Just got back from a life-changing experience in Kentucky. I saw things no man should see.

I passed out on the plane last night and woke up realizing that I'd had this on repeat for 3 straight hours:



Seriously, this is going to be a great year.

The new Motion City Soundtrack video I directed is out now. I owe a big thanks to the band, Targa, and everyone at Sony for taking a chance on a weird little idea. And of course, a giant thanks to Steve, Roger, Hillary, Bjorn, Ryan, Danielle, Chef, George, Justin, Joaquin, and our whole team of insanely dedicated and amazing people.

Also, check out the commentary I did with Keith for his hilarious Lenny Kravitz/Justice/Michael J Fox video. We talk enthusiastically about the 80s, Blossom, and promising young electronic french bands.

I started the year off with food poisoning and post-production, which is a horrible mix. I sampled every drink at the bodega on the corner, pleading with God to let something stay put in my stomach and sustain me through the edits, and re-edits, and edits of re-edits. Here's what didn't work: Gatorade, Naked Juice, 7-Up, Vitamin Water. Here's what did work: UCC Coffee. Leave it to the Japanese to concoct a beverage that's impervious to whatever evil cousin of mad cow disease/ebola virus I was suffering through. I'm addicted now.

The Manchester Orchestra and Pistol Youth videos ended up on a few more "best of" lists and Fuse has a cool behind the scenes feature on the Shake It Out video. Yet another opportunity to see Clay lose fake arm-wrestling competitions, this time from all new angles!

A huge thanks is owed to all the talanted people who made the Motion City Soundtrack video happen this weekend.
Virtual reality, cloning machines, death rays, and a choreographed dance sequence. I think we covered all the bases.


Also, check out Spin Magazine's list of the best music videos of 2009. Manchester Orchestra comes in at #8 on the countdown-
Lady Gaga got robbed!



If you haven't gotten your fill yet, there's more Manchester Orchestra action over at videostatic, where Keith Schofield was nice enough to join me for a video commentary. Hear us discuss the finer points of filmmaking and count the number of times I use the word "like".

I'm in Chicago, speaking at Bjorn's amazing CoLab forum, which is one of those rich, rewarding experiences that helps me to appreciate 1) how many extremely talented people Steve and I are surrounded by, 2) how it would be impossible to do what we do without those people, and 3) how difficult it is to explain how I do what I do without simply bragging about these people. Seriously, we have the greatest group of creative friends anyone could ever ask for.

But it's also really cold out here (my first time ever in the midwest in winter), and I'm ready to get back to LA. We have a bunch of projects coming up with some fun bands and some weird ideas, and I can't wait to walk around my apartment again in jeans shorts with all the windows open.

My new video for Manchester Orchestra is debuting on the web today. I watched Over The Top around 10 times over the course of the production, which is about 9 more times than anyone should have to watch Stallone do pushups on the back of a parked 18-wheeler.

After four years of slapping band-aids and duct tape on my crumbling web portfolio, it was time to finally give the whole thing a massive overhaul. If you're one of the few people who reads this blog without having been redirected from my site, check it out.