Remember the days when video killed the radio star? Well 2008 was the year that Real World killed the video star. The last place to catch music videos on MTV was TRL, which, oops got canceled this year. And then earlier this month, the music video grave was further cemented (lol! i love the headline of the link's story) over when MTV announced that it would adding even MORE reality television programming to it's already unwatchable listings. Time's is tough!

However, music videos are fighting to live long and prosper via YouTube and quite a few slick ones turned up this year. (MTV, you are the weakest link...goodbye!) So here's some of the best music videos from 2008. But first, let's bow our heads in remembrance for MTV and all the great years of music television it gave us, because that MTV is long since dead (tho, I am a regular frequenter and enjoyer of MTV.com and it's blogs for entertainment blabble). Fire up some popcorn, sit back, and enjoy.

Radiohead - House of Cards
Last year, Radiohead released a record called "In Rainbows" without rules or a record label. This year, they made a music video without using video cameras for one of the most haunting, tormented love songs from that album. I love this band.

Weezer - Pork & Beans

A music video for the YouTubers? One of 2008's more brilliant shimmers of light.

Arcade Fire - Black Mirror
These guys & gals gave up on MTV a good while ago (oddly enough, I didn't discover this band until I caught a video of their's on MTV2 a few years back when I was in college), and did something totally nuts for their Black Mirror video. They made it a hypnotic and interactive flash website where you are in charge of how the song sounds while the video plays. Your move, Radiohead.

Vampire Weekend - A-Punk

This is another one of those fun single shot camera timing-trick flicks that are always, ALWAYS a blast to watch. Especially with the Vamps spinning around, moving like robots, changing their bright wardrobes over and over, and all kinds of other fun little tricks. Dig when the guy on the keys spins around in the fake snow round the one minute mark! Electrifying!

M83 - Kim & Jessie

Sure, I was obviously won over by that steamy, sultry half minute mark. But it helps that the rest of the video is ridiculously playful, and the song itself is one of the greatest things 2008 is responsible for.

All American Rejects - Gives You Hell
I grew tired of the 'Jects 3 minutes into what I thought was their 5 minutes of fame (I gotta hand it to them for still ticking on after all this time), and this song hasn't changed my opinion. BUT! This video rules! I can't wait for summer to roll around again so that I can get up on the lawn tractor and rock out like that. Simply brilliant.

Miniature Tigers - Cannibal Queen

This is like the Vampire Weekend video, but with a cinematic story going on too! In which a dude cuts off his limbs to make a lover out of scratch who then cheats on him with a guy who looks like Jesse Ventura that she meets on the internet. Lost? Who cares? It's sick! And speaking of sick, dig the Jesse Ventura dude shredding up the barb-wire on that guitar solo! Nasty! And what's a miniature tiger anyway? A kitten???

Vampire Weekend has quickly become one of my new fav bands for a few reasons.

1. They sound like Paul Simon got a peppy Red Bull buzz and began jamming with The Shins on a tropical island while tossing back coconut rum drinks with colorful umbrellas in them.
2. One of the best tracks off their debut is more or less about how crunk rapper Lil' Jon is one of the few dudes you can trust ("Oxford Comma").
3. They have no apparent fear of wearing pink sweaters and slim khakis.
4. This spazzy one-shot video for "A-Punk" pwns! I rest my case.





Further Listening...