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.

This almost makes up for having to listen to Rebecca Black's voice.

Assuming you haven't been living in a cave for the past three weeks, you no doubt are aware of Rebecca Black's brain-rotting piece of autotune hell known simply as "Friday." If not, I'm sorry to be the bearer of bad news. You may also be aware of the dozens of different covers and remixes that have been popping up on youtube. The inevitable death metal cover is but one such example.

But, for my money, the best take on "Friday" came just last night on Late Night With Jimmy Fallon. In a moment of cross-promotional genius, Stephen Colbert agreed to sing the now ubiquitous song on Late Night if viewers could raise $26,000 for the the charity donorschoose.org. Well, the public did their part, and Colbert kept his promise.

The result is entertainment of the highest order. With backing by the Roots (who deserve a medal for being the hardest working band in the biz) and with a little help from Jimmy Fallon, Taylor Hicks, and the Knicks City Dancers, Colbert completely knocks it out of the park. The sheer exuberance of this (and the hilarious crooner intro) totally outshines the comically terrible lyrics. Also, it's amusing to see a real MC like Black Thought take on the groan worthy "rap."