Tone Madison’s favorite music videos of 2023

A celebration of some local music videos that gave the medium new life.

There was an abundance of 2023 musical releases in Madison. Enough so, that for the first time in years, there were more than enough music videos to warrant a standalone list. More than 40 music videos—at least in terms of what Tone Madison was able to catch—were released by Madison area artists over the course of the year. Before we dive into our favorites, it seemed worthwhile to touch on some of the videos lingering on the periphery of our selections.

Appleton band Dusk—who also have at least one Madison-based member and play in town with regularity—had two strong contenders in “Pissing In A Wishing Well” and “Dusk.” While the strobes and quick-cuts likely make Sorry Machine’s video for “Walk Like The Devil” a no-go for the photosensitive, an undeniable energy permeated throughout the clip (and the same can be said for Klack’s “Body2Body2Body” visual). XXX Piss’ “Wanna Live Inside” video was an authentic reflection of the band’s DIY spirit.

Mickey Sunshine released a handful of clips throughout the year, with each of those feeling of a piece with the band’s sensibilities and direction. Vacant Church, The Goat Wizard, Old Spirit, Jonathon Millionaire, Loveblaster, and It’s All You, Cowboy each had at least one clip that caught our collective attention. It was genuinely a fruitful year for the medium, perfectly complementing a release-heavy year overall.

These were Tone Madison‘s 15 favorite music videos of 2023. 

Julia Blair, “What I Could And Could Not Do”

Dusk pianist/vocalist Julia Blair‘s summer single, “What I Could And Could Not Do,” is a gorgeous and arresting piece of songwriting. In the video—directed and shot by Dusk’s go-to videographer Finn Bjornerud—the track’s heartstring-pulling nostalgia is afforded even more emotional heft via tender close-ups, clever framing, and heartfelt dance sequences. Bathed in warm oranges, “What I Could And Could Not Do” feels like an unforgettably comforting sunbeam. 

Cribshitter, “Crystal City“

An unhinged tribute to the John Hughes film Planes, Trains, And Automobiles, Cribshitter‘s music video for “Crystal City” couldn’t have possibly come from anyone else. Colin Crowley directs “Crystal City” with acuity, using soft focus and an even softer palette to create a sense of mystique. Cribshitter’s core duo, Karl and Christine Christenson, deliver committed performances to really sell an inexplicably gripping concoction.

Cult Of Lip, “Surrender”

The first of two exceptional music videos Cult Of Lip released in 2023, “Surrender” foregoes the stylistic focus of its successor in favor of a more human focus. Written, directed, shot (on Super 8 and Super 16), and edited by Cult Of Lip guitarist/vocalist Ronnie Lee, “Surrender” effectively chronicles Cult Of Lip’s efforts to build out drummer Terrance Barrett’s new studio space, Mobius Glen. In the process, it also becomes an affectionate document of the connections born between bandmates. 

Def Sonic, “Anthropia“

Def Sonic released a quartet of visualizers across 2023, and each brought a distinct flavor to the table. “Driftology,” “Poor Dorothy,” and “Aquanova” all made the most out of their respective runtimes, but the dreamlike “Anthropia” stood out among an exceptional crop. Presented in a phone-friendly ratio and cut together seamlessly, the plaintively meditative shots of nature, commuting, and people makes it feel like “Anthropia” goes a step beyond merely tapping into the human experience and fully connects; the perfect representative for one of the year’s best records.

Flame The Ruler, “Now Or Never“

Rapper Flame The Ruler teams up with DJ Pain 1 on “Now Or Never,” a memorable standalone single that received a strong visual accompaniment. Cool blues and a healthy amount of film grain combine in a mesmeric blend. The camera rocks back-and-forth, following Flame The Ruler as he works his way through the song’s lyrics. It’s a minimal concept but it achieves maximum impact across two potent minutes.

Jane Hobson, “Don’t Wanna“

Released at the absolute tail end of December, Jane Hobson‘s video for indie rocker “Don’t Wanna” is expertly composed and feels perfectly of a piece with the songwriter’s rising status in and outside of Madison. In an email to Tone Madison, Hobson noted she “put a ton of work into [the video]” and it truly shows. Colorized in subtle, faded sepia “Don’t Wanna”—filmed with a deft touch by Brandon Mendoza—is another strong reminder that Hobson’s going to be a force to watch going forward. A band playing in a field, a little cross-dressing, and some dancing combine in a clip that comes across as effortlessly cool.

Graham Hunt, “Emergency Contact“

Indie-punk veteran Graham Hunt was another local act who put out a small host of music videos over the past year. “The Winning Pony” and “Tashmere Anthill” both have their merits, but “Emergency Contact” combined the strongest elements of its predecessors to create one of the more definitive visuals of Hunt’s current artistic era. Classic alt-rock and slacker punk music video tropes (skateboarding and basketball) brush up against the incorporation of travel and hangout video elements to create something that’s as immediately familiar as it is invigorating.

Lunar Moth, “Cotton Candy” 

Lunar Moth taps into their sunnier side on standalone single “Cotton Candy,” foregoing much of the doomier influences that have defined their earlier work. Similarly, the video for the song opts to maximize the wry playfulness that makes their live show so endearing. Handled entirely by the band—from customized props to conception to editing—the “Cotton Candy” video ably demonstrates the trio’s tenacious DIY spirit. “Cotton Candy” is an irresistible sugar rush on all fronts. 

*perf, “Miracle Whip”

“Miracle Whip,” the debut single from emergent indie-pop act *perf, harkens back to the genre’s mid-2000s era. Mixing a weary, Kevin Morby-esque drawl with peppy, I’m From Barcelona-esque horn charts, “Miracle Whip” effectively lays out a playground for potential visuals, which *perf capitalizes on in kind. Anchored by a near two-minute tracking shot of *perf guitarist/vocalist Griffin Blue running with a bottle of the titular product, “Miracle Whip”—directed by Griffin Barden and shot by Karl Somerville—makes the most of its simplistic setup. Relatively brebones but professionally-executed, “Miracle Whip” is a sterling debut entry.

Question, “Control It”

Rappers Question and Profitmade team up on “Control It,” delivering an emphatic, jagged bit of rap. Both appear in the music video, which maximizes the use of a singular location and exudes a tough-as-nails style. “Control It” is another example of a local music video that finds strength within limitation, effectively leveraging its modesty into an undeniable sense of authenticity. As the camera stays on this duo of rappers as they bob and weave along to the song in front of an abandoned building, the video establishes a sense of place so unshakable it feels overwhelmingly (and welcomely) familiar.

Red Pants, “Witching Hour“

When Jason Lambeth is not making music in slacker-rock duo Red Pants, the guitarist/vocalist can frequently be found making visual art, often favoring a collage-heavy approach. Occasionally, those two elements of Lambeth’s work intersect, but that intersection’s gold standard is achieved with the video for Red Pants’ “Witching Hour.” Enlisting the talents of Tamara Kesy to manipulate and scratch a series of vintage film clips, Lambeth edits together a highly atmospheric and engrossing music video. “Witching Hour” stands toe-to-toe with the other memorable Red Pants videos to be released in 2023: “Watch The Sky” and “On A Wire.”

Red The Bully, “CatDog”

A little over two weeks into 2023, rapper Red The Bully released the music video for the frenetic “CatDog.” Shot on an iPhone 8 and layered over with Snapchat filters, “CatDog” was memorable at the time of its release, and the video has genuinely stuck in the memory. Extremely low-cost and startlingly impactful, “CatDog” maintained its status as one of the most unique and arresting pieces of art to be produced in Madison over the course of the year.

Seasaw, “Dial Me Up”

Indie-pop duo Seasaw released three worthwhile music videos over the span of three months. While the first two clips (“Laugh Along” and “Like I Love You“) were excellent, it was the third release, “Dial Me Up,” that really stood out. Green screen artist Nate Chappell runs the duo through a series of nostalgia-biting callbacks, playing up a Pen15-style premise to perfection. “Dial Me Up” is a three-minute jolt of unbridled fun.

TS Foss, “Grown Used To It“

C Nelson-Lifson steps behind the camera to direct their bandmate—fellow Proud Parents member and TS Foss mastermind Tyler Fassnacht—through melancholic, nature-heavy existentialism in “Grown Used To It.” An undeniable highlight from TS Foss’ 2023 triumph, Everything Finished, the song receives a gorgeous treatment from Nelson-Lifson. Fassnacht paces his way through a good bit of seasonally-specific Wisconsin scenery, illustrating wistfulness and determination in equal measure. Impossibly gorgeous and improbably moving, the “Grown Used To It” video is just about perfect.

Vanishing Kids, “Spill The Dark”

Vanishing Kids‘ lead single from 2023’s Miracle Of Death heralded the doomy metal band’s highly-anticipated return. And what a way to return. “Spill The Dark” was a behemoth of a track, featuring the band at their best, while the song’s music video emerged as a perfect complementary piece. Moody, shadowy, hypnotic, and teeming with an all-consuming dread, the black-and-white video made it unmistakably clear the band hadn’t lost an ounce of their magic. And while the band’s second music video of 2023—the lo-fi effects-laden “Only You“—is also worth watching, “Spill The Dark” boasts an aura of importance too impressive to deny.