Video of the Moment – Daft Punk – Around the World

I’ve been toying with starting a periodic feature talking about music videos past and present that I find interesting. I figured I’d give it a try with one of my favorite videos, Daft Punk – Around the World, directed by Michel Gondry, who you may know from his films Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind and The Science of Sleep.

The first few times I saw this video I just thought it was crazy Daft Punk making another crazy video. Then I noticed that each of the five groups represented a different element of the song, all moving synchronized with their parts. The athletes represent the bassline, the robots the vocal, etc. The circular platform they are on represents a record, while those circular lights in the back are like speaker holes. All in all a satisfying video aurally and visually.

For bonus points, spot characters from this video in the LCD Soundsytem “Daft Punk is Playing at my House” video.

Audioslave

I don’t know if anyone cares, but Audioslave broke up a few days ago. By that, I mean Chris Cornell left the band.

I like Soundgarden. I like RATM. Audioslave was underwhelming to put it politely.

Pandora

Some or all of you may have heard of Pandora internet radio, another site that generates a music stream based on your interests. Rather than basing the new songs on what other users listened to like last.fm, it uses the Music Genome Project, which breaks down songs or artists you enjoy and presents artists that have a similar sound. You can ask why they’re playing a certain song, and they’ll break it down that it features, for example, use of modal harmonies, a tight kick sound and a highly synthetic sonority.

As you listen to a certain station, you can add more artists, and give songs thumbs up or thumbs down to further tweak the songs played. It can take a little while to get a station that plays music you enjoy, but it’s worth checking out.

Gretchen Ross

If you’re like me, which means you’re extremely unique, despite being exactly like the majority of “hip” college students, there’s a decent chance you adore Donnie Darko and might even think it’s one of the greatest films of all time. I know I do (sort of, but not really).

Anyway, the girl from that movie, Jena Malone, has recorded some really strange, experimental tracks, which you can hear on her Myspace.

Some of you might also know her from Saved! or from her 10 seconds of screen time in Cold Mountain before she gets shot.

I’m not sure exactly how I feel about this music, but at least it’s different. She could have easily recorded a few cookie-cutter pop-rock tracks. Or, she could have gone back in time, starred in a Disney Channel movie about high school, and released a tie-in album.