Neil Young

On my way to work one recent, misty morning I heard this track on the radio. Still half-asleep and bleary-eyed, my mind was entirely focused on the road ahead until this song appeared. Somehow, it all came together wonderfully.

Neil Young "After the Gold Rush" from After the Gold Rush (1970)

HHDC Mix EP #4

"The joy of music should never be interrupted by a commercial." - Leonard Bernstein

Morcheeba "A Well Deserved Break" from Fragments of Freedom (2000)

Sam Amidon "Wedding Dress" from All is Well (2008)

Mark Mallman "Knockout on 22nd St." from Between the Devil and Middle C (2006)

Voxtrot "The Start of Something" from Raised by Wolves EP (2005)

The Gray Brigade "Please, Please Let Me Get What I Want" from Fanfare (2007)

David Gray

Although entirely adequate for any season, this record lends itself best to quiet winter moments. In the midst of summer, the somber melodies appear slightly out of place - yet ultimately still inviting. Unquestionably Gray's finest work to date.

"Slow Motion" from Life in Slow Motion (2005)

Santogold

According to an interview on MTV, Santogold indicated the goals she had established for her self-titled debut album:

"I hope that I help break down boundaries and genre classifications. (People think that) If I’m a black woman I’m just about singing R&B. I guess with those producers (Timbaland, Mark Ronson) I’m supposed to be making club music. I’m not one dimensional and my music isn’t. I want the most people as possible to connect to it."

She needn't worry. Santogold, while often compared to contemporary M.I.A., is solidly within a league of her own. "Lights Out" will unquestionably factor within most (if not all) year end song-of-the-year lists.

It's already on mine. . .

"Lights Out" from Santogold (2008)

Frightened Rabbit

2007 was a banner year for new music. There were outstanding releases from the likes of Architechture in Helsinki, The Arcade Fire, The National, Andrew Bird, Rilo Kiley, Dolorean, The White Stripes, Interpol, Feist, Maroon 5, Eluvium, The Frames, Spoon, Josh Ritter, Jens Lekman, The New Pornographers....I could go on for quite some time.

Near the tail end of that year, a re-release raised quite a few eyebrows on the independent scene. It was Frightened Rabbit's first effort Sing the Greys. There was promise in the songs, but it did little for me and I moved along.

Now comes The Midnight Organ Fight, a record light years beyond their previous effort. There have been scant few heart-achingly beautiful albums released this year, Sun Kil Moon and Headlights leap to mind - and now Frightened Rabbit takes the lead.

Don't miss this one.

"Backwards Walk" from The Midnight Organ Fight (2008)

Over the Rhine

File Under: Music for an Overcast Day, Hopeful for Spring, The Picnic Beneath a Willow Tree or the Room with a View

"Born" & "I Want You To Be My Love" from Drunkard's Prayer (2005)

Neon Neon

Acts as diverse as Pacific! to The Killers have proven that adding an eighties edge to modern pop/rock arrangments can be highly successful fusions. It is a refreshingly original trend, despite that implicit fact that the bands are merely taking their influences to a literal extreme.

Neon Neon, for instance, utilized many instruments manufactured in the eighties to create the sound on their debut effort Stainless Style. The record is a unique concept album conceived around the high-profile playboy lifestyle of John DeLorean.

The eighties tribute theme is noticably prevalent on the album's strongest tracks: "I Lust U", "Raquel", "Belfast", and "I Told Her On Alderaan".

Unfortunately, the other half of the record is constructed with more pedestrian fare. Tracks like "Trick for Treat", "Luxury Pool", and "Sweat Shop" tread typical modern R&B blueprints with yawn-inducing results.

"I Told Her on Alderaan" from Stainless Style (2008)

Aphex Twin

"Avril 14th" from Drukqs (2001)

Classic Film Collections: Part 1.5

As a small addendum to the previous post, I've provided a couple of photos to illustrate the particular attention Warner Bros. paid with the period-authentic cover artwork for their classic dvd releases.

Classic Film Collections: Part One

Since the inception of the digital video disc, classic film has seen a vital rebirth thanks to the high-profile releases of obscure, nearly forgotten cinema. The most exciting aspect of this rebirth has been the thoughtfully assembled multi-disc collections centered around a vague theme.

For this installment, I've brought together the best of the hard-boiled noirish/gangster film collections - and added a couple of grand box sets of films based on literary classics. There are a wealth of other collections, including the "Signature Collection" line and a heap of musical box sets - some of which will feature in the next installment.

As one might expect from Warner Bros, the presentation of these sets is impeccable. As a general rule, the titles released prior to 2007 come packaged in standard dvd cases. For the ones released during or after 2007, such as the Literary Classics Collection, they are packaged in the slimcase format. I personally prefer the standard size dvd cases, but the slimcase format is definitely a "greener" way to go.

All of the films are on a single disc and packaged in standard dvd cases with some notable exceptions. The Film Noir Classic Collection Volume Four has ten films on five discs (two films are on each double-sided disc). Also, both the Film Noir Classic Collection Volume Three and Literary Classic Collection are packaged in slim dvd cases.

Film Noir Classic Collection: Volume One

1) The Asphalt Jungle (1950)

Introduction by John Huston derived from an Archival Interview.

Commentary by Auther/Film-Noir Specialist Drew Casper & Co-Star James Whitmore

Theatrical Trailer

2) Gun Crazy (1950)

Commentary by Auther/Film-Noir Specialist Glenn Erickson

3) Murder My Sweet (1944)

Commentary by Author/Film-Noir Specialist Alain Silver

Theatrical Trailer

4) Out of the Past (1947)

Commentary by Author/Film-Noir Specialist James Ursini

5) The Set-Up (1949)

Commentary by Director Robert Wise and Martin Scorsese

Film Noir Classic Collection: Volume Two

1) Born to Kill (1947)

Commentary by Eddie Muller, author of The Art of Noir

2) Clash by Night (1952)

Commentary by Filmaker Peter Bogdanovich

Theatrical Trailer

3) Crossfire (1947)

Commentary by Film Historians Alain Silver and James Ursini

Featurette - Crossfire: Hate is Like a Gun

4) Dillinger (1945)

Commentary by John Milius, director of the 1973 Dillinger

Theatrical Trailer

5) The Narrow Margin (1952)

Commentary by Filmaker William Friedkin

Theatrical Trailer

Film Noir Classic Collection: Volume Three

1) Border Incident (1949)

Commentary by Film Historian Dana Polan

Theatrical Trailer

2) His Kind of Woman (1951)

Commentary by Film Historian Vivian Sobchack

3) Lady in the Lake (1947)

Commentary by Film Historians Alain Silver and James Ursini

Theatrical Trailer

4) On Dangerous Ground (1952)

Commentary by Film Historian Glenn Erickson

Theatrical Trailer

5) The Racket (1951)

Commentary by Film Historian Eddie Mueller

Film Noir Classic Collection: Volume Four

1) Act of Violence (1948)

2) Mystery Street (1950)

Film Historian Commentaries by Dr. Drew Casper on Act of Violence and Alain Silver and Elizabeth Ward on Mystery Street

New Featurettes - Act of Violence: Dealing with the Devil and Mystery Street: Murder at Harvard

Theatrical Trailers

3) Crime Wave (1954)

4) Decoy (1946)

Commentaries by James Ellroy and Film Historian Eddie Mueller on Crime Wave and Writer Stabley Rubin and Film Historian Glenn Erickson on Decoy

New Featurettes - Crime Wave: The City is Dark and Decoy: A Map to Nowhere

Crime Wave Theatrical Trailer

5) Illegal (1955)

6) The Big Steal (1949)

Commentaries by Nina Foch and Film Historian Patricia King Hanson on Illegal and Film Historian Richard B. Jewell on The Big Steal

Vintage Behind the Cameras segment with Edward G. Robinson from the Warner Bros. Presents series

New Featurettes - Illegal: Marked for Life and The Big Steal: Look Behind You

Theatrical Trailers

7) They Live By Night (1948)

8) Side Street (1950)

Commentaries by Farley Granger and Film Historian Eddie Mueller on They Live By Night and Historian/Critic Richard Schnickel on Side Street

New Featurettes - They Live By Night: The Twisted Road and Side Street: Where Temptation Lurks

Side Street Theatrical Trailer

9) Where Danger Lives (1950)

10) Tension (1949)

Film Historian Commentaries by Alain Silver and James Ursini on Where Danger Lives and Alain Silver and Elizabeth Ward with Audrey Totter on Tension

New Featurettes - Where Danger Lives: White Rose for Julie and Tension: Who's Guilty Now?

Theatrical Trailers

TCM Archives - Forbidden Hollywood Collection: Volume One

1) Baby Face (1933)

2) Red-Headed Woman (1932)

3) Waterloo Bridge (1931)

Introduction by Robert Osborne

Baby Face Theatrical Trailer

TCM Archives - Forbidden Hollywood Collection: Volume Two

1) The Divorcee (1930)

2) A Free Soul (1931)

3) Night Nurse (1931)

4) Three on a Match (1932)

5) Female (1933)

Documentary Thou Shalt Not: Sex, Sin and Censorship in Pre-Code Hollywood

Commentaries on The Divorcee and Night Nurse by Film Historians Jeffrey Vance and Tony Maietta

Theatrical Trailers of Female, Night Nurse, and Three on a Match

Warner Gangsters Collection: Volume One

1) The Public Enemy (1931)

Leonard Maltin Hosts Warner Night at the Movies 1931 with Newsreel, Comedy Short The Eyes Have It, Cartoon Smile, Darn Ya, Smile and Theatrical Trailers

New Featurette - Beer and Blood: Enemies of the Public

Commentary by Film Historian Robert Sklar

1954 Rerelease Foreword

2) White Heat (1949)

Leonard Maltin Hosts Warner Night at the Movies 1949 with Newsreel, Comedy Short So You Think You're Not Guilty, Cartoon Homeless Hare and Theatrical Trailers

Featurette - White Heat: Top of the World

Commentary by Film Historian Dr. Drew Casper

3) Angels with Dirty Faces (1938)

Leonard Maltin Hosts Warner Night at the Movies 1938 with Newsreel, Musical Short Out Where the Stars Begin, Cartoon Porky and Daffy and Theatrical Trailers

Featurette - Angels with Dirty Faces: Whaddya Hear? Whaddya Say?

Commentary by Film Historian Dana Polan

Audio-Only Bonus: Radio Production with Films 2 Stars

4) Little Caesar (1931)

Leonard Maltin Hosts Warner Night at the Movies 1930 with Newsreel, Spencer Tracy Short The Hard Guy, Cartoon Lady Play Your Mandolin and Theatrical Trailers

Featurette - Little Caesar: End of Rico, Beginning of the Antihero

Commentary by Film Historian Richard B. Jewell

1954 Rerelease Foreword

5) The Petrified Forest (1936)

Leonard Maltin Hosts Warner Night at the Movies 1936 with Newsreel, Musical Short Rhythmitis, Cartoon The Coo Coo Nut Grove and Theatrical Trailers

Featurette - The Petrified Forest: Menace in the Desert

Commentary by Bogart Biographer Eric Lax

Audio-Only Bonus: Radio Adaptation Starring Bogart, Tyrone Power, and Joan Bennett

6) The Roaring Twenties (1939)

Leonard Maltin Hosts Warner Night at the Movies with Newsreel, Musical Short All Girl Revue, Comedy Short The Great Library Misery, Cartoon Thugs with Dirty Mugs and Theatrical Trailers

Featurette - The Roaring Twenties: The World Moves On

Commentary by Film Historian Dr. Lincoln Hurst

Warner Tough Guys Collection (a.k.a. Gangsters Collection: Volume Two)

1) Bullets or Ballots (1936)

Warner Night at the Movies 1936 with Newsreel, Musical Short George Hall and His Orchestra, Classic Cartoon I'm a Big Shot Now, and Theatrical Trailers

Featurette - Gangsters: The Immigrant's Hero

Commentary by Film Historian Dana Polan

How I Play Golf by Bobby Jones No. 10: Trouble Shots

Breakdowns of 1936: Studio Blooper Reel

Audio-Only Bonus: Radio Show with Robinson, Bogart and Mary Astor

2) City for Conquest (1940)

Warner Night at the Movies 1940 with Newsreel, Oscar-Nominated Short Service with the Colors, Classic Cartoon Stage Fright, Theatrical Trailers

Featurette - Molls and Dolls: The Women of Gangster Films

Commentary by Richard Schnickel

Breakdowns of 1940: Studio Blooper Reel

Audio-Only Bonus: Radio Show with Alice Faye and Robert Preston

3) Each Dawn I Die (1939)

Warner Night at the Movies 1939 with Newsreel, Documentary Short A Day at Santa Anita, Oscar Nominated Classic Cartoon Detouring America, Theatrical Trailers

Featurette - Stool Pigeons and Pine Overcoats: The Language of Gangster Films

Commentary by Film Historian Haden Guest

Breakdowns of 1939: Studio Blooper Reel

Bonus Cartoon Each Dawn I Crow

Audio-Only Bonus: Radio Show with George Raft and Franchot Tone

4) "G" Men (1935)

Warner Night at the Movies 1936 with Newsreel, Comedy Short The Old Grey Manor starring Bob Hope, Classic Cartoon Buddy the Gee Man, Theatrical Trailers

Featurette - Morality and the Code: A How-to Manual for Hollywood

Commentary by Film Historian Richard Jewell

How I Play Golf by Bobby Jones No. 11: Practice Shots

Breakdowns of 1935: Studio Blooper Reel

5) San Quentin (1937)

Warner Night at the Movies 1937 with Newsreel, Oscar Nominated Broadway Brevity Short The Man Without a Country, Classic Cartoon Porky's Double Trouble, Theatrical Trailers

Featurette - Welcome to the Big House

Commentary by Film Historian Patricia King Hanson

Breakdowns of 1937: Studio Blooper Reel

6) A Slight Case of Murder (1938)

Warner Night at the Movies 1938 with Newsreel, Oscar Nominated Drama Short Declaration of Independence, Classic Cartoon The Night Watchman, Theatrical Trailers

Featurette - Prohibition Opens the Floodgates

Commentary by Film Historian Robert Sklar

Warner Gangsters Collection: Volume Three

1) Smart Money (1931)

Warner Night at the Movies 1931 with Newsreel, Musical Short George Jessel and His Russian Art Choir and The Smart Set-Up, Classic Cartoon Big Man from the North, Theatrical Trailers

Commentary by Film Historians Alain Silver and James Ursini

2) Picture Snatcher (1933)

Warner Night at the Movies 1933 with Newsreel, Musical Short Plane Crazy, Classic Cartoon Wake Up the Gypsy in Me, Theatrical Trailers

Commentary by Film Historians Jeffrey Vance and Tony Maietta

3) The Mayor of Hell (1933)

Warner Night at the Movies 1933 with Newsreel, Musical Short The Audition, Classic Cartoon The Organ Grinder, Theatrical Trailers

Commentary by Film Historian Greg Mank

4) Lady Killer (1933)

Warner Night at the Movies 1933 with Newsreel, Movie Retrospective Short The Camera Speaks, Musical Short Kissing Time, Classic Cartoon The Shanty Where Santy Claus Lives, Theatrical Trailers

Commentary by Film Historian Dr. Drew Casper

5) Black Legion (1937)

Warner Night at the Movies 1937 with Newsreel, Musical Short Hi De Ho with Cab Calloway, Technicolor Historial Short Under Southern Stars, Classic Cartoon Porky and Gabby, Theatrical Trailers

Commentary by Film Historians Patricia King Hanson and Anthony Slide

6) Brother Orchid (1940)

Warner Night at the Movies 1940 with Newsreel, Musical Short Henry Busse and His Orchestra, Classic Cartoons Busy Bakers and Slap Happy Pappy, Theatrical Trailers

Commentary by Robinson Biographer Alan L. Gansberg and Bogart Biographer Eric Lax

Literary Classics Collection

1) Madame Bovary (1949)

Vintage Pete Smith Specialty Short Those Good Old Days

Classic Cartoon Out-Foxed

Theatrical Trailer

2) Captain Horatio Hornblower (1951)

Vintage Oscar Nominated Short My Country 'Tis of Thee

Classic Cartoon Captain Hareblower

Audio-Only Bonus: Radio Show Adaptation with Gregory Peck and Virgina Mayo

Theatrical Trailer

3) The Three Musketeers (1948)

Vintage Fitzpatrick Traveltalk Short Looking at London

Classic Cartoon What Price Freedom

Audio-Only Bonus: Radio Promo

Theatrical Trailer

4) The Prisoner of Zenda (1937 & 1952 Versions)

Pete Smith Specialty Short Penny Wisdom

Cartoon The Wayward Pups

Audio-Only Bonus: Radio Adaptation with Ronald Colman

Fitzpatrick Traveltalk Short Land of the Taj Mahal

Oscar Winning Cartoon Johann Mouse

1952 Theatrical Trailer

5) Billy Budd (1962)

Commentary by Terence Stamp and Filmmaker Steven Soderbergh

Motion Picture Masterpieces Collection

1) David Copperfield (1935)

2 Vintage Technicolor Musical Shorts: Pirate Party on Catalina Isle and Two Hearts in Wax Time

Classic Cartoon - Poor Little Me

Audio-Only Bonus "Leo is on the Air" Radio Promo

Theatrical Trailer

2) Marie Antoinette (1938)

2 Vintage Shorts: Another Romance of Celluloid and Hollywood Goes to Town

Theatrical Trailer

3) Pride and Prejudice (1940)

Oscar Nominated "Crime Doesn't Pay" Short Eyes of the Navy

Classic Cartoon The Fishing Bear

Theatrical Trailer

4) A Tale of Two Cities (1935)

Oscar Nominated Short Audioscopiks

2 Classic Cartoons: Hey Hey Fever and Honeyland

Audio-Only Bonus: Radio Show Adaptation Starring Colman

Theatrical Trailer

5) Treasure Island (1934)

Vintage Dramatic Short The Spectacle Maker

Oscar Nominated Short Strikes and Spares

Classic Cartoon Tale of the Vienna Woods

Theatrical Trailer

Sigur Ros

Since the late nineties, Sigur Ros have established themselves as the premier purveyors of delicate orchestral melodies ripe for feature film soundtrack inclusion. Who among us can forget the lilting piano strains that signal the beginning of "Hoppipolla" or the explosion of sound that "Saeglopur" bursts into mid-stride?

If nothing else it's impossible to forget the titles. The band themselves are nearly as inscrutable as their music, particularly since the members are notably boorish in dealing with the press.

Case in point: last years disastrous NPR interview (which can still be seen online, replete with "director's commentary") during which the band is somewhat polite yet awfully reticent for radio.

One wonders why they even agreed to render the interview. Publicity? Contractual obligations? Free coffee at the studio?

Granted, the majority of the questions are approaching inane, yet there's little question the band could have been more gracious. Instead they come off as bleary-eyed sedative addicts.

Though, personally, I wouldn't have it any other way. It is so very droll to read the comments of the fans as they blindly defend their precious heroes and decry the career choice (among other things) of the interviewer.

But I digress.

Since news of Hvarf/Heim broke mid-2007, it's been no secret the band has been crafting a new record for months. So it was with great fanfare that the band recently released the first single from the new album on their website, titled "Gobbledigook".

Believe it or not, I spelled that correctly. "Gobbledigook". I really wish this was an April Fools post, somehow that would make this whole entry even more amusing.

The album cover and music video are also readily available on the web. Sigur Ros has a grand tradition of gorgeous disc packaging and thoughtfully crafted video clips. So what majestic aesthetic are we presented with this time?

Naked people running and/or dancing. Lots of naked people.

Why? Because we all know naked bodies equal poetic art. By this logic the AdultCon conventions should be worthy of highbrow review in the New Yorker.

Were he still with us, I'm sure Helmut Newton would love this new direction. As for me, I'm simply pleased to behold a group so wonderfully bizarre.

Thanks Sigur Ros, for providing beautifully eclectic music with a hearty serving of unintentional hilarity. What will you guys think of next?

Wait, don't tell me. I want to be surprised.

"Gobbledigook" from Með suð í eyrum við spilum endalaust (2008)

[Yeah, I had to copy and paste that title.]

Al Stewart

Today we honor two vastly different English gentlemen: the well-read modern troubadour Al Stewart and the Elizabethan naval commander Richard Grenville.

In 1976, Stewart released his song "Lord Grenville", which somewhat fictionalized the final days of Grenville's life in addition to touching on the specifics.

Though the accounts of Grenville's exploits and inevitable demise are somewhat speculated upon, depending on the source, the following is the version from Al Stewart's own website:

Sir Richard Grenville (1542-1591)

English Naval commander. He was sent with a fleet of 13 ships to intercept a Spanish treasure ship in the Azores. On August 31 they received news that 53 Spanish ships were headed out to meet the treasure ship. Other ships in the fleet weighed anchor and headed out to sea.

Grenville's ship, the Revenge, was delayed and cut off. The ship was becalmed in the lee of a large galleon. After a hand to hand battle lasting 15 hours, involving 15 ships and 5000 men, the Revenge was captured. Grenville was carried aboard the Spanish flagship, where he died a few days later. The exploit is commemorated in a poem by Tennyson titled "The Revenge".

The following excerpt from Cornwall Calling offers a few more details:

On August 31st 1591 the Revenge with about a hundred men fought a battle against some fifty Spanish ships. Battle ceased as darkness fell, and the next day the Spaniards were surprised to see the Revenge still floating. Its mast and sails were gone, its holds were flooded. Grenville ordered his chief gunner to sink the Revenge to stop it falling into enemy hands, but the survivors wanted him to surrender.

Grenville agreed provided the Spanish would grant them full honours of war, and return them to England immediately. The Spanish commander agreed and the battle ended. The Revenge was captured, and Grenville, mortally wounded, was taken on board the Spanish Admiral's ship San Pablo, where he died a few days afterwards. Shortly afterwards an enormous storm sank the Revenge and 14 Spanish ships.



"Lord Grenville" from Year of the Cat (1976)