Sigur Ros Doc

Paul Bae brought this to my attention.

http://emichrysalis.co.uk/sigurros/heima/film/heima_trailer.html

Love the visuals. This is going to be great

Songs to make you feel new again

Dean and Britta
Back Numbers

With the recent deaths of Antonioni and Lee Hazelwood there couldn’t be better timing for this collection of sweet tracks. This album stands as a great eulogy for that great lost era in the 60’s. Interior Realism and Nancy Sinatra are still the order of the day on this second CD of theirs but it actually improves on that disc and gives us Luna (their former band) fans something to live for.

The song "you turn my head around" has Britta belting out the gorgeous tones like never before. Of course on every track, Dean is (as always), the epitome of New York cool.


The New Pornographers
Challengers

Fitting, that the people who like the older New Pornographers albums really don’t like this one. The relentless power pop tempo and lack of breathing room of their earlier CDs just weren’t for me but the kids just ate that shit up. I like their change; it’s more what I’m into. They’ve found dynamics and introspection and if that’s not progress well then shoot me now.

Dan Bejar hath laid down three exemplary songs on this one, with my favorite being Myriad Harbour (which I’ve mentioned in an earlier post). The other songs are fantastic as well. Almost all of them have great vocal melodies and wonderful lyrics.

What do I find are the key differences that set this apart from their previous efforts? I will be listening to this album when I’m writing, reading, running and doing the dishes not just when I’ve had a few drinks at the bar. This is absolutely a great time for this CD to be released for as we mourn the final days of summer we have this album make the transition to fall a little more bearable.

Dylan Biopic

Saw the trailer for the new Bob Dylan Biopic on A.J. Schnack's blog. Here it is for you. I don't know about you but I am truly excited about Todd Haynes approach to the material.

Hannah takes the Stairs

It's coming to theatres, here is the official trailer...


This is great news, as I didn't get to go to SXSW this year. Hopefully with the Ladyhawk Doc, we'll be going next year.

Yeah, I'm on it

Now I am officially on Facebook. I've managed to re-connect with loads of my old friends from High School through this virtual community, so for that, I'm pretty pleased. All those folks with asymmetrical hair styles and unsavory fascinations with Frankie Goes to Hollywood have mellowed a little but I'm sure if you get a few drinks in em' their inner sixteen year old will become re-animated. Yes, it's addictive but as far as vices go it's pretty inert. I will have to reveal my real name if you want to poke me or be my friend.

Look up Rob Leickner and have yourself a good chuckle. I

will post some of the shorts Mona and I have done, in the near future.

Up to Our Hips

I just re-discovered this mid-career Charlatans album. Some Friendly is the album that most people gravitate towards but this one is still pretty great. It sounds live off the floor, stripped of the studio trickery that graced their first two albums... and dammit...it holds up quite well when compared to all the current Brit acts (read: not a trace of Joy Division or Talking Heads just lots of funky bass lines and sweet Rhodes piano). The whole album is a peppy affair that's informed by soul classics of the 60s and 70's. This was a point in their career when they were just coming out of the drug drenched Mad-chester ghetto. While the public was starting to lose interest in them, they came out with a timeless album rather than a footnote to a era that was dying.

Standout tracks are "Feel Flows", and instrumental that wouldn't be out of place on a Mogwai album (sans that funky Clav), "I never want an easy life" and "Can't get out of Bed". When I get around to writing my film based on my travels in Korea circa 94-95 a few of these tracks will grace the soundtrack.

back home

Spent the weekend in the Okanagan (Kelowna and Summerland) with the family. Ate, drank and trampolined too much. Had a great gourmet lunch at the Sumac Ridge winery. Next time we are going to go Oliver, which is the wine capital of Canada, it's home to more than a dozen vineyards.

Kelowna wasn't as hot as it usually is in August (only in the high 20s not high 30s) and at night the temperature dropped considerable so you could actually sleep.

It was great to see the parents, my sister and my niece and nephew. Mona and I showed them a taste of all the video projects we were working on. Now we just have to get back to the Ladyhawk doc and finish that f**ker.

We hope to get back there before next summer.