Thursday, April 20, 2006

Unprofitable Servant or Unserviceable Prophet?

A short post today, Dear Friends and Visitors. Indeed I'm not in much of a mood for discourse, but I did want to share something with you. I urge you all to go post-haste to your local independent hip cinema and see without delay this most wonderful film , The Devil and Daniel Johnston. For those of you unfamiliar with Johnston, he is a most gifted singer-songwriter and artist who weaves unconventional tales of unrequited love, epic struggles of good versus evil, and pop cultcha, all against the backdrop of his ongoing struggle with mental illness. His work is by turns witty, uncomfortable, intimate, raw and touching. I saw this tremendous documentary yesterday evening (many thanks to plastic music's post pointing me in the right direction) and have been unable to shake it from my head or heart since. The film admirably addresses the impact of both Johnston's artistry and his illness on himself and those around him. Oh, for goodness sake, why are you hanging about, just go see it already!!

Well, since I'm here and feeling down for a variety of reasons (there is much sickness about at the moment), I might as well be self-indulgent and post a few suitable tracks. Why squander a good mope.

Daniel Johnston - Walking the Cow (buy here, not Amazon)
Bauhaus - Crowds (buy here)
Joy Division - Atmosphere (buy here)
The Smiths - Heaven Knows I'm Miserable Now (buy here)
Jan Garbarek & The Hilliard Ensemble - Parce Mihi Domine (buy here)
Edith Piaf - Ne Me Quitte Pas (not sure what disc it's from, but buy this)
Israel Kamakawiwo'ole - Somewhere Over the Rainbow (buy here and learn more about this sweet man here)

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

Glad you enjoyed it too!

I want to see it again. It really was an excellent film. One of the best rock docs I have ever seen.

FiL said...

Colin,

Many thanks, though were you really intending to depress me more?? ;-) Truly it is a most mopeish tune - slightly remeniscent voicewise, methought, of Neil Young.

FiL

Anonymous said...

may i suggest the josé gonzalez record, veneer, as the mope record of the year?

it is SPLENDID.

FiL said...

Aw, c'mon guys! Here I am feeling more upbeat and you keep trying to drag me down again... :)

Cheers Bryce, I've heard his cover of "Love Will Tear Us Apart" and was most impressed. I'll take you up on the recommendation.

FiL