The Daily Swarm

Daily Swarm contributor Courtney Smith highlights five must-see videos of the week in her new column.

Handsome Furs “I’m Confused”
This is easily my favorite video so far in 2009. It opens by lifting the outdoor street light shot from the pilot of “My So-Called Life” and then goes straight to hell. Literally. Zombies will attack at your hipster house party and you will like it. Also, never try to run from your zombie lover. If zombies are the new vampires, then who’s going to care about the next “Twilight” movie?

Screaming Females “Bell”
This one’s a Daily Swarm video exclusive, boys and girls, a never before seen music video from us to you. What kind of video does a DIY punk band from New Brunswick, NJ with a lesbian lead singer who likes to dress up in a Sgt. Peppers coat make? You can assume out of the gate it will be over the top but who knew they’d go to such great lengths of irreverence? I’m not sure what my favorite part is – the purposefully not synched lip synching or the part where the drummer puts his head on the snare and starts hitting it. I keep rewatching it to try and identify more of the dancing Sims.

Bloc Party “Signs (Armand Van Helden Remix)”
Have we all been duly weirded out by this video? Overall it’s a great throwback to the classic Nine Inch Nails gross-out and disturbing video visuals. It has a killer aesthetic, but I mean, seriously. I’‘ll just put it right out there: vagina dentita. Followed by a ZZ Top beard. I’m not sure what this video makes me more afraid of, sex or aging. Maybe robots.

Fan Death “Veronica’s Veil”
I’ve become weirdly obsessed with this video and song. There are so many nods to Duran Duran’s “Rio” but, like, by way of the religious/hispanic imagery in Madonna’s “La Isla Bonita.” It’s littered with stunning ISO shots and bright colors that completely mesmerize. The song is along the lines of what I was hoping CSS would do on their second album.

Brasstronaut “Requiem for a Scene”
There is a right way to capture your apathy to and/or detachment from your lifestyle. This video is the J.D. Salinger of hipster boredom music videos. It manages to be visually elegant but still matter of fact. It’s not preachy or over the top. The camera watches these kids with no judgement and lets the song explain the sadness of this documentary of decadence. Totally poetic.