I Found A Reason

Over the weekend, a friend and I had chance to watch the film "V For Vendetta". While I won't bore you with any formal review, I thought it was a thoughtful, stylish and affecting movie and although the movie takes place against the backdrop of an Orwellian, not too distant future, it coincidentally tackles issues of topicality like government corruption, homophobia, and freedom of thought/speech. Not to say that the film isn't without it's faults. The blood splatter in the fight scenes didn't look like blood in my opinion and overall the film didn't necessarily meet the visual expectations I was hoping for. However, on the theme of all things music, the film's use of music was used to great effect. While I might agree with IGN that the film's soundtrack(part score and part songs) might be difficult to listen to on it's own, within the context of the film, the song's were well chosen. Songs included Julie London's "Cry Me A River", Cat Power singing The Velvet Underground's "I Found A Reason", and Antony and The Johnsons' "Bird Gehrl". a soundtrack for everyone has a more thorough commentary of the music in the film, but I'll agree that it was sort of strange to hear the Cat Power song in the film, especially since it was the character 'V' who chose to play the song on the jukebox(probably one of the only jukebox's in existence considering the government in the film had banned music - not to mention, where does one get a Cat Power 7-inch single in an Orwellian England?). The classical selections in the film including the "William Tell Overture"(although not included in the official soundtrack) added grandiosity to the scenes they were used in and The Rolling Stones' "Street Fighting Man"(also not on the official soundtrack) over the film's closing credits was just kick-ass.

Listen to the soundtrack over at the film's official website(under 'Soundtrack').

The Phoenix has a Q&A with Billy Bragg.

It's reviews like this which make me feel a little better that Isobel Campbell 's CMW show on March 4th at Revival had been cancelled. Still, I want to see her live.

The Montreal Mirror had a brief chat with Rick White of The Unintended.

It's Australia's A Reminder that informs that Feist will be releasing a compilation of live tracks and remixes, entitled "Open Season" on April 17th.

suckingalemon says that The Hidden Cameras are scheduled for two shows(a matinee and evening performance) at The Music Gallery in Toronto on Sunday April 2nd, tickets $20.00. Yowza!