Posted 11/7/2008 1:51:00 PM by Nisha Gopalan

Filed under: Animation, Bjork, Daft Punk, Dire Straits, Gorillaz, Kanye west, Matthew Sweet, MC Skat Kat, Music videos, Of Montreal, Paula abdul, Pearl jam, Peter Bjorn And John, Rolling stones, Royksopp, The shins

The other day, we linked you to one of Kanye West’s new songs, “Heartless,” off his upcoming album, 808’s & Heartbreak (out Nov. 25). Now Yeezy’s gone and released (Editor's Note: alas the clip is no longer available) the animated video for his sythny, melancholic track, which visually plays out like a cross between ’80s kids cartoons and those famous Nagel illustrations—with the rapper’s likeness waxing dramatic while meandering the lonely streets at night. And that’s not necessarily a bad thing. Check out the clip and size it up against a random sampling of videos past which also used animated characters. Then contemplate why Scandinavians dig animation so much…

“Heartless,” Kanye West
With special guests…The Jetsons.

“One More Time,” Daft Punk
A Jem-inspired clip in which manga meets disco—and somehow, it just makes sense.

“Girlfriend” by Matthew Sweet
Respekt. Matthew Sweet actually did the manga thing about a decade earlier.

“Money for Nothing,” Dire Straits
A shout-out to the Max Headroom generation! This one blew our minds back in the day.

“Opposites Attract,” Paula Abdul
Oh, MC Skat Kat, we hardly knew ya.

“Poor Leno,” Royksopp
Remember that DreamWorks CG flick about animals high-tailing it out of the zoo? Imagine that, only with a heartbreaking narrative and sweeping landscapes.

“Young Folks,” Peter Bjorn and John
Whistles and thought bubbles jibe harmoniously in this head-bobbing clip.

“Do the Evolution,” Pearl Jam
Congratulations, Eddie Vedder. With help from Spawn creator Todd McFarlane, you managed to make even animation preachy.

Pearl Jam |MTV Music

“Harlem Shuffle,” the Rolling Stones
No, not as embarrassing as Mick Jagger’s “Dancing in the Streets” video with David Bowie. But almost.

“Clint Eastwood,” Gorillaz
Because the group’s first single taught us that cutesy, imaginary musicians can look cool.

“Wanderlust,” Bjork
A Where the Wild Thing-y vibe underscores this otherworldly track from the otherworldly singer.

“Id Engager,” Of Montreal
Humans and animals assume some disturbing forms—but none as curious as the band members themselves!

“So Says I,” the Shins
Awww, depressed penguins.

Watch more Dailymotion videos on AOL Video

“Take on Me,” a-ha
And, of course, the black-and-white comic-book misadventures of Norwegians.

Keywords: Animation, Bjork, Daft Punk, Dire Straits, Gorillaz, Kanye west, Matthew Sweet, MC Skat Kat, Music videos, Of Montreal, Paula abdul, Pearl jam, Peter Bjorn And John, Rolling stones, Royksopp, The shins

Interview: Shins Frontman Talks New Album, Side Project

Posted 6/16/2008 12:06:00 PM by Mark Yarm

Filed under: Interviews, The shins

Aside from some unpleasantness in January, it's been a pretty quiet '08 for the Shins. But fans of their Natalie Portman-endorsed jangle pop have some things to look forward to in the not-too-distant future. Frontman James Mercer tells Blender the band will most likely record album No. 4 next year. And before that happens, Mercer plans to do a side project.

"I feel like it would be good for me to create another thing, another band basically," Mercer says. "It would be with other people, I just don't know who yet." The singer adds that he's been busy writing songs for his yet-to-be-determined band mates to record with him.

As for new Shins material, Mercer isn't sure yet whether the band's next album will be on Sub Pop Records, the label that released the first three Shins LPs. "We really enjoy working with them, so it'd be something that we'd love to do if it ends up being our best option," he says.

For more from Mercer, read Blender's new Sub Pop oral history.