{"id":1309,"date":"2012-04-11T11:45:28","date_gmt":"2012-04-11T15:45:28","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.nowthissound.com\/ntsib\/?p=1309"},"modified":"2012-04-11T10:37:28","modified_gmt":"2012-04-11T14:37:28","slug":"yall-need-to-listen-to-this-jjamz","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.nowthissound.com\/ntsib\/2012\/04\/11\/yall-need-to-listen-to-this-jjamz\/","title":{"rendered":"Y’all Need to Listen to This: JJAMZ"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

First, an introduction.<\/p>\n

Some of you may recognize those faces, but, for those of you that don’t, they are, from left to right: James B. Valentine (Maroon 5<\/a>), Alex Greenwald (Phantom Planet<\/a>, Mark Ronson & The Business INTL<\/a>), Z Berg (The Like<\/a>), Michael Runion (solo artist, The Chances<\/a>) and Jason Boesel (solo artist<\/a>, Rilo Kiley<\/a>, Bright Eyes<\/a>), and together they are JJAMZ<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Second, a brief meditation on the nature of film, and also of music and video. One of my friends recently noted<\/a> that “the measure of a film may be how narratively clear and deeply moving it is even if you don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t have the language at all.” <\/p>\n

I’d expand on that to say the measure if a music video is how narratively clear and deeply moving it is even if you’re watching it with the sound off.<\/p>\n

I give you as an example the video below, for JJAMZ’s new song Never Enough<\/i>, starring Z Berg and Brie Larson (21 Jump Street<\/em>, United States of Tara<\/em>) and directed by Eddie O’Keefe<\/a>. <\/p>\n

It is just exquisite. Beautifully shot, with delicate and precise use of color and light – both shimmery, golden Californian sunlight and harsher neon tones – it absolutely works as a silent film about a complex and passionate friendship between two girls. <\/p>\n

That said, I definitely encourage you to watch it with the sound on<\/i>, too, because the song is great. <\/p>\n

Additional warning\/enticement: contains tasteful semi-nudity, smoking, cute girls with guns, a glamorous party, and assorted alcohol-induced shenanigans. Bonus fun: spotting the musicians making cameo appearances in the party scene!
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