Tops - Turn Your Love Around

<3<3<3<3<3<3 Tops.

Directed by Fantavious Fritz
Produced by Erika Lobko
Shot by Jackson Parrell & Fantavious Fritz
Assistant Director Daiva Zalnieriunas
Camera Assistant Matthew Landry
Music by TOPS
Special thanks to Tracy Hsu and the Northern Secondary School dance class.

Shot on location at Northern Secondary School’s dance class for deaf students taught by Tracy Hsu. Using large speakers to transfer vibrations through the dance floor, and a soft glass mirror which mimicked the rhythm of the song visually, the kids in Tracy’s class showed us how they like to experience and dance to music.

Tops - Double Vision

A home video directed by David from TOPS, featuring many good friends.
‘Double Vision’ is taken from the album Tender Opposites, out now on Arbutus.

Tops are so good it hurts.

If you missed the vinyl & cassette releases of Tender Opposites from Atelier Ciseaux, then you’re stuck with Arbutus, whom also ran out of tapes and only has compact discs (sigh).  Or you can just stream the whole album on SnDcLd until it gets repressed.  Its so good, and slowly (?) gaining steam, but it’ll be a year end best staple before its through.

Tops - Diamond Look

Tops + Fear of Men = two of my favorite new artists of 2012 

Tops - Diamond Look b/w Easy Friends 7” is Ltd to 300 copies on white vinyl and available here.

Tops - Easy Friends

Debut release Tender Opposites, by Tops took me by storm bout 6 months ago.   Originally a cassette from Arbutus Records, I was thrilled when it got a proper vinyl release from Atelier Ciseaux, however Ltd to 250 copies = long gone. 

Nice to see they’ve got at least one b-side for us out on a 7” backing album hit Diamond Look.  Then again every track on Tender Opposites is a single hit in my mind.

Tops - Diamond Look b/w Easy Friends 7” is Ltd to 300 copies on opaque white vinyl.  Kinda hilariously that its less limited than the album. Pre-order your very own copy from Atelier Ciseaux here.  Ships 9/10.

Fear Of Men - Green Sea

Super Rad.  As I’ve said before, Fear of Men is my favorite new artist of 2011/2012.  I was jammin out to my cassette on my road trip to Canada this weekend and it sounds amazing as ever.  Cannot cannot cannot wait for a full length. 

Almost thought it was the same director as for the equally fantastic Tops’ Rings of Saturn video, but guess they just both used a VHS camcorder.  Tops have slot #2 for best new release this year with their vinyl version of Tender Opposites on Atelier Ciseaux, Ltd to 250 copies on red Vinyl.

Fear of Men - Green Sea 7” is Ltd to 300 copies on white vinyl and available to pre-order from Sexbeat here.  This one will sell out sooner or later.

Tops - Diamond Look

Breaking News: Tops - Tender Opposites   sees a super Ltd release on 12” vinyl

So there was a Ltd to 80 cassette non/us release that quickly sold out, and another Arbutus cassette/compact disc, but I’ve been holding my breath waiting/praying for a vinyl version to drop.  Happy day as of 10min ago.  

Tops - Tender Opposites 12” AC#14 is Ltd to 250 copies on solid red vinyl.  Atelier Ciseaux  consistently produces some of the nicest vinyl releases, and I’m thrilled to see them efforting this vinyl port. Pre-order one quick quick.  Releases May 30th.

Tops - Rings of Saturn

Tops - Turn Your Love Around

After Claire’s endorsement of label mate Tops during her gvb takeover yesterday, I thought I throw up another track from the cassette.  Pick up your very own copy from Arbutus Records here.

Mac Demarco — Exercising With My Demons

I love me Grimes, and its interesting to see that gvb let her takeover the blog today.  Lots of cool things to check out, but this was definitely my favorite.  The new Tops album is best as well.

It’s a crime that this video has so few views. It was shot on 35 mm by my friend Evan Prosofsky who is an unbelievable cinematographer/ D.O.P. This is one of the best music videos I’ve seen in a long time, and Mac DeMarco needs to get famous asap. He has an album coming out on Captured Tracks soon! If you like this you should also check out the video for Only You. — Grimes