Too Good to Be True

So I was thumbing through the paper yesterday, when I came across an intriguing article in the Music/Arts section. It was about this compilation of artists singing together and the proceeds went to AIDS charities. So I was skimming over it, thought it sounded pretty cool. Then they named the bands participating.

Arcade Fire. Okay, one of my top three bands of all time. Spoon. Love them. Holy shit this is amazing. Sufjan Stevens. This must be a joke. The Decemberists. Oh my frickin' god. Kevin Drew from Broken Social Scene? Wow. Again, one of my favorite bands ever. My Morning Jacket. This is just too good.

So yeah, it has, like, all my favorite bands, with new music, all on one album. This is like the library of Mark's favorite music. I was beaming with joy, like a maniac. So of course I bought it (or most of it) and am listening to it right now. I urge you to buy this CD, Dark Was The Night. Feist (Decent), Bon Iver, Andrew Bird, The National (BRILLIANT), The New Pornographers (GREAT), Cat Power and a bunch of others are featured. And above all else, it goes to a great, important cause. I may write more later about the actual songs, themselves. Yet judging by the bands, I can tell you now, most of the songs are great.

That sound you hear is my head hitting the ceiling.

Below is the track 'Summer Overture' by Clint Mansell, as witnessed in Requiem For A Dream. I've probably listened to the song...I wanna say 30 times since I saw the film on Wednesday.



The films I like the most are the ones that I describe as mind-blowing after I've seen them. If a movie blows your facking mind, as in makes you feel and makes you go to places to which you never thought possible, you've probably seen a good movie. A great movie. Or at least one that affected you monumentally. I remember when I saw Network for the first time last year and then One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest. I recall just being in a state of shock and awe. I felt the same way with Aronofsky's film. And if a film, after you watch, puts you in a really sorrowful and depressed mood, something is up. You might have just watched something great. (I remember that feeling after Grave of the Fireflies.)

So, yeah, I kinda fricking loved it. I urge you to see it. Do yourself a favor. You've probably already seen it, but whatever. Put yourself through it again. I doubt it'll lose its effect. Even just see it for Ellen Burnstyn's incredible performance. SHE TRANSFORMED. And listen to Mansell's score. I almost have trouble listening to it now, because it brings me back to all the insanity and hell on Earth that I saw in the film. Damn.