The Best Music Videos of 2013

A large part of my day is spent watching music videos.  Music videos designed for broadcast television,  music videos designed to go viral and music videos that are meant to shock and start a conversation.  The later are becoming more and more frequent simply because they're a way of cutting through the clutter to become sharable (sp) online.

From videos shot on a shoestring budget to videos given feature film budgets - they're all adaptations of a single song.  Sometimes they enhance the track and other times they change the song's meaning entirely.  It's no mistake that MTV launched it's services with 'Video Killed The Radio Star' by The Buggles back in 1981.

2013 has been important for me when it came to music videos.  It was the year I learned how vital they're for the success of music.  Music videos are more necessary than ever before no matter what platform they're designed for - because we live in an A.D.D. world that's very visual.

People might not sit around a television all day waiting to see a specific music video - but the broadcast medium is still very much complimentary to music as a whole.  It's also a place in where we, as curators, can introduce viewers to new things they might not otherwise see in a cluttered online world.  It's our job and we take it very seriously.  

Here's a few of my favourite music videos from this past year which I'd love to share with you at this time.

Frightened Rabbit - 'The Woodpile'

SonReal - 'Everywhere We Go' (MuchFACT funded)

Aviccii vs Nicky Romero - 'I Could Be The One'

Thugli - 'Run This' (MuchFACT funded)

Autoerotique - 'Asphyxiation' (MuchFACT funded)

Kodaline - 'All I Want' 

The Weeknd - 'Pretty' 

White Lies - 'First Time Caller' 

Thanks for reading / listening.

Gregg

The Best Concerts of 2013

*Phoenix at Garrison Commons

Toronto's easily one of the best places on earth if you like to go and see live music. On any given night there are multiple options from stadiums, soft-seaters to tiny little holes in the wall.  It's fantastic.

I try my best to make it out to as many of these shows as I can.  Luckily I get invited from label friends to many shows I wouldn't other wise know about.  It's tough to keep up with all the happenings - I don't care what your title is.  So thanks to those who drag me out.

2013 was another exceptional time in music and I got to see some real beauties.  From Stubbs in Austin to the world's greatest venue Massey Hall in Toronto - it was one hell of a year for me.  

Here's a list of my favourite concerts from this past year in no particular order.  However Frank Turner at Lee's was kind of a religious experience if I must say.

Depeche Mode at Molson Amphitheatre in Toronto.

Foy Vance at The Drake Underground in Toronto

Franz Ferdinand at Kool Haus in Toronto

Of Monsters and Men at Echo Beach in Toronto

Swedish House Mafia at Rogers Centre in Toronto

Jake Bugg at Maggie Mays in Austin

Sound City Players at Stubbs BBQ in Austin

Frank Turner at Lee's Palace in Toronto

The Weeknd at MOD Club in Toronto

Biffy Clyro at Opera House in Toronto

There were many more - but those are the top 10 stand out shows for me this year.  

I didn't film any of these so I apologize if they are terrible in advance.  I wasn't surprised that I was able to find something on YouTube that was specific to each of these shows as there are a sea of cameras going at all shows these days.  The only one I couldn't find anything for was Foy Vance - and I think that's because he asked people not to.  Now I'm guilty of taking photos at shows - or perhaps even the odd clip for instagram - but I don't really see the point in filming a full show.  Get yourself 2 drinks so that you can't even shoot reach for your phone.  It always makes for a better show.

Thanks for reading/listening.

Gregg