Quick Hit List

Dear Zachary: A Letter to a Son About His Father - this documentary movie was one of the most compelling movies I've seen in recent memory. Dear Zachary is a letter in the form of a movie by Kurt Kuenne, close friend to Zachary's murdered father, Andrew Bagby. The twist: The murderer, Shirley Jane Turner, also gave birth to Zachary after she murdered his father. We follow Kuenne in his journey to document how Andrew affected so many people in a positive way. We also follow how Andrew's parents do everything in their power to gain custody of their grandson. Complicating matters, Turner flees to Canada. The Grandparents follow, but are subjected to legalities of Canadian law, which throw some unfavorable roadblocks in their way. Their fight is long and tough and does not end well.

Be prepared, this movie will absolutely tax you emotionally. After I finished watching it, I just sat in silence trying to soak it all up. While this movie is meant to be upbeat, it is, but it is still heartbreaking after we learn the outcome.

Telefon Tel Aviv: Immolate Yourself - the third album from the electronic group Telefon Tel Aviv is their best yet. Having gotten it a few days ago, I've been listening to it nonstop. Surely that's the sign of a great album. Eschewing traditional song-structure, the tracks typically combine electronic beats with usually just a couple lines of lyrics, repeated throughout the song. Strange at first, but catchingly effective. This electronic album has some nice sound manipulation but sometimes has some very dark, brooding and ambient elements.

My favorite tracks: The Birds, Mostly Translucent, You Are The Worst Thing In The World.

The Kills: Midnight Boom - This is another album I've been enjoying a lot lately. This duo have made an album that is an amalgamation of indie rock, electronica with a little bit of punk. It's very danceable with some catchy hooks. I particularly like how "funky" it is; I can't explain that in words, it's just something I feel when I listen to the record.

Favorite Tracks: Getting Down, Last Day of Magic, Black Balloon.

And Remember, you can always see recent stuff I'm enjoying on the sidebar to the right. Scroll down to see it all. I like to reserve full posts for the absolute best stuff.