– Boxx’s Top 10 Music Videos of 2013

Boxx couldn’t let the year end without taking a look back at music’s high notes. From our favorite albums and music videos to the breakthroughs and comebacks we didn’t see coming, our critics have assembled a yearbook of Top 10 lists. Today, we list our favorite 10 music videos of 2013 (in no particular order). Stay tuned in the days ahead for more coverage, culminating in our 2014 preview.

Beach House: “Wishes”

Directed by Eric Wareheim

You’ll never see a halftime show as bizarre as this one.  Eric Wareheim, from the duo Tim and Eric, cast Ray Wise (famous for playing Leland Palmer in Twin Peaks) to perform “Wishes” at a high school football field and, uh, that’s all anyone will ever really know about this video.  Despite its esoteric concept, there is something very moving about seeing Wise on horseback with fireworks shooting in the background.

Disclosure: “White Noise” ft. AlunaGeorge

Directed by Luke Monaghan

A security guard makes his rounds through Detroit’s ruins. Then the beat drops. Disclosure’s slick dance moves with AlunaGeorge’s memorable singing makes for one of the most charming videos of the year.

TOKiMONSTA: “Go With It” ft. MNDR

Directed by High5Collective

While watching this cinematic beauty, you will want revenge after the first scene. Then you might be a bit baffled. But nearing the end, your bitterness will have transform into compassion. The video is transformative, to put it mildly.

Bat For Lashes: “Lilies”

Directed by Peter Sluszka

Straight out of a Jim Henson night terror, Natasha Khan aka Bat for Lashes surrounds herself by some giant, scary puppets in this mind-bending experience. Whimsical stop-motion spectacles and an array of strange creatures then puts a gorgeous twist on it.

Yeah Yeah Yeahs: “Sacrilege”

Directed by Megaforce

It does not matter who it is: A sheriff, a wife or a priest, everybody has the hots for Lily Cole. The start of the music video shows Cole burning at the stake, then the timeline is shown to us backwards. We begin to see what lead to the tragedy of the public execution—a lot of make out sessions.

Jon Hopkins: “Breathe This Air” feat. Purity Ring

Directed by Anthony Dickenson

With the help of some spectacular images, this is an elegant story of a man-hunting game and a woman peculiarly swimming near by. Simply breathtaking.

Au Revoir Simone: “Crazy”

Directed by Alex Braverman

All three members of Au Revoir Simone—Erika Forster, Annie Hart and Heather D’Angel— star in this short remake of Martin Scorsese’s 1985 film After Hours. The band plays every character for a great and fun homage.

Cold Mailman: “My Recurring Dream”

Directed by André Chocron

You will scratch your head and and ask “How did they do that?” over and over again as you watch this video. Here’s some advice: Just let it go and enjoy one of the most mesmerizing visual spectacles of the year. A continuous tracking shot takes you pass underwater dancers who are accompanied by their lamp shades, obviously, down a dock where fireworks are exploding backwards and commuters skateboard to the office.

Kyary Pamyu Pamyu: “Mottai Nightland”

Directed by Jun Tamukai

We won’t even try setting this up for you. Just watch the weirdness unfold from this Japanese star.

Janelle Monáe: “Q.U.E.E.N.” ft. Erykah Badu

Directed by Alan Ferguson

Monáe’s suave outfits and striped girlfriends create a very classy but somehow futuristic music video. This great track plays perfectly with every sophisticated frame. If only trips to the museum were this funky.

Also check out:

Boxx’s Top 10 Concerts of the Year

Boxx’s Top 10 Comebacks of the Year

Boxx’s Top 10 Breakthroughs of the Year

Boxx’s Top 10 Album Covers of the Year

Boxx’s Top 10 Collaborations of the Year

oxx’s Top 10 Male Boxxes of the Year

Boxx’s Top 10 Fem-Powered Moments of the Year

Boxx’s Top 10 Albums of the Year