It would be impossible to acknowledge the new songs and videos of the week without acknowledging Rihanna‘s Tarantino-esque revenge clip for “B*tch Better Have My Money.” Couple that with the also short film-like “Alright” from Kendrick Lamar, and you’ve got some artists really doing their part to keep the art form thriving.
In addition to that, we got great clips from Big Sean and Disclosure to name a few. Surprisingly, that barely scratches the surface of what dropped this week. Here’s what you may have missed.
Modest Mouse – “The Ground Walks, with Time in a Box”
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After an eight-year hiatus, indie rockers Modest Mouse returned earlier this year with their new album Strangers to Ourselves. Their second single from the LP, “The Ground Walks, with Time in a Box,” has their leader Isaac Brock as the one true ruler of his kingdom. But we should probably mention that kingdom is in a garbage dump, and he’s singing into a dulled dagger. Also, there are trash witches made of hay floating about. So, it’s basically just another average day in the Pacific Northwest.
Mumford and Sons – “The Wolf”
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Going to an enormous music festival like Bonnaroo is an incredibly fun experience that you’d probably remember for the rest of your life. (Ask these old people for instance.) But when you’re a famous band, you don’t really get the chance to experience it from that side. That’s why Mumford and Sons decided to go incognito in full costume and enjoy the festivities in their clip for new single “The Wolf.” Who could blame them for wanting to go down giant slides and wear flower crowns like the rest of the common people? While you enjoy all this slumming, it’s only fair you share your free drink tickets.
Skrillex and Diplo – “Where Are Ü Now” feat. Justin Bieber
As one of our Song of the Summer candidates, “Where Are Ü Now” is already an earworm in the back of everyone’s minds. But Skrillex, Diplo, and Justin have now dropped the video for the summer smash, and it’s pretty visually arresting. If you can reconcile watching Bieber’s polarizingly pouty face, there’s a lot of great drawings and animations over the young pop prince. For what it’s worth, it’s a really interesting clip; sometimes, you just have to let go of your preconceived notions and just enjoy something.
Tame Impala – “Nangs”
While we’re still waiting for their new album, Currents, to drop later this summer, Tame Impala released another video from the record. “Nangs” isn’t too high on concept — it’s just the band behind the scenes playing shows and recording — but it gives us another taste of the new album. And we’ll take any more helpings of the wavy psych rock these dudes bring to the table. Everything has been so great thus far, and “Nangs” doesn’t disappoint, either.
Jason Derulo – “Cheyenne”
Jason Derulo surprised everyone with his more serious effort in Everything Is 4. One of the standout tracks from the album, “Cheyenne” now has a video, and it’s as heavily influenced by the ’80s as the song is. As Jason is in an enormous, almost Victorian estate, he’s haunted by the memory of the one who got away… literally. Dead women grab at him, dolls stare at him, and zombie ballerinas dance around him. It’s essentially a 21st century update on Rockwell’s “Somebody’s Watching Me,” and that’s as great as it sounds.
Beach House – “Sparks”
From their forthcoming album, Depression Cherry, “Sparks” is a classic Beach House track. Woozy and ornate, the video for the audio stream features seasonally appropriate sparklers, perhaps for the Fourth of July. Cascading back and forth between soaring shoegaze guitars and burly organs, Victoria Legrand floats over “Sparks” like a stylish specter. It’s precisely what you would want to hear from their new album.
Crystal Castles – “Deicide”
Crystal Castles experienced a very public and ugly breakup earlier this year with Ethan Kath and Alice Glass breaking apart, disappointing fans of their pressure-cooker brand of indietronica everywhere. But the group is back, except without Alice this time around, with their brand new single “Deicide.” Cryptic and haunting as ever, this track features a new vocalist named Edith singing lyrics like “Their kindness is charade/ it’s used to sedate.” It definitely sounds like the Crystal Castles of old, but only time will tell if they’ll be able to deliver with this new lineup.
