The Best Indie Rock Music Videos of 2013
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We’ve rounded up the best indie rock music videos of 2013 for your viewing pleasure. From big budget productions to low-fi DIY affairs, there’s something for everyone in this selection. So sit back, hit play, and enjoy some of the best that the indie rock world has to offer.
Arcade Fire- Reflektor
Arcade Fire’s “Reflektor” is one of the year’s best music videos. The video, which was released in October, is a seven-minute extravaganza that was filmed in Haiti. The video features Arcade Fire members Win Butler and Régine Chassagne dancing in front of a Haitian carnival parade. “Reflektor” is an ode to Haiti, and the video does an amazing job of capturing the country’s energy and spirit.
Beck- Morning Phase
Beck’s “Morning Phase” is the most inventive and emotionally stirring video of the year. It’s a stop-motion clip that features Beck and his bandmates as puppets, lip syncing to the song while going about their everyday lives. The video is a perfect example of how an artist can use animation to tell a story that couldn’t be told any other way.
Broken Bells- After the Disco
Broken Bells is an American musical duo composed of artist-producer Brian Burton (better known as Danger Mouse) and singer-guitarist James Mercer, the lead vocalist and guitarist of indie rock group The Shins. Burton and Mercer formed Broken Bells in 2009, after they had collaborated on a side project entitled “Dark Night of the Soul”. After the Disco is the title track from their second album, released on January 13, 2014.
The song was described as “a swirling, spacey track” with a “majestic chorus”. The video was directed by Jacob Gable and produced by special effects company Elastic. It tells the story of two robots who are in love, set against a retro future backdrop.
Disclosure- Settle
2013 was a great year for indie rock music videos. One of the best was Disclosure’s video for their song “Settle.” The video features a series of close-ups of the band members as they perform the song, and it’s intercut with shots of a group of people dancing in a club. The video is simple but effective, and it really captures the energy of the song.
Haim- Days Are Gone
Haim is an American pop rock band from Los Angeles. The band consists of sisters Este Haim, Danielle Haim, and Alana Haim, who are joined on stage by drummer Dash Hutton. The group’s 2013 debut album Days Are Gone reached number six in the UK Albums Chart and number one in the US Billboard 200. It was also nominated for Best New Artist at the 57th Grammy Awards. The trio’s second album, Something to Tell You, was released on July 7, 2017.
The band’s debut music video for “Forever” was released on October 15, 2013. The video features the three sisters performing in a warehouse. It was directed by Hiro Murai and shot in Los Angeles.
The second music video from Days Are Gone was released on December 10, 2013. “The Wire” was directed by Clara Aranovich and again shot in Los Angeles. This time around, the video follows the sisters as they attempt to escape from a group of creepy masked men.
The third music video from Days Are Gone is for the song “Don’t Save Me”. Directed by Jon Frank and Paul Boos, the video was shot in Joshua Tree National Park. It features the sisters singing and dancing around a campfire.
The fourth and final music video from Days Are Gone is for “My Song 5”. ThisVideo was directed by Jake Schreier and again shot in Los Angeles. It features the band performing in a dark room with changing lights and holograms projected onto them.
Jack White- Lazaretto
One of the most creative and well-done music videos of 2013 was Jack White’s “Lazaretto.” The video is a one-take shot of White playing guitar and singing in a warehouse, with the camera following him as he walks around. The video is visually stunning, and the song is catchy and fun.
Lorde- Pure Heroine
Lorde’s “Pure Heroine” is one of the best Indie Rock music videos of 2013. The video was directed by Yoonha Park and produced by HansalMehta. It stars New Zealand-based actress, Anna-Leigh Kellock as the lead character, a 14-year-old girl living in a small town in New Zealand.
Set to the backdrop of an unending night, “Pure Heroine” captures the ennui and frustration of small-town living. It’s a coming-of-age story told through music, with Lorde’s lyrics speaking to the feelings of disillusionment and boredom that come with adolescence.
The video is shot in a naturalistic style, with handheld cameras and muted colors giving it an intimate feel. This intimacy is further heightened by the closeup shots of Kellock’s face, which allows us to see every emotion she’s feeling.
The video ends with Lorde walking away from the camera, leaving us wondering what will happen next for this young heroine.
The National- Trouble Will Find Me
One of the best rock bands around made one of the best music videos of the year. The National’s “Trouble Will Find Me” is a perfect blend of the band’s dark and brooding lyrics with a very funny and clever video. The video features the band members as they go about their day, with each one having a different personal crisis. The video is quirky and funny, but also captures the feeling of anxiety and unease that comes with personal troubles. It’s a great video for a great song, and it perfectly capture’s the band’s dark sense of humor.
Neko Case- The Worse Things Get, the Harder I Fight, the Harder I Fight, the More I Love You
The independent music scene was overflowing with great music this year, and the music videos were no different. Here are our picks for the best indie rock music videos of 2013.
Neko Case- The Worse Things Get, the Harder I Fight, the Harder I Fight, the More I Love You
The video for Neko Case’s lead single off her latest album features the singer in a series of colorful costumes as she wanders through a surreal landscape. The video is a perfect complement to the song’s catchy hooks and retro sound.
Tame Impala- ‘Elephant’
Tame Impala’s latest album was one of the best of the year, and the video for ‘Elephant’ is a worthy addition to their discography. The video features trippy visuals and some impressive stop-motion animation, all set to the band’s signature psychedelic sound.
Ty Segall- ‘Wave Goodbye’
The final video on our list is also one of the most heartbreaking. ‘Wave Goodbye’ is taken from Ty Segall’s excellent album Sleeper, and features footage of the young musician in happier times intercut with shots of him in hospice care. It’s a moving tribute to Segall’s friend and collaborator Demian Johnston, who passed away earlier this year.
Yeah Yeah Yeahs- Mosquito
Yeah Yeah Yeahs’ “Mosquito” may be one of the most artfully directed music videos of 2013. The idea of a group of kids putting on a play based on the life and work of YYY frontwoman Karen O is brilliant, and the casting and performances are top-notch. And then, of course, there’s the music, which is classic Yeah Yeah Yeahs: catchy, strange, and completely unique.
