The 5 Best Videos Of The Week
This space is where I might ordinarily draw your attention to something like Martin Scorsese’s new Bob Dylan documentary, currently streaming on Netflix. But that motherfucker is two and a half hours long, and I’m not, like, made out of spare time. I hope it’s good? People seem to think it’s good. I would very much like to see it one day. This week’s picks are below.
5. JPEGMAFIA – “The Who” (Dir. Ariel Vida)
This one’s a cheat, really. It’s more of a short film than a music video, and it’s also a corporate-sponsored tie-in with a record label’s “shared music video universe.” I’m not much interested in exploring this grander Black Mirror/Mr. Robot-ass universe further, at least not if more JPEGMAFIA songs are not involved. But I am a sucker for a good long-take fight scene, or a better head explosion. If that makes me a mark, so be it.
4. DaBaby – “Carpet Burn” (Dir. Reel Goats)
This guy remade the Scorpions’ “Tease Me Please Me” video for 2019, and then he pivoted to excessively making fun of the guy who he beat up in a mall a couple of weeks ago. That guy probably didn’t need any further mockery — not when the actual footage was already so decisive and humiliating — but I appreciate the absurdity nonetheless.
3. The Chemical Brothers – “Eve Of Destruction” (Dir. Adam Smith & Marcus Lyall)
The Chemical Brothers were making great videos when Mighty Morphin Power Rangers was still a dumb show for kids, and now they’re still making great videos, including one that uses Mighty Morphin Power Rangers as a nostalgic touchpoint. That’s longevity!
2. Shura – “religion (u can lay your hands on me)” (Dir. Chloe Wallace)
It’s such a relief to spend four minutes in the world of this video, where the Catholic church is beautiful and accepting and unafraid of actual human pleasure. And it’s such a drag to return to the present reality, where the Catholic church is what it is.
1. Charly Bliss – “Young Enough” (Dir. Henry Kaplan)
There aren’t a lot of great rock-video performances anymore. But what Eva Hendricks does in this video? Great rock-video performance.
