After the video for “Thriller” dropped in 1983, every single person in the music video business was forced to step their game up and start making mini motion pictures wrapped within musical compositions. Since then, some great pieces of art have emerged, but MTV’s unfortunate pimping of reality shows has forced most of the world to get their music video fixes on the internets. Luckily for us, the bar has once again been raised in 2008.
By Dustin Sussman
The following article does not represent the opinions of Spike TV or its affiliates.
25. Of Montreal – "Id Engager"
Of Montreal videos are all pretty dope and this may be the best one yet.
Directed by Marc Reisbig and Hanne Berkaak of SSSR, “Id Engager” supplies us with some weird animated characters getting stop-motioned into a wonderful morphing bonanza.
24. Pharrell, Julian Casablancas and Santogold - "My Drive Thru"
Based on the huge Converse billboard campaign, Pharrell, Julian Casablancas and Santogold combine forces and try to sell a few gym shoes with "My Drive Thru."
The power trio gets cut into cool looking stick characters that multiply to a catchy single-riffed blend. The only annoying part is when Pharrell tries to sing like Prince.
23. Goldfrapp – “A&E”
Even though this video has a serious Bjork vibe to it, Alison Goldfrapp singing a soothing autumn tune for some dancing leaf monsters is still really entertaining and surprisingly original. I would advise against watching this video if you’re tripping balls though.
22. Bloc Party – "Mercury"
Most political music videos piss me off, but this Bloc Party digital post-punk number really does the trick.
In the vid, a bunch of ape scientists create a disgusting Minotaur crab creature in a Frankenstein-like experiment and send him into suburban American. I wonder what they’re trying to say?
21. Britney Spears – “Break the Ice”
Even if you hate Britney, the video piece for “Break the Ice” is pretty sweet. A Japanimated Britney Spears beating the living crap out of a few pissed off assassins can be quite relaxing.
