This video for "Swim Like the Dolphin" from Rolie Polie Guacamole's latest album Houses of the Moly second album Hummus is a lot like the song -- pretty simple but very effective. 81 seconds of a sweet little stop-motion animation video from Miriam Rayevsky.
Rolie Polie Guacamole - "Swim Like the Dolphin" [YouTube]
As a recent initiate into the world of dog-owner-dom, this song makes even more sense now than it did last summer when I first heard it. But even cat people will like it, I promise.
I'm proud to be world-premiering the new video for the song. The occasionally retro-styled video featuring assorted canine hijinks is from the fine folks at Planet Sunday. Make sure you stick around to the end of the video for, yes, the twist ending.
Invisible Friends album coverDean Jones is a busy man -- producing albums for folks like Recess Monkey and Story Laurie while putting the finishing touches on a BRAND NEW DOG ON FLEAS ALBUM! (Yes, I'm shouting, because that's great news, people.)
On top of all that, there's a new video to go along with a track from the new album, Invisible Friends, out in June (or April 24 via teh Internets). The video for the song "There's a Band in My Head" is homemade, lo-fi, weird -- a little delirious, even -- and in its collage is greater than the sum of its parts. Sorta like the song -- and band -- itself.
Dog on Fleas - "There's a Band in My Head" [YouTube]
Sometime last year Songs for Little Bean album coverCanadian singer Kori Pop was asked to be a godparent. So as a present to her goddaughter and her parents, she recorded an album of lullabies and children's songs. One listen to the tracks and clips at the album's Bandcamp page will indicate that this is not a run-of-the-mill lullabye album.
But that's not why I'm featuring this video.
This video is why I'm featuring this video for her take on the kids' classic "Twinkle Little Star" (yes, only one "twinkle" in the title). Directed by Kori herself, with a whole bunch of puppeteers, it is utterly captivating.
In Tents album coverRecess Monkey's new circus-themed album In Tents is out on June 19, and they're really gearing up the promotional process. Last week brought the video for "The Dancin' Bear," and this week's it's a video for the zippity-doodah sound of "Lemonade" (not to mention a preview copy of the album in my mailbox). Besides featuring some highfalutin' words like "dehydration" and "upsell," it also features lemon puppets with googly eyes. I'm pretty sure you can never go wrong with lemon puppets with googly eyes.
Get Fruity album coverThere are those videos in which a gentle melody is accompanied by a similarly gentle animation featuring bunnies, perhaps, or very loving and slow-moving kids.
And then there's this world premiere video from Los Angeles band Apple Brains for "Frutero," off their debut album Get Fruity! Live action, sometimes at double speed; goofy animation melded in, leading to visuals like an animated rocket ship landing in a Los Angeles park lake; a band member dressed up like a banana -- you get the idea. All in service of a bilingual dance paean to LA's fruit vendors.
It is hyperactive, but in good ways. It suggests that their Kindiefest performance this year could be semi-delirious. (Also: one hopes that they will bring enough good vibes to encourage more food trucks to stop by.)