You See Me Laughin’ The Last Of The Hill Country Bluesmen

(Fat Possum)

Out now

5/5

Mandy Stein’s documentary is a wonder to behold. Based around a group of blues guitarists (predominantly R L Burnside and Junior Kimbrough) who live in complete small-town Mississippi isolation. A world of exceptional guitarists is brought to light and as effective outsiders they’re unaware of their own talents until Fat Possum records trace them down and seek to eek out releases.

Somewhat inevitably, both parties treat each other with suspicion, unsure of the worlds they’re entering. These tensions are wonderfully highlighted by hilarious anecdotes from Iggy Pop, Bono and the John Spencer Blues Explosion as they recount playing with the various bluesmen and receiving a ‘who are you?’ treatment to put it nicely.

The use of archive footage and choice of anecdote is perfect, and the characters are interviewed in great depth, portraying as complete a picture as can be portrayed in a 90 minute film. An essential purchase, blues/guitar fan or not.

Jonathan Falcone 

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Razorlight - This Is A Razorlight DVD 

(Vertigo)

Released May 30 2005

What a pretentious title. But is that as standard now? Am I the only one that thought Somewhere Else was just a load of moaning crap about how horrible it was to be successful? Maybe I’m biased. I’ve always had it in for Johnny Borrell, and it’s not just the ever changing haircuts (on full display in the videos section). Sometimes it’s just impossible to remove the personality from the music. He was the reason initially didn’t like Razorlight, especially his constant self-righteous gobbing off in every interview he was in. He never 
failed to make me cringe or curse. This was a shame, because it made me ignore them when they first came onto the scene. Eventually I managed to block out The Mouth and enjoy what was a pretty entertaining debut album.

But when Somewhere Else came out, and the album was re-released with that tacked on the end, I couldn’t take them seriously any more. I advise you all to go read the Popjustice scientific study into What Is The Point Of Razorlight, it’s hilarious.

This DVD contains a gig from Brixton from last October, before the superego set in and they had to start playing arenas that could fit it through the door. For what it’s worth, they go through a good performance, and Rip It Up, Vice and Golden Touch are fine exercises in indie disco anthems. But the trouble with bands like this releasing a DVD with just one album behind them is that all they’re really doing is playing that album in a slightly different order. The sound mix isn’t even that great. Borrell persists in constantly muttering his Nathan Barley-esque wisdom inbetween and even during songs, and they bring out a mini gospel choir for Golden Touch for some reason. But he also commands a seething army of the cool scene who’ll want to re-live that gig where their hero let them clap along every now and again.

Joe Weiller

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Jimmy Eat World - Believe In What You Want 

(Interscope Records) 

Released April 30 2005 

This DVD has three main features: a live concert, a documentary and some studio songs. It’s somewhat belated though as it documents the period immediately after the release of ‘Bleed American’ and its concurrent success.

To be blunt, this DVD is great if you’re a Jimmy Eat World fan; the live show documents both their pop abilities and rawkus live energy, electric on stage and still able to nail harmonies with perfection. 

The two studio songs are gentle takes on Bleed American songs, and add a gentle lulling tint on their more brutal moments. 

What’s undeniably of the greatest interest is the documentary. Whilst it’s tame in comparison to a Blink 182 or Green Day documentary it’s almost a kind of classic American values tale. After being dropped from Capitol records the band take control of themselves, effectively. Touring off their own backs they save money to record, use friends to help reduce recording costs and by the end of it they literally have all the major label guys queuing outside the studio, allowing them to determine their contract. So what results? A multi-platinum selling album. Now if that ain’t the American dream then I don’t know what is. Still, it completely supports the punk DIY ethos as well. 

A great watch, from a band that are masters of their craft. 

Jonathan Falcone

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Ministry Of Sound - Pump It Up DVD 

Out Now 

You’ve got to be sceptical of those exercise DVD’s based on minor celebrities (Hollyoaks and Corry both have them). So a DVD based on those semi-clad dames from that awful ‘Call On Me’ dance toon is a grimace machine strapped straight to the cheeks. 

The initial response to this is ‘wank fodder’. 

That’s probably not wrong, but if you follow the exercise in it’s entirety you 

A: are completely shattered and not sure where exactly you’ve been for the last hour and 

B: do actually feel like you’ve done some exercise for once.

I was amazed I’d done all that in one sitting. Sure the music’s by the by, it provides a sense of momentum and energy, even if it’s commercial dance and not mixed in the Ministry way.

 If I were a fitness fanatic my preference would be to choose an exercise DVD based on its soundtrack and not the celebrity content. It’s got kitsch visuals, pretty crummy tunes and I’ll probably never do it again, but I must admit, it was fin while it lasted. 

Jonathan Falcone 

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