Both Okkervil River and Of Montreal have new albums this year (it’s a great year for music, with lots of other favorites releasing stuff). Here are the first videos from each:

Okkervil River’s Lost Coastlines

.

Of Montreal’s Id Engager

My friend Anthony said he thought if I ever made music, I’d sound like these guys — I take it as a complement, and this video is awesome …

Kristen was really into the album The Loon by these guys, which I did think was really good, but didn’t wind up really absorbing. It was good enough for me to get their new album, though, which initially did not click. Now, I’m completely obsessed — it’s been in my “current albums” playlist for weeks, and it’s great. Here’s the rad video for their first single from it …

This is the Townes Van Zandt song I mentioned earlier. I can’t stop watching this video …

Just wanted to make sure to include a couple links to two of my favorite videos (for great songs) that I guess are expected to be seen on the internet …

Of Montreal’s Heimsdalgate Like a Promethean Curse

.

Okkervil River’s For Real

I’m kind of fascinated with what seems to be a Ziggy Stardust-era identity game this guy seems to be playing. From a very good overall album, I’m enjoying it but more looking forward to what he does down the road (I think). And this is just awesome and weird.

Kristen and I have been watching the first season of Flight of the Conchords at lunch recently (it’s great!) and one of their songs reminded me of this Mr. Show segment with Three Times One Minus One. Really, one of their classic creations.

The interview after the video includes one of my favorite Mr. Show lines, and I think I might try to convince an improv team to name itself Flying Shoes based off it (and the Townes Van Zandt song — I’ve been listening to him a lot).

The new single from De Novo Dahl’s new album. I just bought the album today, and based on this song, I’m pretty excited about it …