The Pixies Sell Out

After reviewing the Pixies film LoudQUIETloud in my last post I decided to continue on my DVD journey and got The Pixies Sell Out 2004 from Netflix. For what it's worth, Sell Out is nothing more than a concert performance. No interviews (other than their Road Manager and their Lighting Director in the Special Features section) or other backstage intrigue. Culled from a 2004 show in France the set list is expansive. The Special Features section also includes 14 extra songs from a slew of shows including the 2004 Coachella festival.

What is strange having watched LoudQUIETloud just last week is that while watching Sell Out the viewer has absolutely no idea of the level of non-communication going on between the band members offstage. If you are just looking for incredible footage of the Pixies rocking out, then Sell Out is for you. The set list is heavy on the first three albums - 27 songs but only two ("Is She Weird" and "Velouria") from Bossanova and two ("UMass" and "Subbacultcha") from Trompe le Monde. The smart thing for the average Pixies fan out there would be to get both of these films - watch LoudQUIETloud first and just when you're really depressed at how much they don't talk to each other, throw Sell Out into the DVD player and watch them play both versions of "Wave of Mutilation". Only two more DVDs from the reunion tour and I'm done.

Dig for Fire (mp3)

The Pixies loudQUIETloud

As it often happens when the Mrs. heads out of town for work I stack the Netflix queue with rock DVDs. I put the kid to sleep, slap on my headphones and fall off into another world in front of the television. Last night was no exception as loudQUIETloud arrived in the mail yesterday.

2006 saw a barrage of DVD's documenting the reformed Pixies on tour (not to mention the multi-disc live record Hey). There's one from a show at the Paradise in Boston. One from their acoustic show at the Newport Folk Festival and yet one more that centers on one of their dates in France. I have yet to see any of these though they in the aforementioned queue. I started with loudQUIETloud because it sold itself as a film, not a documentation of one single show, and I was generously rewarded.

This is not a performance film although the live performances featured are gorgeously shot with impeccably recorded audio. No, this is the story of four extraordinary people who view themselves as ordinary even though they are most likely the most influential band of the last 25 years. Twelve years removed from their acrimonious parting, they reluctantly get back together to tour the world.

The title of the film not only describes the dynamics of their songs (a style that has influenced...well, everyone) but the state of their relationship as a band. On stage, they rip through their catalog as if it's 1989 and they're playing the Middle East or 9:30 Club or Metro. Off stage, there is a complete lack of communication between members that left me saddened at times. The filmmakers do an excellent job of interweaving compelling off stage story lines with the live show - David's father dying of cancer while on tour leading him to substance abuse; Joey trying to maintain his balance between family and career; Charles finding out his girlfriend is pregnant while on the road. The interplay between Kim and her twin sister, Kelley, give the film its comic relief which is greatly needed at times.

In the end, the viewer is left with a sense of resolution as the four members hug on the stage at the Hammerstein Ballroom at the end of the tour. The fact that the band has continued to tour demonstrates they can still tolerate each and they are unapologetic about the funds derived by the reunion - why shouldn't they cash in on it. I highly recommend this film and encourage any fan to watch it a second time with the commentary track.

U-Mass (mp3)
Where is My Mind? (mp3)
Wave of Mutilation (mp3)

Of Montreal

Just over a year ago I posted about my close childhood friend, Davey Wrathgeber (nee' Rathgeber), who performs under the moniker Visitations. He moved to my town in 6th grade (1984 for those of you keeping track) and we became fast friends. As we moved through high school Dave formed the creative nucleus of our group of friends as we attempted to make music, movies, etc in Suburban DC. In the fall of 1990, he headed off to Athens, GA to attend college and hasn't returned. Dave's freshman roommate at UGA was Andrew Reiger of Elf Power (how creative was that dorm room?).

Over the course of the last 16 years, Dave has formed both creative and personal relationships with a number of the Elephant 6 crew - Olivia Tremor Control, Neutral Milk Hotel, Elf Power, Of Montreal and the like. While each band has its own distinct sound, I can't help but think that all of them were big fans of 1967-era Beatles, and early 70's-era Bowie. Finely crafted pop songs with a psychedelic edge.

As much of the hype over the Elephant 6 crew has waned in recent years (despite Robert Schneider of The Apples in Stereo singing on the Colbert Report a few weeks ago), Of Montreal has continued on - moving to Polyvinyl and continuing to put out beautiful pop music. January 23rd will see the release of Hissing Fauna, Are You the Destroyer? In keeping with tradition, the songs have absolutely absurd titles. Check out the first single from their new album, "Heimdalsgate Like A Promethean Curse".

Heimdalsgate Like A Promethean Curse (mp3)
Disconnect the Dots (mp3) from Satanic Panic in the Attic
A Question For Emily Foreman (mp3) from Aldhils Arboretum

Backbeat

It is an interesting phenomena when a soundtrack overshadows a film. Singles, Marie Antoinette, and Garden State all come to mind even though all three were, at the very least,
decent movies. Add another entry to the OK Movie with a Great Soundtrack file in 1993' Backbeat. I try to overlook the fact that this was the movie that launched the awful Stephen Dorff's stardom and focus on the soundtrack.

For the uninitiated, Backbeat is the tale of Stu Sutcliffe, the original Beatles' bass player and Lennon's closest childhood fan. It track the young Beatles during the summer of 1961 when they lived in Hamburg, Germany playing 8 hour shows at strip clubs. Sutcliffe eventually leaves the band for German photographer, Astrid Kircherr - who took all those shots of the band looking totally badass in black (pre-mop top). The plot focuses on how Sutcliffe's relationship with Kircherr strains his relationship with Lennon (a little Yoko foreshadowing if you ask me). Anywho, it's a solid 2 1/2 star film. Throw it on the Netflix queue.

The soundtrack, on the other hand, is fan-freaking-tastic. Producer Don Was put together an early 90's supergroup for the session: Greg Dulli (of the Afghan Whigs and Twilight Singers) on Lennon's vocals, Dave Pirner (of Soul Asylum) on Paul's vocals, Mike Mills (of R.E.M) on bass, Thurston Moore (of Sonic Youth) on guitar, Dave Grohl (ever heard of him?) on drums and Don Fleming (of Gumball and the Velvet Monkeys) on lead guitar. It raw, it lean, and Thurston has to play a guitar with standard tuning (imagine that).

Check out
1. the music video for "Money" introduced by Greg Dulli
2. a live performance from 1994 of "Money" and "Long Tall Sally"