114 posts tagged with music.
Displaying 1 through 50 of 114. Subscribe:
Movie: Tapeheads (1988)
A couple of creative losers accidently become big shots in the video music industry. [more inside]
Movie: Topsy-Turvy
[TRAILER] After their production "Princess Ida" meets with less-than-stunning reviews, the relationship between Gilbert and Sullivan (Jim Broadbent and Allan Corduner) is strained to breaking. Their friends and associates attempt to get the two to work together again, which opens the way to "The Mikado," one of the duo's greatest successes. [more inside]
Movie: Squaring the Circle (The Story of Hipgnosis)
In 1968, art students Storm Thorgerson and Aubrey "Po" Powell made a trippy photo collage for their musician friends Syd, David and Roger. The resulting album and album cover, A Saucerful of Secrets, helped launch two careers: that of Pink Floyd, one of the 70s megabands, and of Hipgnosis, which, over the course of the next 25 years, designed a stream of iconic album covers. [more inside]
Album: Rockstar
Dolly Parton's long awaited, first-ever rock album Rockstar is now available! Rockstar (via Butterfly Records with distribution by Big Machine Label Group) is a 30-song collection which includes 9 original tracks and 21 iconic Rock anthems that pair Dolly with some of Rock n' Roll's most legendary names. [more inside]
Laurel Canyon: Part 2 Season 1, Ep 2
Part 2 of the MGM+ docuseries follows the residents of Laurel Canyon from the late 60s through the mid-70s as they write more political songs and start locking their doors for the first time after frightening neighborhood connections to the Manson Family murders. Footage and stories of Gram Parsons and the Flying Burrito Brothers, Altamont, Little Feat, Linda Rondstadt (incl. her role helping start the Eagles), the Doors, Bonnie Raitt, an adorably young Jackson Browne, the love between Joni Mitchell and Graham Nash, the cocaine and ego battles that broke up CSN, and more.
Laurel Canyon: Part 1 Season 1, Ep 1
2-part MGM+ docuseries about the famous LA mountain neighborhood where Joni Mitchell, Frank Zappa, the Byrds, Love, Crosby/Stills/Nash/Young, the Monkees, the Turtles and many more found cheap housing and creative community in the mid-late 60s. With Mama Cass’s generosity and openness as a central ingredient, Lauren Canyon - above the smog, but also only a few minutes’ drive from the clubs on Sunset Strip - produced an amazing amount of psychedelic folk and rock music. Part 1. 100% on RT. [more inside]
Movie: Jason Isbell: Running with Our Eyes Closed
[TRAILER] An exploration of the personal and creative struggles behind the music of four-time Grammy-winning singer-songwriter Jason Isbell. A documentary film by Sam Jones (I Am Trying to Break Your Heart). [more inside]
Movie: The Devil and Daniel Johnston
[TRAILER] Daniel Johnston, manic-depressive genius singer/songwriter/artist is revealed in this portrait of madness, creativity and love. [more inside]
Movie: Little Richard: I Am Everything
[TRAILER] The story of the Black queer origins of rock n' roll. It explodes the whitewashed canon of American pop music to reveal the innovator - the originator - Richard Penniman. Through a wealth of archive and performance that brings us into Richard's complicated inner world, the film unspools the icon's life story with all its switchbacks and contradictions. [more inside]
Movie: Searching for Sugar Man
Two South Africans set out to discover what happened to their unlikely musical hero, the mysterious 1970s rock n roller, Rodriguez. [more inside]
Movie: The United States vs. Billie Holiday
[TRAILER] Follows jazz legend Billie Holiday (Andra Day) during her career as she is targeted by the Federal Department of Narcotics with an undercover sting operation led by black Federal Agent Jimmy Fletcher, with whom she has a tumultuous affair. [more inside]
Movie: The Runaways
[TRAILER] Joan Jett (Kristen Stewart) and Cherie Currie (Dakota Fanning), two rebellious teenagers from Southern California, become the frontwomen for the Runaways -- the now-legendary group that paved the way for future generations of female rockers. Under the Svengalilike influence of impresario Kim Fowley (Michael Shannon), the band becomes a huge success, with Joan as the band's hard-rocking heart, and Cherie as the sex kitten. However, the teens' stormy relationship threatens the band's future. [more inside]
Movie: Bird
[TRAILER] Director Clint Eastwood, a noted jazz aficionado, directs this heartfelt study of pioneering bop saxophonist Charlie Parker (Forest Whitaker). Moving forward and backward through Parker's brief life before his death of a heroin overdose at age 34, the film foregrounds the saxophonist's difficult relationship with his wife, Chan Parker (Diane Venora), but also features lengthy scenes of Parker improvising on stage, lit with the neon and cigarette smoke of vintage jazz clubs. [more inside]
Movie: Leadbelly
A biography of Huddie Ledbetter (Roger E. Mosley), this drama follows the life of the highly influential African-American blues singer and guitarist, who was better known as "Leadbelly." The trouble-prone musician frequently ended up working on chain gangs, and, when not incarcerated, he sometimes traveled around with fellow renowned blues man Blind Lemon Jefferson (Art Evans). The film shows how Leadbelly dealt with the racism of his era and found some degree of peace in his music. [more inside]
Movie: American Pop
[TRAILER] The history of American popular music runs parallel with the history of a Russian Jewish immigrant family, with each male descendant possessing different musical abilities. [more inside]
Movie: Lewis Capaldi: How I'm Feeling Now
An intimate, all-access documentary that chronicles Lewis Capaldi's journey from a scrappy teen with a viral performance to a Grammy-nominated pop star.
Movie: Mr. SOUL!
From 1968 to 1973, the first all-Black public-television variety show SOUL!, guided by sharp gay producer and host Ellis Haizlip, offered an uncompromising celebration of Black literature, poetry, music, and politics. This documentary about Haizlip and his show includes clips of live performances from The Last Poets, Al Green, Earth Wind and Fire, literary figures like Nikki Giovanni and James Baldwin, politics, dance and more. The series was among the first to provide expanded images of African Americans on television, shifting the gaze from inner-city poverty and violence to the vibrancy of the Black Arts Movement. On HBO. [more inside]
Movie: Crossroads (1986)
A wannabe blues guitar virtuoso (the preternaturally youthful Ralph Macchio) seeks a long-lost song by the legendary musician Robert Johnson. [more inside]
Movie: Diva
A young postman makes a secret recording of his favorite opera singer then attracts the attention of the mob when his tape gets mixed up with another incriminating the local police. Trailer. [more inside]
Movie: Landfill Harmonic
[TRAILER] Favio Chavez guides the Recycled Orchestra of Cateura, a Paraguayan group that plays instruments made entirely out of garbage. A documentary in Spanish by Brad Allgood, Graham Townsley. [more inside]
Movie: Tár
Set in the international world of Western classical music, the film centers on Lydia Tár, widely considered one of the greatest living composer-conductors and first-ever female music director of a major German orchestra. [more inside]
Movie: Coal Miner's Daughter
Raised in rural Kentucky poverty and married at the age of 13, Loretta Lynn (Sissy Spacek) begins writing and singing her own country songs in her early 20s. With the tireless help of her husband Oliver "Doo" Lynn (Tommy Lee Jones), Loretta rises from local honky-tonks and small-time record deals to national tours and hit singles, befriending her idol Patsy Cline (Beverly D'Angelo) and becoming a country music icon despite the toll stardom takes on her family and her marriage. [more inside]
Movie: The Decline of Western Civilization
The acclaimed Penelope Spheeris documentary takes a frank, often funny look at the punk culture of the late '70s and early '80s. With Alice Bag Band, Black Flag, Catholic Discipline, Circle Jerks, Fear, Germs, and X. [more inside]
Movie: Metal Lords
For teenage misfits Hunter and Kevin, the path to glory is clear: Devote themselves to metal. Win Battle of the Bands. And be worshipped like gods. [more inside]
Podcast: Reply All: #183 The Venova King
This week, a Super Tech Support: a listener's Spotify Wrapped is dominated by a mysterious artist she's never heard of and swears she's never listened to. And the songs she supposedly played are even weirder. Emmanuel investigates. [more inside]
Book: The Storyteller
I'm not even that big of a Foo Fighters fan but Grohl was already the rock star I most wanted to have a beer with before I read this book. It's an autobiographical sketch of his life, told in stories ranging from poignant (Kurt Cobain), to hilarious (the time he got a text from his wife asking if it was okay for AC/DC to join them for dinner), to downright this guy can't be human (flying RT from Australia to LA to attend the daddy-daughter dance with his daughters).
Dave Grohl really is one of the good guys. And he is a hell of a storyteller, in music or print.
We Are Lady Parts: Full Season Season 1, Ep 0
Written and directed by Nida Manzoor, this six-episode comedy series follows the all-Muslim women punk band, Lady Parts, as its members balance their faith, feminism, families, friendships, identities, careers, and dreams. [Trailer] [more inside]
Movie: Captain Beefheart: Under Review
"Traces the roots and history of this iconic musical legend with rare live and studio performances of Beefheart, interspersed with contributions from virtually all members of The Magic Band along with a panel of esteemed experts." - Amazon description
Movie: The Rutles: All You Need Is Cash
From Eric Idle, Neil Innes, George Harrison, and more, came the Rutles: an affectionate parody of Beatlemania, and a musical legend that will last a lunchtime. They were discovered by their manager, Leggy Mountbatten, in a lunchtime disco. Their first album was made in 20 minutes. Their second album took even longer. [more inside]
Movie: X: The Unheard Music
This film is a documentary about the personalities in, and the music of, the early 1980's Los Angeles punk band X. - IMDB
Movie: The Wrecking Crew
A celebration of the musical work of a group of session musicians known as "The Wrecking Crew", a band that provided back-up instrumentals to such legendary recording artists as Frank Sinatra, The Beach Boys and Bing Crosby. - IMDB
Movie: Muscle Shoals
A documentary that celebrates Rick Hall, the founder of FAME Studios in Muscle Shoals, Alabama, and the signature sound he developed in songs such as "I'll Take You There", "Brown Sugar", and "When a Man Loves a Woman".
Movie: The Bee Gees: How Can You Mend a Broken Heart
An exploration of the history of the Bee Gees, featuring revealing interviews with oldest brother Barry Gibb, and archival interviews with the late twin brothers Robin and Maurice. - IMDB. Trailer at HBO, YouTube, and Amazon. [more inside]
Movie: Sound of Metal
A heavy-metal drummer's life is thrown into freefall when he begins to lose his hearing. [more inside]
Podcast: Into the Zone: The Ghost in the Codec
At the dawn of the digital era, a group of engineers tasked with audio compression had to decide what information to keep, and what to leave behind. What was signal, and what was noise?
Movie: David Byrne's American Utopia
Spike Lee documents the former Talking Heads frontman's brilliant, timely 2019 Broadway show, based on his recent album and tour of the same name. Old songs, new songs, beautiful movement, suits, and bare feet. Even a cover of Janelle Monáe's “Hell You Talmbout.” Probably the panacea you need right now. Currently found on HBOMax. Preview. [more inside]
Movie: Amadeus
Lucian Msamati and Adam Gillen play Salieri and Mozart, respectively, in the National Theatre's 2017 production of Amadeus. An onstage orchestra illustrates Peter Shaffer's play about jealousy, music, and yearning. Watch for free via YouTube till 23 July.
What We Do in the Shadows: Collaboration Season 2, Ep 8
When Nandor's old familiar from the 1970s returns to Staten Island, Guillermo reconsiders his role and his options, while Nadja and Lazslo revive their musical act with a little help from Colin. [more inside]
Mystery Science Theater 3000: UNTAMED YOUTH Rewatch Season 1, Ep 12
Rewatch! On Sunday [4/19]: A home for troubled teens is actually a work farm run by unscrupulous adults. Starring MST3K favorite Mamie Van Doren, who is still alive and kicking as of this writing! This movie marks the show's beginning to branch out to other genres of cinema, here, the teensploitation movie. The bad guy's surname is Tropp; having a name that ends with a doubled hard consonant is one of those sure-fire signs of cinema evil. Previously. Two more episodes in Season One.
Podcast: Reply All: #158 The Case of the Missing Hit
A man in California is haunted by the memory of a pop song from his youth. He can remember the lyrics and the melody. But the song itself has vanished, completely scrubbed from the internet. PJ takes on the Super Tech Support case.
Book: Solo
Blade never asked for a life of the rich and famous. In fact, he’d give anything not to be the son of Rutherford Morrison, a washed-up rock star and drug addict with delusions of a comeback. Or to no longer be part of a family known most for lost potential, failure, and tragedy, including the loss of his mother. The one true light is his girlfriend, Chapel, but her parents have forbidden their relationship, assuming Blade will become just like his father. In reality,... [more inside]
Book: A Song for a New Day
In this captivating science fiction novel from an award-winning author, public gatherings are illegal making concerts impossible, except for those willing to break the law for the love of music, and for one chance at human connection. In the Before, when the government didn't prohibit large public gatherings, Luce Cannon was on top of the world. One of her songs had just taken off and she was on her way to becoming a star. Now, in the After, terror attacks and deadly viruses have resulted in the government outlawing public gatherings of more than 30 people, and an economy pretty much owned by an online superstore. [more inside]
Book: The Revenge of Analog
A funny thing happened on the way to the digital utopia. We've begun to fall back in love with the very analog goods and ideas the tech gurus insisted that we no longer needed. Businesses that once looked outdated, from film photography to brick-and-mortar retail, are now springing with new life. Notebooks, records, and stationery have become cool again. Behold the Revenge of Analog. [more inside]
Country Music: A Film by Ken Burns Season 1, Ep 0
PBS: Explore the history of country music – from its roots in ballads, hymns and the blues to its mainstream popularity – and meet the unforgettable characters and storytellers who made it “America’s Music.” Directed by Ken Burns. [more inside]
Movie: Blinded by the Light
In 1987 Luton, in Thatcher's Britain, confronted by National Front racists on the streets and a stressed, angry father at home, a British Asian teenager learns to live his own life, get a new perspective on his Pakistani immigrant family, and find his own voice through the music of Bruce Springsteen. Directed and co-written by Gurinder Chadha (known for Bend It Like Beckham), with music by legendary Indian composer and film score creator A.R. Rahman. Inspired by a true story. [more inside]
Movie: Our Shining Days 《閃光少女》
A youth inspirational film, about how a group of high school students try to revive Chinese orchestra ensemble. They face many challenges along the way to compete nationally, including a rivalry with the more popular Western orchestra club. [more inside]
Albums and music?
Any place for albums or music in FanFare? [more inside]
Movie: Janelle Monae: Dirty Computer
An Android, Jane 57821, attempts to break free from the constraints of a totalitarian society that forcibly makes Jane comply with its homophobic beliefs. [more inside]
Movie: Her Smell
A self-destructive punk rocker struggles with sobriety while trying to recapture the creative inspiration that led her band to success. [more inside]
Movie: Homecoming: A Film by Beyoncé
This intimate, in-depth look at Beyoncé's celebrated 2018 Coachella performance reveals the emotional road from creative concept to cultural movement. [more inside]