The rare music documentary that stands on its own as a good doc. Directed by the singer from the National's brother, and kind of a reflection on being the other sibling. Very funny.
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both the song and the documentary.
Nov 9, 2024
wild story of friends turned into rivals and the two vastly different directions a band can go under the influence of drugs and ego. the footage takes place over the course of a decade and is often pretty raw - overall an incredible doc
May 7, 2024
IMO this is one of the finest rock-docs ever made. Not sure how close to reality it really is (maybe more "film" than "documentary"), but filmmaker Ondi Timoner followed the bands in question (Portland's Dandy Warhols and SF's Brian Jonestown Massacre) for seven years, amassing something like 2500 hours of footage, to craft a narrative that basically portrays a love/hate relationship between the bands (at one point, BJM frontman Anton Newcombe sends each member of Dandy Warhols a bullet with his/her name on it). I had the advantage of knowing both bands on their own terms -- the Dandys' Courtney Taylor-Taylor is a longtime friend, and I've been a fan of BJM for years, as my reviews/interviews would show -- so I can pick around a bit between what seems real (the music itself, life on the road, dealing with labels and the biz) and what seems contrived (the friction between the bands, Anton's seemingly over-the-top persona). The Dandys are THE most fun hang of all time -- their rehearsal space-cum-party cabin/clubhouse, the Odditorium in Portland, took up a full city block and hosted absolute ragers over the years (including an amazing night with David Bowie and band). The film is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year and Timoner has added scenes and additional narration from BJM tambourine player (!!) Joel Gion to bring the movie up to date and balance out some of the overblown-ness of the original version. Compulsive viewing, dead ahead: "Choose your own adventure" with the cameras rolling.
Mar 12, 2024
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Blindsided by this, really sad. The list of Albini's productions is jaw-dropping. Magnolia Electric Company is one of the great pieces of post-industrial Americana, bleak and beautiful. Farewell Transmission is Jason Molina's most powerful recording, but the album (incl. outtakes) is stacked. Heavy & gorgeous, suitable for the moment.
May 8, 2024
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Tearing up right now instead of working. I moved to the city as the last of Williamsburg's artistic energy was spent, and I moved to the edge of the neighborhood after it was already hollowed out. God bless the few places that are still interesting: Spectacle, Union Pool, Ore Bar, Blue Sun, Miriam Gallery, The P.I.T., Baby's, etc.
Are there places in NYC with a real artistic scene now, or did our new way of living end that possibility? Please don't say Hudson, there's no way I can learn to make furniture.
Jan 30, 2024
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More of a look back on the making of the album, no footage from the actual recording, iirc. But great banter, good insights into the process.
The Wilco doc about making Yankee Hotel Foxtrot is good and dramatic, too—I Am Trying to Break Your Heart.
Jan 25, 2024