If you caught the latest trailer for David Fincher’s upcoming The Social Network, you probably noticed the absolutely awesome cover of Radiohead’s “Creep.” It only took a minute of digging to find out that it was done by a Belgian girls’ choir called Scala & Kolacny Brothers. And they make some really, really, really awesome covers. I’ve put below their “Creep” cover along with a few of my favorites after the jump.

When The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air aired from 1990 to 1996, there were very few people out there who would have guessed that Will Smith was going to become one of the largest and most bankable stars in the world. A moderately successful rapper in the late 80s, he was almost bankrupt after underpaying his taxes and owing the IRS $2.8 million when he hastily took an offer from NBC to create a sitcom around him. The show, of course, was a success, nabbed Smith two Golden Globes nods and led a natural transition into his Hollywood career, when in the matter of three years, he starred in the huge box office hits, Bad Boys, Independence Day, and Men in Black, almost immediately turning him into one of the biggest stars in Hollywood.

And it all started with this show. I loved the show and probably watched most of the 148 episodes during my childhood, but like most 90s sitcoms, it suffered from being, well, a 90s sitcom. Most have not aged well (I mean Full House? It’s painful). Still, there is a moment in Fresh Prince that has always stuck out that I always remember. In one of the last episodes of the fourth season, Will’s father Lou suddenly shows up. Absent for most of his life, Will is elated when his father seems to take an interest in actually being his father and making amends for the pain he has caused his son. Ever protective of his nephew who he now thinks of as a son, Will’s Uncle Phil is weary of Lou, but despite his caution, says nothing as Lou offers to spend the summer with Will, as Phil knows that this is what Will wants. The episode ends with one of the most heart-wrenching moments in any 90s sitcom that I can think of – which, you know, is a rarity to begin with, given the nature of television at the time. The acting is actually very effective from Will, who shows shades of the big-time actor that he eventually becomes, as well as James Avery, who played Uncle Phil. Watching this classic moment reminds me why I liked this show so much as a kid.

I had no idea that Brandon Flowers of The Killers was releasing a solo album in September, but now that I have heard the first released song and watch the epically badass video, I cannot wait. Enjoy.

Canadian indie-pop group Stars are about to release their fifth full-length album The Five Ghosts on June 22nd, and yesterday they dropped the video for the first single, “Fixed.” It’s a heavily collaged and grungy-looking concert-style video that goes with Stars’ layered sound pretty well, I think, though as always, Amy Millan’s voice soars right over the top of it all.

Links
Official Site
Preorder on Amazon
Preorder on iTunes

Watch the video for the insanely popular “Fireflies” by Owl City (or at least as much as you can without having to go outside to throw yourself in front of a bus):

Then enjoy this.

Self-described “Keane purists” have been groaning for a while now about their push towards a new sound. There has been an even louder collective groan over their newest single, which infuses hip hop with their signature Britpop piano rock.

I am here to say that all of these naysayers are wrong. “Stop for a Minute,” which feature Canadian hip hop artist K’naan, is absolutely, positively one of Keane’s best songs in their fifteen year career. I whole-heartedly support the evolution of this band and the new direction that they have been taking. It’s bloody brilliant.

Their latest album is an EP titled Night Train, which was recorded during their tour for their 2008 album Perfect Symmetry. Check it out and keep an open mind, because it’s awesome.

Picked up The National’s newest effort today and it’s likely their best yet. “High Violet” has been getting pretty high marks around the nets today and to help celebrate both the release of this great new album and also the prospect of getting to see them live again this summer, the band has released a new video for the song “Bloodbuzz Ohio”. The video is a little uninspired, but it fits with the mood of the song pretty well. Which, by the way, is just so hard not to close your eyes and just revel in. You can see and listen below…

We’re just a couple of weeks away now from the newest release of one of the most entertaining and musical American artists to come down the pipe in some time, Band of Horses. Their third effort is sure to be as engaging and melodic as their other albums and we’ve already had a track or two dropped from the new record.

Today we’ve got their newest video, “Northwest Apartment” streaming for you compliments of MySpace video. See you at the record store on May 18th and we’ll certainly be on the lookout for tour dates. In the meantime, check out the newest video below. It’s worth it.

Believe it or not, this is a real commercial for a real mobile home company in Alabama. Awesome.

Not sure where I’ve been, but never heard of these guys. This YouTube video has almost 1.5 million views so clearly I’m pretty late to the party on this one. But the name of the band is right on if this is the kind of fare they string together. I mean really, this isn’t anything we don’t know. Nirvana became the most overrated band almost overnight using just three chords, so it’s obvious slightly more talented artists use four. But they way in which these guys demonstrate that fact is not only funny, but it actually sounds pretty good.

This is a whole lotta fun. Check it out:

Personally, I have no trouble wearing my love for everything Joss Whedon right on my sleeve, and fan remixes and reimaginings of his work are always welcome, too. This past week, an extremely detailed 8-bit videogame mockup version of Whedon’s web series Doctor Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog turned up online, and I gotta say, I’m impressed. This is only a video, there is no game version of this, but the translation into the old-school video-game look and feel (not to mention sound) is pretty awesome. So far it’s just the first act of the series, but I hope DoctorOctoroc finishes the rest of it!

If you haven’t seen the original series, it’s now available on DVD and on Netflix Instant Watch, and it’s well worth it. Whedon + Neil Patrick Harris + Felicia Day + Nathan Fillion + music + geeky story = WIN.

EDIT: What do you know, Act Two just went up today (the 15th), in two parts. Embedding those after the jump.

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INXS was quite the popular band in my junior high days. Beck became pretty popular later in high school, throughout college and continues to make pretty awesome and eclectic albums. As of recent he’s been re-recording several of his favorite, more iconic albums. In the past, Beck has covered The Velvet Underground And Nico, Skip Spence’s “Oar” album and Leonard Cohen’s “Songs Of Leonard Cohen.”

Beck recorded the “Kick” album in its entirety in a single day. Completed in early March with collaborations from Annie Clark and Daniel Hart from St. Vincent, Sergio Dias from the Brazilian band Os Mutantes and Brian Lebarton.

Today Beck released the latest track from his “Kick” cover entitled “Devil Inside.”

 
Next up in the “Kick” series is the fourth cut from the 1987 INXS album, “Need You Tonight.” I stuck the first two cuts from Beck’s version of the album under the seats for your enjoyment: “New Sensation” and “Guns in the Sky.”
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A cloud of retro video game pixels determine themselves to take over the world… and succeed. The video was shot entirely on location by director Patrick Jean and produced by One More Production. This is awesome.

OMFG. I came.