Bonnie and Clyde: don't give up the day job Scarlett

I guess I might get used to Scarlett Johansson's singing voice one day, but to be honest you could watch this Bonnie and Clyde trailer without any sound and still enjoy it.

Lupe Fiasco: Out of my head

Here's the video for Lupe Fiasco's new song. No idea what it sounds like yet and I'm actually posting this to remind me to listen to it.

It's from his third album, Lazers, which I also haven't got yet.

Hope it's not crap.

Unkle Money and Run: have it

A lads' weekend is always going to be messy, regardless of the salubrious surroundings. Take this one, in what looks like Stoke Park. Ruined it, to the soundtrack of the Unkle tune Money and Run featuring Nick Cave.

At least the video's on the money.


Via Slamxhype

Daft Punk Electorama Ferrari: buy it for Japan

The scale of the disaster in Japan is hard to imagine for those of us who have not encountered a tsunami, so it is heartening that so many companies are coming up with ever more imaginative methods of raising money to help the victims.

The latest is EMI's auctioning of what to them might seem like meaningless tat but to the rest of the world is priceless pop memorabilia. Things like signed Beastie Boys dolls and the David Bowie back catalogue to this, the Ferrari 412 used in the filming of Daft Punk's Electorama video.

The fact that a company as broke as EMI actually kept the Ferrari used as a prop for a video is surprising in itself. That they have decided to auction it off for Japan is either incredibly noble or incredibly stupid, depending on if you are a fan or the company's accountant.

So best get your bid in before they change their minds.

The listings can be found  here and the Daft Punk Farrari is here.


The auctions will be running until April 21st.

Beastie boys return with a hobbit

The Beastie Boys are back from a good few years in the wilderness with a new album this year, entitled the Hot Sauce Committee Pt 2, and now they've got a hobbit on board.

That's a bit unfair. It's actually Frodo. No actually it's Elijah Wood, who has been trying to act hard ever since his barefoot Lord of the Rings films.

The promo video for the album (below) is an exercise in Hollywood funny chap spotting, which just makles you want this album to come out even more.

Kanye West Devil in a New Dress: cleaned out through the front door

Ah, bling. Here today gone tomorrow. I expect there's a message in this Kanye West video for Devil in a New Dress. Something like 'be careful who you lend your keys to'.

Or if you fancy thinking a little deeper, maybe this is a comment on the state of the world economy, how we've all been robbed blind while our backs were turned. And now we're going to PAY.

I'm sure Kanye  wouldn't be thinking in quite such political terms.

Unkle The Runaway: return of the Pointman

Unkle has re-visited its video for The Runaway with a nifty little robotic Pointman. Which is altogether less erotic than a girl shimmying away behind a silk sheet, but hey, he's got more charisma.

It's like an old friend has come back to visit.

Unkle The Runaway: Nipples in the dark

The new Unkle video had my undivided attention for longer than I expected. I think it was the promise of a glimpse of nipple to be honest.

I wasn't disappointed, even though it would have been quicker to have turned to Page 3 of the Sun. But that wouldn't have been anywhere near as subtle.

This also happens to be one of my favourite tunes off the Where Did the Night Fall album, which as with everything James Lavelle puts out, I never tire of.

N.E.R.D Hypnotize you produced by Daft Punk: French fancy

Here's another glimpse into the latest N.E.R.D album, Nothing, this time via a track produced by the plastic headed French house duo Daft Punk.

I've also added an interview Pharrell and the boys did with Mark Hoppus recently, which is worth looking at if only to guffaw at the balaclava being worn by Chad throughout. Who told him that was a good idea?

N.E.R.D. - "Hypnotize U" Prod. Daft Punk by Slam x Hype


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Uploaded by yardie4lifever2. - See video of the biggest web video personalities.

Tricky - Murder Weapon: Back with a bang

When I first heard this on BBC 6 Music (saved!) I couldn't believe Tricky was behind it. I remember him best as one of the founding fathers of trip hop back in the mid nineties, setting the bar with his album Maxinquaye and the tune I know him best for, Black Steel.

This time he reworks a 1991 dancehall number by Echo Minott which in turn uses the riff from the 1961 Peter Gunn Theme.

A couple of tough-talking Glock-related lyrics later and it's evident Tricky hasn't lost his touch, even if he did go off on a bit of a tangent with those movie roles.

I'm expecting the album to be equally impressive.



Via Slamxhype

Unkle: The Answer ... might be in the video ... then again

Unkle are back with a new five track EP called The Answer featuring a few collaborators including Lupe Fiasco, and in true James Lavelle style, there are also a couple of videos to go with the release.

One is directed by John Hilcoat, who directed that vision of apocalyptic gloom otherwise know as The Road. The other is directed by Ross Cairns, who has also done a documentary.

One above features our very own Cockerney chipolata, Ray Winstone. Diamond.

In case you have an urge to know, the tracklist is as follows:

01. The Answer (ft. Big In Japan – Baltimore)

02. Separate Half (ft. Lumerians with Rebecca Coseboom)

03. Country Tune (ft. Gavin Clark)

04. The Runaway: Lupe’s Revenge (Lupe Fiasco vs UNKLE Reconstruction)

05. Follow Me Down (ft. Sleepy Sun) (Tim Goldsworthy Remix)06. Heavy Drug (Reprise)

UNKLE - The Answer - John Hillcoat director, Ray Winstone starring from UNKLE on Vimeo.

UNKLE - The Answer - Ross Cairns director from UNKLE on Vimeo.

Via Freshness

Unkle feat the Heritage Orchestra free downloads: Still on form

I got the new Unkle album, Where Did The Night Fall, twice. Amazon took so long that I ended up buying a copy on Ebay and then the Amazon one arrived too.

No less than I should have expected really, and I could say the same about the album, but in a good way.

It's a bit of a grower alright. I can't stop playing it.

It's a good job I'm going to the gig.

But don't take my word for it, have a listen. Here are a few downloads from the live shows featuring the Heritage Orchestra, courtesy of Mr Lavelle himself.

Heaven

Lonely soul

Caged bird

Natural selection

N.E.R.D Hot n Fun video: Furtado had to walk

Moving on from native American footwear to the full shebang in the new video from N.E.R.D, as Pharrell and the boys take a vandalised drop-top Rolls Royce into the desert for some tribal dance action, pausing only to pick up a few squaws along the way.

Nellie Furtado gets a look in, but from what I can tell gets left hitch-hiking on the side of the road in favour of a few more fun looking Hiawathas. Let's face it, she has got a bit of a sour face. I think she found the party eventually.

I probably wouldn't let her in my Roller either.
Via Freshness

The Creators Project: The web fuelled rise of CSS

It would be safe to say CSS is the best-known pop group to come out of Brazil, because while there seems to be no end to the samba beats of the favelas favoured by the likes of Gilles Peterson, when it comes to indie pop, CSS is about it, really.

This video, the latest from the Creators Project series, offers an insight into how the band puts their success down to the power of the internet. Which is quite refreshing, seeing as everyone else seems to be blaming their demise on it, including the record industry.

Mark Ronson: Tuned in

Mark Ronson always got a new angle on something. One minute he's doing bouncy jazz covers of pop classics, the next he's got some Gucci shoes to try and make look cool.

He might well have given up on that to be honest, because he seems to be back on the music tip. As well as getting on top of the whole viral video and Twitter thing.

Tuned in, that's Ronson.

N.E.R.D photo shoot: At least Pharrell wears it well

My friend James once said that the only person who ever looked good in Billionaire Boys Club clothes was Pharrell Williams.

Never a truer word spoken if you ask me. Mind you, if N.E.R.D's outfits in this video are all BBC, it looks like they might have toned things down at last. Oversized baby pink hoodies with dollar symbols all over them were always going to have a shelf life, after all.

This stuff looks tame in comparison.

But that doesn't hide the fact that somewhere on those garments will be located a dollar sign, or a diamond, or a spaceman. Holding an ice cream. For some reason that puts me off.

Even N.E.R.D won't persuade me otherwise.

And yes, I know I used to wear a bit of Bathing Ape on occassion, which is a sister label of BBC, but that was because of James Lavelle. And besides, BBC is far worse.

James Lavelle: The Unkle who keeps on giving

My admiration of James Lavelle and Unkle has been well documented on this blog. I would go so far as to say the man can do no wrong in my eyes. I might even have said that before.

I still don't have his Where Did the Night Fall album - this is mainly due to apathy on my part and not getting round to clicking the 'buy' button on the Unkle site. But the three tracks I've heard from it would lead me to confidently say he is still on form. And I will be buying it.

I'm actually posting this interview because I've been told that I could be in with a chance to get into a party if I do. Seeing as I have no intention of going to this party in the East End of London somewhere, and assuming I win, I will pick a follower at random and hand the VIP access over. As long as you take a couple of photos.

Just imagine, free access to a Vice Magazine party in Shoreditch. Life. Does. Not. Get. Any. Better.

Lupe Fiasco: I'm Beamin'

Lupe Fiasco's feeling a bit pleased with the way things have turned out for him. Judging by this video there were plenty of people telling him he wouldn't make it and now look! He can afford a pair of Dita sunglasses!



Via Fatkids

ACDC v Iron Man 2 at Rochester Castle: Well hard

ACDC Vs Iron Man 2 - Architectural Projection Mapping on Rochester Castle from seeper on Vimeo.
There aren't many uses for a castle in modern society. The days of knights, barbarians and marauding types are a few centuries behind us, unless you happen to be into role playing.

But they do tend to make imposing backdrops and in the case of Rochester Castle, do a pretty decent job of acting as a projection screen.

And where else would be better suited to a 3D animation film featuring ACDC and Iron Man? It's like that castle had been waiting all its thousand year or so life for this moment.

It must have felt quite comfortable having the place invaded by a bunch of long-haired ruffians again.

Via Selectism

Lady Gaga and Beyonce video: Mental

It seems I'm not the only one who has pondered the true sexuality of Lady Gaga. Ever since she appeared on the scene, some 12 months ago, the rumour mill has been working overtime debating the fact that there could actually be some meat and two veg nestled between those silken thighs. It's her nose, you see. It just doesn't look like it should be on a woman.

This is evidently an issue which has reached the House of Gaga itself. And she has chosen to scotch those rumours by means of a legs akimbo shot as part of her new video.

The irony of this being that she looks more like a transvestite in it than ever before.

But then Gaga doesn't do anything if it can't provide the shock factor, and this latest release has remained true to type.

First she's mixing it up with some butch ladies in the nick, then Beyonce turns up in a pussy wagon I'm sure I last saw in Kill Bill, and before you know it there's been a mass murder.

As far as I can tell, none of this has anything to do with the song.