pnau - the truth (official video)

new single by the guys behind empire of the sun, whose new album comes out in september?

another year-end list: music

dear project leader:

it's near the end of the human's calendar year, so year-end lists appear everywhere. here's a small entry into this custom by this alien:

SINGLE OF THE YEAR: "spaceman" by the killers
cleverly simple sci-fi lyrics, instantly accessible pop tune, great video that starts out weird, but turns into a carnival. it is what pop songs are supposed to look and sound like.

and the public don't dwell on my transmission
cause it wasn't televised

RUNNER UP:

pet shop boys, "pandemonium" (with "can you forgive her" mixed in). this alien cannot stop watching this very, very simple dance video.

ALBUM OF THE YEAR: UN by dan black
organic, unique and all electro. every track a winner, with lyrics that instantly create sentimental visuals. this alien hasn't been this in love with an album since cut copy's bright like neon love.

BAND OF THE YEAR: empire of the sun
this alien is impressed with the band's ability to create an entirely new existence in the packaging of their videos, graphics and most of all, music. their sound goes all over the place, like great late-70's AM radio pop music.

this alien only became aware of empire this year, but it turns out they have been big down under since last year. this alien wonders if they will tour in the US soon? if so, i will gladly take on the assignment to report, dear project leader.

adam ant / & the ants

dear project leader:

this alien won't rehash a thousand other online articles re adam and his career and / or life, but report that a previous project to which i was assigned, living on this planet during the 1980's, made the subsequent projects / decades somewhat...disappointing. adam perfectly encapsulated all that was right about the decade's pop:

1. clever characterization
   
2. costuming and makeup just crazy enough to intrigue, yet not require full buy-in
   
3. a catchy, well-delivered, rhythm-heavy sound with
   
4. lyrics that tip to the "IS" end of the "is he or isn't he" scale
   
5. integrity of pop with enough bite to be recalled fondly almost 30 years later.

this alien's "college years" project: of course he'd heard of adam and the ants, but didn't really have the opportunity to view them. (early 80's midwest US media outlets were few, and most were afraid to venture off the shores of the states.) somehow, "friend or foe" hit the mainstream, and then this alien remembered he HAD heard adam and crew for a few years...but always in the back, not foreground, and the search was on to catch up. to really unplug the jukebox.

every record became a favorite and every image studied repeatedly. because there was something there that was so...alien. yet so...embraceable.

it's true this alien is on a different set of tasks now...but popping adam into the player transports this alien to a media era that made a memorable, unrepeatable yet again desired, impression.

(but empire of the sun are making a worthy attempt at repeating that impression.)

adam and the ants - antmusic.