FRINGE MUSIC FIX's Weekly Top 5 (12/22)

Best Music Videos

FRINGE MUSIC FIXs selections for this weeks most exceptional music videos include a slow motion bar fight, a man and his female counterpart, an elderly man with an owl, a hairless cat planet, and powerful Oscar-worthy Emoji storytelling. Read on to discover which of this weeks new music videos were the most remarkable.

Call me biased if youd like, but Ive nothing but pride including The Almighty Rhombus video for House Burns Down in this weeks top 5. The video was shot in the only decent bar in my area - within a 450km radius - and Rhombus is comprised of some local dudes, some of whom I know personally. While I can certainly confirm that these guys have carved out an impressive following for themselves in our little neck of the woods, they deserve more attention. This video will assuredly help.

The video is a superbly executed slow motion ordeal that involves a bar fight incited by Rhombus' members. As conflict builds, the cameras focus shifts to the charismatic Jazz Paradis, whose exceptional waitressing skills make sense, as she is in fact, a waitress at this very bar in real life. Based on her performance here, she may possess some acting or modelling talents that surpass her super agile, gymnast calibre waitressing skills. Based on Its simple premise, great composition, the video makes for an exceptional one that more than merits its inclusion.

As an aside, having personally visited this bar on numerous occasions, I found it interesting that the video gives off the impression that the bar is much larger than it in actuality is, more testament to John Alden Milnes impressive direction and use of limited space in which to film.

Belgian artist Stromae is one of the most unique artists to make a mark in pop music as of late. The stylish and unforgettable video for Tous Les Mêmes further drives that statement home through Stromaes excellent dual gender performance and some of the most unique choreography Ive seen this year since Oh Lands excellent Renaissance Girls." The track is sung entirely in French and translates loosely to something about all men being macho, cheap, and unfaithful. Its a spiteful and infectious outing thats as fresh as it is entertaining.

Blackout Days is a video made up of a bunch of seemingly unrelated imagery that when shot in a similar style and combined, somehow become a cohesive and effective unit. As is the case in this instance, I often enjoy these types of non-narrative videos. Throughout Blackout Days," we bare witness to a series of shots that include Phantograms own Josh Carter and Sarah Barthel performing, lots of silver and gold body paint, someone being drowned in milk, a girl and a wolf, some ominous female types, and of course, amongst a relentless series of many intriguing images, we get a shot of a mysterious elderly man with an owl, likely predicting the future, judging you for your life choices or perhaps just wondering whether or not hes set his PVR to record Matlock. The videos overall effect is a stunning one, and at least as far as Im concerned, one of this weeks finest.

Im Aquarius is a great follow up for this list to Blackout Days," as they share a some similarities. Like Phantograms video, both feature ominous and creepy female characters in makeup who are most definitely up to nasty things. Both videos feature striking colour palettes and borrow elements from the world of sci-fi and fantasy.

Where Im Aquarius differs is in its setting and slightly more narrative approach. The video sees Metronomy frontman Joseph Mount embark on a space voyage that lands him on a planet populated by hairless cats. As Mount explores the extra-terrestrial landscape, things grown increasingly tense and visceral.

The very simple and unique video for Oneohtrix Point Nevers Boring Angel is jarring in its effectiveness. The video features iPhone Emoji figured prominently on a white backdrop. Using only icons, the videos tells a tragic and powerful tale of love found, lost, replaced, and ultimately the cycle of one individuals life until death. Its as poignant as any video released this week, and even more impressive given the directors choice of execution.