Splender - I Think God Can Explain

What this video is

Released in 2000 as the second single from Splender's 1999 Columbia Records debut 'Halfway Down the Sky,' the video sits at the peak of MTV TRL-era alternative rock visibility. The song appeared on 'Songs from Dawson's Creek Vol. II' (2000), embedding it in the late-teen pop-culture ecosystem of the era. Splender was a New York City alt-rock quartet signed to Columbia after winning a Battle of the Bands…

Why it matters

Represents the commercial apex of the Columbia Records alt-rock crossover pipeline, where independent-leaning guitar bands were packaged for TRL audiences using high-energy video aesthetics. Chris Applebaum's direction connects this video to a broader lineage of late-1990s alternative rock videos…

The director

Born 1970 in Los Angeles; studied film at Hampshire College, Amherst, MA. Began directing alternative rock videos while in college; his first video was for Material Issue in 1992. Signed with Satellite Films as their youngest-ever director. Over 30 MTV #1…