When it came to compiling videos to package together for MTV20, a celebration of the music channel's first 20 years, they could have easily settled for the obvious mega-platinum blockbusters or the videos that are as familiar as TV commercials (which, of course, is essentially what music videos are). But for the most part they didn't. Oh, there are some big names here, like Aerosmith ("Livin' on the Edge") and the Red Hot Chili Peppers ("Higher Ground"), and some of the videos will be plenty familiar, like Robert Palmer's "Addicted to Love," with its array of deadpan fashion models. But MTV20: Rock also includes relative oddities like Cake's "Never There," Monster Magnet's "Space Lord," and Goldfinger's "Here in Your Bedroom." And since the disc's 16 videos are collected chronologically (beginning with "Addicted to Love" from 1986 and ending with Godsmack's "Voodoo" from '99), viewers can see how music videos have evolved over the years, as computer animation, digital technology, and other techniques have come together to create a significant art form. The presentation is slick: Videos are separated by brief interviews, MTV logos, or commercial bumpers; DVD bonus features include the "Fast Facts and Short Stats" option that provides "Pop-Up Video"-style on-screen information, and profiles and discographies for every artist. In the end, of course, one's appreciation of this and the other MTV20 sets (there are also "Pop" and "Jams," which can be purchased separately; the "Bonus Beats" DVD is available only as part of the DVD boxed set) will depend on whether or not you like the music. But MTV at least deserves credit for taking a walk on the slightly wild side. --Sam Graham
