Amanda Blank
It’s our final day here at Ahead of the Curve. We hope you’ve enjoyed the artists as much as we have and continue to keep up with them in the future. Be sure to check back on the Music Blog for updates. Now let’s get into it.
I was pleasantly surprised by the video for Late of the Pier even though it’s not very cohesive and doesn’t really focus on any recognizable piece of music. But I do sort of feel as if we’re getting a peek into the artistic process here, no? I would imagine this is what the guys do when they’re looking to start an album or work on a new song; sit around and experiment with various sounds. Maybe toss a little confetti… you know. Also, this group does have the reputation for being slightly mysterious and hard-to-pin down so the way the camera slips in and out of focus never really concentrating on their faces gels well with that vibe.
I love “Run to Your Grave” so I was psyched to see The Mae Shi performed this one for mtvU. The beat of the song itself is so chipper in contrast to the intensely dark lyrics. You find yourself bobbing your head before you realize that essentially you’re dancing around to a song about death. It’s bizarre and effective. Also, the way the light is filtering in from above in this video is really fantastic. I also like that a band with so much energy is enclosed in such a small space because it feels that much more powerful.
I like this song and B.o.B., he certainly seems to be having a lot of fun and enjoying himself in this video, but here’s my one issue: if you closed your eyes and didn’t know who was singing on this track, you’d probably wager a guess it’s Andre 3000. Right? Outkast is clearly an influence here, but again. This is not to say I don’t like the song, because I do. But the drummer kind of steals the spotlight in this video with his enthusiastic antics as well.
I love everything about the Amanda Blank video! From her catchy song to the headdress that my cousin in pre-school clearly made for her to that cute little smile at the end to the guy just sort of hanging out there in the background. (Seriously what’s he doing? And no my cousin did not actually make that. It’s a joke people.) She’s a fun girl and I’m looking forward to her album this summer especially with all the cool collaborations that are included. It’s the perfect season for this type of release so I have a feeling she is going to catch on really quickly.
Let’s end Ahead of the Curve on a sweet note shall we? If I could sing like Laura Marling all would be right with the world. She has one of those incredibly whiskey-coated voices that make everyone melt. I adore how the video puts her in a huge space because it doesn’t matter what size room she has to contend with, she’ll draw your focus in quite easily. Just her and her guitar. Laura’s young age has become somewhat legendary and I think something of a hindrance in her career at this point, as she now has this monstrous reputation to contend with. However, I believe she’ll handle it quite well and continue to produce excellent music in the future. The grace she’s exhibited thus far speak so highly of her.
And thus, ends our Ahead of the Curve week. It’s been such fun to share these artists with the mtvU audience. Continue to follow me on Twitter for new indie music updates.
