Indie rock and arts and crafts have one vital thing in common: the DIY ethos. So it makes sense that some of our favorite acts are incorporating Etsy-like aesthetics into their music videos. With the help of shadow puppets, steampunk sculptures, construction paper backgrounds, and more, bands such as Bright Eyes, of Montreal, and Bat For Lashes are letting their craft flag fly with innovative clips that are just as mesmerizing as the music they accompany. Join us as we round up some of our favorite artsy videos.
If you missed the Wilco album streaming over the weekend, then never fear — even though it’s Labor Day, your loyal Flavorpill compadres have still scoured the internet for the best albums streaming for free this week. We really have searched far and wide this time around, too, and come up with plentiful goodness — there’s the new Drums record, which we included in our recent round-up of albums you really should be listening to in September, along with albums from St Vincent, Laura Marling, M83 (oops — this one’s gone), and the ever-lovely Gui Boratto. Click through for a piece of the action!
London-based Mumford & Sons breathe new life into folk rock with powerful four-part harmonies, lightning-fast banjo picking, and pint-hoisting emotion.
Led by frontman Marcus Mumford, the band rocketed out of the UK indie-folk scene that also birthed Noah and the Whale and frequent collaborator Laura Marling. Although they formed less than two years ago, Mumford & Sons have found fast success, with their debut LP, Sigh No More, cementing their place as one of 2009′s most exciting acts.
