Video Vacuum - The Black Keys, Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeroes, The Hickey Underground, School Knights

Man, I hate being ill. But I hate being stuck with nothing to do. Can't go out, can't watch or read anything due to headaches, cant lie still because of a fever that just won't quit...why do hypochondriacs do this to themselves? Anyway, I've dragged myself out of bed despite all of this to at least alleviate the pains of working life. Let's watch some vids together and stave off this cabin fever.

Actually, this may not be the best way to start. The Black Keys have released a second video for their single 'Gold On The Ceiling', directed by none other than Harmony Korine. It looks shoddy and scratch as if re-recorded on a burnt out VHS tape - very Korine - yet it is the willing participation by band members Pat Carney and Dan Auerbach that really sells this slightly disturbing twins-as-memes construction. Pretty awesome.



Those wilfully eclectic paisley warriors Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeros are launching their next album, Here, and this is the new video for opening track 'Man On Fire'. Directed by Brady Corbett (the actor of Martha Marcy May Marlene, Melancholia, Funny Games (US) and most notably Mysterious Skin fame), it is a great real-life look at achievers, starring the New York City Ballet, NY Cheer Allstars, National Double Dutch League, and Soul Steps & Brooklyn Divas, as well as choreographers, coaches, and relatives of the various performers.



I had never heard of Belgian band The Hickey Underground before they sent me the video for 'The Frog', the first track to come off their second record I'm Under The House, I'm Dying (out in September) which has been mixed by Dave Sardy (LCD Soundsystem, Black Mountain's In The Future) of all people. This song is pretty good. The video on the other hand is off the wall. I can't claim to know what it means, but I do like it a hell of a lot.



Finally we have School Knights, who regular readers of Sonic Masala will be well versed on. They have just released a somewhat unsettling video for latest track release 'Powerslut'. Not disturbing like The Hickey Underground or Harmony Korine, though - no, it's just that these dudes do not scrub up well in drag. At all. you have been warned...



NOW GET BACK TO WORK (cough cough)

Four Knights Slutting It Up Outside School

A quick post about 'Powerslut', the new track by garage upstarts School Knights. The title pretty much speaks for itself. The Colorado quartet are priming their new release as a four piece (although whether they can get someone to put it out is another thing...come on someone, put up your bloody hand!) and this is pretty indicative of where they are at. 'Present Tense' is a slightly better song in my opinion - why I'm saying that I don't know. But these are some good dudes. That is all.

School Knights - Powerslut

School Knights

Those snotty slackos School Knights have a couple new tunes floating around the ether. After the disappointing news that the fucking rad SK/Night Manager split isn't likely to materialise, it's good to hear these guys are still throwing their shit at their teenage bedroom walls. Take that, MOM! Yeah, these two tracks in particular play the Wavves card, but when the flat-brim cap fits... It's goddamn catchy, a veritable KFC bucketload of fun, plus it's a bit meatier - the duo of Michael Stein and Zack Roif are now a foursome, thanks to Morris Kolontyrsky and Ben Donehower! Radness! And it is honed (as much as this shit can be honed) with some ace tours last year opposite Ty Segall, Black Lips, Cloud Nothings, Vivian Girls and Gauntlet Hair. Yeah, I just came a little too...

School Knights - Present Tense
School Knights - Bender

ART CONTEST - The Chance To Design School Knights/Night Manager Split!!!

Those crazy folks over at Mind Fortress Records have an awesome competition for y'all - and they have asked Sonic Masala to help distribute the love! Two of our most beloved dirty gems, School Knights and Night Manager, are about to release a split release, something Mind Fortress have being trying to coerce out of them for some time now. This is uber exciting news in and of itself, but this is where you - YES, YOU! - come in!

YOU GET THE CHANCE TO DESIGN THE ART!!!!!

Ahem...

All's you need to do is submit your creative masterpieces to Mind Fortress. Submissions end on January 1st 2012 (yes, astute followers, that IS New Year's Day!), with the winner getting a free copy of the split and the multitudes of accolades and sexual trysts that one can handle. Only condition - use the standard CD dimensions when designing and sending in the art, BOTH SIDES. Track names will be added laterz.

Hells a poppin'! This is great news (I'm looking expressly at you A-Rey...), so get crack a lackin. Send your submissions here. And in case you have forgotten, here are some of our posts of the bands and below lies a taste of the bands' nutty goodness...

School Knights - Out Getting Ribs
School Knights - Bullies

Night Manager - Pizza Pasta