Nadia Marie – “WeekdayWeekend”
Directed by Nadia Marie

To truly understand the many sub-plots and metaphors contained within “WeekdayWeekend,” you’d first have to understand the story behind Nadia Marie. Hers is a harrowing tale filled with tragedy and betrayal through which she emerged not only transformed but in many ways reborn. Keep that in mind as you wander through this surreal dreamscape, which sets Marie’s daring and dense bedroom-pop against a jarring backdrop of trauma, cults, and implied murder. On many levels, it’s painfully personal and honest, but what’s most commendable is her audacity to be fearlessly eccentric while remaining committed to her vision. – Guillermo Castro

Material Girls – “There She Goes”
Directed by Meghan Dowlen and Ben Rouse

Possibly the most DIY clip on this year’s list, Material Girls gave the video treatment to one of the strongest cuts from their 2018 album Leather earlier this year. Vocalist and bassist Meghan Dowlen directed the video along with Ben Rouse, imbuing it with the same deranged sensuality possessed by the entire record while guitarist and vocalist Ben Presley cavorts like a cursed pirate caught between time and space. Utilizing both Lynchian symbolism and gothic ambiance, Dowlen and Rouse are able to capture the mysterious magnetism that makes Material Girls unique and so much more than a punk band. – Russell Rockwell

Mattiel – “Millionaire”
Directed by Matthew Addington and Alimzhan Alan Sabir

It’s difficult to tell if the video for “Millionaire” is a jaded homage to middle America or simply a convenient backdrop for Mattiel’s detached crooning. In either case, the harmony of her songwriting set against the deferred dreams and instant gratification of the county fair provides a unique lens for understanding Mattiel’s icy outlook on the world. Using the rodeo as a metaphor has distinct precedent in pop and Americana, and here the singer sways with reverence in her bejeweled duds even as she subverts the saccharine nostalgia of the American dream. – RR

Rollingchild – “My Money (Grows on Trees)”
Directed by Video Rahim

The swagger of Rollingchild’s “My Money (Grows on Trees)” morphs into spectacle thanks to Video Rahim’s ability to transform ’70s back-room bar sleaze into something both gritty and glamorous. He propels the artist’s bluesy R&B anthem with piles of cash in a time-honored music video tradition featuring a host of familiar Atlanta music scene faces. It’s this embrace of excess—along with Rollingchild’s maddeningly catchy hooks—that ties up the whole package with a consumerist bow and begs the viewer to rip off the wrapping and dive into the moment. – RR

TWINS – “Lie Awake”
Directed by Matt Weiner, Ian Cone, and John Manfredi

The video for TWINS’ “Lie Awake” is nothing if not an homage to the best synthpop videos of the ’80s (plus candles and cowboy hats). Although producer Matt Weiner (DKA, Pyramid Club) channels the weight of a wakeful night with frightening accuracy, he sings with a slight sneer rather than complete surrender, and this combative sound weaves a strangely comforting thread throughout the song. There’s a certain boldness in Weiner’s willingness to confront the voices rather than self-medicate into numb oblivion—even if there’s another mystery lurking around every corner. – RR

Wanderwild – “Doorway”
Directed by Alec Stanley

In terms of action and narrative, the final video on this year’s list is also it’s most simple: One poolside setting. One ecstatic dancer. And yet, from the moment said dancer hits play on Wanderwild’s gloriously infectious “Doorway,” the viewer is swept away by a rapturous display of off-the-cuff dance moves and air guitar jubilation. Created by the band’s own Alec Stanley, the editing and color grading here are masterful, but it’s the video’s ability to convey the magical spontaneity and unbridled joy of music that makes it a must-watch. – GC

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