#11- KITTIE - "We Are The Lamb"
This is a very odd choice, but I don't want to say the most bizarre, seeing as this lot is littered with peculiar selections. When I looked back on this one and watched it again I realized I couldn't leave it off the list. Zombies, cannibalism, very attractive women, a killer main guitar riff? It's all here. Simple but effective, for me anyway.
#10- Mr MUTHAFUCKIN eXQUIRE featuring EL-P - "Huzzah"
I argued with myself the most over this one, believe it or not. I kept telling myself to put it in the "honorable mentions" area at the end of this. I just couldn't do it, and here's why: See that picture above for the video? Yeah, that's why. EL-P is God. My opinion's probably somehow biased, but EL-P's verse is my favorite verse this year in Hip Hop. I'm dead serious. Listen to what he's saying a few times, once you get what's going on in his verse, congratulations. Plus, it's in black and white, they're all having fun in their own scenarios, and did I mention DAS RACIST? Yeah, huzzah!
#9- WATSKY - "Danger"
I could have all too easily filled this list with nothing but Ricky Shabazz music videos. Fortunately, or unfortunately, I didn't. I was only going to allow one of his videos in this list. It came down to a mental argument between this one, and CESCHI's - "Cold Sores". Both those videos are somewhat similar with a protagonist rapper defending himself against some undesirables, but I ultimately chose this one because of the sheer output of Watsky this year. He's done nothing but drop mix-tapes, singles, and terrific music videos. This might arguably be his best of the year. Look him up.
#8- BUSDRIVER - "Kiss Me Back To Life"
This album, "Beaus$Eros", didn't even come out in 2011, but the first music video single did, and here it is. Wow, what can you say? I love it. This is also not the last of Busdriver on this list. Ohhhhh whoaaaa foreshadowing!
#7- HAIL MARY MALLON - "Meter Feeder"
Such a simple, yet complex idea executed tremendously. It was difficult to choose between Meter Feeder and Garfield, but I think this one was more artistic and less comedic, like the rest of their videos are. Also, my favorite song off this great album. I have to watch it the entire length once I play it. I wonder how long it took to edit and create..
#6- THE TEMPER TRAP - "Love Lost"
I don't want to overcomplicate this by saying much. Just watch it. Very original idea for such a truly beautiful song.
This is without a doubt, easily my most watched video of 2011. I don't know how you can justify putting a live video on a best of the year list, but this is so entertaining, so mesmerizing, so talented, so on-point, I don't think I have to. Do you realize how much skill that takes? No, you probably don't. Plus, it's done with so much carelessness, they make it seem like a walk in the park. Thank you Busdriver and Nocando, thank you.
#4 - MASTODON - "Curl Of The Burl"
Remember when I mentioned bizarre? Well, this probably does it. Words can't really describe how much I love the mighty Mastodon. Even if you don't like metal or rock, watch this astounding, weird tale set to their single. What is there not to like? And also, what exactly is going on here? I don't care but I love watching it. \m/
#3 - TYLER THE CREATOR - "Yonkers"
Yeah, that. An explanation is unnecessary. If you were alive this year, you probably know about this and have seen it multiple times. There's a reason for that. Was 2011 OFWGKTA's year? If it wasn't, who's year was it? Powered by the success and attention this video received, I would say it was. Everyone either had some appreciation or criticism to give this, but they talked about it.
#2 - PHAROAHE MONCH - "Clap"
This mini-movie is excellent. I would never have guessed that you could make such an awesome and lengthy music video from this song. The lyrics are death, like you'd expect from Pharoahe, but the vivid imagery only intensifies it. The best part is when the music drops out altogether during the chase climax and, well, just watch if you haven't. You'll see why it's on this list and at number two.
#1- FLORENCE AND THE MACHINE - "No Light, No Light"
I had already known and heard about Florence and The Machine from their single, "Dog Days", which came out like a year ago, or around there. I had never seen a video from them, though. I'm glad my first one was this one. Thanks to rapper B.DOLAN mentioning that this was probably the video of the year on his twitter feed.. Well, guess what? He's right. This is cinematic in every sense of the word. It's beautiful, enchanting, fits perfectly with the song, etc; There's a few videos, I imagine, that have the same idea, but only this one pulls it off with such haunting attention to detail, with such a glorious backing music accompaniment. Yes, this is my favorite video of the year. Probably a shocker.
HONORABLE MENTIONS:
OPEN MIKE EAGLE - "Nightmares" - I kept trying to take a video out to include this one, but I couldn't. Please listen to this man's CD, "Rappers Will Die Of Natural Causes". You'll be seeing it on my top albums of the year, and this video from it is tremendous. A good man, and thorough..
WAX - "Coins" - One of my favorite rappers completely tears it up in this dizzying display of ferocious lyricism. You'll get a headache, if not just from the wordplay..
KID CUDI - "Mr. Rager" - I didn't include this video because of the ending, and a few other reasons, but I really felt that a Cudi video demanded to be on the list. Well, at least it made my mentions.
NAS - "Nasty" - One of the best rappers of all time goes in and destroys a simple idea, with such fervor. Nas is never going away. If you hold a mic, you respect this man. This video showcases him, as you'd expect.
Like I said, I know I probably forgot some. Bring them up to me, let's see if I don't agree with it. Don't throw things at me for my opinions, unless it's food, or alcohol. In that case it's fine, be my guest.
Thank you all for reading, if you did. I'll be back with my top eleven albums of 2011.
Peace and Bless to you and yours,
.,CAStLE,.
