VIDEO: Scattered Trees - "Love and Leave"

Back in November, we shared a song called "Love and Leave" by the band Scattered Trees. Despite the post being a few months old now, over the past two weeks or so it has been receiving quite a few hits, and quickly risen to claim the top spot of our "Popular Posts" list (this list can be found on the right hand side of the site). For this reason, I figured it would only be fitting to share the J.M. Harper-directed music video for "Love and Leave". Ok, that's not really the reason for sharing this. This is just a great music video.

With all the band members dressed as stormtroopers, aside from singer/keys player Alissa Eiesland, you'd think that the costuming might offset the melancholic mood of the song. And yes, while it initially might seem kind of goofy to have stormtroopers acting all sad and heartbroken, the video's final moments end up being all the more jarring thanks to this contrast. The use of "Star Wars," and the resulting creation of an unassuming pinch of humor, also prevents this video from being overly dramatic or overly sentimental.

"A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away, the boys of Scattered Trees capture a princess. Unfortunately, one of them falls in love."

"Love and Leave" is from Scattered Trees' new album, Sympathy, out April 5th on Roll Call Records.

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LISTEN: Rubblebucket - "Triangular Daisies"

By Rodrigo Amorim

MP3: Rubblebucket - "Triangular Daisies"

The warming sensation that surfaces upon exiting a swimming pool in the dead heat of the summer. The dance of sunlight across the green leaves of the trees, across the ripples on the water. These are the types of thoughts and feelings conjured up by "Triangular Daisies." It's got the pep of twee pop, the charm of pop, and the intrigue of psych. And with additional elements of afrobeat, dub, and jazz, it's a busy song that never feels as though it's weighted down by its eclecticism. Anchored by its simply sweet melodies -- let alone those moments of whistling -- it's accessible and a lot of fun. A smooth bass line gives it a funky groove; a syncopated chord progression adds rhythmic depth; bright brass enriches the texture; and colorful synth lines abound to produce a great bookend to the summer season.