Is it just me or did last month go by in a flash? As 2016 begins to wind down, I am already finding myself reflecting on all the music, videos, and art that came out this year. Its going to be really hard to narrow it down to a top 10 list, when this year not only had tons of amazing releases from the greats like Kanye, Frank Ocean, Radiohead, etc., but also had lots of fantastic comebacks from bands like The Avalanches, as well as great debuts like Whitney. It’s honestly kind of stressing me out thinking about it, so I’ll save the harrowing task of making the best of lists for later. For now, enjoy the very best videos that came out this week below! This week brought a lot of video gold, so don’t be surprised if you see some of them on my best of list at the end of the year!
1. Grandaddy – “Way We Won’t”:
Indie sweethearts, Grandaddy, have just announced their first new album in over a decade, which will be titled, Last Place. In September, they teased us with two excellent new songs, “Clear Your History” and “Way We Won’t”, and now they’ve released a video for the latter. The video features a man who just isn’t having any luck hitching a ride out of the desert. After several failed attempts, things get a little weird as he begins to see mirages around every corner.
2. The Avalanches – “Because I’m Me”:
Speaking of comebacks, The Avalanches have just released their third music video off their first album in 16 years, Wildflower. The entire album is fantastic, but “Because I’m Me” is definitely one of the highlights on the dreamy, nostalgia filled ride. In the video, we get to see the story of a young boy who experiences unrequited love from an older subway station clerk. He literally dances his (gigantic) heart out for her, but she still won’t give him the time of day. This one definitely tugs at the heartstrings.
3. High Klassified ft Mick Jenkins – “Gold”:
Back in 2015, Fool’s Gold producer, High Klassified, released his Kronostasis EP. Now, he has released a video for “Gold” which features Chicago rapper, MC Jenkins. The video plays out like the most unsettling, surreal love story between Klassified and the creepiest sex doll you’ve ever seen. Honestly, it was pretty hard to watch at times, but the cinematography was also so beautiful that I had to see it to the end.
4. Temples – “Certainty”:
Psych-rock outfit, Temples, have just announced their next album, Volcano, along with a video for “Certainty”. The technicolor video was directed by Alden Volney, and it plays out like a crazy, psychedelic trip inside of a Japanese toy store. If you like bands like Tame Impala, you should definitely check them out.
5. Eric Andre & Vince Staples
Eric Andre and Vince Staples are probably one of the weirdest duos to interview simultaneously, but the result is hilarious. They delve into some of the deepest topics from Jesus, to Ayahuasca, to the Matrix. We also learn that, if you ever want to do crack, you should definitely do it with RZA who supposedly has the best crack stories.
As if we didn’t have enough reasons to love FKA Twigs already, she has just added another item to her never-ending list of talents by curating a Halloween themed exhibit for the Veuve Clicquot Widow Series in London. She has shared multiple teasers of the immersive project rooms on her instagram, which will feature art as well as performances. Below is one of the clips she has shared, which features FKA twigs with a group of dancers who resemble the creature in Alien rubbing copious amounts of paint all over their intertwining bodies. I can’t wait to see more footage from this exhibit.
