Pitchfork

The Decemberists have been whoring themselves (in a good way) all over the digital music universe this week. First, they released a Sony Connect digital EP. Then, today, they hit up AOL's Interface and mtvU.

The band kicks off their Interface studio time with "O Valencia!", followed a charming rendition of "Summersong", and finally, "The Crane Wife 1 & 2", during which the strumming is so forceful at times, you're waiting for the snaps of broken guitar strings. (If you're experiencing deja vu, yes, the Connect EP also features "O Valencia!" and "The Crane Wife 1 & 2".)

The interview questions, directed toward Colin Meloy and drummer John Moen, are straight from the book. The boys are asked about The Crane Wife's back story, the Capitol signing, the record's sound, favorite local Portland bands (the new Thermals record, Alela Diane, Norfolk and Western, etc.), the slightly more-inspired "Do your fans hate that you're not as old-timey as they thought?" (paraphrased), and the grand finale, "Do you think reviewers feel the need to use big words when reviewing your records?" Hey, that's a good question!

Over at mtvU, the band and the network have a little contest going on, in which they want YOU to finish the brand new video for (you guessed it) "O Valencia!" Click here to download the clip as it stands now, with the band performing the song in front of a green screen. Then, add your own special effects. Put the Decemberists on a pirate ship, draw funny hats on the band members' heads, transport them to outer space--but whatever you do, for the love of god PLEASE edit out that terrible hint of a moustache on Colin Meloy's face.

Send your version of the video to Capitol Records by December 15 and you could win a new iMac, as well as the glory of seeing your work aired on mtvU and mtvU.com. Nope, not mtv1 or mtv2. Just mtvU. Sorry.

More details about the contest are available here.