Beirut | "The Rip Tide" Video

Most of my readers would know my love for the band Beirut. It's current, yet aged. It's creative, yet often stunningly simple. It's beautiful, often powerful, and always wonderful. One of the best bands working, in my opinion. Match that with what is probably their most stunning video to date for "The Rip Tide." The simplicity of the first 2 1/2 minutes turns into a rush of colors. Love the concept. Very impressed with this video. I hope you will enjoy it and pick up their great albums: The Rip Tide | Gulag Orkestar ($5.49 right now) | Lon Gisland EP | The Flying Club Cup | March of the Zapotec.

Beirut: Gulag Orkestar is $5

My first listen through Beirut's May 2006 album Gulag Orkestar was in June of 2006. Joe Thorn and I were driving our way toward Greensboro, North Carolina for the Southern Baptist Convention and I HAD to make a stop by ear X-tacy in Louisville, Kentucky for some CDs. I found Gulag and 7 others from my list. I think we listened to all of them on the way, but Beirut stuck out for both of us. It was such a different sound, international flavor, unexpected instrumentation. Both of us were blown away by it. We want to recommend it to you. So go get it for $5 and tell us what you think. When you love it, go pick up Lon Gisland EP, The Flying Club Cup, and March of the Zapotec. All are outstanding, and the flavors beautifully change a bit along the way. New album, The Rip Tide, due out August 30.

Beirut: "O Leãozinho"

There are few bands that my ears want more than Beirut. Truly, in my opinion, one of the best bands in the world. Here's a new song from them that will be on the Red Hot + Rio 2 album releasing in June. Check out their amazing albums: Gulag Orkestar | Lon Gisland EP | The Flying Club Cup | March of the Zapotec & RealPeople: Holland | they also had a song on Dark Was The Night (Red Hot Compilation)