There were plenty of good videos this week, but none of them came close to touching another video, albeit one that wasn't officially a music video. Kanye West's performance of "All Day" at the Brit Awards would've been a thing of beauty even without the fucking flamethrowers: A goddam Boot Camp Clik video, staged in the middle of a major awards show, on a stage that made it look like an art installation. I love how Kanye treats every public appearance as a chance to unveil some new vision, and this was the grandest one in recent memory. Also: Fucking flamethrowers. Everything else this week was in a race for second place, but we still have five videos worth your time below.
5. U2 - "Every Breaking Wave" (Dir. Aoife McArdle)
This video, originally a much longer short film, has things that it wants to say about star-crossed lovers and ancient conflicts. It's most fun, however, as a Quadrophenia-style youth-subculture throwdown. Everyone who's ever been to a Pietasters show knows that skinheads are fun to watch. Note: The longer version of this has the Stiff Little Fingers' "Alternative Ulster" in it, and this should be an "Alternative Ulster" video instead of an "Every Breaking Wave" one.
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4. Dutch Uncles - "Decided Knowledge" (Dir. Plastic Zoo)
I will never be able to look at Dutch Uncles frontman Duncan Wallis again and see anything other than a muppet. If this video catches on, people at Dutch Uncles shows are going to be disappointed when an actual flesh-and-blood human steps onstage.
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3. clipping. - "Summertime" (Dir. Carlos Lopez Estrada)
Clipping. are now three-for-three when they work with Estrada. Somehow, these guys, when working together, have a knack for turning simple concepts into wriggly, uncomfortable things that get under your skin. Also, this one might have the best arrest scene in a rap video ever.
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2. Joywave - "Somebody New" (Dir. Keith Schofield)
Finally, the digital era gets its answer to Unsane's "Scrape" video.
1. Flight Facilities - "Down To Earth" (Dir. Rhett Wade-Ferrell)
Did we know that Sam Rockwell was screaming out for his own "Weapon Of Choice" moment? I sure didn't. And sure, it's a blatant bite of another, better video. But are you really going to resist the sight of the guy from Moon moonwalking across a lunch counter?
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