It’s only halfway through February, but Mac Miller already has us sure that he’s going to be showing up on a lot of year-end lists with the stunning video for “Avian.” Shot in an unbeatably crisp echelon of HD, “Avian” casts Mac as an old white monk, or, rather, the monk as Mac–the Pittsburgh rapper doesn’t appear anywhere in the video. In his place we are treated to scene after serene scene, as the camera gently spins (perhaps a visual callback to the similarly gentle and piano-driven “Of The Soul“) and the monk prays and meditates with some hipster girls who play his disciples.
While the coordination of the color schemes, outfits, and choice of amazing locations (the statue made of symbols, in particular) are all incredible, what sets this video apart is its brilliant toeing of the line between irony and sincerity. The “old people rapping” thing is more than tired at this point, but the subtlety and tastefulness that Mac had it done here is unprecedented. Props are due to the actor who plays the monk, who never oversells the comedy of his role, and just lets it unfold, all the while looking genuinely wise and full of wonder as the song’s curious nature demands.
Read our review of Watching Movies With The Sound Off here.
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