The Daily Swarm

via MOG

Madonna "Celebration"

It will never stop being shocking when Madonna flashes us her underwear. In 1984 that was because underwear as outerwear was not something proper people did. In the '90s it was because she used her underwear to draw our attention to LBGT issues and her own spirituality (not at the same time). In the 2000s it's because of her fine work in fighting ageism. Yeah so she's 51 now and has a 12 year old who appears in this video with her. She can still show you her panties, apparently.

Blue Roses "Doubtful Comforts"

A new contender for best music video of 2009 - from a band I've never heard of. This 3D video works minus the 3D glasses or an IMAX experience. There's no real story, just great stop motion animation and disarming presentation.

Experimental Dental School "Royal Fantasy Snow"

Hey Deerhoof: watch your backs.

Cradle of Filth "Death of Love"

This isn't a music video, it's another leg of the Lord of the Rings saga. It's Joan of Arc 2: Electric Bugaloo. It's a...blonde woman singing with Cradle of Filth? Why is all the best cinematography these days in metal videos?

Eels "That Look You Give That Guy"

Let's say you're the singer in a pop band who, after a modicum of success, goes Brian Wilson crazy (including matching beard that might get you mistaken for Matisyahu) and blows up their success to start all over again. What kind of music video do you make 10 years down the road? Apparently you give a big FU to all the girls in high school who were mean to you and Top Chef enthusiast Ted Leo all at once by asking Padma Lakshmi to frolic on a date with you in said video. But you do it up noir style, sticking to black and white - which only just hints at the video for your first successful single. Not a single bold choice, but all in all a nice video.