WTF Video of the Week: N.A.S.A. feat Kool Keith & Tom Waits – “Spacious Thoughts”
I’ve had a few discussions about this video already. It’s less of a WTF, I think, than a ShinyHappyVideo of FunTimeJoy. I’m posting it because I like it. It doesn’t really make “sense” to me, but I like it. If you’re new to the site, it makes more sense if you know my history of hard-ons for articulate, innovative animations, so this video kind of fits in that context. That, and I love intriguing collaborations. Tom Waits and Kool Keith were GREAT choices of collaborators for this video. These two artists share a good sense of rhythm, the kind of ambling, self-assured pacing that lets you know that these men are IN CHARGE. Shame on me, but I don’t know much about Tom Waits aside from that cameo he had in Jim Jarmusch’s indie anthem Coffee and Cigarettes, but rest assured that I will wallow in that growl for a few weeks after this. Kool Keith also has an impressive history, ranging over the last two decades. N.A.S.A, the brains behind this track, have collaborated with EVERYONE. Seriously, I checked out their Myspace page and the first track they have listed is a collaboration with Kanye, Santogold, and Lykke Li. These guys are for real.
The video was directed by the art collective known as Fluorescent Hill (see their stuff here, it’s great: Fluorescent Hill via Vimeo). I like the aesthetic themes they play with in this video, particularly the technical drawing style mixed with the brilliant ink splotches. Also, notice the delicate shading of the ball-head character, particularly under his arms. The elegance of the way the mouth is animated is great: none of those filler mouth movements, each movement corresponds exactly to the phoneme coming out. Now, my brother, Naut, was unimpressed by these details. He was especially offended by the ink-splotch effect, which he says is a dead horse that the hip-hop album cover artist community feels like they need to continue beating. My brother is particularly well versed in all things hip-hop, be it mainstream or underground, so I’m inclined to believe him. Still, lacking that sort of personal over-exposure, I found the ink splotches to be entertaining. Who doesn’t like well-placed bright colors?
Judge for yourself:
or:
“Spacious Thoughts” NASA feat. Kool Keith & Tom Waits from Fluorescent Hill on Vimeo.
As usual, comments are appreciated,
Sprinks
