Something a little lighter than the previous film post…..looking forward to checking this out - future gift for my brother-in-law perhaps as well.

This movie angered me, possibly broke a small piece of my heart and filled me with hope and awe over the power of music.

Set in Northern Uganda, a country ravaged by more than two decades of civil war, WAR/DANCE tells the story of Dominic, Rose, and Nancy, three children whose families have been torn apart, their homes destroyed, and who currently reside in a displaced persons camp in Patongo. When they are invited to compete in an annual music and dance competition, their historic journey to their nation’s capital is also an opportunity to regain a part of their childhood and to taste victory for the first time in their lives.

14 year old Dominic had this to say in the opening minutes of the film [which was also beautifully shot on location] on the importance of music:

In our daily lives their must be music. In everything we do, if there is music, life becomes good. That’s why I want to be part of music.

Watch the film and tell me you wouldn’t want to grab that kid [or any of them in the film] and hug the hell out of him and then have a mad jam!

The film reminds me of Daniel Levitin’s book, This is Your Brain on Music, from which the following quote comes from:

No known human culture now or anytime in the recorded past lacked music.

There is something universal and powerful about music and I feel fortunate enough to be part of it (and also not to have endured what these children and their families have).

I don’t want to give too much of the movie away but here is just one example of what these children have been left to deal with [copied from PopMatters review of the film):

The film illustrates a story told by Rose, a singer. Initially, the camera takes her point of view, running through a field in the sunlight, her hand trailing over the tall grasses. This pleasant perception is interrupted when Rose recalls LRA soldiers taking her to see a large pot, near a “big tree” swarmed by ants and flies: “It was so ugly,” she says, as the camera shows close-ups of bugs. “The soldiers,” she says, “removed heads one by one from the pot. I recognized my parents. When I saw my mother’s head being pulled from the pot, I felt like I was losing my mind… There is nothing more I can say.”

You really should see this movie.

Kudos to Th!nk Films for producing the movies they do - high quality productions that entertain while making you think and are almost guaranteed to get a response of some sort from you.

Via Listening Post: “Fairly Violent, Pretty Amazing”

Ghostly International and Adult Swim team up to deliver a free electronic focused album [in the past Adult Swim has done more hip-hop focused music projects including work with DangerMouse]

You get 19 free tracks - all for download w/artwork or streaming on the site - including the newest Tycho single. There is also a video for the first song if you look down in the lower right corner.

It is the artwork I really like on this project. When I first saw the site I instantly thought “vinyl” in relation to the album artwork and its size on the site. Developing covers that can work as the foundation for the artist’s website to be built around them might be an idea more designers should try pitching to artists and artists should consider regardless. Oh and I think the artwork itself is beautiful.

From the Ghostly site:

Record label Ghostly International and modern cult classic programmers [Adult Swim] have paired up for a compilation of new music and art*.

A genre-busting 19-song collection, stretching the entire Ghostly International galaxy, Ghostly Swim explores the Avant-Pop style that the Ann Arbor/New York City label has been been championing for the past 9 years. Ghostly Swim features artists like Matthew Dear, Dabrye, Tycho and Aeroc and features new signings like UK cult band The Chap and NYC producer Michna.

The free collection also includes favorite friends of the label like School Of Seven Bells, and Detroit’s Deastro, Milosh (Plug Research), FLYamSAM (Warp’s Flying Lotus and SAMIYAM), and Dark Party (Mush). Along with the new music, BoyCatBird (Ghostly’s mascots) make their animated debut in the awesome “City Suckers” video by Daniel Garcia/Superfi.

Also- check out BoyCayBird’s new website, where you can download, avatars, desktop wallpaper and more.

* Love the emphasis of how it is a compilation of new music AND art.

Jonny Stevens, for a young guy, seems like he’s been around forever. His last band the New Breed did their thing from 1997 until 2005. When the New Breed called it a day, Jonny started a solo project and has been performing since with a backing backing band The Racket.

In the decade plus he has been pursing music he has experienced all the highs and lows of being in a band, losing a band, starting fresh and - well losing a band. All that experience made him ideal for his new/current position as education coordinator at Music Nova Scotia.

Not only is he a wealth of knowledge, he truly enjoys sharing what he knows (and thinks) - thus leading him to be a perfect addition to this blog.

For his latest video, Jonny took the idea of free music on his site into the real world, and cameras rolling, went looking for a few good homes for some of his albums.

In addition to the new video, scroll down some and you will find two new tracks as well , I don’t think Jonny will be upset if you share them and pass them around either.

Video: You Can’t Take Me

Back in September 07 I had an idea for a music video. I had been giving away free downloads of my record on my website and decided that I would try giving away free copies of my actual CD and video tape it. I was lucky enough to hook up with a great group of young film makers in Halifax and a wicked director named Jason Levangie.

We took to the streets with a couple cameras, 200 cds and an idea and shot this in one day.

I lost track of the footage and due to busy schedules (my new job etc) the video is now available for the first time and I hope you all enjoy it.

Jonny Stevens - Two
Two new tracks from Jonny Stevens you won’t find elsewhere - Enjoy!
Jonny Stevens - Footsteps in Sand
Jonny Stevens - Jenny’s Song

Web Scout exclusive! Rick Astley, king of the ‘Rickroll,’ talks about his song’s second coming | Los Angeles Times

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/webscout/2008/03/rick-astley-kin.html

Shitdisco - OK

Fortunately they brave forward anyways. Head to Radio3 and check out a tour diary with Steph and find a link to some videoblogging she has going on on their myspace page

Caught this by total coincidence on PBS [it is part of the funding drive this month] thanks to a visit with my sister and channel hoping brother-in-law.

If you are a fan of the Clash you NEED to see this. If you are a casual fan of the band or performance docs, you should still seek this out.

So good.

And props to PBS!