I LIKE DAS RACIST! That is why I am sad. Because I want them to succeed and have a wonderful career that flowers and blooms, but due to the obscure nature of what they do, that career is restricted to a kind of nerdy elitism that is intentionally not for everyone. But guess what! Their new video for “Rainbow In The Dark” is sort of rote! It sort of belies their “Independent Ivy” education! Watch this and you will maybe know what I mean:

Right? Where’s the edgy, in-my-face subversion? Where’s your tongue, and why is it not in your cheek? This video is a go-nowhere mish-mash of contrasting music video philosophies, all of which are valid in their own way but kind of fall apart when they’re crammed together:

1. The anti-rap video

This can be done easily! But you’re only kind of doing it, Das Racist. I like, by the way, how you have “I <3 DR” shirts. But still, hip hop videos are 20 years old and have a rich tradition of glorifying excess and if you want to make an anti-rap video, how about one where you make fun of every era of rap? You can start all 80s “hip hop started out in the Bronx, the 17 fundamental elements of hip hop are etc etc,” do some horror-core, some 5%-baiting, maybe a quick Canibus impression and come right up into modern day. That would be a pretty simple idea. But OK there’s a definite need for a budget on this one. So maybe not.

2. Utilize new technologies for no discernible reason

Kanye did this! And I was equally confused the first time around. Why am I watching you in geothermal colors? Because it looks cool and makes me think of doing mind-expanding drugs? Excuse me while I go on a journey. To the center. OF MY  OWN MIND. I like pretty colors as much as the next not-colorblind guy, but I feel the use of the colorization topographic map camera is just some pointless bells and whistles, all sound and fury, signifying etc.

3. Make an anti-American Apparel ad.

DR, your cohort Ali Wong already did this and, not that she did it “right” or “better” but she did it first (as have many many others).  I’m not saying this is a bad idea, it can be very good idea, but I think the key is to make up your mind with which one of these you want to go with.  Besides it seems like a transparent attempt to bone some waif models. Which is cool! Bone away! Only young once, sow wild oats etc. (also Victor I appreciate your commitment to stripping naked, but do not appreciate seeing your happy trail), you know, bone those dumb-dumb 20-somethings! Godspeed you brown-skinned emperors!

Das Racist: Himanshu (left) and Victor (right)

But I guess my big complaint is “what is the point of this video.” Is it so I can watch you guys be dumb-dumbs? I will watch that gladly. But if that is what I’m watching I’d prefer your dumb-dumbness to be focused to a laser and shoot through my face. I’d rather not watch hastily strung-together dumb-dumbness that sort of flirts with different ideas but doesn’t get into bed with any one of them. Here’s an example of a simple idea done well.

Then again, I get it, you’re 2 different bands, you go for different things. Is being put in the same paragraph as Vampire Weekend offensive? A slap in the face? Not really any different than drawing parallels with Migmit, so maybe not. Do another video DR, I still have love in my heart for you.

For more Das Racist coverage, check out Woods’ epic review of Das Racist’s CMJ performance right here.