Culture Blues

Every month, we scour the earth (but mostly the internet) to see what’s new in the world of music videos and to dutifully report back to you, and then tell you which ones to watch.

***This month, instead of selecting a Video Flashback, I've decided to showcase the work of one particular director. I've wanted to make the directors a larger part of this column and I think this is a good way. So each month, I will be selecting a Video Flashback or a director to showcase, or something else I make up next month. Stay tuned.

"I was gonna smoke the marijuana like a cigarette."

Jason Derulo “In My Head” – He used an Imogen Heap sample as the glue holding together his flimsy first single. Now he’s ripping off Lady Gaga. Is Jason Derulo the Jay Leno of the music world?

Islands “No You Don’t” – Michael Cera eats some drugs and trips balls. If that’s you’re thing, you’re probably already watching it. I was amused, that’s for sure.

Ludacris “How Low” – I am an avid Ludacris supporter. He is funny, charismatic and an all around entertaining artist. Unfortunately, he has a tendency to put out mediocre singles to move units and his albums are turbulently uneven affairs. This is one of those lackluster singles. However, he also has a knack for making amusing and insane videos. It takes entirely too long for the little bodied, big headed Ludacris and two chrome Jasons to Candyman the sleepover, but once they do it’s all good.

Julian Casablancas “11^th Dimension” – Bizarre 80s sci-fi retro chic that never lets on that it’s in on the joke. Entertaining.

It is quite the extravaganza.

Muse “Resistance” – I’m sure Muse greatly bolstered their album sales with this single that hews much closer to The Killers than I realized they were capable of. But more importantly, they’ve delivered an excellent concert video that gives equal attention to the technological spectacle onstage and the unbridled enthusiasm of the crowd, a crowd that you really get a feel for the size and tenacity of (something I think is crucial to this kind of video). It is masterfully done and it makes a Muse concert look like a hell of a lot of fun… if you’re 17… which I wish I was.

Benny Cassette “Bang Bang” – The video is a direct rip off of Spike Jonze’s seminal video for “Drop” by The Pharcyde. Look, you shouldn’t copy someone’s idea and then do less with it. Benny Cassette might be the Jason Derulo of music videos. The sound mixes 80s Beasties with Aughties swagger, so the entire enterprise is just an unsavory orgy of things other people have already done… better.

Well, why don't you cry about it?

Adam Lambert “Whataya Want From Me” – Holy shit, did you guys know that Adam Lambert is 28?!? I thought he was like 21. Anyway, I dig edgy pop stars who hang out at the fringe of the mainstream (see Pink). So this track (co-written by Pink and recorded for and then scrapped from her latest album) should be right up my alley. Unfortunately, when Lambert isn’t getting mock-fellated on stage, he’s really whiny. Look, I love self-pity and self-loathing much MORE than the next guy, but the vocal performance here just lacks backbone and conviction. The music, on the other hand, is frankly pretty damn good for this type of pop song. I’m sure whoever produced it really loves The Cure. The video, on the other hand, is generic and boring. Skip it.

Jay-Z “On to the Next One” – The head nodding standout from The Blueprint 3 gets a surreal, nonsensical video with some nice images and visual tricks (I love the flaming basketballs). I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention that there’s a bit of a disconnect when Hov raps about flip flops while dressing like he’s in My Chemical Romance. Also he’s a devil worshipper. And he snuck a super cheesy video for Young Forever by us a week before this one was released. It’s like one of those Levi’s “Go Forth” commercials only it goes on for 5 minutes. Okay, I’m done.

This isn't a music video. It's a murder.

Tune-Yards “Real Live Flesh” – Apparently Tune-Yards is just one chick. The video, on the other hand, is three of them. They “sing” along with the background vocals and such, completely ignoring the lyrics of the song. That mixed with some clever and disorienting editing makes for a simple but oddly surreal experience. A little jarring (and terrifying) at first, but it’s worth sticking with.

Civil Twilight “Letters From the Sky” – I’m not going to recommend you watch this 5-minute video. Instead I’m going to recommend that you watch all 13 episodes of Harper’s Island and experience this song in all its glory for about 90 seconds during the show’s single greatest scene. Seriously, go watch Harper’s.

Big D and the Kids Table “We Can Live Anywhere” – This was dreadful. The dopey lead singer dotes over his beautiful blond girlfriend and promises her that they can live “anywhere.” It’s too earnest. It’s dippy and lame. Don’t let your disbelief about the premise get to you though, it turns out that they’re actually POOR! And they can only live anywhere in their heads! But they love each other! Which makes them the richest people in the whole wide, dumb world! BARF.

Headlights “Love Song for Buddy” – Being a big sap, I expected this song about death to really put me down in the dumps. Especially with line like “We’re all gonna die tomorrow” and “Don’t you wanna say goodbye to the ones you love.” I found myself strangely unaffected, though. Maybe it’s the persistent sharp snap of the snare drum, maybe it’s the animated video featuring people that look like black sausages. In the end, it just seemed mopey and trite.

You sold out, Sarah. What would Adia say?

Sarah McLachlan “One Dream” – If you’re trying to get jazzed for the Winter Olympics, watch this video. The song is sure to accompany over 3,000 Olympic montages and the video is pretty much a commercial for the Summer Olympics’ cold, crappy cousin. Otherwise, just throw on Sweet Surrender and remember when someone gave a shit.

Dessa “Dixon’s Girl” – Armed with a great voice, a tremendous ability to turn a phrase and a feminine sensibility that doesn’t amount to “girl power,” I expect the Doomtree crew’s first lady to amass a legion of faithful fans, I’m just not sure if they’re more likely to be watching a Lilith Fair DVD or hanging out at Hot Topic. Regardless, this song doesn’t appeal to me the way her verses on last year’s Doomtree album did (or her standout appearance on P.O.S.’s Low Light Low Life), but it’s certainly not bad and the video’s noir meets Eyes Wide Shut vibe entertains and fit hers style perfectly.

This video has a better story than Franklyn.

VIDEO OF THE MONTH: RJD2 “Let There Be Horns” – Watch this immediately. It’s about a love struck, pill popping, office worker Minotaur and it’s backed by an RJD2 instrumental that complements it perfectly.

DIRECTOR SHOWCASE: THOM GLUNT – The director of January’s Video of the Month, Thom Glunt, is apparently new to the game, but his videos feature unique concepts and great execution. From cardboard animation to an early 90s sitcom facsimile, watching his collection of videos felt a lot like watching one of those Directors Label DVDs reserved for only the most notable music video directors. Time will tell if Glunt can keep this up, but for now he is definitely a director to watch. BTW, he’s also directed a very low budget, very campy action movie that looks like the Sabotage video, and he’s trying to make 3 more of them.

Selected Videos:

Cheapest set ever!

Meeting of Important People “Brittney Lane Don’t Care” – the cardboard one

Anti-Flag “When All the Lights Go Out” – appropriately angsty and angry

Punchline “The Hit” – the sitcom one

We Shot the Moon “Sway Your Head” – whimsy with robots