In examining the life and recent times of Ralph Nader, often from the perspective of his admirers and colleagues but also from that of his detractors, IFC Films documentary An Unreasonable Man paints as much of a sad truth as a lasting legacy of citizen beneficence.
An Unreasonable Man
Evidence: The Weatherman
Evidence (of Dilated Peoples) has done a remarkable job constructing The Weatherman, plotting a well-developed theme and incorporating it beautifully into his songs, a feat of sequencing that is a lost art on most current albums.
The Mars Volta Prep for Fourth Album in Four Years
Aren’t you tired of waiting two or three circulations around the sun for a new full-length disc? Well, The Mars Volta has you covered. According to the website for Gold Standard Laboratories, the prog-fusion masters will be heading into the studio in April to record a new full-length album, which is tentatively slated for a late-summer release.
Genghis Tron to Record in August, Debut on Relapse
If you need some blast beats with your electronically infused, semi-ambient noise rock, then Genghis Tron is the band for you. The three-piece electro-grind outfit has announced that it will be recording at GodCity Studios with Kurt Ballou (Converge) in August for a forthcoming album on Relapse Records.
One Red Paperclip
Bigger, better barter. Kyle MacDonald embarked on a fascinating sociological experiment when he decided to see whether the bartering system could get him from one red paperclip to a house. He succeeded, and his book follows his experience of fourteen trades in the course of one year.
Secret Chiefs 3, Sleepytime Gorilla Museum @ Double Door (Chicago)
Best known for his work with quasi-legendary genre destroyers Mr. Bungle, Trey Spruance brought his Indian/surf/spaghetti Western creation Secret Chiefs 3 through Chicago last weekend alongside showy progsters Sleepytime Gorilla Museum.
Amy Winehouse: Back to Black
After receiving loads of critical acclaim in the U.K., Amy Winehouse is finally letting Americans in on her unique soulful sound with Back to Black. Upon first listen, Winehouse’s noticeable aspect is that her voice has a ’50s/’60s jazz/old soul sound to it.
Tinariwen: Aman Iman: Water is Life
The liner notes for Tinariwen’s third record, Aman Iman: Water is Life, read like a story in National Geographic. Photos of a wild-haired, stick-thin man in an indigo robe with a guitar decorate each page and the story goes like this: Somewhere under a tent in a desert town in Kidal, a group of Touregs passed around a shoddy electric guitar hooked up to a battery-powered amp and sang ever-changing ancient songs.
Bjork’s Volta Set for May 8 Release
Icelandic songstress and international icon Bjork will have her sixth full-length album released by One Little Indian / Atlantic Records on May 8, and it sounds mighty intriguing.