The Welsh group People in Planes (not to be confused with Snakes on a Plane) should be getting more attention than they are. I was first taken by the band when I caught their 2006 SXSW performance—a short 45-minute set but powerful nonetheless. Their style - pop but with a theatrical twist - is best exhibited with their first single, "If You Talk to Much (My Head Will Explode)" from their March release, As Far As the Eye Can See.

When the task of creating a video for the straight-forward track reared its head, lead singer Gareth Jones and crew pitched the job to one producer who just wasn't available. When Joaquin Phoenix became an option, everything fell into place as Phoenix immediately envisioned the video's details. Influenced by society's reliance on cell phones and the impersonal nature of communication between strangers, the five-member group appreciated Phoenix's idea of filming at the Ontario International Airport. The result: a color-rich, poignant music video and a noteworthy notch in Joaquin Phoenix's directing belt. Discover People in Planes before they get big. Check out the video, then treat yourself to their debut album.

People in Planes—"If You Talk Too Much (My Head Will Explode)" People in Planes on MySpace, featuring streaming audio of "Barracuda" and "Falling by the Wayside"