Local Events: Filmfest at Dragon*Con

If you're a horror and sf&f film buff, here's another reason to attend Dragon*Con (aside from seeing Storm Troopers on Peachtree): the Independent Film Festival. This year's roster features everything from steampunk to animation to comedy shorts. Panelists will be on hand, too, discussing filmmaking, special effects and more. And did I mention zombies? Gobs and gobs of 'em, all over the place. Get more information here: http://filmfest.dragoncon.org/ .

Just Added to the AV Collection

Here are a few of the latest titles soon to hit the shelves:
In DVDs

Return of the Killer Tomatoes -- see George Clooney battle vegetables. Or are they fruit?

Killer Clowns from Outer Space -- not fruits or vegetables this time, but aliens. Clown aliens. But you probably guessed that from the title, huh?

Pirate Radio -- no killers in this one, although it stars Philip Seymour Hoffman, who played Truman Capote in another movie about the author's research and writing of In Cold Blood, a book about the crimes of two killers on death row. So, as you can see, there is a theme.


In CDs

Country category:

American III: Solitary Man and American IV: the Man Comes Around -- Johnny Cash. These volumes in the American Recording series feature Cash in a mix of originals and traditional songs, as well as covers of songs by other artists, including "Hurt" (Nine Inch Nails), "First Time Ever I Saw Your Face" (first recorded by Roberta Flack), "Desperado" (the Eagles), "I Won't Back Down" (Tom Petty), and "One" (U2).

Golden Road -- Keith Urban

Southern Voice -- Tim McGraw

Up on the Ridge -- Dierks Bentley


Folk category:

The Hangman's Beautiful Daughter by the Incredible String Band

Local category:

Twice the Speed of Light -- Sugarland

Great American Bubble Factory -- Drivin'n'Cryin

We Did Not Know the Forest Spirit Made the Flowers Grow -- Black Lips

Back in Business -- Beverly "Guitar" Watkins


Popular category:

David Cook  (self-titled)

Pink Moon -- Nick Drake. At the time of its 1972 release, few paid attention to this third album by British singer-songwriter Drake. Two years later, the troubled artist was gone, the victim of an overdose, and his music drifted in relative obscurity, referenced occassionally by music critics or as an influence by bands like the Cure, R.E.M. and the Black Crowes, but largely unknown. Then in 2000, Volkswagon released a dreamy commercial featuring Drake's "Pink Moon," and the resulting popularity of the song brought Drake's music back into the spotlight. In the years since, his work has experienced a resurgence, his songs have popped up in films and commercials, and numerous documentaries have focused on the artist's enigmatic life.

Unbroken -- Katherine McPhee

To the Sea  and In Between Dreams -- Jack Johnson

Dap-dippin' with... -- Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings

Closer: the best of... -- Sarah McLachlan


Rock category:

Fearless Love  -- Melissa Etheridge

Black & White Night -- Roy Orbison


Sacred category:

God's Trombones -- James Weldon Johnson (sermons)


World category:

La difference -- Salif Keita. Mali's most famous singer-songwriter overcame both the stigma of his albinism and rejection by those who viewed his singing career as an afront to his noble heritage (he is a direct descendant of the founder of the Mali empire). He left Mali in the mid-1970s during political unrest, gaining an international reputation with the band Les Ambassadeurs Internationale. In recent years, Keita established a foundation to assist and fight for the rights of albinos, who are often shunned or killed in Africa due to fear, superstition and traditions associating albinism with bad luck.