Canadian singer/songwriter Basia Bulat‘s latest LP Heart of My Own has been creeping into my rotation more and more with each day. I don’t know, maybe I’m a sucker for interesting female vocalists (Marissa Nadler, Tiny Vipers, Joanna Newsom, etc…), but sometimes there is just nothing better. Filmed nearly two years ago by Yours Truly and kept secret until her latest album release, here is the track “The Shore”:

Another funny clip, this one is taken from an old episode of the British version of “The Office” with David Brent (aka Ricky Gervais) interrupting a team building exercise to play some music:

One of the saddest days of my life was when I learned that the British group Electrelane was going on indefinite hiatus. Here is a video of their song “In Berlin” that I think best captures the essence of the group:

The next video is from one of my favorite up and coming bands Local Natives, whom I have You Ain’t No Picasso to thank for exposing me to:

Airplanes

Local Natives | MySpace Music Videos

The last video is by the Danish group Efterklang for their track “Modern Drift” which made me very nostalgic as it is composed of footage of Dyrehaven (or “Deer Park”) from the 1970s. When I was studying in Copenhagen, I would often ride my bicycle through the picturesque park, eventually winding up on the even more picturesque coast. Paired with the song, this just might be my favorite video of the year [NSFW for 20 seconds at the 1 minute mark (naked girl in woods = artistic)]:

Adding another tally mark to the growing list of great bands that call San Francisco home, the all-girl Golden Gate garage group (inadvertent alliteration, I promise) composed of Hannah Lew, Raven Mahon, and Lillian Maring — aka Grass Widow — are the latest to invade my auditory canal. With some kick-ass tunes that will draw the inevitable comparisons to recently broken-up British alt. rockers Electrelane from some people (myself included), this trio of talented musicians are already making splashes outside their hometown. With a debut LP (whose cover looks a bit familiar), a 12” EP on label-of-the-year candidate Captured Tracks, and a couple of East/West Coast tours under their belt, they have already started building up a groundswell which, in my opinion, will lead to a big breaking-out moment in 2010.

Now I haven’t received a copy of their EP yet and I’ve only just recently purchased their full-length, but even with such little exposure to their music they have already won me over. Their debut, released on Make A Mess Records, is composed of nine-tracks of some of the best art-punk in recent memory.

(courtesy: alandickson)

The record opens strongly with “To Where” which features the three girls combining their forces vocally to create intricate harmonies while fast-paced finger picking bass (courtesy of Ms. Lew) bounces effortlessly around, giving the song the necessary locomotion. Thinking that you may have hit a ballad with their third track “Green Screen”, the song swiftly transitions from a capella to full-steam-ahead melodic rock — reminiscent of Electrelane’s “Bells” — in a span of a couple of measures. The A-side closes with the instrumental “Long Walk to the Beach” which, at times, could be the soundtrack to any video game that features a hero vs. boss level.

The B-side keeps up its share of the bargain by continuing the lo-fi garage punk feel established by its A counterpoint — showcasing spidery guitars on the waltz-y “Time Could Bend” and Le Tigre-like shouts (a la “What’s Yr Take On Cassavetes”) on “Cut It Out”. The record closes out with “Rattled Call”, which is arguably my album highlight. Rapidly switching between dreamy dulcet vocals and neck-breaking moshable percussion, the song is sure to keep you on your toes with every listen.

To give you a sample of what Grass Widow is all about, you can listen to an mp3 of “Green Screen” and, if you like what you hear, you can buy the record digitally from the website (unfortunately, the vinyl is sold out). Also, if you live in Portland, they will be playing The Artistry on January 7.

Grass Widow // Green Screen