"Ready, Able" - Grizzly Bear from Veckatimest (2009)

Kicking off this latest installment of Indie Rock Videos is the just released official video (above) of Grizzly Bear's "Ready, Able" from their highly acclaimed 2009 LP, Veckatimest. Check out Yo La Tengo performing "Here To Fall" from their latest LP, Popular Songs, on a rooftop in Brooklyn last month for Pitchfork TV.

Following Yo La Tengo is another Pitchfork TV premier of No Age's video for the title track off their latest EP, Losing Feeling. Smashing Pumpkins' frontman Billy Corgan stopped by David Lynch Foundation's studios recently to talk about the song crafting process, including his contribution to Lynch's film soundtrack for Lost Highway.

Beck and The Record Club continue to dazzle with their cover versions of Leonard Cohen songs; during the summer, the club launched their project with various cover songs from The Velvet Underground. Featured below is the video for the Cohen cover of "Sisters of Mercy," (plus the original track) featuring Beck, Devendra Banhart and MGMT. Lastly, watch a new video from The Valentines, a UK rock band that you probably unfamiliar with, but hopefully will hear more from in the near future. The vid was sent in by director Liam Simpson.


"Here To Fall" - Yo La Tengo from Popular Songs (2009)


"You're A Target" - No Age from Losing Feeling EP (2009)


"Eye" - Smashing Pumpkins from Lost Highway soundtrack (1996)


"Sisters of Mercy" (Original Version) - Leonard Cohen from Greatest Hits (1975)


Stream "We Are The Band" and other songs from this up and coming UK band (not to be confused with The Valentines band of four decades ago).

Other Posts You Might Enjoy:

In The Reels: 'Where The Wild Things Are' and Karen O and The Kids Soundtrack

New Music Videos from The Bright Light Social Hour, Pearl Jam, The Flaming Lips and IndieDoc Film 'East of Sunset'

Indie Cover Songs, Vol. V: The Format, Ruby Weapon, Radiohead, Broken Social Scene, Dr. Dog & Band of Horses

Ears To The Music, VIII: Mountain Goats, Chll Pll, Shaky Hands, Mission of Burma, Land of Talk, The Very Most & More

Today's Best Indie Releases: Julian Casablancas, Yeasayer, The Swimmers and the Nocturnal States Compilation

Band of The Week: Long Beach Folk Pop Band Avi Buffalo

Special Playlists:

Alternative and Indie Christmas Songs Playlist Mix Series

The Definitive Collection of Indie Halloween Songs

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Labels: Beck, Grizzly Bear, Indie Rock Videos

The song of the week is one that is well deserving of the honor. If you like edgy, experimental indie pop, check out the quirky Montreal indie band Island's single "Don't Call Me Whitney, Bobby".

The single is on Island's under-rated and brilliant debut album Return to the Sea, which surprisingly was overlooked by many rock critics, and even many of the indie rock bloggers. It didn't even make most of the top album of the year lists you see everywhere in December and January.

- Don't Call Me Whitney, Bobby [mp3]
- Bonus: Volcanoes [mp3]

Buy the album or these tracks individually at iTunes, Amazon or anywhere they sell the group's music!

Islands is a band that is in a perpetual state of flux, formed by Unicorn members Nick Diamonds and J'aime Tambeur. The album is described by Nick as having "some dancehall [sic] influences, some calypso...diverse and sprawling and ambitious...a bit more mature than The Unicorns... more of a Neil Young/Brian Wilson vibe running through it." (quoted from Wikipedia)

The collaboration on the Return to the Sea project included contributions from members of The Arcade Fire and The Wolf Parade.

Following the release of the album, the band went on a series of U.S. and Canadian tours during 2006. Earlier in 2005 they had opened for Beck from time to time and Metric. The critics and fans love the group's live shows. They even played some concerts where they had the concert-goers follow them out of the venue and into the streets in the spirit of the Pipe Piper of Hamelin.

After fans complained enough on blogs and fan sites, the group launched a fairly cool Flash powered official website back in late summer of 2006. The site may be a bit difficult for some (roll the mouse over the name of the band for the sections of the site), but it is a creative and refreshing approach.

No question that official band sites are getting better all the time. They just need to offer more free downloads, videos, interviews and add-ons like alerts when a concert date is added or changed.

Since 2006 wasn't that long ago, we have named Return to The Sea one of IRC's Top 20 albums of the year, and the single "Don't Call Me Whitney, Bobby," one of the best songs of the year.

You'd think that a song with such a title would be quirky, angry, mocking or what have you. But it's a true indie gem - oozing with waves of melodies, catchy riffs and memorable chorus harmonies. You may even find yourself tapping your foot. It's a great song to play when stuck in rush hour traffic or you need a picker-upper.

Warning: If you are a total hard-core indie punk or monster rocker, then you'd probably want to smash this CD if it was in front of you, but chill out my friend, we have plenty on damn good indie rock and punk on this site for you too.

Labels: Beck, Islands, The Arcade Fire, The Unicorns, Wolf Parade