New CDs in the Music Collection

Here are a few recent additions to the library's CD music

catalog...

in the LATIN collection:

Euphoria -- Enrique Iglesias

Sale El Sole -- Shakira

in the LOCAL collection:

Fellowship -- Lizz Wright

in the POPULAR collection:

The Union -- Elton John and Leon Russell

in the SEASONAL collection:

Merry Christmas -- Mariah Carey

I'll Be Home for Christmas -- various artists

Silly Christmas Songs - various artists

New in DVD: fiction titles

Here's a look at a few of the latest titles in DVDs...including anime!

Appleseed ExMachina

Australia

The Ghost Writer

Gran Torino

Inuyasha the Movie

The Last Airbender

Shonen Jump Bleach

Spirited Away

Steamboy

Winter's Bone

DVD Spotlight: Pale Rider (1985)

 The title is derived from Revelations: "And I looked, and behold a pale horse: and his name that sat on him was Death, and Hell followed ..." and the plot centers around a town besieged by a corrupt neighboring landowner and his hired thugs. Clint Eastwood, who directed the film, stars as Preacher, a mysterious stranger who rides into town at precisely the moment he is most needed. Eastwood has since referred to the character as a "ghost," an apt description given the seemingly supernatural timing of his appearances in the film, and the general strangeness others' reactions to him. (When he hears of  Preacher's arrival, the landowner Stockburn replies, "That man is dead", and when he finally faces The Preacher, Stockburn utters one word: "You.") In many ways, Pale Rider is the typical Western, but its dark moodiness, Biblical and mythological allusions, and Eastwood's stylistic vision set it apart from classics in the genre, with Preacher riding forth as one of Western's most unforgettable characters.

Click here to place a hold on Pale Rider.

Area Events: Buried Alive Film Fest, Nov. 12-13, 2010

Did your mama lock you in a closet and make you miss Halloween? Put some fright back in your night at the Buried Alive Film Fest in Atlanta (this Friday and Saturday), an annual unearthing of indie horror creations in a truly frightening setting: the Plaza Theatre in Ponce. Not scared yet?

Then read more about it here: http://buriedalivefilmfest.com/about/

Sweet dreams!

New in CD Music

In CD LATIN:

Ana Tijoux/1977 -- The US debut of Chilean MC Tijoux, who has had a huge career in Latin America. She was born in France, where her parents sought political refuge during Pinochet's dictatorship. 1977 is a largely autobiographical album and is considered one of the top ten world releases of 2009.

In CD LOCAL ROCK

Black Lips/(self-titled) -- the Atlanta band is loud and in-your-face, with a stage show that pushes the envelope, but this self-styled "flower punk" band offers a plate of angst-ridden, rhythm-heavy anthems that have taken them worldwide and landed their music in films like (500) Days of Summer and Scott Pilgrim vs. the World.

Pylon/Chomp More -- named after a Faulkner novel, Athens band Pylon were an early influence on other college rock bands like R.E.M. and toured the country, often as an opening act for bands like Gang of Four, the B52s and U2. After the loss of guitarist Randall Bewley last year, Chomp More serves to highlight some of the best moments of early Athens rock.

In CD POPULAR

Taio Cruz/Rokstarr  -- this British singer-songwriter has launched a fashion line to accompany his new release, and is currently writing music for Justin Beiber's next album, due in 2011.

Roxy Music/(self-titled) -- though the British art rock band defined the look of early 80s glamour rock, they also brought an elegant, dreamy style to the punk-populated youth airwaves, later crossing over with the classic "Avalon." This was their first album.

Taylor Swift/Speak Now -- you've probably heard a few of these songs during Taylor's rounds of the tv shows; now hear the rest.

In CD ROCK

Bob Dylan/Best of the Original Mono Recordings -- this collection captures music from Dylan's first eight albums, in their original mono recorded form.

Newly added in DVDs

Journey Into Buddhism -- In this three-volume DVD set, film maker John Bush takes you on a journey through South and Southeast Asia in an exploration of the living traditions and ancient civilizations of Buddhism.





Trouble the Water -- Nominated for an Academy Award® for best feature documentary, TROUBLE THE WATER takes you inside Hurricane Katrina in a way never before seen on screen. It's a redemptive tale of two self-described street hustlers who become heroes-two unforgettable people who survive the storm and then seize a chance for a new beginning.

Midsomer Murders, sets 13 and 14 -- Murder, mystery and mayhem return to the cozy villages of Midsomer County as Detective Chief Inspector Tom Barnaby (John Nettles) and his earnest protégé Detective Constable Ben Jones (Jason Hughes) solve cases in this BBC series.

The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency, season one -- Another BBC series! Precious Ramotswe (Grammy Award-winner Jill Scott) is a woman from Botswana who fulfills a lifelong dream-and bucks daunting odds-by opening her country's first and only female-owned detective agency.

Iron Man 2 -- Now that his superhero secret has been revealed, Tony Stark's life is more intense than ever. Everyone wants in on the Iron Man technology. Once again he must suit up and face his most dangerous enemy yet, but not without a few new allies of his own.

New in LOCAL MUSIC CDs

In the CD LOCAL music bin, check out these new additions:

Silver Lake -- Vic Chesnutt

The Lost Atlanta Tapes -- Piano Red

Sir Lucious Left Foot -- Big Boi

Blue Record -- Baroness

7even Year Itch -- Collective Soul

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.

Recently Added in CD Music...

In the COUNTRY section:

American VI: Ain't No Grave - Johnny Cash

In the POPULAR section:

Congratulations - MGMT

The Sea - Corinne Bailey Rae

In the ROCK section:

Valleys of Neptune - Jimi Hendrix

In the WORLD section:

San Patricio - The Chieftains featuring Ry Cooder

Local Music Events: the Sixth Annual Athens Popfest Aug. 10-14, 2010

Athens Popfest kicked off last night (Tuesday, August 10), beginning a series of performances by 60 indie bands from the US and Europe at three different venues in downtown Athens, among them Mission of Burma, Apples in Stereo and Oh OK. The festival is for more than entertainment purposes; proceeds will help fund college scholarships for area high school students. For tickets and more information, check out the Athens Popfest website. And if you'd like a preview of the music, listen to a sampler on the Popfest Jukebox at the Athens Banner Herald's website.

Area Events: Indie Film Month

If you're a fan of independent films, including horror, short films, and documentaries, take note: the Festival League has declared August 2010 to be Indie Film Month in Atlanta. Beginning today with the Atlanta Shortsfest (August 6-8), the League has planned a month's-worth of mini-festivals, during which they will be hosting panel discussions, showing films and holding other indie film-related events.
Read about the months' events in Creative Loafing.Or visit the Independent Film Month website for locations, showtimes, and ticket information.

In Our DVD Collection: All the King's Men

All the King's Men (1949) was the first film adaptation of Robert Penn Warren's Pulitzer Prize-winning novel. The story, based loosely on 1930s Louisiana governor Huey P. Long, follows the career of Willie Stark as he rises and transforms, from small-town, well-intentioned lawyer to corrupt politician. Only when tragedy strikes does Stark begin to question himself and his actions. This version, directed by Robert Rossen, stars Broderick Crawford, John Ireland and Mercedes McCambridge, and won Academy Awards for Best Motion Picture, Best Actor (Broderick) and Best Supporting Actress (McCambridge). In 2001, it was added to the National Film Registry by the Library of Congress.

Reserve a copy of this DVD today.

New Arrivals in CD Music

Here are a few new additions to the music collection:

In the Jazz section:


The Best of Chuck Mangione

In the Local section:

The Adventures of Bobby Ray -- B.O.B.

Around the Sun and Green -- R.E.M.

Soul-Sizzling 7" Meltdown -- the Woggles

In the Popular section:

Bionic -- Christina Aguilera

Plastic Beach -- Gorillaz

Animal -- Ke$ha

Tomorrow -- Sean Kingston

Raymond v. Raymond -- Usher


For these and other music cds, visit the online catalog for the Conyers-Rockdale Library.

The Possible and the Improbable: Exploring Science Fiction movies

As the 90th birthday of legendary science fiction writer Ray Bradbury approaches (on August 22 -- mark your calendars!), we take a look at a few recent additions of classic scifi to our rapidly expanding DVD collection.

Let's start with Fahrenheit 451 (1966), based on Bradbury's own dystopian vision of a world where books are outlawed and society has degraded into mindless violence and hedonism. A single line accidentally read in a burning tome and the martyrdom of a book lover leads Montag, a fireman charged with incinerating books, to question the meaning of humanity and to develop a secret, illegal passion for reading. (A little side note: when his book was itself subjected to the censoring of objectionable words and content, Bradbury demanded that only the original text be published henceforth, adding this note to unedited editions: Do not insult me with the beheadings, finger-choppings or the lung-deflations you plan for my works. I need my head to shake or nod, my hand to wave or make into a fist, my lungs to shout or whisper with. I will not go gently onto a shelf, degutted, to become a non-book.) To see this DVD in the catalog, click here.

The Beast from 20,000 Fathoms (1953) -- in this precursor to Godzilla and a host of other beasts brought back by atomic testing, a dinosaur is awakened in the Arctic and makes its lumbering way to New York City, where -- well, you'll just have to see what happens. Let's just say Wall Street and Coney Island don't fare so well. Want to read more? Check it out in PINES.

Swinging completely into the realm of fiction and scientific impossiblity, 1950's Rocketship X-M star Llloyd Bridges as an astronaut on an errant spaceship that zooms past its intended Moon landing and hurtles to crew to Mars. Where it's raining. The Martians aren't happy about the new arrivals. But at least the oxygen masks work! So maybe it isn't the most scientifically-accurate movie ever made, but it is out of this world. If you're a Mystery Science Theater 3000 fan, you may remember this one. Go ahead -- reserve it today. And invite your friends over for popcorn and a good "bad" movie!

Just imagine -- you're minding your own business, living and working in Chicago, and suddenly, robots from Venus start an attack. What do you do? What if you're one of the last people left after evacuation? What if one of the other last people turns out to be a psychopath? For answers to these and other pertinent questions, you need only view Target Earth (1954).  Lucky you, we've got the DVD!

And finally, there's This Island Earth (1955), based on the novel by Raymond F. Jones, and the movie seen briefly in another extraterretrial flick, E. T. (look for the scene when E.T. is watching tv). In this feature, Earth is being invaded by beings from the planet Metaluna, who seek both uraniums deposits and assistance in fighting a war with Zagons. As another MST3K favorite, it gets high marks. Luckily, it's also available in the library catalog.

Livin' La Vida Local

Check out the LOCAL section in music cds to find singers and groups from the great state of Georgia. Everything from R.E.M. to Randall Bramblett, Mastodon to Blind Willie McTell, Caroline Aiken to the Coathangers, Gentleman Jesse to T.I.. Support our local artists!

Down Memory Lane in the DVD Collection

The AV News blog is back with a round-up of recently added DVDs. Enjoy!

Remember the 1970s? If you were around then and anywhere near a tv, you'll remember Alice. (You might even remember the spin-off, Flo.)Take a trip down memory lane with this collection of six episodes, and share fond moments with trash-talking Flo and her signature line: "Kiss my grits!"

Reserve this DVD in the catalog.

And then there's Chico and the Man. Set in an east L. A. garage, this series from the mid-70s was the first U.S. series set in a Mexican-American neighborhood and starred Freddie Prinze as a wise-cracking street kid who forms a warm bond with crabby garage owner Jack Albertson. Though the show was a hit into its third season, breakout star Prinze was unable to shake his personal demons. This collection of episodes includes the last episode filmed with Prinze, "Ed Talks to God."

Click here to view this DVD in the catalog.

Though best known for the classic I Love Lucy series, Lucille Ball had another hit series in The Lucy Show, which ran for six years in the 1960s. Due to cast and production changes over the years, the plot moved the series from upstate New York to California, and the focus of the plot from two divorced widows and their kids to an office-based comedy, with Lucy as secretary to banker Mr. Mooney (Gale Gordon). The show, however, was in the top ten most-watched shows for CBS during its entire run.

Click here to reserve this DVD.

New in DVDs This Week

The Andersonville Trial --  originally presented as part of PBS's Hollywood Television Theatre program, this adaptation of the famous Saul Levitt Broadway play is based on the trial of Henry Wirz, commander of the infamous Andersonville prison, where thousands of Union prisoners died of malnutrition, exposure and disease. Directed by George C. Scott, and counting William Shatner and Buddy Ebsen among the cast, this production won several Emmys and a Peabody award. Reserve this DVD.

The Bedford Incident -- starring Richard Widmark as the captain of a USS destroyer and Sidney Poitier as a reporter who, assigned to write a story on a routine patrol in the north Atlantic, instead becomes witness to a tense and deadly game of cat-and-mouse when the destroyer comes upon a Soviet submarine. Click here to see this DVD listing in the catalog.

The Desperate Hours -- a trio of escaped convicts invade a suburban home and hold four members of a family hostage. This 1955 movie, starring Humphrey Bogart and Fredric March, was the first b&w film using Paramount's new "Vistavision" widescreen process. Click here to reserve this DVD.