Top 30 Videos Of 2012: Nos. 25-21

Only fair: Sex Slaves are at No.22

Here’s the second part of our Top 30 Videos Of 2012. Featuring Gypsyhawk, Biffy Clyro, Pure Love, Sex Slaves, American Dog…

Note: The Top 30 was compiled by Geoff Barton, who comments: “When the Classic Rock website was relaunched this past May, we made a conscious effort to crank up the music content and regularly post the best new rock videos around. This end-of-year list is comprised of clips that made the greatest impression on me, personally, during 2012. Some are big-budget affairs; others may have been filmed on a shoestring. Some feature major bands; others focus on relatively unknown artists. But all, in their own ways, are vicarious visual treats. It goes without saying that the music is damn fine in each of ‘em too. Be sure to visit the Classic Rock website tomorrow (December 28) for part three of our Top 30 rundown!”

25. Gypsyhawk – State Lines
This endearingly grainy, self-made clip features Pasadena, California-based Gypsyhawk performing at a house party full of beery good ole boys in South Lake Tahoe back in August. We wish we could’ve been there for the crack (and the BBQ).

24. Biffy Clyro – Stingin’ Belle
We love the triumphal vibe of Biffy’s on-the-road video. And as far as the song goes, we particularly like the bagpipes, along with the prickly line: ‘You think you’re cool like a porcupine.’ Simon Neil, frontman of the Scots rockers, says: “It was one of the first songs that really clicked when we were recording it. It represents the record [upcoming album Opposites, due in January 2013] and it shows how over-the-top the record is. It might be our last really over-the-top record.”

23. Pure Love – Bury My Bones
Pure Love take their name from the song Sapphire Bullets Of Pure Love by 70s jazz-rock fusionists Mahavishnu Orchestra. (Which’ll no doubt delight Classic Rock‘s own Paul ‘Dr Jazz’ Henderson.) This is a big, hook-filled anthem full of blood, sweat and tears. And the kaleidoscopic clip isn’t half bad, either…

22. Sex Slaves – Cool Ride
Born out of the gutter and raised on a deserted street corner in the Lower East Side of New York City, Sex Slaves’ butt-ugly brand of hard rock is infused with punk, sleaze and insanely catchy hooks. The video for their song Cool Ride is fun(fair)-packed, throwaway and frolicsome, with the pretension level registering a perfect “zero” on our patented Pretension-o-Meter. Just the way we like it.

21. American Dog – Just Like Charlie Sheen
We love a bit – not to mention a bite – of American Dog here at the CR website, and this is a snarling, bollocks-gnarling, Rottweiler of a tune. The video won’t win any awards, but… hang on a sec… YES IT WILL! We hereby honour this clip with the much-coveted 21st Best Rock Video Of 2012 gong. (And if you don’t agree we’ll sic Michael Hannon’s rabid old pet chihuahua on ya. He hasn’t got any teeth but he’s got a deadly suck.)

Coming tomorrow: Nos. 20-16 featuring Crucified Barbara, Fozzy, Sheepdogs, Little Caesar and Our Lady Peace!