By Chris Moore:
Although the music video may have slid significantly farther down in relevance since its heyday in the eighties and nineties, there are still artists making them. In fact, it seems to be fairly standard procedure, and the venue of choice appears to have become YouTube’s VEVO provider. I spent a long time watching more videos than I’m willing to admit here. The result, below, is a streamlined list of only the best. To be truthful, I have recognized more than I believe are truly notable, if only because I felt they were worth mentioning after I had taken the time to watch them.
If you like music videos and miss them, I encourage you to take the time to watch those listed below, especially the top ten, all of which are available via YouTube.
1) “Give It All Back” – Noah and the Whale
2) “Calamity Song” – The Decemberists (Inspired by David Foster Wallace’s Infinite Jest)
3) “Perform This Way” – “Weird Al“ Yankovic
4) “This is Why We Fight” – The Decemberists (Directed by Aaron Stewart-Ahn)
5) “Call” – Joseph Arthur (Directed by Joseph Arthur)
6) “Stay Young, Go Dancing” – Death Cab for Cutie
7) “Born Alone” – Wilco (Directed by Mark Greenberg)
8) “Monarchy of Roses” – Red Hot Chili Peppers (Directed by Marc Klasfeld; inspired by the work of Raymond Pettibon)
9) “Wake and Be Fine” – Okkervil River (Directed by Daniel Gibb)
10) “Thunder on the Mountain” – Wanda Jackson (Directed by thirtytwo)
11) “Jejune Stars” – Bright Eyes (Directed by Lance Acord)
12) “Suck It and See” – Arctic Monkeys
13) “Rope” – Foo Fighters
14) “Get Away” – Yuck (Directed by Michael)
15) “Lotus Flower” – Radiohead (Directed by Garth Jennings)
16) “CNR” – “Weird Al” Yankovic
17) “White Limo” – Foo Fighters
18) “Casting Lines” – Jack’s Mannequin (Directed by Claire Marie Vogel)
19) “Monsters Anonymous” – Kevin Hearn (Directed by Dr. Minz)
20) “Words I Never Said” – Lupe Fiasco
21) “Louder than Ever” – Cold War Kids
22) “Comeback Kid (That’s My Dog)” – Brett Dennen (Directed by Ben Moon)
23) “Paradise” – Coldplay (Directed by Mat Whitecross)
24) “Summer Place” – Fountains of Wayne
25) “Longing to Belong” – Eddie Vedder
26) “You and Me” – Parachute
27) “Amy, I” – Jack’s Mannequin (Directed by Chloe Fleury)
28) “Waiting for My Chance to Come” – Noah and the Whale
29) “What I Know” – Parachute
30) “The Adventures of Rain Dance Maggie” – Red Hot Chili Peppers (Directed by Marc Klasfeld)
Honorable Mention:
“Satisfied” – Tom Waits (Directed by Jesse Dylan)
“Blue Tip” – The Cars
“Royal Blue” – Cold War Kids (Live at Third Man Records)
Also of Note:
Nine Types of Light – TV on the Radio (60 minute feature)