The Dress

"Don't let the dress trick you
I love you less now that I know you"

One of my favorite songs, and probably the best song Blonde Redhead has performed. I love the minimal, almost ambient instrumentation, and Kazu Makino's breathless vocals (echoed by the use of breath intake as percussion), which barely hold back the emotion she expresses over the realization that her lover is not who she thought he was.

"Tears you see on my face, you do have something to do with
Fear starts creeping up when you have so much to lose
Your love waits you while you're cheating
Lightning strikes you when you're moving"

Director Mike Mills takes a subtle approach to evoke these emotions in the video. Instead of a story, he merely shows several people, half hidden in shadow, their faces barely illuminated, and watches them. Slowly, each begins to let tears fall, each going through a shared, yet individual tragedy. The video perfectly evokes how we all go through pain and hurt, but in the end, it will always be exactingly personal.