· On a much classier note, I can't say enough good things about Palm Pictures' new Directors Label series of DVDs, collecting the music-video work of three talented creators. Sixteen unforgettable videos are collected on Spike Jonze's DVD, including the burning man running through Wax's "California," Christopher Walken's graceful dance in Fatboy Slim's "Weapon of Choice," the cardigan glee of Weezer's "Buddy Holly," and the Beastie Boys' supercop action machismo of "Sabotage." If Jonze's work carries a common theme, it might be the flow and journey of his subjects, always in motion and traveling, from the backwards-slippery stroll of The Pharcyde in "Drop" to MC 900ft Jesus' cardboard box parcel post in "If I Only Had a Brain" to the Koyaanisqatsi-like kinetic shuffle of Daft Punk's "Da Funk." Packed with voice-over commentaries and one of the nicest booklets I've seen in a DVD, the flipside features Jonze's short film work, a documentary on Texas teenagers dreaming of bull-riding championships, and footage from an unused Oasis video in which people on the street hear the band's new single and describe the video that they see in their heads. Also a must-see is his faux documentary on the hopelessly white-bread Torrance Community dance troupe's visit to the MTV Music Video Awards. Two other directors have also been given their own DVD showcases: the creepy vision of Chris Cunningham (Aphex Twin's "Come To Daddy") and the clever Legos and pixilation work of Michel Gondry (The White Stripes, Bjork, and Radiohead). ... Speaking of Radiohead and film, the soundtrack to Bodysong, a British documentary that blends archival film footage from the past 100 years and uses no dialogue, will be released early next year with extra material in the stateside release. Recently winning the British Independent Film Award, the movie was scored by Radiohead multi-instrumentalist Jonny Greenwood and his bassist brother Colin.
Television Alert:
The Tonight Show with Jay Leno welcomes Nelly Furtado tonight, Tori Amos on Monday, and Phil Collins on Tuesday; The Late Show with David Letterman hosts Moby on Thursday, Jay-Z on Friday, Iggy Pop and Sum 41 on Monday, and Merle Haggard on Tuesday; Late Night with Conan O'Brien features the Brian Setzer Orchestra this evening overnight, Boy George on Thursday overnight, The Black Keys on Monday overnight, and the Dandy Warhols on Tuesday overnight; The Late Late Show with Craig Kilborn pools Puddle of Mudd on Thursday overnight and The Ataris on Monday overnight; Jimmy Kimmel Live gives it up for Blink 182 this evening overnight; and Saturday Night Live's musical guest this weekend is Justin Timberlake. On Thursday evening PBS' Soundstage program will feature two hours of highlights from September's Farm Aid concert from Columbus, Ohio, with Neil Young, John Mellencamp, Willie Nelson, and friends.
New Releases Coming Tuesday, December 2:
... and like the winds, young grasshopper, are subject to change
Basement Jaxx - "Lucky Star" (Astralwerks) CD and 12-inch single featuring vocalist Dizzee Rascal
David Bowie - Sound + Vision (Virgin) re-issue of this out-of-print box set from 1989, expanded with 23 more tracks
Can - Can (Mute) CD and double-DVD set featuring a film documentary, a 1972 concert, and re-mixes
Richard Cheese & Lounge Against the Machine - Tuxicuty (Idea Town) sporting a tiger-skin smoking jacket, piano, and upright bass, this swanky wedding-band quartet plays lounge-friendly versions of hits by The White Stripes, Van Halen, Beck, Sir Mix-A-Lot, Linkin Park, White Zombie, and more
Clear Horizon - Clear Horizon (Kranky) fruits of long-distance recordings passed between David Pearce and Jessica Bailiff
The Cooler - original motion picture soundtrack (Commotion/Koch) score by Mark Isham
Dirty Rig - Blood, Sweat, & Beer Make America Strong (Music Cartel)
Frameshift - Unweaving the Rainbow (Progrock Records) featuring Dream Theater vocalist James Labrie, this new project with Henning Pauly of Chain is a brainy concept album focused on the evolution theories of Charles Darwin
Diamanda Galas - Defixiones Will & Testament (Mute UK) import-only CD tackling the theme of genocide imposed upon the Armenian, Assyrian, and Greek peoples by Turkey in the early 1900s
David Guetta - "Just a Little More Love" (Astralwerks) CD and 12-inch single
Neil Michael Hagerty - Introducing: The Hollowing Hex (Drag City) new from the Royal Trux founder as the first of three limited-edition vinyl EPs
Norah Jones - Crazy Live (Blue Note)
Alicia Keys - The Diary of Alicia Keys (J Records) with guests Missy Elliott, Nas, and Rakim
Movietone - Sand & the Stars (Drag City) as the title alludes to, this new album was recorded on the beach at night
Papa M - Four (Drag City) new CD EP from the Zwan member
They Walk Among Us - Mathematics, Art in Progress (Aeronaut) debut from Richard Proctor of Quicksand Charlie
True Crime: Streets of L.A. - original motion picture soundtrack (Koch) with Snoop Dogg, Warren G, Boo Ya Tribe, and more
various artists - Untinted: Sources For Madlib's Shades of Blue (Blue Note) budget-priced collection of original tracks by Wayne Shorter, Donald Byrd, Herbie Hancock, The Three Sounds, and more
The Volebeats - Country Favorites (Turquoise Mountain) alt-country twang from Detroit featuring members of Electric Six and Outrageous Cherry, with new tracks, rarities, and nifty covers of Funkadelic's "Maggot Brain," ABBA's "Knowing Me Knowing You," The York Brothers' "Hamtramck Mama," and Slayer's "Die by the Sword"