Five Good Music Videos of 2006
EDIT: I somehow screwed up the header on the other template, so I temporarily switched it. I’ll be doing this every now and then out of the blue until I get something I really like. It’s all trial and error for me, so be patient. Me wanting to add something cool to my site usually ends up with something getting screwed up, like in this case. So, if you like this new template and want me to keep it, let me know. If not, I’ll just figure out what the heck I did and get it back to the original style.
I’m not going to lie, the amazing video blog Shots Ring Out was the inspiration for this post, and while I’m not trying to steal their post or anything, they did point me toward most the youtube links for the videos. But hey, I’m guessing not all of you caught their top list, so here’s my five favorite videos. Some from their list, some from my own head.
5. Electric President – Grand Machine No. 12
This song is about how everyone is just part of some “grand machine” yet we go about our daily lives never realizing it. The Big Brother complex some would say. The video for the song is simple, yet funny as we see the world from the eyes of the grand machine as it tells people what to do and they do it. Not the best video by any artistic standard, but I always enjoyed watching the machine saying “think about your mother-in-law” and a man would sigh and put his hands over his eyes.
4. The Album Leaf – Always for You
Two people walking the streets remembering certain areas of town and the memories that came with those spots. The director leaves it a mystery whether they’re people who’ve lost each other and wish they could find that person again, or if they’re walking away. The final scene only adds to the mystery, as we can’t tell if they’ve just arrived finally to be with each other, or if they’re saying the last goodbye.
3. Band of Horses – The Great Salt Lake
You knew this video would make my list. It’s not hard to convince a few fans in the Seattle area to join your music shoot when you offer free food and beer. I remember showing up at the park with Amy and finding the other Sub Pop crew, then being told to dig in and grab a cup for the keg. We then proceeded to “just hang out” as the director instructed and watch the band and their friends play a game of softball while the director walked stealthily around and filmed random things. I couldn’t see anything good coming out of his footage music video-wise, but in the end it’s a pretty cool video. It’s just a shame I was barely off screen in many of the shots like the one where they’re carrying the keg down the hill (I carried the next one which didn’t make the video), and the one where two people are putting condiments on the table (I have the mustard and chips right off screen). But no worries. I may not have made it in the video, but name one other person that can say they have that picture above of the lead singer hitting the pitch that was the slow motion climax scene in the music video.
2. Beck – Cellphone’s Dead
Michel Gondry could be my favorite director at the moment. His films never cease to amaze me with how inventive they are, and his video for Beck’s single “Cellphone’s Dead” doesn’t disappoint. Blurring the line between reality and the surreal, this video is simply fun to watch. Ask me what it means and I couldn’t tell you, but you can’t deny the cool factor as Beck turns into a building, then a dresser, then a door and so on. It’s a shame The Science of Sleep just came out not too long ago, because I’m already antsy for his next film.
1. The Mountain Goats – Woke Up New
This is easily my favorite video of 2006. Well, maybe not easily since there were a lot of good ones, but the one that I remember have to watch again immidiately after I first watched it just because I couldn’t stop thinking how cool it was. Supposedly most of it was shot using a few long shots and then a few editing tricks added in. I’m no film expert so I’ll just say I could care less at how they made it, I just know I sure won’t be making anything this cool in my lifetime. The Mountain Goats are a relatively simple band. The lyrics are complex yes, but the music never has been. So, to see a music video like this out of nowhere is not only unexpected, but quite refreshing.
Shots Ring Out top 56 Music Videos of 2006
I’m not the biggest music video person, meaning I know so much more about the music than I do the videos that accompany them, but these were the few that stood out. I’m sure there are some truely great ones out there, so leave a link or suggestion and I’ll definately check it out.
this looks great, kevin! congrats on moving up in the blogosphere