Twelve More Music Videos with Motorcycles

Here's the link to all the motorcycle videos on a YouTube playlist. #YouTubeNchill

1. OCnotes feat. BLV3$ - "How Are You My Friend?" 2017  SEATTLE MUSIC (sorta)  Otis shared some of his adventures around the world with us in the new video for "How Are You My Friend?" This video qualifies for more than one of my weird lists; public transportation, flowers, bicycles, slow motion, Seattle, and others that have yet to be published. He's all linked up with the Homeskillet Records these days, their artist roster is perfect.





2. Lykke Li - "Gunshot" 2014  Lykke Li is starting the glamorous zombie apocalypse; I'm in.




3. Action Bronson - "Easy Rider" 2014  I hereby declare Action Bronson to be King Of Motorcycle Music Videos.




4. Lizzo feat. Sophia Eris- "Batches + Cookies" 2013  Lizzo is a queen on this earth.




5. Das EFX - "Real Hip Hop" 1995  I love that raining sparks shit.




6. Blood Orange - "I'm Sorry We Lied" 2012  Blood Orange is a lifetime member of the Artsy Weirdo Squad.




7. The Bar (Prometheus Brown + Bambu) - "Coming (To America)" 2014  Overflowing with respect for all parties involved with this project.




8. Queen - "Crazy Little Thing Called Love" 1980  Grease-y in the best way.




9. U-God - "Dat's Gangsta" 1999  WuTang really is forever.




10. AlunaGeorge feat. Popcaan - "I'm In Control" 2016  I would never deny the fact that Aluna is in control; love this duo!




11. AZ - "The Come Up" 2005  Even the birds have AZ's back.



Here's a video of Action Bronson freestyling over "The Come Up" instrumental.




12. Abra - "Pull Up" 2016  You think she does her own stunts or is that special effects of her on the 4 wheeler (@ 2:40 and beyond)? This is one of those songs that's about nothing but I'm okay with it because the words are presented well.




Here's the link to the first 10 Motorcycle Music Videos.

Thirteen Music Videos featuring Umbrellas

Here's the link to all the Umbrella music videos on a YouTube playlist. #YouTubeNchill

I just finished a book (Un Lun Dun by China Mieville) in which magical broken umbrellas (called uNbrellas) are used to protect (?) the citizens of the city under/above London from their biggest enemy yet, smog. Then, I saw this uNbrella today while walking in London and decided to resurrect this post from the depths of procrastination. You may not think you give a shit about music videos with umbrellas but I didn't know I was into Salt Beef on a Beigel (Corned Beef on a Bagel) until today; learning stuff about yourself is good. As if you needed convincing beyond the whole epic bagel thing, umbrellas have been chique since before Charlie Chaplin rocked one.

1. Main Source - "Looking At The Front Door" 1990  This umbrella's silhouette game is on point. I would have loved to hear the conversation about adding the umbrella as a prop to the video. Were they like "it needs something...shit, I got this umbrella, how bout this?...She could be like dating the umbrella or something?"



2. Cut Chemist - "My First Big Break" 2008  It's kind of awesome how much this umbrella adds to the video; since I find them almost useless in the real world (weird Seattle quirk). Since most rainstorms come with wind, umbrellas tend to make walking in a rainstorm a more stressful experience. I already knew I'd be down to go to any party in which Cut Chemist is the DJ but this video cements it; these people know how to have a good time.




3. Grimes - "Flesh without Blood/Life in the Vivid Dream" 2015  Grimes with a budget for music videos is one of the best things about life. Stay weird Grimes, I think you're great and loved that eight of the eleven people on your team were women when I worked my only stagehand shift for your show at The Showbox in Seattle in October 2015. #props




4. Bjork - "It's Oh So Quiet" 1995  My sister Ingrid made me a journal mod-podged with Bjork (as seen on the "Post" cover) on it in the mid 90s, it's filled with all sorts of teen angsty/crush/music lyric stuff since I was 16 when the album came out. Bjork has been inspiring me for decades and continues to do so with her new Bjork Digital Exhibition. I had an eight hour layover at the Reykjavik airport recently and they had this quote from "Joga" from the Homogenic album on a window that I had forgotten about, "I feel emotional landscapes they puzzle me." I've been trying to figure out what the hell that means for two weeks now but I still think it's rad she's achieved airport quote status. 





5.  Gifted Gab - "Dead Wrong" 2013  SEATTLE MUSIC  The musical journey of Gifted Gab will be the stuff of legends, she is one of the best rappers in Seattle...period. Gifted Gab was a perfect choice for the Swisher Sweets Convenience Store Sessions.



Gifted released "Gab The Most High" back in May 2016, this is what the Seattle Weekly thought about it.




6. L'Orange - "The Quiet Room" 2013  L'Orange has been steady grinding for years and makes the kind of music I love the most. He has excellent taste in both samples and in collaborators; Jeremiah Jae, Kool Keith, Stik Figa, Mr. Lif, and Homeboy Sandman. He's got a damn good squad behind him at Mello Music Group.




7. K.Flay - "Rawks" 2013  Hairless cat, mustard in reverse, big messes, slow motion scenes, flower head, AND an umbrella; this video totally rawks. She's headed out on tour in February, you should probably go see her.





8. Kool A.D. feat. Toro Y Moi + Amaze 88 - "The Front" 2014  The vibe is so right with this one; likely due to the supreme chillness of Toro Y Moi. That said, I can't recall any Kool A.D. music that I didn't like (but why would I want to remember that?).

9. Milosh - "This Time" 2013  Milosh flew onto my radar as a producer for Rhye when "The Fall" was released. This video is great because watching two people in love (the couple is Milosh himself and his wife, actress Alexa Nikolas) having a fabulous time together is a beautiful thing.




10. Tuxedo - "Number One" 2015  ReignCity hosted a sold out Tuxedo show at The Crocodile back in July 2015 and it couldn't have been more perfect. One of my favorite things about this video is that it is a really awesome commercial for Lacoste and New Amsterdam Vodka. I love the idea of sponsors for music videos because I hardly know any artists who actually have a budget to create visuals of this caliber.




11. Raven Matthews - "This Is Cinema" 2015  SEATTLE MUSIC  Raven Matthews life really is cinema, he is way ahead of the rest of the world in the game of self-awareness and embracing the weird and you should pay more attention. His Disco Christ album was released in July 2016 and it was so unique that no one knew which box to put it in... which is actually a really good thing. Peep an interview with him here.




12. ABRA - "Closet HD" 2016  I kinda think this song is a hot mess but I still fux with ABRA, she coo.


13. Rihanna ft. Jay-Z - "Umbrella" 2007  It's a no brainer. Get it Rihanna, you're a boss lady supreme. Thanks for being you.

Ten Music Videos With Special Effects Part VI

All 60 Music Videos With Special Effects are on a YouTube playlist ready to be YouTubeN'Chilled.

1. Nao - "Fool To Love" 2016  I first discovered now via "So Good" with A.K. Paul last year and I overplayed the shit out of that song too. Nao is doing it right. This latest instantly infectious track from the East London artist has helped me to work on my car dancing over the last few days. Thanks Nao!




2. Flying Lotus - "Phantasm" 2012  I just learned from FlyLo's impressive Wikipedia page that he is an ex Stones Throw intern which has always sounded like an amazing idea to me. My Brainfeeder shirt is one of my favorites because it actually fits AND because I truly appreciate the efforts Flying Lotus has put into his label.

Flying Lotus (feat. Laura Darlington) - Phantasm from The Bow on Vimeo.

Plus, how cool is this press photo.

3. Vivians (Mndsgn + Koreatown Oddity) - "The Shaw (In The 90's)" 2015  I'm a sucker for all the 90s nostalgia videos and this one is no exception. Watch "Flip And Rewind" by Rashida Jones for another example. Mndsgn of Vivians was affiliated with Stones Throw but is now on Akashik Records, I fux with them.




4. Mick Jenkins - "P's + Q's" 2015  This is reminiscent of the Spike Jonze video for "Drop" in the best way. I do prefer "Drop" over this track but the visuals could not be better. I was seeking out a "Making The Video" type thing but found this instead. Mick Jenkins has been killin it since before I first got hip around "The Roots" in 2013.





5. ABRA - "Fruit" 2015  I'm not a huge Awful Records fan but this is fire. I've been overplaying this song since I first discovered it...too late, just a few days ago. Fortunately, it's never too late for a new favorite song.




6. bryson, the alien - "2heavy" 2016  PORTLAND MUSIC  There's so much good music in Portland, it's always worth a road trip. This was likely a pretty low-budget video (this is a rad thing) but the special effects take it to the next level. Here's his Twitter; follow him so you can see what he does next.




7. Aesop Rock - "Rings" 2016  Aesop Rock has had his game stepped up for decades. Click here to see how many YouTube videos it takes to launch an album Rhymesayers style (AKA the right way). This video is amazing and so are the efforts of Aesop Rock. You should probably buy his new album The Impossible Kid.



Here's a picture of me and him taken just after his recent show in Bellingham before I realized that I gave him poor service as a fill-in promoter rep because I was too nervous to be myself. My mom saw this photo and thought he must be my new tall and handsome boyfriend because I look so happy in this photo; I was very sad to disappoint her.

8. Massive Attack feat. Young Fathers - "Voodoo In My Blood" 2016  With all the SIFF heads in town, you'd think we'd have more videos from local artists like this. Hmmm....scheming. My sister Ingrid would say this is a "problem song."




9. Oshun feat. Proda - "Protect Your Self" 2016  Found these ladies via Team Backpack and have been watching out for them ever since. This video got them on NPR's radar, if they weren't already. Hope to see them in Seattle soon!




10. Ripley Snell feat. Grape God - "Timeless" 2013 (Prod. by Neill Von Tally) PORTLAND MUSIC  Theses two are some of the most unique and interesting people I've ever met. I recently booked a show in Portland for Grape God and Ripley Snell as Wine + Coffee, DoNormaal, OCnotes (w/ Rik Rude + Astro King Phoenix), Raven Matthews, and Snugsworth at The Know. It was one of the best shows I've ever seen. Fortunately, these cats are time travelers so we'll be able to relive the evening.

From upper left to right (Ripley Snell, OCnotes, Rik Rude, Skelli Skel) Bottom left to right (Northern Draw + Grape God) 

Sadly not pictured below because I was too busy living in the moment for once are DoNormaal, Raven Matthews, Astro King Phoenix, and Snugsworth.

The first five lists of Special Effects videos can be reached via the links below.

Feb 7, 2013  This list is from when I was still too shy to use my voice but the songs are great!

May 22, 2013  Part 2 includes En Vogue's Sesame Street video "Adventure." Straight fire.

November 20, 2013  I had finally learned about HTML from my former ReignCity team and could finally use YouTube properly in Part 3.

August 27, 2014  My favorite self-quote from Part 4 is "I wonder if this is what it feels like to be Thom Yorke." 

January 20, 2015  In which I use a Beavis & Butthead meme that says "Yes! Tool!" Part 5