From e-mails this week:

Death Cab for Cutie has just released the first video from “DIRECTIONS,” an innovative anthology of 12 short films inspired by each song on the band’s acclaimed album PLANS. Every song, including the hit single “Soul Meets Body” and the upcoming follow-up “Crooked Teeth,” will be delivered by a different director.

You can view the first video from the collection, “Marching Bands of Manhattan”, directed by video director and designer P.R. Brown, on the band’s website today. P.R. Brown has directed videos for Billy Corgan, Matisyahu and Motley Crue, as well as designed over 350 album covers, several movie posters and book covers.

A new video from the collection will be unveiled on the band’s site each week prior to the DVD release of “DIRECTIONS” on April 11th. You can also preview the trailer for the DVD on the site.

Among the filmmakers contributing to “DIRECTIONS” are Lance Bangs, famed for his work alongside Spike Jonze, as well as his videos for such artists as R.E.M. and Green Day; Ace Norton, a stop-frame animation maestro; acclaimed graphic novelist Jeffrey Brown (”Clumsy”); the Cincinnati-based motion design collective, Lightborne; longtime Death Cab photographer Autumn de Wilde; writer/director Rob Schrab, the mind behind the legendary never-aired Jack Black pilot, Heat Vision and Jack, and co-founder of the Channel 101 website; acclaimed music video directors Laurent Briet and Monkmus, as well as Aaron Stewart-Ahn (the brainchild along with Death Cab’s Nick Harmer of the project), following up his critically hailed video debut, the Decemberists’ “16 Military Wives.”

And from The Darkness:

Everyone likes a good distraction, so here is a fun, little game to keep you entertained for a bit. Play the new Darkness game! Match guitar licks with a demon who wields a sweet Les Paul goldtop.

Win at his game and you earn a chance to score prizes that could bring you eternal happiness. Lose, and well… you’re just a loser. Here is your One Way Ticket To Hell…and Back, courtesy of THE DARKNESS. DuelwiththeDevil.com