When MTV stopped playing music videos, many prognosticators claimed that the music video would go the way of the dodo. How wrong they were. Nowadays, music videos are better than they’ve ever been, and every weekend, I’m going to round up the best music videos released that week.
Note: Please read all of the blurbs in a sultry, Daisy Fuentes accent.
5. Desire: “Tears from Heaven”
The Italians Do It Better faves returned this week with their first new material in the last three years. Consisting of IDIB mainman Johnny Jewel (Chromatics, Glass Candy, etc.), vocalist Megan Louise, and Nat Walker (Chromatics), the group’s comeback track follows in the footsteps of their synth-pop masterclass, II. If you’ve seen a Johnny Jewel video, I don’t need to tell you about Alberto Rossini’s lo-fi, sepia-toned directorial style. If you haven’t, you’ll get it.
4. Tensnake: “Mainline” (f/ Syron)
German house DJ Marco Niemerski has never hidden his love for the 90s, but he’s really taken things to a new level with his C+C-tastic new clip. Driven by an intoxicating vocal from brash, South London-native Syron (who does a pretty decent job of channeling Robyn), Niemerski crafts an exhilarating, buoyant, bass-driven slab of classic electro magic. An absolute banger.
3. Kool AD, “Manny Pacquiao”
One half of BK-weirdo hip-hop duo Das Racist, Victor “Kool AD” Vazquez is still riding high off his criminally underrated solo LP, 51. The San Francisco-native weaves his signature laid-back, non-sequitur-heavy flow over a spare, devastating beat from fellow Bay Area boss, Trackademicks. The video is typical Das Racist fare…basically a buncha hipsters doing sweet dances. You know you’re into it.
2. Tamaryn, “Heavenly Bodies”
Though it hasn’t quite blown up like I’ve hoped, San Francisco-based artist Tamaryn’s second LP, Tender New Signs, was one of the best shoegaze albums of the year. Driven by her gauzy vocals and Rex Shelverton’s emotive, reverb-soaked guitar work. This, the first video released from the album, fits the emotive, underwater feel of the song brilliantly. Plus it reminds me of that one Meat Puppets’ “Backwater” video, so extra points for that.
1. Chad Valley (f/ Glasser), “Fall 4 U”
Full disclosure I love cheesy ass music. Sorry. So, it’s unsurprising that Oxford-born Chad Valley’s Wham!-tastic duet with Glasser (né Cameron Mesirow) has been one of my favorite, favorite songs of the entire year. And while writing this good of a slowdance/make-out jam is an accomplishment, it takes balls to make a video that goes for it this hard. Though many critics have rolled their eyes at the Brit’s debut LP, Young Hunger, his unabashed earnestness has been a breath of fresh air for a scene that still often hides behind irony, anonymity, and pastiche. In short, he fucking owns it, and I really respect him for that.
