Picking your top music video of year can be as difficult as choosing your favourite child, which is why we gave the task to people we knew would take it seriously – introducing London-based directors Us, also known as Luke Taylor and Chris Barrett. Since graduating in 2007, the pair have produced a number of stylish and entertaining videos for various musicians, including Mirrors, Dels and the Mobo-nominated video for Wiley’s, Numbers in Action. Last month, the pair landed an award for ‘best new director’ at the UK Music Video Awards and are now poised to take their content to the masses. So without further ado, here are Us’s top five music videos of 2011, and why they liked them so much…

Manchester Orchestra – Simple Math
Directed by Daniels (read our interview with the directors here)

“This is a rare instance where you like the song more because of the video. The concept that you’re seeing your life back is great – it blows the mind how the hell they did it.”

Is Tropical – The Greeks
Directed by Megaforce

“It’s a video where kids kill each other with toy guns, but with blood coming out of them. It’s absolutely brilliant. It’s funny and cute, but one of the kids is a bit scary, though.”

Woodkid – Iron
Directed by Yoann Lemoine

“There are some incredible comp shots in this that look like the world’s going to end, but in a kind of cool way.”

Metronomy – The Bay
Directed by David Wilson

“We pitched on this, and it was just one of those ones where you don’t get a job and you’re a bit bitter, but then you see it’s an amazing job. It’s filmed in Torquay, but it’s made to look like it’s in Cannes or somewhere. There’s some really cool shots and just a great job for what I think the brief was.”

Duck Sauce – The Big Bad Wolf
Directed by Keith Schofield

“This one’s just ridiculous. I don’t want to spoil it for people that haven’t seen it, but it’s so ridiculous in every sense of the word. It just fits the song perfectly and it’s amazing.”

Words: Tom Shepherd