The soundtrack for the new uber cool (uber violent!) movie Drive is a great nod to 80′s synth pop. Cliff Martinez’s score used the droning, almost dissonant synth noises to keep the tension in sixth gear from the start. The film achieved suspense with absolutey minimal dialogue, which could provide a point that most appearances of tension come through non-verbal communication. As for the movie itself, it is a must-see. The soundtrack’s highlight for me was the illusion of hope provided with the film’s closing track A Real Hero by College and Electric Youth. Take a listen to the track below: College feat. Electric Youth – A Real Hero by College
This video was probably one of the best of the summer. The Hundred in the Hands brand new album from Warp Records is out now! They are touring with The Temper Trap this Fall and will be hitting First Avenue in Minneapolis on October 14. Check out a remix by Foals of the above song Pigeons.
Joker is at it again with his new dubstep banger Tron. The song features Joker doing what he does best. And speaking of Tron. This looks ridiculous right?
Above the Fold is happy to be giving away a massive prize package for the new film, The Runaways featuring Kristen Stewart and Dakota Fanning, which opens this Friday [03.19.10]. The lucky winner of the prize pack will get:
E-mail contests[at]above-thefold[dot]com with the subject line The Runaways. In the body place your name, address, and how you heard about the giveaway.
To be entered twice into the contest Re-tweet the following message: RT @atfmpls The Runaways Prize pack giveaway! http://bit.ly/atfrunaways
ATF’s friend, David Chakur, was apart of the East Lansing 48/5 Film Contest. The competition requires you to make a five-minute film in 48 hours using three required elements and a randomly assigned genre. David’s film Family Recipe is a mini-musical about two sisters who have grown apart. Family Recipe received third place in the competition. Congrats David! Watch the film above.
The Boy Who Couldn’t Sleep and Never Have To is the debut novel from writer/actor/rapper DC Pierson (Mystery Team, Community). This novel features your run-of-the-mill teenage plot development. Isolated, awkward high school boy loves to draw. Awkward boy meets extra-awkward boy who is equally isolated. They bond over love of science fiction. They become best friends. Awkward boy falls in love with girl. Best friend ends up taking girl. They fight, they make-up. The End. Oh wait, somewhere in there, extra-awkward boy admits he can’t sleep and has never been able to. Awkward boy becomes determined to test the bounds and limits of such a power/ability (or lack of ability). It turns into a fast-paced adventure when their greatest fear (The man in the suit) finds out and tries to capture the ‘never-sleeper.’
Pierson’s novel is full of charm built on the basis that growing up is hard no matter who you are. Throw in an abstract ability like not having to sleep and its bound to complicate the already tough high school lifestyle. The characters drive this tale, which goes past analysis of teenage culture to add evocative moments on top of brooding science fiction action. The Boy Who Couldn’t Sleep and Never Had To is a novel that provides entertainment, humor, and adventure that works for anyone, young or old.
***ABOVE THE FOLD is giving away TWO COPIES of Pierson’s new book! E-mail contests[at]above-thefold[dot]com with DC Pierson in the subject line for your chance to win a copy. Winners will be chosen February 17.***
Copyright Criminals takes a look at the idea of sampling as a means of creating music and the legal dispute that is has caused. The film features local act Eyedea & Abilities as well as many legends including Chuck D and George Clinton. It will premiere on PBS on Tuesday at 10/9 Central.
Donald Glover might be one of the hardest working up and comers in the entertainment industry. To mainstream audiences he is best known as Troy, a loveable doofus jock on NBC’s new slamdunk comedy Community. To internet audiences he may best be known as Donald from comedy troupe Derrick. To music audiences he may be known as mc DJ or Childish Gambino. If you know him from any of these ‘hats’ there’s a good chance you are already a big fan of his work.
Glover is a graduate of NYU’s writing program. It didn’t take long after he exited school for him to get his first writing gig for a little show called 30 Rock. The young comedian has also been apart of a comedy group called Derrick who has built a massive internet following with hilarious comedy shorts posted to Youtube. They have spent the better portion of the last year promoting their new/self-produced film Mystery Team, which follows a group of childhood ‘crimefighters’ who grow up to try and solve real life mysteries. The film premiered at the Sundance Film Festival last year.
This Fall, Glover became an integral part of NBC’s new comedy Community‘s fast success. His character Troy adds a stroke of genius to the dimwitted character cliche’.
In a rather amazing feat, on top of those responsibilities on his plate, Glover still finds time to produce music tracks under the moniker Childish Gambinoas well as putting together tasty remixes as mc DJ. Luckily for us, he just released a new remix mixtape titled The Works as mc DJ, which features the likes of Gnarls Barkley, Spank Rock, Gorillaz, Belle and Sebastien, and Broken Social Scene to name a very few.
Listen to a few of the tracks (including his remarkable remix of Gnarls Barkley’s Crazy, which absolutely kills it with a drumline beat).
Young@Heart Chorus was founded in 1982 and features performers from the age of 73-89. The performers range from previous professionals to people that didn’t step on stage until the age of 80. The PBS documentary above takes a look into the inspirational group.
