Radiohead – “Lotus Flower” – In the post-“Thriller” music video world, it seems like of the most dangerous thing you could do is be simple. And yet, Radiohead (who, after 20 years of masterful videos, seem to have only themselves to top) manages to make the idea of minimalism not seem like a hipster buzzword used on art no one really gets. The video gives credit to a choreographer, but it’s hard to imagine the frenzied, seizure-esque movements of singer Thom Yorke were given any sort of direction. As one astute Youtuber commented, “I didn’t know it was possible to have your soul choreographed by Wayne McGregor.”  Yorke is the only person featured in the video, dancing in what seems to be an empty warehouse. Shot in black and white, it manages to be artful and intense, creating a raw feel that gives a purpose to the lack of color other than “it looked cool.”

Johnny Cash – “Hurt” – In a cover that puts original artist Nine Inch Nails to shame, Cash’s video is quietly mournful, featuring clips of Cash as a younger man, making it appear almost as a goodbye to his legacy. Made all the more intense by his passing only a few years after the video, it is a profound exploration of both life and death and the time spent in between.

Beastie Boys – “Sabotage” – It might be that it’s directed by Spike Jonze (“Where the Wild Things Are”). It might be that it’s a ridiculous, big-budget parody of old school cop shows. But the thing that (probably) really makes this video is the fake mustaches galore. A high-energy video for a high-energy song, “Sabotage” is a highlight among decades of great videos in Beastie history.

Manchester Orchestra – “Simple Math” As if the song weren’t quietly brilliant enough, the video is
beautifully shot and a gem that goes unfairly unnoticed beside the flashy-trashy pop videos of today. Simple details make the video amazing; water in a glass that slowly slants upwards, seemingly of its own accord, illuminates the message of the song/video. “What if all we thought was right/Was wrong?” The video does not readily supply an answer but does a spectacular job of pondering the question.