From the visually transfixing to a celebrated indie film, a beefy stack of new DVDs is my recommendation for wide-eyed fall cocooning, remote and pumpkin pie in hand. I'm mesmerized by the kaleidoscopic wallpaper of home movies dipped, crinkled and dragged through an ocean of colors in
Takagi Masakatsu's
World Is So Beautiful DVD. The Japanese multimedia artist originally created the 10 pieces for installation in fashion designer Agnes b.'s shops in France, with later presentations at the Museum of Modern Art. Mixing fractured breaths, strolling beats, flittering piano wanderings and found source material such as laughing children, the effect is simply soul inspiring. Look for it Tuesday on the Laptop-Folk friendly Carpark Records. ... When you've got
Paul McCartney's euros, things get naturally done on a top-notch scale. A&E television's new DVD division releases
Paul McCartney: The Space Within US this Tuesday, a souped-up presentation of his concert film, recently aired on the cable network, beamed skyward for the entertainment of astronauts aboard the Mir space station. Utilizing 25 high-definition cameras and 5.1 surround sound, over 30 Pop masterpieces are captured live, with special guests Eddie Vedder, Herbie Hancock, Tony Bennett and President Bill Clinton. The DVD adds interviews, sound checks and liner notes by Cameron Crowe. ...
Two high profile rockers show off their acting chops with an evil Ed Asner in a small-budget film that swept Grand Jury awards and received Official Selection in a host of film festivals in 2005 and 2006, soon available on a new DVD release with bonus goodies. Brad Wilk of Audioslave and Rage Against the Machine stars in Sleeping Dogs Lie as a stranger with a confession, alongside Tool's Maynard Keenan, as an armadillo-sniffing small town cop. The Avatar release includes a making-of documentary, interviews, outtakes and exclusive music from A Perfect Circle.
Television Alert
The Tonight Show with Jay Leno welcomes Damien Rice Thursday and Army of Anyone Friday. The Late Show with David Letterman hosts Elvis Costello Friday and Tenacious D Monday. Jimmy Kimmel Live bows down to Lady Sovereign Thursday. Late Night with Conan O'Brien boasts Death Cab for Cutie Wednesday, Los Lobos Monday and Panic At the Disco Tuesday. Last Call with Carson Daly howls at the moon with Wolfmother Thursday and G. Love Friday. And Austin City Limits' musical guest this weekend on PBS is Van Morrison.
New Releases Coming Tuesday
+44 - When Your Heart Stops Beating (Interscope) new from Travis Barker and Mark Hoppus of Blink-182 with members of The Transplants and The Nervous Return; ... And You Will Know Us By the Trail of Dead - So Divided (Interscope) featuring a cover of Guided By Voices' "Gold Mountain Top Queen Directory"; Ampline - Rosary (Shake It) primarily instrumental, these sweaty, cavernous, driving jams lull, attack and charge over the wall with spasmodic frenzy; The Arkansas Traveler - Music From Little House On the Prairie (Pa's Fiddle) with John Cowan, Allison Brown, Riders In the Sky and the Pa's Fiddle Band; Bug - original motion picture soundtrack (Lionsgate) with music from Scott Weiland, Chainsaw Kittens and Serj Tankian; The Clash - The Singles (Epic Legacy) perfectly timed for their special exhibit at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, this fantastic box set recreates all 19 of their British 7-inch singles as individual CDs, packed with rare B-sides and 12-inch mixes and a 44-page booklet with love and commentary flowing from original manager Bernie Rhodes, Pete Townshend, Steve Jones, Nick Hornby, Ian Brown and many more; Christine Fellows - Paper Anniversary (Six Shooter) fresh, powerfully poetic collection of eclectic, pensive Pop, like a gentle, hand-held tour of a crystallized world, peering into the windows and lives of the faithful, walking wounded; Nanci Griffith - Ruby's Torch (Rounder); I Killed the Prom Queen - Music for the Recently Deceased (Metal Blade) on tour now with Silverstein; Paul Michel - Quiet State of Panic (Stunning Models On Display) terrific solo project from Washington, DC, featuring the haunting acoustic track "The Fire Theft"; Joanna Newsom - Ys (Drag City) five orchestrated songs over 55 minutes; Joan Osborne - Pretty Little Stranger (Vanguard); Primordial Undermind - Loss of Affect (Strange Attractors Audio House) Terrastock favorites tripping in the basement with the lights out; The Rocket Summer - The Early Years (Militia Group) reissue from 2002; Tralala - Is That the Tralala (Audika) beat-crazy, perky Punk Pop putting their herky-jerk to The Wipers' "Mystery"; Shortstack - The History of Cut Nails In America (Gypsy Eyes) bug-peppy, twang-sleepy, cough-syrup Rockabilly fermented from demo sessions recorded in a West Virginia barn; Staind - The Singles: 1996-2006 (Flip/Atlantic) featuring a live acoustic cover of Pink Floyd's "Comfortably Numb"; Sublime - Everything Under the Sun (Geffen) three-CD and bonus DVD box set; Tahiti 80 - Fosbury (Militia Group) Justin Timberlake wishes he possessed a tenth of the old school Michael Jackson/Curtis Mayfield/Sade Soul magic that this French quartet delivers in this sexy stateside issue, featuring an exclusive bonus CD EP of covers of songs by The Turtles, The Chi-Lites and Epic Soundtracks; Tenacious D - Tenacious D in The Pick of Destiny (Epic) with guests Ronnie James Dio and Meat Loaf; White Magic - Dat Rosa Mel Apibus (Drag City) featuring Jim White, Sleepy Doug Shaw and Mira Billoutte; Widespread Panic - Earth to Atlanta: Live at the Fox Theatre 2006 (Sanctuary) two-DVD set filmed this past May; The Wrens - Silver and Secaucus (Commander Venus) their 1994 and 1996 albums on Grass Records, lovingly reissued on Conor Oberst's boutique label; Yusuf - An Other Cup (Ya/Atlantic) formerly known as hit-maker Cat Stevens, his first new "Pop" album in 28 years features guest Youssou N'Dour and an appropriate cover of The Animals' classic "Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood."
