CMJ "Death is the road to awe."

So after Halloween, I had to get up nice and early to commute to the city for CMJ at Lincoln Center. My first day was spent working on th efourth floor checking Badges for panels. For those who don't know, CMJ stands for the College Music Journal, and has hosted a music marathon in NYC every fall for about the last 25 years. Bands play showcases all over town, and panels on the music industry are held at Lincoln Center. Students and industry types some from all over the country (and world) and with the CMJ Badge gain access to all panels and shows. In the pasts many bands have made big splashes, and been signed or made a big break. The Arcade Fire, Clap Your Hands, etc. This year, I think the Annuals may be the buzz band to break this year, but I didn't see them. But back to my story... The panels were fun. Martin, my co-volunteer, was a nice guy, and the work was pretty much a joke. The panels were very interesting and informative. I went to some shows, but many nights I was so tired from working all day and what not, that I couldn't even enjoy it. We saw Saxon Shore play one song. We arrived late, and they played a short set, but the little we saw was good. No keys tho, which was dissapointing. The panels on thursday were good, and that night after Saxon Shore I crashed at Hillary's dorm at Barnard so I wouldn;t be late to work on friday morning. I was at Lincoln Center at 8am, and spent over alot of time packing bags, then directing traffic outside, working the panel, and directing traffic again. I met a bunch of cool volunteers, though, and actually had a good time. Friday night I saw Erase Erata and Derrhoof, and then missed ROsetta, buit saw Dysrhythmia. t Jucifer cancelled, and I left before Mouth of the Architech went on. Saturday I did some shopping, and saw the Fall at Hiro Ballroom. After that, which was kinda dissapointing, I went on saw Grails and MGR at Sin-e. I didn't stay for Kayo Dot, cos I was too tired to sit through Made out of Babies. When did I get so lame?

Thursday was the highlight for me, as I got to see The Fountain, the fantastic new film by Darron Aronofsky, the director of Pi and Requiem for a Dream. I saw Pi years ago, when I heard good things and bought the DVD. Then Requiem came out, but I didn't see it until much later than most. I think the Fountain surpasses both of these. Pi was excellent, and explored interesting themes, but doesn't come close to the Fountain in terms of its scope, not to mention the visuals. Requiem may have been well done, but it jus't doesn't resonate in the same way. The Fountain is, in some ways, a look at timeless concerns of love, life, and death. I am particularly interested in the discussion of death, for it seems increasingly clear to me that our cultures fear of death is a defining aspect of our world view, and it's troubling. I don't want to give anything away, so I will only recommend that everyone go and see the Fountain. I can't wait to see it again. "When a sparrow ate the tree's fruit, his father flew with the birds. Death was his Father's road to awe." I've seen many people refer to this movie as sci-fi, but that really doesn't describe it. Although there is a sci-fi component, it is free of the trappings of the genre, and isn't really an important point in the story. The science and mysticism is obvious just a device to explore a man's coming to terms with death, or more importantlly the death of a loved one. The movie is gorgeuous, free of CGI, as Aronofsky searched to transcend sated looking techonology, and used a microphotographer, I believe, to generate images. And my favorite aspect is, I think, the score, once again composed by Clint Mansell, and performed by the Kronos Quartet, with help from one of my favorite bands, Scottish post-rockers Mogwai. The score stands on its own, but really captures the mood of the film.