Archive for the ‘Music Video’ Category


19.08.2009

120 Minutes on SAL: Black Train Jack

posted by Jeff

in 120 On SAL, Music Video

New York City’s Black Train Jack holds a unique distinction with me as a music fan. They are the only band that I have ever written a fan letter to. I am not talking about an email or a myspace comment; I am saying an actual pen to paper and drop it in a mailbox fan letter.

After hearing their second album You’re Not Alone, which was released by Roadrunner Records in 1994, I wanted to tell the band how much I enjoyed the record and their punk version of Steve Miller Band’s “The Joker”.

What stood out to me with You’re Not Alone and their previous release No Reward (released on Roadrunner as well, in 1993) was how they could skillfully mix the catchiness of pop punk with the aggression and heaviness of hardcore. From You’re Not Alone, the song “What’s the Deal” highlights their talent of creating poppy songs that you bob your head to as you hear pounding bass beats.

The band also had a more positive message of a drug-free, violence-free lifestyle as evidenced by the track “Not Alone”. With lyrics like I don’t hurt myself internally/I’m poison free intentionally/A choice I made a long time ago/Because doing it up Friday nights/Going out and starting fights/These are things I don’t need to know and Because this is life and you’re in it/You’re the one who’s got to live/Take your time and choose your own way, Black Train Jack told the listener to forge their own path and to tread down the ones that are chosen for them.

The album’s only single, “Handouts” is still one of my favorite jams to this day. Black Train Jack also put out a video for the song about the struggles of friendship, featuring singer RoBorn wearing a work shirt, black sunglasses and a hat turned backwards: the complete 90’s punk uniform.

A few weeks after sending my letter I received a zine-style newsletter from the band with a note on the front thanking me for my letter and for listening to them. Unfortunately I never received another piece of mail from them or heard another new tune from them, as they broke up shortly thereafter. While these diehard New York Yankees fans parted ways, their simple, yet distinctive punk rock sound continues to thump through my speakers.

For fans of Black Train Jack and guitarist Ernie Parada, check out his new band, Higher Giant.

18.08.2009

Communipaw “Take Over” Video

posted by Will

in Music Video

“Take Over” comes from the self-titled full-length debut of New Brunswick, NJ’s Communipaw. You can stream the album in its entirety here. The band is fronted by the great Brian Bond of course.

www.myspace.com/communipawmusic

13.08.2009

Broadway Calls “Be All That You Can’t Be” Video

posted by Will

in Music Video

“Be All That You Can’t Be” is from Broadway Calls‘ soon-to-be-released album, Good Views, Bad News. The album is tremendous…pop punk album of 2009 hands down!

12.08.2009

120 Minutes on SAL: Shades Apart

posted by Jeff

in 120 On SAL, Music Video

We are resurrecting an old feature here at SAL but Jeff Takacs, the man behind Rocket Fuel podcasts (which are awesome by the way!), will be taking the lead. I might chime in here or there but the feature will be more in depth than before with Jeff now at the helm. And while I understand that 120 Minutes showed music videos not all the posts on “120 Minutes on SAL” will have videos accompanying them…but of course some of them will…grainy video or not! The title and the feature have more to do with the spirit of the show than anything else. Of course old guys like Jeff and myself grew up on 120 minutes in the 90’s and I’m excited about this feature! Thanks Jeff! – Will

As someone who spent his entire high school and college years in the 90’s, I spent way too much time watching 120 minutes, listening to WDRE in my hometown of Philadelphia, and playing Sega and eventually, Playstation.

While the decade was dominated by the emergence of Alternative Rock, Grunge and Gangsta Rap, it was also a great decade for independent music. There were many, many talented bands in the 90’s that didn’t get their due or the attention they deserved. The goal of this feature is to shine a little light on some of those bands and music that still stands up to what’s being released today.

Although they technically formed in 1989 and split up in sometime between 2002 and 2003, Shades Apart released two stellar albums for Revelation Records. 1995’s Save It and 1997’s Seeing Things, featured the band‚Äôs crunchy and fast-paced, yet melodic sound. Both records were produced by the dynamic duo of Bill Stevenson and Stephen Egerton, both members of seminal punk rock bands Descendents and All. This production team has their fingerprints on many of your favorite punk rock records.

The Bridgewater, NJ band did gain some exposure for the video of their Soft Cell cover of “Tainted Love”. The video featured a Cyrano de Bergerac-themed performance of a punk god playing along to the song with the band behind him jamming out live. What stood out to me visually was the upside-down hockey stick used as a mic stand by Mark V., Shades Apart’s guitarist/singer.

The band was later signed to Universal Records, releasing two decent albums, 1999’s Eyewitness and 2001’s Sonic Boom. While these records are very good, the band turned to a more polished sound that might have been more acceptable to a wider audience, even earning a track on the American Pie soundtrack.

While I still listen to their latter two records on occasion, it is the Revelation-era Shades Apart that I continue to remember and continue to turn to when I want to give them a listen.

11.08.2009

Farewell Continental “Do You Wanna Tangle” Video

posted by Will

in Music Video

I am totally ganking this from Bryne at What We Hate. Farewell Continental is Justin Pierre from Motion City Soundtrack’s side project. “Do You Wanna Tangle” is from the bands debut EP out now on Paper + Plastick. This is not what you might expect but in a good way!

06.08.2009

Mew “Introducing Palace Players” Video

posted by Will

in Music Video

“Introducing Palace Players” is from Mew’s long winded new album, No more stories, are told today, I’m sorry, they washed away, No more stories the world is grey, I’m tired, Let’s wash away.

06.08.2009

Wheat “Changes Is” Video

posted by Will

in Music Video

“Changes Is” comes from Wheat’s brand new album, White Ink, Black Ink.

31.07.2009

Brian Bond – Pink Couch Session

posted by Will

in Music Video

Brian Bond – I (Won’t) Give Up from If You Make It on Vimeo.

- Brian Bond stopped by If You Make It HQ recently and performed a wonderful new song called I (Won’t) Give Up. Check out my review of Brian Bond’s amazing album “Fire & Gold”. It is undoubtedly one of my favorites of 2009.

23.07.2009

Raphael Saadiq “Let’s Take a Walk” Video

posted by Will

in Music Video

- I have been digging on Raphael Saadiq since watching a live concert of his on ETV while on vacation last week. This is for fans of old Motown and Oldies in general. “Let’s Take A Walk” comes off his fantastic The Way I See It album.

P.S. Sorry for the sponsor message at the beginning..this was the only video I found that I could embed.

30.06.2009

The Woods “The Final Breaths Of A Main Character” Video

posted by Will

in Music Video

“The Final Breaths Of A Main Character” appears on The Woods‘ (not to be confused with Woods) Self-Titled debut. The band has just released a brand new EP which you can download for free here.

www.thewoodsvideo.com

08.06.2009

Dinosaur Jr. “Over It” Video

posted by Will

in Music Video

Video for “Over It” off the new Dino Jr. album Farm (which rules of course).

01.05.2009

A Lull “Skinny Fingers” Video

posted by Will

in Music Video


A Lull “Skinny Fingers” from A Lull on Vimeo.

I have always tried to keep up with the artwork of Nigel Evan Dennis and dug his old band, The Evaluation. But, I had no idea he was in a new band called A Lull. The band’s first release, Ice Cream Bones, comes out in May on Lujo. The video incorporates Dennis’ artwork. I am digging this song.

www.myspace.com/alullmusic

26.04.2009

Oceans “We Are Ruins” Video

posted by Will

in Music Video


Oceans “We Are Ruins” in HD from Hannah Rosner on Vimeo.

“We Are Ruins” comes from Oceans‘ badass debut, Nothing Collapses.

22.04.2009

The Hectors “Carol And Sanford” Video

posted by Will

in Music Video

This is the video for “Carol And Sanford” off of The Hectors Sometimes They Collide EP. I really should have written this band up sooner on SAL. It is similar to the territory Silversun Pickups are mining but The Hectors are a bit more straight forward with their approach. That’s not to say there aren’t moments of glorious feedback, just that the shoegazy pop edge is a more up front and not so buried. And of course female vocals are the main dish of choice here. Good stuff.

www.myspace.com/thehectors

17.04.2009

Death Becomes Even The Maiden “Frames” Video

posted by Will

in Music Video

“Frames” from Death Becomes Even The Maiden’s The Arrangement.