Chicago folk poppers Scattered Trees have emerged as a local band that finds new and inventive ways to make you depressed with their videos. When we last saw the group, they dressed up like morose Storm Troopers guarding an imprisoned princess. This time around, Scattered Trees time travel back to the Roman era to find one of their compatriots lying dead in a field. More melancholy ensues. It’s heavy, but it draws you in and doesn’t let go until the very last second. What more could you ask for? You know, beside some Prozac?

When we last heard from Chicago dance rockers Blane Fonda, the group needed help funding its debut full-length. We’re happy to report that the group will finally release the album entitled Foolish Croon on Sept. 23. But before that album drops, Blane Fonda released a sweet video for “Opportunity Rocks” from its EP Master of Stars and Broken Arms. The space-loving outfit put on one hell of a neon light show backed by some pretty catchy grooves. It’s like a cross between Lara Croft and a laser tag rave.

If it’s not obvious that we are gearing up for Lollapalooza, then perhaps this video will drive that point home. Experimental rockers Disappears visited Indianapolis’ Vibes Music for a little in-store performance for My Kentucky Blog’s LaundroMatinee video series. The group performed two tracks from this year’s EP Guider including the title track and “New Fast.” They closed up shop with “Marigold” from their debut Lux. If you look closely, you might notice that Steve Shelley is not manning the skins. Looks like Graeme Gibson (or a doppelganger) stood in for whatever reason. Either way, a truly solid performance. Disappears will appear at both Lollapalooza and the House of Blues on Saturday, August 6.

Smooth power-poppers Blah Blah Blah are back with a new EP, titled Thank You Thank You, set to drop on Friday, August 20. The new EP’s first single, “Why Am I The Only One Laughing,” has already gotten the video treatment. The clip, elegantly filmed in black and white, features the band rocking a masquerade party that may or may not be the set of Stanley Kubrick’s Eyes Wide Shut. Anyway, the sleek look definitely fits with the song’s mature, indie rock approach. If you dig “Why Am I The Only One Laughing,” then download the tune for the price of an e-mail address at Blahblahblahmusic.com. Finally, catch Blah Blah Blah’s EP release show on Saturday, August 27, at the Double Door. In the meantime, jam to the video below:

Indie poppers Canasta just released a video for its new single “Mexico City” from last year’s The Fakeout, The Tease and the Breather LP. I have no idea what’s happening in this video. It looks like a case for Doctor Who or Torchwood as Canasta vocalist and bassist Matt Priest briefly morphs into a creature with cranial feathers branching out like tentacles. After repeated viewings, I can’t help but think Priest even looks a tad bit like Dr. Owen Harper, (Torchwood) you know, except with more hair and generally nicer demeanor. If we could all forget my British sci-fi nerd ramblings, the song itself is incredibly catchy with a nice trampling back beat and violins. If you like what you hear, the band will appear at the Sheffield Garden Walk this Sunday (July 24) at 2:30 p.m.

Chicago folk rockers Maps & Atlases have released a new video for its latest single “Israeli Caves” from last year’s Perch Patchwork. The video has a bit of a Wes Anderson quality to it. The protagonist is a young boy who devises a plan to get his beloved tricycle back from an evil-doing gang of masked thieves. It’s probably the most-adorable thing you’ll see today that also makes you want to blast some a/c and watch The Royal Tenenbaums.

I’ve said, “Daaaaaamn” (in that particular manner) twice in the past two days. The first was when I walked out of my apartment and immediately felt the heat and humidity slap me in the face yesterday. The second time was this morning when I watched folky rockers Dastardly’s new video for its single “Villain.” As we reported, the band filmed the clip back in March. The long-awaited video centers on the eternal struggle between love and hate while simultaneously showing off some great harmonies. Just like the heat before it, this video slapped me in the face. Only this time it was a little more welcome, though just as surprising.