A Night at the Oscars

Let me begin by stating my dislike of awards show. I haven't tuned in to one in... well, probably more than a decade. It was bad enough that the music awards (Junos in Canada, Grammy's in the U.S.) rarely if ever recognized my favourite and very talented bands (mostly metal and progressive rock, stuff like Metallica and Rush in the old days). In more recent years it's turned around only slightly, but jeez, just look at how things transpired for both Megadeth and Metallica at the latest Grammy's (I only watched highlights of those two incidents on Youtube). It's as though someone has it out for the metal community. In a word... clueless.

But today I want to talk about the upcoming Academy Awards. First off, I won't watch them. I have long felt that my favourite movies have been jilted at the Awards and that has soured the whole experience of sitting through hours of "and the winner is so-and-so!", leaving me squirming through the remainder of the show. It doesn't help that my tastes run toward the genre stuff that isn't as popular with the voting board. But the choices of the Academy over the decades set a precedent that has prompted film-makers to aim at churning out "Oscar Bait"... tailoring their movies - with stories and themes and actors that'll win the hearts of the voting Academy - to the Oscar-winning ideal. Good commerce but not necessarily good art.

I look at the nominees for this year's Oscars and though I've watched about a couple dozen 2016 movies, I'm certain extremely few of them will be properly recognized by the industry. It seems that films like Moonlight and La La Land, both critical favourites, will be raking in the awards this time around. Both are movies that I did not see, and simply did not want to see. Just not interested. The Academy generally chooses winners from the more mainstream dramas, an area I don't often check out. As a result, I've seen precious few of the 2016 films that are most highly regarded for this Oscars ceremony. Director Mel Gibson's Hacksaw Ridge, a contender in several categories, is one I missed but may give a look sometime soon.

So... here are my thoughts on the Oscars, based on my somewhat limited knowledge of the 2016 film nominees:

Manchester by the Sea is up for Best Picture, and I did make a point of watching it the other night. A very fine film, and I suppose I should root for it to win, since I know full well that my true favourite (of the nominees), Arrival, will be snubbed. If Arrival wins Best Picture, I will eat my socks. And enjoy it.

I'd love to see Michael Shannon get Best Actor in a Supporting Role for his offbeat sheriff character in Nocturnal Animals, a movie that impressed the socks off me. Again with the socks.

I was seriously lacking in the animated feature films department last year, but one I did see, Zootopia, was a clever visual feast.... I can root for that one even though I haven't seen the competition, right? Piper, Disney-Pixar's Animated Short Film is cute, funny, and beautiful - could it win?

My favourite films may collect some of the technical awards (that's usually the case). Arrival looked stunning and I pray that it'll at the very least take the Best Cinematography, Editing, and Production Design categories. Perhaps Arrival could take the Sound Editing and Sound Mixing Oscars, too, though it's got Rogue One, La La Land, and Hacksaw Ridge to contend with there. 

Though I'm not familiar with Arrival's fellow nominees in the Writing (Adapted Screenplay) category, I have a feeling Arrival may take this one. It's a helluva story, originally appearing as a novella, and now expanded into a feature length picture. As for Writing (Original Screenplay), The Lobster boasts an amazingly bizarre and imaginative story. Manchester by the Sea is also up for that award, and it's very good in a more staid fashion. I have no strong opinion either way. 

Watch the skies... Amy Adams in Arrival

I really feel that The Witch, which appeared at Sundance Film Festival in 2015 then in wide release in 2016, should have appeared in the Oscar nominations. This is my true true favourite film of 2016. From the exceptional acting to the detailed and imaginative story to the taut direction and eerie and unsettling cinematography... and the countless creative and technical aspects, The Witch simply dominated me as I watched it - twice. No other movie did that so powerfully. Sing Street also won me over, though in a lighter, less imaginatively striking manner; still loads of fun, but not quite Oscar-winning material.

As I said before, I will not watch the Oscars, though on Monday, I'll check the newpapers and the web for the results. For me, the awards show is not worth investing an entire (late) evening to... so I'm satisfied just checking the "box scores" the next morning. Good luck, Arrival!

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If you'd like to read more about my favourite films of 2016, click here

Best-selling Albums of All Time

I was startled when not long ago I saw the rankings of the best-selling albums of all time. There are certain albums that you expect to see at the top, like something from The Beatles (nope, nothing!) yet there are curious ones that made the grade. At least I think so. Like some (but not all) of the movie soundtracks that you'll see below. 

Here they are, in reverse order:

10. Rumours, by Fleetwood Mac (1977)

I still remember buying this album - one of my first records - back in the late 70's, when I had reached an age of musical "maturity". I wasn't all ga-ga over Kiss so much and was open to the more adult-sounding music that involved actual singing and great instrumental talent. I loved Rumours just as much as I did Kiss' Destroyer. Certainly, the songs off the album were more durable and still sound fresh and vital today. I associate Rumours with a warm summer morning, teenaged me lounging in my basement bedroom with the little window open to let a breeze in, basking in the folky-rock of California superstars Fleetwood Mac. From Second Hand News to Gold Dust Woman, every song is a gem... rockers and ballads and everything in-between. 

9. Saturday Night Fever (original movie soundtrack), by Bee Gees/Various artists (1977)

Though I didn't see the movie until several years after its release, I was well aware of the music that appeared in it. A friend of mine, who I believe saw the film, had the soundtrack album and he played a bit for me. At first, I wasn't too sure about this disco stuff, but after a few days of letting the idea sink in, I hit the record store and picked up the Stayin' Alive and Night Fever 45 rpm singles. These Bee Gees hits bore a hypnotic beat that made you sort of want to twitch, as though you were dancing. But I wasn't a dancer, so forget that action. But between the catchy melody, driving percussion, and falsetto vocals, this stuff grabbed me. I wasn't a huge fan, for I never bought anything more by the Bee Gees (other than a CD compilation decades later), but I was at least more open-minded about this new genre. 

8. Millennium, by The Backstreet Boys

This stuff was never aimed at my demographic so I have no opinion, other than I'd probably hate it. 

7. Dirty Dancing (original movie soundtrack), by various artists (1987)

Okay, back in '87 I was immersed in heavy metal, with some prog-rock and lighter rock fare like Huey Lewis and ZZ Top to round things out. I was not listening to pop or dance music at the time. My set of personal Commandments prohibited it. So I never saw the movie and my only exposure to the music was probably through someone else's radio. Even today, when I look at the soundtrack's song list, the only titles that look familiar are The Time of My Life and Hungry Eyes; we've all heard these a billion times whether we wanted to or not. When I skim through the Dirty Dancing tracks on Youtube, I hear tunes - like some of the Motown and rock'n'roll oldies - that are slightly familiar to me after a lifetime of TV and movies.

6. Eagles: Their Greatest Hits (1971-1975)

The highest-selling compilation album in history, this hits package pulls together the best of the Eagles' first four albums. I've always liked the laid-back country-rock of the Eagles. This set of California light rock blended guitar twang with perfect vocal harmonies on some of the best songs ever written. Witchy Woman and One of These Nights are among my favourites. I had the cassette tape of this hits album through the 80's and 90's, then I finally wised up and bought the Eagles six studio albums, all excellent, some more than others, but there's no questioning the artistry of the band. 

5. Bat Out of Hell, by Meatloaf (1977)

Yet another biggie out of '77. Now... I have odd feelings about Bat Out of Hell. I remember hearing friends at school talking about the album and its big fat singer named after mom's kitchen specialty. I knew nothing about the music at all, yet once I laid eyes on the album cover, I was sold. I mean, what 13-year-old boy wouldn't go nuts over a picture of a dude on a motorcycle rocketing out of a grave, with a huge bat-winged creature perched atop a church steeple in the background? Dramatic action depicted in bright red hues. Wow! The music had to be just as good as that album cover, right? Nope. I was disappointed. I wasn't nuts about all that piano and orchestral stuff, though the soaring guitars on the title track were quite cool and otherworldly. But I couldn't get past Meatloaf's style of singing or the sort of music that dominated the album.... sort of like Beach Boys done like a stage musical. Does that make any sense? Anyway, the album was huge, as were its Top 40 singles. Meh.

4. The Bodyguard (original movie soundtrack), by various artists (1992)

I have no recollection of the movie, though I have a funny feeling my wife at the time might have either dragged me to see it or rented the home video one night. Anyway, whether I saw it or not, the movie music meant nothing to me, if I ever heard any of it. That sappy I Will Always Love You has been covered and splashed all over the world since '92, so we are all sick of that by now, right?

3. Dark Side of the Moon, by Pink Floyd (1973)

So nice to see one of my favourite rock albums in the top three spot. Dark Side was among my first record purchases when I was a young teen, so there will always be a special place in my heart for its mad lyrics and prog-rock ingenuity. Even after all of Pink Floyd's subsequent legendary albums, I still come back to this one the most. The Floyd experience is most evident on Dark Side of the Moon: put on the headphones, turn up the music, lie down, close your eyes, and float along to the thematically-linked series of songs that chronicle one's descent into madness. Floyd explores other ideas (greed, conflict, the passing of time), too, but it is the off-kilter ramblings and maniacal laughter that first drew my attention. Truly a milestone and a huge influence on modern rock music, right up there with Sgt Pepper. 

2. Back in Black, by AC/DC (1980)

It was a major surprise to me when I learned Back in Black was in the runner-up position. Among my favourite hard rockin' bands of the 70's and 80's, AC/DC was best known for heavy riffs and sexually suggestive lyrics. All in good fun! But I never for a moment thought this was so successful that it'd be so high on the all-time best-seller list. When the album was released in '80 I bought it immediately, and it was the very first thing I played on my new sound system. My dad hated it. This was one helluva record, jam-packed with powerful hooks and screaming vocals... the perfect party album. And I did hear this disc at many parties. The real kicker was when I heard the title track blasting in a club one night, the floor full of people dancing. To Back in Black. Wha? Anyway, the big hits aside, this is one deep album; from start to finish we've got rockers of various tempos to take us on a hard-drinking journey on that highway to hell. So have a drink on me, mate!

1. Thriller, by Michael Jackson (1982)

Thriller more than doubled the sales of Back in Black. Crazy! Now back in the day, when I was rocking out to AC/DC and Iron Maiden, there was no freakin' way in the world that I was gonna like Jackson's dance-pop music. My friends and I openly derided this sort of stuff on a regular basis. It was our mission. We were all about guitars and drums and cooler, headier pursuits. MJ was not cool to us. A couple of decades later, I gave Jackson a chance and bought Thriller. After dabbling in 90's electronic music and a bit of dance, I felt a little more prepared for Thriller. And yes, I really did - and do - like it. The Motown horns work perfectly with the synthesized percussion and funky, expressive vocals. I can better appreciate the pop side of things here and now recognize just how good this is. I'm no expert on this genre (far from it, actually) but it's easy to hear how Thriller's superior songwriting leaves its competition... and anything since... in the dust. Wanna Be Startin' Somethin' and Billie Jean are faves; I'm a bit worn out on the overplayed hits like Thriller and Beat It. 

Songs in the Key of Wildlife... and Some Domestic

Musicians are inspired by the oddest things sometimes. They write about the standard stuff like relationships, being in a band, partying, and life on the road, but they also veer into strange territory, uttering nonsense lyrics - like on I Am the Walrus ("sitting on a cornflake"), and Smells Like Teen Spirit ("an albino, a mosquito"). Or weird subject matter, like dead skunks, hobbits, octopus gardens, cheap sunglasses, and cuddly toys. 

Today I'm talking about animal songs. By that, I mean the song has an animal (birds and fish included) in its title or in its lyrics. Often, the animal is not really the subject of the song, but a metaphor for something or some person. Or its just sounds cool to say it, regardless of its relevancy. So the song may still be about love and life and whatever, but it bears a title that includes an animal. Like Led Zeppelin's Black Dog.

Pink Floyd just loved animals in their songs

I thought long and hard on this subject and tried not to go to the internet for help (just a couple of times to jog my memory), but instead rifled through my CD collection, and wracked my brains for more ideas. I think I came up with a pretty fair-sized list of animal songs here. I'm sure there are more, but these are the ones I knew best. Feel free to come up with some more and submit them to me in the Comments section. Enjoy!

And Your Bird Can Sing, The Beatles Animal, Def Leppard
Animal Magnetism, Scorpions

Barracuda, by Heart
Bat Out of Hell, Meatloaf
Behind My Camel, The Police
Black Cow, Steely Dan
Black Dog, Led Zeppelin
Blackbird, The Beatles
By-Tor and the Snowdog, Rush

Cat Scratch Fever, Ted Nugent
Cat's in the Cradle, Harry Chapin
The Chipmunk Song, The Chipmunks
Crocodile Rock, Elton John
Cold Turkey, John Lennon
Cool for Cats, Squeeze
Crawling King Snake, The Doors

Dark Horse, Katy Perry
Dirty Dog, Helix
Dirty Dog, ZZ Top
Disco Duck, Rick Dees and His Cast of Idiots
Dog Eat Dog, Ted Nugent
Dogs, Pink Floyd
Dogs of War, Pink Floyd
Dog Years, Rush
Dog and Butterfly, Heart
Do the Bearcat, David Wilcox
Diamond Dogs, David Bowie

Everybody's Got Something to Hide Except For Me and My Monkey, The Beatles
Eye of the Tiger, Survivor

Fast as a Shark, Accept
Fox on the Run, Sweet
Free as a Bird, The Beatles
Freebird, Lynyrd Skynyrd
The Fish, by Yes
Fly Like an Eagle, Steve Miller Band
The Fox, Elton John
Foxy Lady, Jimi Hendrix

Given the Dog a Bone, AC/DC
Great White Buffalo, Ted Nugent
Gonna Buy Me a Dog, by The Monkees

Hair of the Dog, Nazareth
Hey Bulldog, The Beatles
Honky Cat, Elton John
Horse Latitudes, The Doors
Hound Dog, Elvis
Hungry Like the Wolf, Duran Duran
Here Among the Cats, Max Webster
Hot Dog, Led Zeppelin

I Am the Walrus, The Beatles
I Dig a Pony, The Beatles
I Want a New Duck, Weird Al Yankovick

Karma Chameleon, Boy George (Culture Club)
Killer Wolf, Danzig

The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway, Genesis
Let That Lizard Loose, Goddo
Love Me Like a Reptile, Motorhead

The Main Monkey Business, Rush
March of the Crabs, Anvil
Monkey Bars, Coney Hatch
Monkey Man, Rolling Stones
Mouse in a Maze, Saga
Muskrat Love, Captain and Tennille
The Mighty Turtle Head, Joe Satriani

Norwegian Wood (This Bird Has Flown), The Beatles

Octopus' Garden, The Beatles
Of Wolf and Man, Metallica

Piggies, The Beatles
Pigs (Three Different Ones), Pink Floyd
Pigs on the Wing, Pink Floyd
Puppy Love, Paul Anka
Peace Frog, The Doors

Rock Lobster, B-52's
Rooster, Alice in Chains
Rocky Raccoon, The Beatles

She-Wolf, Megadeth
Sheep, Pink Floyd
Shock the Monkey, Peter Gabriel
Stray Cat Strut, by Stray Cats
Songbird, Fleetwood Mac
The Snake, Joe Satriani
Shaved Fish, John Lennon
Sugar Mice, Marillion

Toad, Cream
Tube Snake Boogie, ZZ Top
Twentieth Century Fox, The Doors

Union of the Snake, Duran Duran

War Pigs, Black Sabbath
Weasels Ripped My Flesh, Frank Zappa
White Rabbit, Jefferson Airplane
What's New Pussycat, Tom Jones
Who Let the Dogs Out, The Baha Men
Who's Gonna Ride Your Wild Horses, U2
Wild Horses, Rolling Stones

Year of the Cat, Al Stewart

Farewell, Black Sabbath

Today Black Sabbath will play the very last show of their long and legendary career. Fittingly, the concert will be in the band's old stomping grounds and hometown, Birmingham in England. I'm sure that means just as much to the gents in Sabbath as it does to the folks of their town of origin.

You can read more about the event here: http://www.blabbermouth.net/blacksabbathnews

As this news sinks in, I feel weird, as though the end of Sabbath means the end of an era. Thankfully, we will have their massive catalogue of music and concert videos to re-live the many classic moments of this monumental rock band. The grand-daddies of heavy metal. The pioneers of the genre. Some argue that Black Sabbath were not the first to play such heavy music, but I'd argue it this way: okay, so Blue Cheer and a few other 60's bands came up with some songs featuring loud, heavily-distorted guitar. Fine. But it was Sabbath who took those elements, and more, and refined them into a style that they successfully splayed across their eponymous first album... everyone agreed this was no longer just rock'n'roll or bluesy rock... this was something brand new, a genre as yet undiscovered.

The sound of rain, lightning, and church-bells tolling set the stage. Then the doomy, ominous guitar announces an unearthly presence through the use of the tritone, also known as the diminished fifth, and even as the Devil's Interval. That dark, unsettling set of notes was the basis for the first song on the first album, Black Sabbath. Ozzy and his cohorts resurrected that diabolus in musica (yet another name for the Devil's Interval), which had supposedly been banned by clerics in the Middle Ages for fear of raising the devil himself. The interval violates music conventions, creating unease in the listener. And with that device, Sabbath injected anxiety and dread into their music, much to the delight of their faithful fans. 

I've been intrigued by the music of Sabbath ever since I first heard them on the radio back in the late 70's, when I was in my early teens. The time was right for such subversive music to make its mark upon me. Though Kiss and Led Zeppelin were my introduction to heavy music, it was Black Sabbath who truly won me over to the dark side of actual heavy metal. Not that I worshipped Satan or anything; I simply loved loud riffs, complex solos, aggressive drumming, wailing vocals, and most importantly, songs containing dark lyrical imagery.

Ozzy Osborne wrote the lyrics to the song Black Sabbath after hearing bassist Geezer Butler's account of a spooky real-life experience. Guitarist Tony Iommi responded with his now-famous tritone riff - borrowed from classical composer Holst's "Mars, The Bringer of War". Drummer Bill Ward laid down a jazz-influenced percussive backdrop that mimicked the creaking doors and slamming window shutters of a haunted house. 

I followed Black Sabbath on and off during my life, tape-recording the "hits" off the radio back in the late 70's, then buying a handful of their albums during the 80's. A hefty double-album compilation was the meat of the Sab section of my music collection. So I was sort of missing out on their lesser known tunes for a long time. I loved the Ronnie James Dio years, but after a luke-warm response to Born Again with singer Ian Gillan, I lost touch entirely. 

Though I didn't follow Tony Iommi and his various incarnations of Sabbath through the 90's, I did hear bits of news here and there about reunion tours with Ozzy. And I still relived the excitement of the old albums on my stereo. I eventually filled out the Ozzy-years part of my collection when I picked up a nice box set. That, along with the four Dio albums, Born Again, and the latest "13", are my idea of Sabbath. I've heard some of the other records with other singers and bassists and drummers, and it was easy to forget them. I am all about vintage Black Sabbath, or at least vintage "sounding" Black Sabbath. Both Ozzy and Dio recaptured some of that magic on their more recent albums with the crew.

And when I discovered a 1963 Boris Karloff horror movie entitled Black Sabbath, that got me to wondering. A little investigating uncovered the fact that the boys in the band, then under the moniker of Earth - and fans of frightful cinema, renamed themselves after that creepy film. A most appropriate connection.

On the concert front, it took me a good long time to get around to seeing Sab. I was a bit young when I first discovered the band, and even when Dio was on board, I didn't have any like-minded metal friends who'd go see such earth-shattering live music. And of course, the complete lack of cohesion in the band left little for me to enjoy in subsequent years. 

When I heard that Heaven and Hell - the old Sabbath with Ronnie James Dio line-up - was coming to town back in 2007, I nearly hit the roof. I rounded up a crew of friends and we spent an evening bathing in the glory of Dio belting out all of the powerful music he produced with Sabbath. That was perhaps the best concert I ever saw. Certainly unforgettable and special, considering dear Ronnie passed away just a few years later. Read more here. 2009 saw a pretty good return to form as Dio and his Sabbath mates recorded their fourth and final album together, The Devil You Know. 

Though I'd seen Ozzy solo (hashing out a handful of Sabbath oldies) a few times in years past, it wasn't until friggin' 2014 that I finally saw him onstage with his old mates. Only drummer Bill Ward was absent, but the show was still a blast. And original bass maestro Geezer was back in the fold, after having skipped the Sabbath gig for a long spell. What a show... not quite as impactful as the Dio performance I saw, but definitely a milestone in my life. More here.

I can't imagine what the music world would have been like without Black Sabbath. They, along with Judas Priest (who began their recording career a few years after Sabbath), lay the framework for what heavy metal would become. Sab was responsible for the shift in musical and lyrical themes in popular music. In contrast to the bright and happy melodies and sing-a-longs on the charts, Sabbath told stories of both dark fantasy and fact, describing the horrors of our imagination and the supernatural as well as those of our real world, like war, drug abuse, mental illness, social instability, and political corruption. Not much in the way of flowers and lovey-dovey stuff. 

There had to be an antithesis to the Top 40 sounds that dominated until 1970, when the Black Sabbath album dropped. It was shocking and thought-provoking. Though critics of the band have long derided them for creating simple, lunk-headed music, those who paid close attention recognized the basis upon classical music and the intelligent and reflective commentary in the lyrics. 

So... without Sabbath, would there have been a Judas Priest as we now know them? Or would metal gods Iron Maiden or Metallica even exist? Or Slayer, Megadeth, or Motorhead? All of these later groups carved their own successes out of what Sabbath did in their early days. Guitar playing styles in metal may have evolved over the decades, yet the basis for all of it, from doomy riffs to spine-tingling soloing, began with Sabbath. 

I salute you all, Ozzy, Tony, Geezer, and Bill (plus Ronnie and Vinny) for creating the most timeless and important music in my life. And in the lives of generations of millions of metal fans across the globe. Enjoy the show tonight!

What's Up, Doc-umentary?

I think it was back in the mid-90`s when I really developed a taste for documentary films. I had, at the time, upgraded my cable package to include Bravo channel, and it was there that I discovered some great real-life stories on celluloid. The local public library was a useful source for docs on DVD, and a new fellow film fan friend fed me even more ideas. In my younger years, I caught a couple of music concert docs on television, but I think that was the extent of it until the 90`s. 

Community cable TV hero Cap'n Video! Like David Lee Roth

meets Jackass.... long before Jackass came along. What a ride!

A good documentary is one that makes you feel something, even if it's confusion. Like the first entry on my list below, Fast, Cheap and Out of Control. It's not an emotional story by any stretch, but boy, does it ever keep you on your toes. The quirky format and "misuse" of techniques will baffle you at first, but once you understand these new "rules", you can settle in and.... um, actually learn something. For this doc will inform you like few do. A challenging yet fascinating film.

Then there's The Cove, which uncovers mysterious and nefarious doings in Japan. I genuinely went through some stuff as I watched... at times I was seething, and at others I had a lump in my throat. The film-makers, along with the daring conservationists, pretty much risked life and limb to get this "dolphin slaughter" footage down and to share it with the world. You can't help but admire the guts and conviction of the people who made The Cove happen.

Lower on my list is Anvil! The Story of Anvil, a curious doc about a relatively unknown-to-the-world band who originated in 1980's Canada. Their heyday  of minor celebrity long past, Anvil forged on, gigging and recording while also holding down Joe jobs. This was not a glamorous life. But the story here is more about Lips and Robb (the remaining members of the 80's lineup) trying to mount a European tour to finally achieve the success that eluded them for so long. Intermingled with the band's crazy antics and squabbles are moments that are kind of sad. And you sort of feel bad for these creative guys who just can't quite get their act together.

It took some work to recall at least some of the many documentaries I`ve seen over the years. I`m sure I missed some notable ones, but here are the biggies (my favourites), in no particular order, that come to mind:

Fast, Cheap and Out of Control - the weirdest and most fascinating doc I`ve seen. Do it.
Wild Parrots of Telegraph Hill - crazy, fun, odd, lovable, quirky and hard to believe.
Exit Through the Gift Shop - an education in graffiti, street art, Banksy.... total coolness. 
The Cove - this really rattled my reality and made me both sad and angry at this frikkin` world!
Metal: A Headbanger`s Journey - a colourful and comprehensive history of heavy metal music
Global Metal - Sam Dunn`s 2nd stunning metal doc, now exploring the genre across the world
Jodorowsky`s Dune - he was insanely creative, and perhaps insane. But inspiring beyond belief.
Beauty Day - quirky to the extreme profile of public access TV's Cap'n Video's stunts in the 90's
Crumb - underground comic artist supremo & his wacko family, friends & ladies. Oh, the ladies.
Stop Making Sense - masterful presentation of the Talking Heads` extraordinary concert show
I Dream of Wires - how the modular synthesizer revolutionized popular music over the decades
Riding Giants - visually spectacular look at the kings of surfing & their quest for the perfect wave

Rockin`and rollin`with metal master Lemmy, of Motorhead

The Kids Are Alright - rock legends The Who smash guitars & write enduring songs - great fun!
The Beatles: Eight Days a Week - an exciting time capsule of the Fab Four`s touring years 
Rush: Beyond the Lighted Stage - an intimate and funny love-letter to loyal legions of Rush fans
YesYears: A Retrospective - detailed look at the storied career of the Brit prog-rock legends
Life Itself - famed film critic Roger Ebert`s revealing, inspiring, and sad life story. A must-see!
Anvil! The Story of Anvil - wacky, funny, &inspiring comeback for unsung Canadian metal band
Searching for Sugarman - the stuff of legends & myths. Entertaining, and life-affirming. 
Muscle Shoals - the secret recording studio of the greatest musicians of all time.. fascinating!
Lemmy - in-depth profile of the leader of the influential Motorhead and how he lived the lifestyle
Everything or Nothing - intriguing story of how super-spy James Bond became a cinematic icon
Project Nim - the study of a chimp in his city home, with human parents, learning to sign
When We Were Kings - the days leading up to Ali`s Rumble in the Jungle boxing event
The King of Kong: A Fistful of Quarters - there`s a new Donkey Kong champ in town. 
March of the Penguins - captivating film of the penguin trek and struggle for survival 
Grizzly Man - he lives among grizzlies, just waiting for the day when something goes wrong. 
Woodstock - a few folks played some tunes in a muddy field back in the 60`s and made history

You will notice that there are no Michael Moore docs here.... I watched a handful of his earlier films years ago and sort of got tired of his schtick, The way he pushed buttons to get reactions from both sides of controversies rather than take a more objective and tactful approach, Especially if he wanted to help solve problems. I became less and less impressed with his directorial style, wishing he`d just document something and not turn it into a three-ring circus. Oh, well, Moore`s got his audience.