As it turns out The Decemberists are liars, their green screen video challenge proving to be a giant Colbert-powered publicity stunt (shock! dismay!) while a real director set about making a proper video for “O Valencia!”. The finished product opts for a sorta funny, sorta tragic premise involving Colin Meloy trying to look tough (note the upturned collar) but instead ends up just looking like Ben Gibbard trying to look tough.

And also on the AV trip, the band’s first DVD, The Decemberists: A Practical Handbook, will be out on March 20. It won’t contain this video but will lovingly document their Kill Rock Stars years with videos, documentary features and a live show – Aversion has more info. Video link via Shots Ring Out, who also link to the new TV On The Radio at MTV which is not viewable outside of the US. Thanks for nothing.

Video: The Decemberists – “O Valencia” (iFilm)

Closer to home, Final Fantasy has a video for “This Lamb Sells Condos” that’s totally charming but probably won’t do anything to shed some light on the origins of the song for anyone who doesn’t live in Toronto. But if you need some background, check out the interview with the titular Lamb at Torontoist (via Zoilus). A reminder that Owen Pallett will be taking part in Inside The Musician’s Studio, a talk at Harbourfront Centre tonight with Steve Kado of the Blocks Recording Club, moderated by the aforementioned Mr Zoilus. eye has more specifics.

Video: Final Fantasy – “This Lamb Sells Condos” (YouTube)

Sessions abound! An Aquarium Drunkard has an acoustic session from The Broken West while Daytrotter welcome Dressy Bessy to their HQ (and force them to play some songs before they allow them to leave).

Rolling Stone and Exclaim have heart-to-hearts with James Mercer of The Shins, who will surely have to endure a second round of media interviews asking him what it’s like having the #2 record in both America and Canada. What strikes me the most is that it took 118,000 US sales to reach that chart position, whereas only 6000 Canucks had to buy the record to get them there in Canada. That’s a factor of almost 20, if you were wondering.

The Toronto Star talks to Rob Dickinson about the rerelease of Fresh Wine For The Horses and why Canada loved Catherine Wheel so much. Dickinson is at Lee’s Palace on Monday night.

PopMatters talks to Red Sparowes, in town at the El Mocambo on March 10. Bring earplugs for your earplugs.

The AV Club talks to John Stirratt about the differences in life on the road with Wilco and The Autumn Defense. Stirratt and Pat Sansone will be looking for a floor to sleep on in Toronto on March 24 after a gig at the Horseshoe.

NOW tries to prove that Carl Newman of The New Pornographers and Rod Stewart were separated at birth. Newman and les pornos play a free show at Nathan Philips Square on Saturday – forecast calls for a low of -14. Have fun with that.

The plot of Harold & Kumar 2 revealed!

np – Elvis Perkins / Ash Wednesday