Life as a Music Video

Best of the Year 2020 Preview Review playlist

2020-12-28T13:38:00.004-06:00

YouTube Playlist Link: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLaeAR85Iyeub949XY0gOHrXBEqqItC6NP

Best of the Year 2019 Preview Playlist

2019-12-24T09:59:00.003-06:00

I'm still reviewing the year of videos, so to tide you over until January (or March)... here's a non-ordered playlist:

2018 in review (Best of)

2019-01-08T09:08:00.000-06:00

We'll start with a YouTube playlist (unordered, unranked):

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLaeAR85IyeuZgWeC9-isR9R0idyaUfjY7

More notes on "the best" and my rankings later!

Best Music Videos of the Year 2017

2018-02-17T11:34:00.000-06:00

Best:
"ELEMENT."
Kendrick Lamar
Directors: Jonas Lindstroem and "the Little Homies"

"Life's What you Make It"
Placebo
Director: Sasha Rainbow

"HUMBLE."
Kendrick Lamar
Directors: Dave Meyers and "the Little Homies"

"Mourning Sound"
Grizzly Bear
Director: Beatrice Pegard

"LOVE."
Kendrick Lamar ft Zacari
Directors: Dave Meyers and "the Little Homies"

"Pillbox"
William Patrick Corgan
Directors: Linda Strawberry & Billy Corgan

"The Grocery"
Manchester Orchestra
Director: Johnny Chew

Best of the Year 2016: Music video honorable mentions

2016-12-14T21:08:00.001-06:00

These music videos didn't make the "best of" cut, but they're worth mentioning as an historical artifact (or something like that).

Hitchhiker
"$10"
Director: ?

Sleigh Bells
"I Can Only Stare"
Director: Sean Price Williams

Neon Indian
"Annie"
Director: Alan Palomo

Kanye
"Fade"
Director: Eli Linnetz

Solange
"Cranes in the Sky"
Director: Alan Ferguson & Solange Knowles

Crystal Castles
"Concrete"
Director: Crystal Castles

...stay tuned for the Best of... list!

The Overlooked Prince videos

2016-04-23T21:16:00.002-05:00

Like David Bowie, Prince didn't really fit perfectly into the MTV limelight. Their music videos weren't consistent in quality, innovation, and conception like Michael Jackson's or Madonna's were. When the 90s decade came around, Prince never made the transition to the big-budget, cinematic era as others did. It's okay, nobody really left the 80s intact... Prince is still an Advanced Genius in any decade.

When you think of Prince visually, you probably think of "When Doves Cry", "1999" or maybe "Batdance". I once saw "Gold" on BET, but his MTV airplay diminished significantly post-1993. I wanted to educate those on some of the more unpopular, forgotten (or even rare) videos that the Purple One graced us with during his short time on this Planet Earth.

I'll update this post more videos and maybe some legit YouTube links as time goes on...

"Black Sweat" (2006)
When it was released, it seemed to be an exclusive to Yahoo! Music. Really nice beat here, and a simplistic black-and-white aesthetic sure suits Prince and female companion well. It predate's Beyonce's "Single Ladies" by two years.

"Cinnamon Girl" (2004)
OK, this is one I considered Best Video of Year. Prince gets political in this one, defending the Islamic community in a post Sept 11th world. It was very powerful when I first saw it in 2004, and I think it still rings truer today, especially for immigrants and the discriminated.

"Partyman" (1989)
I wrote a retrospective about this quirky video back in 2011. For a good laugh, and some furrowed brows, check it out!

My Top 7 Prince Videos of All Time

When Doves Cry / Purple Rain (tie)
Batdance
Cinnamon Girl
Raspberry Beret
Partyman
1999

Related: My Prince experience

Best of the Year 2015: Music video

2016-01-04T20:33:00.004-06:00

Jamie xx
"Gosh"
Director: Erik Wernquist
It was a good year for Mars! I don't know whether it was the music mix, or the patient visuals, or what, but this video is mesmerizing.

Jo Goes Hunting
"Run Away"
Director: Shai Langen
Another mesmerizer. I'm not sure if the paint and dots are really real, but they've got me convinced.

Dan Deacon
"Meme Generator"
Director: Monica Mirabile
It's like the plot of eXistenZ as seen by Eric Wareheim...

Spirit Club
"Still Life"
Director: Jacob Turnbloom
This video embodies the Surfer punk aesthetic of the 2000s.

Royal Blood
"Out of the Black"
Director: David Wilson and Christy Karacas
Nunchuks. Gas stations. Makes me miss Superjail.

Best of the Year 2014: Music video

2015-01-01T08:01:00.001-06:00

DyE feat. Egyptian Lover
"She's Bad"
Director: Dent De Cuir

--

Tiga
"Bugatti"
Director: Helmi

--

Beyonce
"7/11"

--

St Vincent
"Birth in Reverse"
Director: Willo Perron

--

VIDEO OF THE YEAR

DJ Snake & Lil Jon
"Turn Down for What"
Directors: DANIELS

Best of the Year 2013: Music video

2014-01-11T12:41:00.003-06:00

The year 2013 was a hot and innovative one for music videodom. For one, Miley. For two, Beyonce's visual album. For three, Kanye's weird music videos and projections. For four, Pharrell's 24-hour video. None of these, however, were the best of the year.

Queens of the Stone Age
"Keep Your Eyes Peeled"
Directors: Liam Brazier & Boneface

Grizzly Bear
"Gun-Shy"
Director: Kris Moyes

MGMT
"Your Life is a Lie"
Director: Tom Kuntz

Vampire Weekend
"Diane Young"
Director: Primo Kahn

Jackson and His Computerband
"G.I. Jane"
Directors: Myzyk & Moriceau

"Scenario" -- a music video retrospective (by Rembert @ Grantland)

2013-04-18T16:51:00.001-05:00

Grantland (a chiefly sports site, with lots of other movie and music goodies) just posted a Rembert Explains the '90s about the music video "Scenario" by A Tribe Called Quest. Very notable in respect to this very blog. Check it zout!

Wow!

2013-01-18T18:11:00.003-06:00

Golden Age of Music Video

"Amazing true tales and inside stories from music video's greatest era (1976-1993)." Go there.

Best of 2012: Music video

2013-01-10T11:17:00.002-06:00

Better late than never. The year of 2012 was chock-full of good stuff in the video realm. Here are my picks for the best. Notice there is no overrated, overproduced Korean pop on the list.

Tenacious D
"Rize of the Fenix"
Director: Daniels

This video is strikingly original in this culture of YouTube DIY. It's a pseudo-rough cut, and it hits a home run for the band's long career of quality vids.

Jay-Z & KanYe West
"Niggas in Paris"
Director: KanYe West

Yes, the video came out in early 2012. This is quite honestly the best concert-shot video I've seen. Just mesmerizing!

Moones
"Better Energy"
Director: Peter Sluszka

Where did this come from? Seriously full of great old school and new school special effects. Reminds me of so many things.

The Shins
"The Rifle's Spiral"
Director: Jamie Caliri

Marvelous. I'm not a big fan of the band or their vibe, but this video is just right. Almost Burton-esque in its delivery, it stories two schools of magicians in competition: the young and the old. Relax, it's magic!

Woodkid

"Run Boy Run"

Directors: Yoann Lemoine / Iconoclast

A really simple yet heartwarming, powerful video. We've all run in that kid's shoes. I've seen other effects that come close, but nothing truly pulls off the morphing like this one.

Best of the Year 2011: Music video

2012-01-02T08:00:00.000-06:00

I wait until January to post my best-of, because artists have a tendency to release some good videos right around Christmas. Anyway.

Applause to Beyonce for shelling out a heap o' videos before her belly distended. Lady Gaga disappointed, however (Honey Nut Cheerios). Sure, the long form video was there... but not the spark. Anyway here are the cream of the crop.

Architecture in Helsinki
"Contact High"
Director: Krozm
This is a weird band, even for Australia. The effects and vibe remind me of Empire of the Sun.

Battles with Matias Aguayo
"Ice Cream"
Director: Canada
This one grew on me. It has that sexy South American vibe and some magical realism (that all music videos should have).

>> Read further

"Partyman" -- a music video retrospective

2011-12-09T08:00:00.000-06:00

[Google Blogger totally lost my draft, in its entirety. This is a less-than-desirable rewrite.]

This may be the one. The one that shuts down the blog, causes litigation, pain and suffering. Oh well, end 2011 with a party: Prince: Partyman.

>> Read further

Semi-solid link

2011-12-08T13:07:00.001-06:00

Here's a Spin article to pass the time...

'I Want My MTV' Authors Pick 1991's 10 Best Videos [of all time]

Updates coming

2011-11-03T13:42:00.000-05:00

Still searching for a good video capture tool. First the screen grabs, then the GIFs, then the Prince.

Best of the Year 2010: Music video

2010-12-29T08:00:00.002-06:00

OK Go

"This Too Shall Pass" (Version 2, Rube Goldberg)

Director: James Frost
These guys have become an annoyance. Awful, unoriginal music. And, this machine is obviously fixed! Last time we'll ever hear from them, save from a commercial spot. Worst thing about their videos is the band members trying to tolerate the music.

Disasteradio

"Visions"

Directors: Simon Ward, Don Brooker and Luke Rowell
This is what videomaking circa 2010 should be about: having fun with nostalgia. Killer moment: Saxophone solo tape-over.

Das Racist

"Who's That? Brooown"

Director: Thomas De Napoli
Just like there was "goof rock" in the 90s, the '10s have "goof rap". Thanks, Ludacris.

>> Read further

Oh crap

2010-12-09T13:01:00.001-06:00

The end of the year is almost here!

Smashing Pumpkins videography

2010-12-07T16:30:00.005-06:00

Still on a long hiatus. I had a long-running Smashing Pumpkins fan page (mostly to make lists for myself). As of now, that page is mothballed.

Here is a link to the Videography, a pre-Wikipedia way to see why SP ruled MTV back in the day:

http://steveprutz.com/sp/vsr/video.html

Here is another link for the list-savvy: http://www.mvdbase.com/artist.php?last=Smashing+Pumpkins&first=the
....not sure what "Hot Heads" was...

Bonus: Billy the Egomaniac comic: http://www.katefuller.com/btem.html

"Abracadabra" -- a music video retrospective

2010-06-30T08:00:00.004-05:00

Steve Miller Band, after 17 years of studio silence, released Bingo! last Tuesday. It's a covers album, but why, after all these years go back in to a studio? Greatest Hits 1974–78 is one of the best-selling albums of all time, and the band tours to sold-out stadiums regularly...it isn't a money grab. Historically, this "cover album" thing is a sign of growing old. Aerosmith's last album was also covers (Honkin' on Bobo), Bob Dylan did some Christmas songs, and The Who have been planning a blues homage project for a few years. And, who could forget David Lee Roth's Strummin' with the Devil. Perhaps this is an Advanced move.

>> Read further

"Sexx Laws" -- a music video retrospective

2010-06-14T08:00:00.008-05:00

Beck! Stoner rock, folk rock and funk rock all rolled into one talented SoCal musician. Funk is the interesting (often skipped-over) part of his legendary career... many name-check Odelay, but I absolutely love everything about Midnite Vultures. It's mega funky, and packed with sweet lyrics. This opening track sets the stage for the rest of the album, and the video provides additional imagery.

>> Read further

Working

2010-05-17T13:11:00.002-05:00

Working on some Beck, STP, Aerosmith and MC Hammer articles, right now. Sorry for the hiatus.

Solid Link

2010-04-19T18:24:00.002-05:00

Holy cow:

The 120 Minutes Archive

http://tylerc.com/120minutes/archive.php

Read this

2010-04-05T16:25:00.002-05:00

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/story/2010/04/02/ST2010040202317.html?sid=ST2010040202317

PS: I'm not dead.

"Jack & Diane" -- a music video retrospective

2010-03-10T08:00:00.012-06:00

I just read that quasi-folk artist John Mellencamp is running for office in his home state of Indiana. Honestly, it doesn't bother me. He fits the mold, and I somewhat support this musician-to-painter-to-politician move*. Plus, does anything really come out of Indiana or even all of Middle America these days? I mean, the state can't even get their time zone right, let alone Daylight Savings.

The classic radio anthem, "Jack and Diane" is really the beginning and end of Mellencamp's career. He would never make a better song or video. Of course "Small Town" and other hits came along, but this "little ditty" is his calling card.

>> Read further