The Vids Are Alright

Puddle of Mudd - Spaceship.

Many excellent science fiction productions have overcome their relative lack of budget and/or special effects wizardry by confining the action to a grimy interior or an abandoned quarry, relying on plot and characterisation to gloss over the fact that the lead character has just run along the same corridor three times (all those zero-gravity-simulation aeroplane rides can’t be very carbon neutral anyway).

In their latest video, Puddle of Mudd have paid their own subtle, thoughtful tribute to this genre (I haven’t actually turned the sound up on this yet but I assume it sounds something like this), with a genuine wobbly model shot at 2.53 and some one-dimensional space vixens. “Oh Wesley, show me some more of this Earth thing called ‘post-grunge’!” Bleurgh.

Michael & Janet Jackson - Scream.

Another huge video event that warranted a special timeslot on Channel 4 for its premiere. We’d all pretty much forgotten that Michael and Janet were even related at this point - Janet trying to be as normal (and sociable) as possible, and Michael as far away from normality as possible, preaching from the top of a mountain, leaving him wide open to ridicule.

So it was almost a relief to see them both bored to tears in their little space capsule, like fractious children on holiday in a remote log cabin - Janet idly inspecting her fingernails whilst Michael leaves muddy footprints across the ceiling, the two of them playing Pong and constantly elbowing each other out of the way, Janet trying to piss standing up at 2.52. Just a normal day with the Jacksons At Home. But in space.

Worth the money, I think.

Electrik Red - So Good

Argh. The-Dream’s new girlgroup have made a video even cheaper than The Saturdays’ ‘Up’. Dull outfits, minimum of choreography, props swiped out of the school PE cupboard (though I did involuntarily shout out ‘GOOOAL!’ in an Alan Partridge voice at 1.58).

All this cost-cutting almost makes you long for something like this, spiky jumpers and everything.

The Robocop Kraus - You Don’t Have To Shout

This lot are highly recommended by the ever-fragrant Eddie Argos (never let it be said that I don’t hat-tip my sources) and have deigned to include in their video some dudes dressed as a gymnast, a chicken, a frogman and Dot Cotton from 50 years ago.

Bonus points for the helmet with an axe sellotaped to it. Minus points for not having the floor light up at any point.

Goldie Looking Chain - By Any Means Necessary

If Goldie Looking Chain have been looking to Atari Teenage Riot for inspiration then it doesn’t really show here I’m afraid. However I like to imagine that Alec Empire is the unseen security guard chasing the GLC boys through Newport town centre in this video, like a negative-budget Welsh version of Trainspotting. No wonder they all get a stitch and have to stop for a breather.