In case you missed it, indie pop trio Foster The People dropped their special FX-laden video for fifth single, “Houdini” on April 25th. While it’s going to be virtually impossible for the band to top the success of their breakthrough hit, “Pumped Up Kicks,” that shouldn’t be a deterrent against releasing AWESOME music videos.
The very dark, yet technologically advanced video for “Houdini” tells the tale of a band being crushed by a lighting rig right before a big concert. Well, as they say in the business, “THE SHOW MUST GO ON,” and on it goes with the band being replaced by robot duplicates and manipulated on stage by a team of scientists and dancers. That’s pretty effing spectacular if you ask me. It’s not a shock by any stretch of the imagination that this video was directed by Daniels, the same duo responsible for the band’s AMAZING “Don’t Stop (Color on the Walls)” video which features an elaborate car chase and Oscar-nominated Precious actress Gabourey Sidibe. Written and produced by the band’s front man, Mark Foster “Houdini” was released in the UK on April 1st (UK ITunes) and is set for it’s American Alt Radio debut May 15th.
Foster The People‘s debut album, Torches, was released nearly a year ago on Startime/Columbia Records. The album debuted at #1 on Australia’s ARIA Albums Chart, went top 10 in both Canada and the States and cracked the top 20 in Ireland, UK and New Zealand. The band’s debut single went #1 in Australia and hit the top 5 in the U.S. and Canada, also making a significant dent abroad with a top twenty debut in New Zealand, France, Ireland,, Switzerland and the UK. While follow up single, “Helena Beat” hit the top 10 on Billboard‘s Alternative Songs chart, the band has struggled to find a successful follow up single to “Pumped Up Kicks.” With five singles already released (six if you count the Record Day exclusive, “Broken Jaw“) perhaps it’s time for the next album?
As I said before, it’s going to be hard for the band to put out another song as instantaneously catchy as “Pumped Up Kicks” was, but I wouldn’t discount Foster The People as a ‘one hit wonder’ just yet. I think they have something up their sleeves. We haven’t seen the last of these guys!
Check out Foster The People on the web: