The music video is not dead. Gone are the days of uber creative, uber expensive extravaganzas like “Thriller”, but this does not mean the music video has died. The explosion in popularity of video sites such as YouTube, Daily Motion, Vimeo, and the emergence of web video destinations like Pitchfork.tv have given a new home to an art form currently exiled from television. As with much of music today, the truly innovative and creative work comes not from the mainstream, but from the fringes and the underground. Here are 9 music videos that prove that not only is the music video not dead but it’s reaching all time highs.

Friendly Fires [MySpace] – “Skeleton Boy”

The Friendly Fires show it is possible to make something extraordinarily creative on the cheap. In this captivating video, the three piece band plays and dances around in a small room dressed all in black as small white styrofoam balls are blow around. A skeleton is outlined on each of their outfits with double sided tape and as the song progresses, more and more styrofoam sticks to the tape, creating the outline of a skeleton. By the end of the video, you see three full skeletons playing and dancing: it’s incredibly fun and incredibly creative. You’ll want to watch this video over and over.

Oren Lavie [MySpace] – “Her Morning Elegance”

Another video showcasing highly creative filmmaking is Oren Lavie’s “Her Morning Elegance”. In this stop motion video, a young woman is seen literally walking through her dreams, all from her bed.

Department Of Eagles [MySpace] – “No One Does It Like You”

If “Her Morning Elegance” is like a pleasant dream then Department Of Eagles “No One Does It Like You” is a nightmare. In this slightly unsettling and bizarre video we watch an army of unrecognizable human like figures fight and die. It’s fascinating and wonderful filmmaking.

Dynasty Electric [MySpace] – “Closer To Contact”

Dynasty Electric’s video for “Closer To Contact” is a light hearted spoof / homage to the erotic 1968 Sci-Fi movie Barbarella, originally starring Jane Fonda. This is a playful video in which a new generation of filmmaker honors the work of the previous generation.

Handsome Furs [MySpace] – “I’m Confused”

In possible my favorite music video of recent vintage, the Handsome Furs’ “I’m Confused” is fantastic for several reasons. First, it’s a beautifully shot and captivating, the video tells a story which would be engaging even without the music. Finally, the Handsome Furs give a ferocious performance of their song, something that is so rare in music videos. Guitarist/vocalist Dan Boeckner snarls and rips through the song and his wife/synth player Alexei Perry plays her keyboard like she’s fucking it. It’s amazingly captivating.

Pela [MySpace] – “Lost To The Lonesome”

Another video which shows that the story video is not dead is Pela’s “Lost To The Lonesome”. Set in rural America a century ago, the video tells the story of a traveling preacher/salesman and his band.

The Thermals [MySpace] – “Now We Can See”

Long reviled as a cheap shortcut rather than a proper music video, performance videos are often looked down upon. With “Now We Can See”, The Thermals show us that the performance video is not only not a cheap shortcut but if done properly, can be as entertaining as anything else.

The National [MySpace] – “Fake Empire”

One of the truly special consequences of the rise of online video sites is that the video making process has been democratized. No longer does a band dictate to its fans their vision for a song; now the fans can make turn their own visions into their own videos and share them for the world. The National never made a video for their song “Fake Empire”, one of the best songs of this past decade; they didn’t have to. A fan made his own video and it perfectly captures the moods evoked in the song.

The band could not have done any better than this.

88-Keys [MySpace] – “Stay Up (Viagra)” Feat. Kanye West

Over the past 20 years, hip hop has gained the reputation as having the strongest tradition of music videos. 88-Keys show that this is true in underground hip hop, as it is in the mainstream, with this hilarious story video.

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