¡viva la graham!

here’s the video for mute math’s “typical.” those of you who are “in the know” or “ahead of the curve” might have known about this song more than a year ago. good for you.

since they don’t really play this single on pop radio, i had never heard it before yesterday. the irony and the tragedy is that it is an insanely amazing pop song and it would fit in much better than anything by daughtry or nickelback.

anyway, enjoy it. and try not to let the fact that they used to be signed to a christian record label ruin it for you (as most contemporary christian music is in fact intolerable). i’m finding the good amongst the bad, which is actually a very christian way of thinking. so there.

until today i had never heard of pop-punk band all time low. they sound like every other generic teen rock act out right now — think blink-182 meets fall out boy — but they’ve decided upon a different marketing technique to help set themselves apart. did i mention they have a new album out today??

the shot above tells me that these hotties love a good weiner. who doesn’t? after swallowing those beef franks, they decided eating bananas in their skivvies was the next logical step. the one in front has the best technique: no teeth!

i might not love their music, but they’ve definitely gotten my attention. does anyone else notice that stripping off has become the norm for indistinguishable or otherwise-pointless young pop acts (this being my prime example)? hey, i’m not complaining!

here’s a few more shots if you’re into this kind of thing: 

rilo kiley’s jenny lewis and blake sennett play up their romantic relationship in their latest video, “silver lining.” much like gwen stefani and no doubt bassist tony kanal, these two are smart to mine their rocky past for future success.

the clip shows the pair getting hitched, only lewis changes her mind at the last moment and leaves sennett alone at the altar. it’s shocking considering i never suspected her to be so cold (even if it didn’t really go down like this).

the band have served up a one-two punch with “the moneymaker” and now this standout from under the blacklight. let’s hope they keep it comin’.

beth ditto’s band the gossip must have had some mainstream success down under, because a contestant on australian idol recently sang their indie hit “standing in the way of control.” the singer, contestant holly weinert, must be their token rock chick this season, which makes me wonder what my girl gina glocksen is up to…

but i digress. the band posted this clip in a myspace bulletin with the subject line “total embarrasment!” but i think young holly did an alright job. ditto and co. shouldn’t be bummed to hear their song performed on the cheesy reality show; it’s just a sign that their music is connecting with a larger audience. isn’t that a good thing?

who is this heavenly creature, you ask? at first i thought it might be peaches donning one of her fake beards, but no, it is actually devendra banhart, a los angeles-based folk musician who has collaborated with yoko ono, gael garcia bernal and the strokes’ nick valensi. yeah, apparently those in the know are impressed by his simple strumming. i don’t really get it, but perhaps i should give it a go if it will attract the likes of bernal and valensi!!

i wonder if those two pretty boys had anything to do with this photo shoot. who knew folk musicians liked to dress up like middle-eastern tranny hookers? and check out those fruity hotpants!

devendra’s new album, smokey rolls down thunder canyon, is out next week.

i’ve already posted the video for mark ronson’s version of “oh my god,” and here’s the clip for his cover of the zutons’ “valerie.” both tracks are fantastic, but this is the second time the vocalist hasn’t bothered to show up for the video shoot.

i realize that lily allen and amy winehouse, who lends her voice to “valerie,” do have a lot on their plate (not to mention their respective penchants for drink and drug), but wouldn’t this video have been so much better if amy had done her part instead of some pretty look-a-likes? i suppose mark is learning a hard lesson right now — when you employ such wild dames, though admittedly very talented, they might not be well enough to scratch your back when you need it.

this is the new kate nash video, “mouthwash.” it isn’t as fantastic as “foundations,” but you can’t discount a girl for trying.

hmmm, kate is a bit like rilo kiley’s jenny lewis, though, don’t you think? red hair, sunny disposition, etc… only, like the song says, she drinks cups of tea.

many people dislike james blunt, but he still scores with the ladies because of that one big hit, “you’re beautiful,” which showed his sensitive side.

well, he’s trying again, but i doubt any women will wet their panties after hearing his new song “1973.” first of all, the video sucks. it was obviously shot on the back lot at universal studios and the artistic director did little to disguise that fact. on top of that, the song is about as arousing as breakfast with your grandparents. yeah, scrambled eggs are not hot.

james, you better get all the snatch you can now because your number will soon be up. go ahead, prove me wrong.

it’s funny (and rather unfortunate) how big a role marketing can play in a group’s success. until today, i had never heard of a fantastic rock outfit called united state of electronica. they sound a bit like daft punk, but they’re also reminiscent of young love and hellogoodbye — only u.s.e. recorded their debut album 3 years ago, so it must be the other way around.

check out “open your eyes” and other tracks over at u.s.e.’s myspace. you can thank the lads over at popjustice for the heads up. oh, and so you know, the band is hard at work on a follow-up…

congrats to kathy griffin!! the self-proclaimed d-lister won her first emmy yesterday for best reality program. i can’t wait to hear her version of events. she probably told extreme home makeover’s ty pennington to suck it.