The New Pornographers - Letter From an Occupant

[wowbobwow37]

Love this song, but it looks like Neko swiped Sailor Ripley's snakeskin jacket.

[stopmakingeyesatme1]

look back at the other music at the turn of the century-

these guys were years ahead of their time

[otherjay11]

Such a difference from her solo work, talented girl!

[SmileThalia]

Great song, terrible video.

[shauno5166]

@SmileThalia the video is ok but back when it came out the band didn't exactly have much money

[NyghtshroudeTV]

I've been looking for this song FOREVER..... I remember it being played in Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back and have been somewhat obsessed with finding it since. Trouble was, I didn't know what I was listening to.

Now I've found it.

[medular]

I read that Neko Case dislikes making these videos, so you'll be lucky if you ever see her in another one.

[Starkstraight]

neko case ruined my hatred for country music

[micalishis]

This is my favourite New Pornographers' song. It's so catchy. Then again, almost all of the New Pornographers' songs are catchy.

[thinkhtink]

How sweet is Carl's hairdo?! (A: very)

[RashHunt]

I think "Mass Romantic" is my favourite record for Neko. This song in particular.

[JDillaDudas]

I usually don't like comments about the dislikes, but honestly, you're crazy if you don't recognize how much this song rocks! ...

[celerystalker19]

Vancouver represent. :)

[louiecostello]

this is such an annoying video- its as though the nps go out of their way to defy you to like them. but you know as well as they do that you'll come crawling back, no matter how childishly over the top they play their guitars, and sing backing vocals. they're too good at writing songs to ignore them

[OutAtTheShow]

@louiecostello Are you kidding? That's part of what makes them so awesome! (Another part is Carl's hairdo.)

[SUPERJAILrockz11]

The name of the band dosent matter, it's the music! And music is good ^_^

I wish my parents and teachers could look past the name...

[cj766961]

This is probably my fav. Neko song.

[RadiantAngel1025]

this song is so legit. love you new pornographers.

[zeebenzine]

the vid resolution seems like 360i to me.

[hanayanowakame]

good song, good melody.

[mjp96]

Neko is imcomparable.

[MrFreako2010]

Still my favourite NP song featuring Neko'. She's simply the best pop vocalist working today .

Only just now discovering that NP videos are as imaginative as their music. Better late than never.

[mmxc07]

ginger overload!!....the good kind.

[twintone01]

God, I love her.

[Haystackable]

Are they re-enacting part of the Smugglers "Vancouver BC" video here - where they're on the beach?

[halifuckinfan]

They all look so young here! 10 years or so really ages you I guess....*shrug*

[823south]

this songs rocks with a beautiful wonderfully unique Neko.... Uneko

[topaboss]

AC Newman > Neko, sorry but he's the genius of the group. Neko has nice backup vocals tho. AC Newmans back up vocals make this song for example.

[missteenwordpower5]

hahahaha kurt dahle in 3:22 check it

[jstraszewski]

kurt dahle is one bad ass drummer

[csiIIa]

i just saw twilight, and this came into my mind, the bad vampire-girl looks like she does=))

[JakerO4]

@csiIIa you just ruined this video with that comment

[missteenwordpower5]

@csiIIa but neko is much better duh

[csiIIa]

@missteenwordpower5 i was kinda joking guys

[SergioMares]

I love this song!!!

[IndieRockFTW]

Is it just me or all their best songs have lead vocals by Neko?

[halifuckinfan]

@IndieRockFTW Use it doesn't

[letusbelennon]

Neko is so cool. I want her hair and her voice.

[STOPtheHORROR]

@HelpfulJam Yes.

[STOPtheHORROR]

@HelpfulJam Your opinion. Keep it to yourself.

[ConcordWA]

Man, look how young they all were in this.

[Zmcluvin]

@HelpfulJam How do you not at least respect AC/DC?

[Radioluck]

I love this song. Love the chick who sings in this song. Love the instrument players that back her. Love this band.

[MachineAgeVictim]

I want that picture at the end of the video, anyone know where to get it? I love it!!

[tecdessus]

reminds me of the stuff i used to listen to 30 years ago!! lol, I`ll have to revisit!!

[infinitygoof]

The fact that this song has only 177000 views is a travesty. Invite your friends!

[luck2000guitars]

Wow what a song and Neko is amazing she is the new janis joplin!!!!! but diffrent!!!

[bultaco111]

@luck2000guitars not the new Janis... Not anything like her.. but the new LINDA Ronstadt... more like her.

[thedvsgmr]

@HelpfulJam um what are you smoking

[XxXsparklesXxXcutie]

ACDC shirt ftw. :B

[footprintx]

What synthesizer is that he's playing?

[tophalo3newz]

i know todd

[gangesexcavating]

good looking EX400LC Hitachi excavator there

[montelimat]

Maybe he is wearing the shirt ironically.

[10mintwo]

I do not understand why the NP never experienced widespread popularity. There isn't a single song of theirs on yt with >1M views. It's inexplicable. They produced easily some of the most fun, unique and interesting sounds of the last decade.

[101Volts]

I'll tell you why: People don't really know that you can like songs if you try. They also judge after listening but before hearing. Its worse with adrenaline song addicts, If it doesn't pump it then it bores them to death and that is a big thumbs down. I should know, I was an adrenaline song addict but with a difference - I knew I could like songs if I tried.

[RaguelAngelofBalance]

I feel the same way about the band Bis.

[learnamericanenglish]

@10mintwo -- Yeah, Mass Romantic is an awesome album. How old is it now? 10 years, maybe? Perhaps the band members weren't interested in popularity. Or it could be their music just didn't match the time or mood of a particular audience who you might expect to like it. Metric is another incredible band that never really caught on with a mass audience. Why was that? I love this song.

[ImmortalDaevon]

@10mintwo Two words: Mass Marketing

They never sold out to a major record label to get the kind of widespread renown that Justin Bieber or Rebecca Black have.

[ish2189]

@10mintwo cause they don't come off "cool"

[MrDraven37]

@10mintwo

Because this band and this music is too well written and performed to be appreciated by the general masses... to be widely popular you need to be generic, something that TNP are definitely not. Seriously, just enjoy that the fact that you know who they are and appreciate their music states that you have good taste.

[101Volts]

1:24 Watch the red screen thing, I think I see the Mass Romantic album artwork?

[fakeaorta]

I so love these guys.  Neko is a goddess of immense capabilities.

[pvtjhon]

Which one is Neko?

[101Volts]

Neko is the one who's singing. :)

[savpohrab]

Bonnaroo 2010!!!!!

[cinemaniac86]

Anyone who calls this boring must've been molested by Larry Craig in a neighboring men's bathroom stall. This song is love.

[altDIY]

Great voice

[DejaVuAcoustic]

I wonder if they got the idea for the video from the cover of Pink Floyd's "Ummagumma" ??

Great song...5 Stars...

[skim172]

Interestingly, Neko Case said in an interview that she was always surprised by how she sounded in this song. And apparently, years later, she discovered that they'd actually modulated her voice a few notes higher in the final recording.

Really catchy song, isn't it?

[justinbelshe]

You obviously know nothing about music.

[hobo2bobo]

wow. boring

[matchheads]

Look at these indie hipster pricks. They're avant garde, and that makes them better than you.

All the hipsters in NYC and Long Island are like this, only more pretentious.

I hate hipsters and indie kids, we should throw them all into the wood chipper with the emo kids and the columbine industrial goth kids

[hankmalloy]

lookit bea arthur over here

[tagg125]

you were picked on as a kid weren't you?

[mrballistix]

@matchheads And then what?

[broagan]

@matchheads what are you!?

[septip123]

Neko is one bad-ass sexy mo-fo!

[jeffthrow6892]

Uh...interesting way of putting it......but, yeah, she sure as hell is.....

[indianajoelb3]

Is there a second of this song that could be any catchier?

[septip123]

Yep, I love this one AND "chump change."

[KittenIgnition]

and they end it with teh album cover :D

TNP rules ive only revently started watching the music videos though

[KittenIgnition]

well in this one month this has become my favorite song ever.

and please excuse my spelling in that comment; my hands were numb. i rarely misspell things

[shabby71]

This song just strikes me as a condescending jab to all thats so called self imposed, self-righteous liberal rubbish, but at the same time serious about it. And oh yeah funkdragon23 I know Im in love with the scrumchoius Neko Case.

[funkdragon23]

I'm all for Neko Case's soft and feathery solo stuff, but DAMN I love how she just belts it out on this tune. Also I'm pretty sure I'm in love with her.

[aikaalisson]

I'm completely sure I am.

[DrMcFuzz]

Lol i first herd this song on npr's Wait wait.... dont tell me! the one where they asked if she was named after neco whafers, and as it turns out they digitaly rased her voice in this song so her voice is lower than it is in this song

[gaboenanton]

Like it a lot

[psychicdelic]

Fab pop song.

[blueskyfeeling]

'caffeinated', I love that!

[jeffthrow6892]

Damn, that's a catchy tune!!

[kurskss]

What type of guitar is the red headed lad playing?

[adavis84]

That'd be AC Newman, and it looks like an old Epiphone not sure of the model.

[101Volts]

Yep, A. C. Newman likes his Gibson and Gibson style guitars. I've seen videos and pictures of him with his Les Paul Jr. (Two pickup double cutaway) Model, He seems to play that one a lot.

[Riverdante]

shitty video to a great song

[CowyChan]

This song makes me fall in love with her everytime I hear it... XD

[WhodiKalecgos]

what

[heatedfrost]

how is that a ruse, i would listen to these motherfuckers if they were purple

[DubyaProductions]

haha, agreed.

[ConsumptionMayCause]

they were really good at lollapalooza in 06. Love these guys

[Skimmary]

Why am I tapping my foot to this?

I normanly hate this kinda thing...

I admit it's quite good :)

Might have to download some hahaa...

[alastairppcli]

Neko is just great in this, her new album is one to listen to aswell

[tugmoose]

When they finished playing this at Austin City Limits Festival in '06, I looked to the heavens and cried, "God, take me now!!!"

[Randyh9]

That's so cool. it made me smile. :-)

[futurhumen]

i never knew they played that, i wonder if pbs will ever air that show, it was recorded i presume ....

[iuvmet]

Im not a big fan, but i can tell this is really good.

[tobidashitai]

"with a shower of 'yeahs' and 'whatevers'"

beautiful lyric.

[HauAs]

I really Iike 2:37 noisy part :-)

[sherbertscoop]

dont get me wrong, neko is my favourite singer of all time and words cant express how much i love her and her music but the overlapping vocals dont sound good.

[PamK36]

I like some of the NP songs, but Neko's voice sounds better on her own albums.

[LeftyHandedGuns]

I'm slowly going through every NP song that's on YouTube. And I must say I'm more and more of a fan as I listen to each new song. Wonderful, beautiful stuff. I love the variety. :)

[jrebstock]

must disagree....most NP songs sounds the same....this band has to be the MOST over rated INDIE band of all time.

this piece of crap tune made PITCHFORKS top 500 of all time???....WTF.

[LeftyHandedGuns]

I don't really care if they're over-rated or under-rated, to be honest. I just like the music they make, and that's gotta be enough for me.

[Kanadianas]

that's right

[KamikazeNoOodori]

sopravvalutata il cazzo. ma perchè la gente continua a rompre i coglioni e dopo che si è sentita i suoi cazzo di dischi preferiti si siede in cattedra e schifa tutto quello che non gli somiglia? non ti piacciono? bene. ti vuoi sentire solo la roba che ti piace? bene. ma per favore risparmiaci le tue isteriche sentenze.

[gaiyabum]

Exactly...I remember how my buddy and I got into NP...the super-awesome cover of "Mass Romantic." Can't beat it!

[ho88es]

i love how the drummer is so obviously not playing.

also i love everything about this song.

[Ch9Wolf]

Sólo hace dos días que conozco esta banda pero me encanta su estilo. Muy frescos.

[frankenangel]

the thing about the lyric that makes it so poetic is that..what it really means to me..is... that most feel greater about a false religion than an actual occupant of this world that feels realty in the truest sense of what it's all about

[tarlow00]

I would agree with you... however, in an interview, Neko and one of the NP people once said the lyrics were intentionally "complete nonsense." But then again, maybe not...

[frankenangel]

the art of the lyric far procedes the video. The lyric is brilliant..and the art of the music too in music and vocals is great of the mix of vocals! If you don't get this song....i feel great sorrow for ...it is awesome in lyric & music

[lindseyhoover]

I love this song but the video makes me dizzy

[songOmatic]

Finally got to see them live last night. Just as I'd hoped them to sound. Loud. I'm sore from jumping around.

[kwadinka]

When I first heard this song in 2000, I was an instant New Pornographers fan. The song was so different and great! By the way, all those out there who make the Bart Simpson comparison grow up!!! Neko has said that she sang the song in a robotic manner for effect, that's all. With that said, Neko is an amazing singer who never fails to impress with every following Pornographers album. I even liked her nude photo spread from years ago! Great ass! Long live Neko and The New Pornographers!!!!!!!!!!!

[realfreakaynaughtay]

glad to hear : ]

[kwadinka]

Thanks for your kind message of agreement realfreakaynaughtay. It seems that whenever a person post a comment on youtube about a video they love, someone out there is going to respond critically or arrogantly about something that was said. Even if that posted comment was innocent enough, someone will have a problem with it somehow. You are one of my few friendly responses. Thanks. Glad you like the New Pornographers as well.

[blackfoliage1]

I've loved this song since the first time I heard it on CBC radio back in the winter of 2001! I don't think I'll ever get sick of it.

[ivancurtis]

first time i heard it was on CBC too, ha

[torchstar]

That is a cool as heck video! it makes me feel like I'm looking down the tunnel between 2 mirrors. The song is superb!

[TigerOfPTS]

Best NP song. Period.

That's THREE periods!

[realfreakaynaughtay]

Amazing. What a classic.

[NoChanceProductions]

we like.

[Wilco362]

That second verse is so sad and beautiful at the same time.

[Raz0rblind]

lovee thiis song !!

[Eigen000]

Neko is really beautiful! :D

[graboidlover]

...goddess.

[sarahofthecorn]

I really like this song. I heard it ages ago, and I made fun of it because, admit it, her voice sounds like Bart Simpson at times.

But still, fucking great song. I dig the vocals now, I'm no longer an ignorant little kid.

[scpotts101]

Yeah, she does sound a bit like Nancy Cartwright.

[abrvtn]

omg she does

[MetalLink1979]

Love how beautiful the vocals are. Haven't a heard more passionate indie voice since the B-52's first album!

[curreractonellis]

Mass Romantic remains my favorite album, and this song is the epitome of perfection.

[THECRIBS75]

That voice is incredible.....

[Havenscope]

WOW I love that voice so much!

[foxer89]

wow her voice..omg..omg...

[clarkii70]

love this song, love neko case

[Skibumpis]

Keep up the great music !!!

[KlinkC]

Lol @ censored coffee cup @ 2:04

[TaterMySalad]

Whoa cool an inferior version of the video for The Sound of Settling.

Still a great song though.

[81bajaj]

Uh, check your facts. "Letter from an Occupant" was released about 7 years previous to "Sound of Settling". Besides the whole meta performance theme that both these videos take was old well before the 20th century.

[misscleo3861]

Not quite. Mass Romantic came out in 2000, and Transatlanticism came out in 2003.

[duckman32001]

i particularly like the drumming of this band.

[bgdeee]

liz phairish? huh?

[RageAgainstBerlusca]

One of my favorite song ever!

great voice... really sexy.

[PascaII]

When i take beans techno is awesome. Where can I find a drug to make this enjoyable?

[davekat]

In your case, sadly, there is no drug that can cure you. And if I did have such a drug, I sure as fuck wouldn't waste it on you...

[solongsweetsummer24]

omg...do you enjoy real dolls?

[haltmusic]

Ba-da-bing-ba-da-bang-ba-da-bo­om!

[ladypilot567]

It's amazing how different they all look now, especially Carl. He looks so much older after only 7 years.

This will forever be my favorite NP song. I like all of their stuff, but there's something about this one that's just so epic. Neko Case is so damn cool.

[PMantle]

There's just not enough songs where Neko uses her voice like this. Their best, and her best, by far.

[yonan32]

every single word you said dude.

[hippie3000]

i love this fuckin song

[vivelavidarocka]

I just saw them today (25th) at Webster Hall in NYC...what a great show..their music has some kind "happy going" feeling, too bad I had to go to work later, I wanted to interact with the rest of the fans after the concert, lots of cute girls...

[duckman32001]

I really hope they don't go mainstream. Once artists go mainstream, they lose their creativity.

[vivelavidarocka]

Artist that go "mainstream" (whatever that means)do not lose creativity, that would be almost impossible, what they lose is certain degree of control over what gets published or not, the record industry demand from the artist to relinquish some of it, on the other hand I don't really think TNP would compromise on that issue....

[duckman32001]

control. That was the word I was actually looking for. Sorry mate.