Pitchfork Forkcast: Video: Aesop Rock [ft. John Darnielle]: "Coffee"

Video: Aesop Rock [ft. John Darnielle]: "Coffee"

And I thought I was a zombie before my morning cup (or six) of coffee. The video for "Coffee", from newest Aesop Rock album None Shall Pass, is a tongue-in-cheek, B-movie look at all manner of undead spooks, including "the brides of Transylvania", werewolves, and, yes, zombies. Directed by Ace Norton, the clip sets Aesop's cynical rhymes and live-sounding horror-funk to scenes of gratuitously bloody stabbings. Unfortunately for mankind, the "zombie exterminator" who's our only hope doesn't have the Ghosbusters' undead-killing chops.

A couple of months after the album was released, it still comes as a happy surprise when John Darnielle, aka the Mountain Goats, shows up to speak-sing the final verse. Whether he's supposed to be one of the terrorizers or the terrified, he's clearly relishing the offbeat role as he intones, "This is what they make you take the medication for." Soon enough, the zombies have gotten to Aesop Rock, too, but never fear-- he winks. So I guess zombies haven't taken over the world, after all.