request from pop punk princess Avril Lavigne to also model for him, there seems to be a pattern in his obsession with young celebrity poppettes. Video directed by Sophie Muller. Podcast the music video (qt).

FUNKSTÖRUNG: Nipple Twist

Nothing says love like a good solid nipple twist. The now defunct glitch-hop duo Funkstorung demonstrate that in what is what I gather their last music video together. Personally I love that fact this video, directed by duo T-n-A, portrays an affirmative action, equal opportunities depiction of the nipple twist. Both men and women get a bit of blue mams, with no permission and little compassion shown for either gender nor the ampleness of their bossom. Watch the music video (qt).

AERIAL: Sweetheart

Cliptip loves a homegrown story. This video, from New Zealand indie pop duo Aerial (Michelle Crompton and Andre Upston), is sent in from director and cliptip reader Dale McCready. It's his directorial debut, and cliptip feels pretty damn proud of him for his very first clip. Combining film and animation, the single soothes with a sweet little melody reminiscent of Stars meets Frou Frou. Watch the music video (qt).

BELLE AND SEBASTIAN: The Blues Are Still Blue

What the hell is this? Scotland's fey seven piece go from ethereal indie pop to glam infused rock? As odd as it may seem, it works. The second single is culled from their The Life Pursuit album, their most successful to date, released by Rough Trade UK and Matador USA. The animated video is courtesy of director Kate Anderson. Be pleasantly surprised. Watch the music video (qt).

TEDDYBEARS: Cobrastyle

Mock mock mock! Just like your typical Swedish bear band with big fake mascot heads. Sure, it seems like its a legitimate interview scenario, but really, who's fooling who? With ragga ska vocals by Mad Cobra, and all manner of situational rockstar shennanigans (vomit, barracudas, cocaine overdosing and male bear nudity, it's a jump-up kinda song that has crossover potential written all over it that probably won't. Stephan Colbert's threat down probably has something to do with it. BTW, this video's been censored. Can you guess what part's been cut out? Watch the music video (qt).

EXPATRIATE: Play A Part

Sydney rockers Expatriate plays some cool tunes. Ranging from fuzzy basslines to eighties riffs to drugged out vocal deliveries, there's even perhaps a touch of the orient courtesy of frontman Ben King's upbringing in Jakarta. All taken, it's thoroughly modern retro rock that fits comfortably in skinny jeans. Another brilliant video by Kris Moyes, executed in stunning black and white with wind machines all over. Watch the music video (qt).

NELLY FURTADO: Say It Right

Fresh off her performance on the American Music Awards, Nelly releases a new video from her chart topping pop album. Throbbing beats still permeate this single, but with a more decidedly serene mood. Assisted by collaborator and label head Timbaland, this one is clearly aimed at cementing her pop chart domination. Nice to see the Victoria native keep her groove on, although the whole Nelly Furtado branded helicopter is a bit much. Expect to see Ms. Furtado on Timbaland's second solo outing out soon. The video is directed by Rankin & Chris. Watch the music video (qt).

PLANNINGTOROCK: Face The Music

Are you ready for arty madness? I first caught wind of Planningtorock as they played a series of shows with cliptip favourite The Knife. And while this video is probably more video art project than actual music video, it typifies the esoteric nature of the one woman band. There are actual proper songs with videos out there that will blow your socks off, but unfortunately there are no quicktime podcast friendly ones that I can find. If you have tips, send em here ASAP! Watch the music video (qt).

I LOVE YOU BUT I'VE CHOSEN DARKNESS: The Owl

Austin goth prog rockers release a brilliant animated single from their Secretly Canadian release, Fear Is On Our Side. The single is lyricless and sparse, washing away any memory of my recently compromised audio palate. The video is directed by Emmanuel Ho. Watch the music video (qt).

BLAZE: Most Precious Love

While Thursday is the new Friday, no Friday is complete without a wall banging club anthem. Mix this classic house track with a noxious cocktail of vodka redbulls and you have got yourself a recipe for make-out. Yes, the winter blues have me settling into a very bad noturnal routine of Friday happy hour slumming. The New Jersey boys of Blaze enlist New York diva Barbara Tucker for this single and she does a fine job of belting out the gospel. The animated music video is directed by Mini Vegas. Watch the music video (qt).

DEATH IN VEGAS: Scorpio Rising

For something brooding and edgy, I can always find comfort in a Death In Vegas track. Duo Richard Fearless and Tim Holmes combine with vocalist Liam Gallaghers, of the imfamous Oasis Gallaghers, to form the title track from the the third album fromthe band. Psychedelic with flourishes of electronic trickery, the single embodies a perfect union of rock with modern production wizardry that transcends often tripped cliches of genre jumping wannabes. This is married with a perfectly gorgeous Japanese music video pitting Samuri fighting warrior against shadowy ninjas as directed by Muto Masashi. Podcast the music video (qt - podcast only).

GWEN STEFANI: Wind It Up

I was hoping to avoid this track altogether. Like it never happened. Ever. Sort of like a deep repressed memory of say, a childhood encounter with an eccentric pop singer and one too many bottles of Jesus Juice. But alas, due to popular demand, most likely to mock viciously in the comment section or perhaps to test my resolve in abstaining from music videos of questional merit, the video appears. Oh, look how I buckle. Buckle I might, but I refuse to lower myself to hyper-criticism. You can say what you will of this *cough* career lowpoint *cough* lead single from Ms. Stefeni-Rossdale's forthcoming new solo album. Alls I'm going to say is it's produced by The Neptunes, the video is directed by Sophie Muller and there are nuns in aviators sunglasses. I refuse to acknowledge the yodelling. Podcast the music video (qt - mercifully podcast only).

FAITHLESS: Bombs

Politically conscious house music is always questionable. I mean, really. Dancing is for happy thoughts, and most dancing that the kids are getting up to these days is often artificially happiness enhanced anyways, so really, why try tackle headier issues with a 4/4 beat? Well, old rave stalwarts, Faithless, have kept their political-agitator confrontations as a core to both their music and message and have kept dancing into the neverending party night. This latest music video is from their forthcoming new album, To All New Arrivals. Notice the trendy Malawi baby accessory. Watch the music video (qt).

SCISSOR SISTERS: Land Of A Thousand Words

Folks, it all about timing. Coinciding with the release of the brand new James Bond action thriller, starring that blond Bond that online haters loved to hate on, come this latest video from the New York pop caberet. Sure it's a Elton John-esque without being one of the two Elton John collaborations on the album, and it does have shades of spy thriller anthem without being John Barry, so why not create a music video that pays homage to a 007 title opening credits? Directed by National Television. Watch the music video (qt).

HEADMAN: Moisture

One of the many aliases of Robi Insinna, Headman is a staple to the respected Gomma label and this single is a release of the second album entitled On. With a roster of vocal contributors and a punk disco sound that is often credited to New York based artists, the record will get heads pointed back to the Teutonic origins of the Gomma sound. This video, with all manner of costumed side show freaks, is directed by Bruce Rabbit. Watch the music video (qt).

CLIPTIP QUIPS: Damn Fine Derivative edition

Short and sweet reviews of records old and new:

Shine On by JET
the CTQ: Classic Rock crock pot [6/10]
music videos

Empire by KASABIAN
the CTQ: Heir to the Primal Scream deserted throne [7/10]
music videos

The Looks by MSTRKRFT
the CTQ: Daft Canuck [7/10]
music videos

ASCII DISKO: Einfach

Why does that man have a sledgehammer? Why is he swinging it at that organ? Why does German electro inspire violence between man and musical instrument? No answers, have I. But this track from Ascii Disko is highly irresistable when played on the dancefloor. Deliciously lo-fi video clip to match the grinding, throbbing synthetic aural experience. Watch the music video (qt).

EAGLES OF DEATH METAL: I Want You So Hard (Boy's Bad News)

Josh Homme has a knack for pulling talent together. Take this video. He's stacked the cast with superstar friends Dave Grohl and Jack Black. It's a freaking frenzy. Taken from studio album #2, Death By Sexy, and paired with frequent touring in 2006, it seems that Josh's other project, Queens Of The Stone Age, will take to the forefront for 2007. Watch the music video (qt).

GNARLS BARKLEY: Who Cares?

Being a vampire ain't all that it use to be. Take this example in the latest from dynamic duo Gnarls Barkley. Starring Mario Van Peeples as a burn-out, blaxploited Dracula, director Barney Clay demonstrates there ain't room left in this apathetic world for a blood sucking soul brother with fangs. The dressy duo of Danger Mouse and Cee-Lo are strangely absent. Watch the music video (qt).

CSS: Alala

Sao Paulo's CSS drop the electro bomb on this awesome track from their debut LP. It's a non-stop blast of squelching synths, drum licks and the androidal purr of lead singer Lovefoxx. Director Cat Solen turns the band into bloodied zombie drones in this Carrie-esque video of blood, gore and prom dresses. Watch the music video (qt).

THE RAPTURE: Whoo! Alright - Yeah... Uh Huh.

What the hell is going on with the Rapture? Okay, firstly, this track is produced by Danger Mouse. Second, Matt Safer is sporting a blinged out grill. Third, director Ben Dickinson has the lads in a splish splashy, break dancing block party. And Luke Jenner is wearing a cape. A fucking cape! Are hipster kids going to be wearing capes instead of trucker hats now? Holy shit do I ever fucking love this video! Ha ha ha! Watch the music video (qt).