TV on the Radio release film with new album Nine Types of Light

If you haven't yet heard the new album Nine Types of Light by art-rock band TV on the Radio, do yourself a favor and give it a listen. Or, better yet, watch the movie...

Not content to be simply the coolest of the cool bands on the block, TV on the Radio decided to venture into film making as well. Packaged with the deluxe edition of Nine Types of Light is a DVD with an hour-long film that serves as an extended music video for every song on the album. Luckily for those of us without the cash reserves to fork over $60, the band has also put the full video on youtube for free.

The film features both live action segments and excellent animation (appropriate, since lead singer Tunde Adebimpe worked as an animator before forming the band) all woven together by interstitial bits which were directed by Adebimpe himself. The film is extremely well put together and compliments the album (which is also excellent) quite well. It's easy to see why a band like TV on the Radio would decide to do something like this, and not just because their lead singer also has a budding film career. There has always been a certain grandeur and vastness to this band's sound that seems to be perfectly suited to this kind of cinematic treatment.

The quality here also makes me wonder why more bands today aren't finding ways to make their music more of a multimedia experience. While it's one thing to make videos for the singles from an album, it's entirely another to create visuals for the entire album. I can't help but wonder if doing more of this kind of creative packaging with music wouldn't help spark some life into sluggish album sales across the industry (though perhaps a less "deluxe" and more cost effective edition with simply the album and the DVD would be preferable to one that includes vinyl, cd, dvd, digital download AND a t-shirt).

Judge for yourself below. Highlights of the film include the animation, bright colors, a Prince impersonation by Adebimpe, Peanuts cosplay, zombie killing andwhyareyounotwatchingthisalreadyseriouslydoitnow...

All versions of the album, deluxe and otherwise, can be purchased at TV on the Radio's website.