CITYist

While we can’t really claim British pop star Ellie Goulding as an underground find (her album did go number one on the UK charts), we still think her exposure on this side of the pond is minimal—and should be greater. With an eerie soprano backed by electronic beats provided by producer Starsmith, Goulding broke free from the genre of “freak folk” into intellectual pop. Her songs “Starry Eyed” and “Under the Sheets” (videos after the jump) are pure pop elation, while her newly released video for “Guns and Horses” shows a softer side. We can’t say music videos are her strong point—she’s no Lady Gaga—but no one can hit those slightly angelic slightly bone-chilling high notes like Goulding can.

Music videos, thanks to Lady Gaga, are more and more often starting to resemble short films rather than disjointed segments of dancing and costume changes. After appearing in a Lady Gaga video herself, Beyoncé has jumped on the bandwagon with the video for her single, “Why Don’t You Love Me,” which premiered two days ago. This time, however, the twist is time period: Beyoncé prances about not as 2009’s Sasha Fierce, but as 40s/50s character B.B. Homemaker. There’s lots of floral scarves, smoking and martinis—showcasing Beyoncé as some sort of R&B Betty Draper.

Film is the new medium of choice for fashionable expression—from Viktor & Rolf’s spring 2009 video runway show to the The Olsen project The Row’s video look book. Now, Dior Homme has released a vignette in collaboration with Nowness.com to showcase the spring/summer collection. It’s certainly melancholy enough, with plenty of blank stares and forlorn piano notes to go around, but it does show off some great trenches. Click here to watch.

Everyone’s favorite Canadian indie pop band, The New Pornographers, is back with a new album, “Together,” a new single, “Your Hands (Together)” and a new video, released yesterday. For a dose of optimism, check out the video after the jump–and feast your eyes on what is perhaps the most intricately choreographed martial arts dance routine–ever. Also, feast your ears on the power pop goodness.

Album Cover Artwork by Walter Martin & Paloma Muñoz and Neko Case. Designed by Mark Ohe

Round these parts, we have a fondness for Bon Temps, Louisiana. The third season of our favorite vampire/manaed/shape shifter show, “True Blood,” may not be premiering until June 13th, but the producers have been generous enough to leave us with some mini-episodes in anticipation of its epic return. Oh, and also, these totally clever promo posters. See more of them—and the first episode, featuring the beautifully undead Eric and Pam—after the jump.

M.I.A. is no stranger to controversy, and she has made sure the two are practically bedfellows with her new video for “Born Free.” Part political statement, part dystopian vision, the video may be the most violent, graphic and thought-provoking you’ll see this year—and has already been banned from Youtube. Oh, and red-heads, brace yourselves. You’ll get that after you watch.

Our friends The xx have just released a video for their masterfully minimalist song, “Islands.” A lesson in repetition, the heavily choreographed and heavily stylized video is a vision in black, complete with love gained and love scorned. As the video progresses, subtle changes begin to happen, until the final outcome is light years from the start. Take a look after the jump.