Shop Vac from Jarret Heather on Vimeo.
Jonathan Coulton is nothing if not a hero for the age of Internet music. The Brooklyn-based troubadour inspires worldwide adoration from fans, not least in the form of music videos made spontaneously for his songs. “Shop Vac” by Jarrett Heather is easily one of the cleverest music videos put out this year, standing shoulder-to-shoulder with professional, higher-budget, commissioned videos. (And in a year full of clever gimmicks, that’s saying a lot.) It also does more than just show off visual flash: it’s got some actual wit.
More info from the creator:
A kinetic typography music video for Jonathan Coulton’s Shop Vac. Created using After Effects, Toon Boom Animate, Illustrator, Photoshop and Premiere.
As such, I almost put it under the “motion” heading, but for one important cameo: in the best appearance by music notation in a music video in recent memory, there’s a kick-a** notation “solo” in the middle. And yes, music notation is still damned sexy after all these centuries.
Jarret says he made that flourish with LilyPond, the brilliant, fully open-source notation engraving standard about which I raved early this year.
Not that it matters. I’d take any excuse to show this video, or watch it again. And remember, comment trolls, say what you like – I’ll just turn on my Shop-Vac.
Thanks, Wheat Williams, for the tip!