banding

Pearl Jam Twenty (100 Films in 2011)

by Jamie Sanford on December 11, 2011

90. Pearl Jam Twenty (available to stream on Netflix)

Here is the trailer for Pearl Jam Twenty:

[youtube 5qFlacHufUw]

Pearl Jam Twenty is a documentary that chronicles the 20-year span of rock band Pearl Jam. I was introduced to this band with all of my friends in the early 90s, and we all fantasized about Eddie Vedder and just loved the band and the music so much.  I had no idea that this documentary would end up making me as emotional as it did, but when certain songs were discussed, especially “Release,” I was a lost cause.  My connection to the music on my own personal level definitely influenced my reaction, but I imagine that anyone can relate.

I don’t want to talk about “plot” too much. There are interviews with everyone in the band, plus quite a bit of Chris Cornell, and no one minds that. Cameron Crowe wrote and directed the movie, and when you have obsessed over Almost Famous/Untitled as much as I have, you can see his style all over the place. It’s a really enjoyable film and an interesting study into the way a rock band works. I highly recommend a viewing, as soon as possible. Get on it.

Pearl Jam Twenty is available on DVD from Amazon for $17.99. Go get it right now.

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Queen: Days of Our Lives (100 Films in 2011)

by Jamie Sanford on July 13, 2011

32. Queen: Days of Our Lives (Not available to view on Netflix Instant Watch, but embedded below from YouTube)

Since it is available, I will simply embed the film in 2 parts right here in the post:

[youtube 8N_bXPNR368]

Part 1 of Queen: Days of Our Lives.

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Part 2 of Queen: Days of Our Lives.

Queen: Days of Our Lives chronicles the life of the British rock band Queen.  From their beginnings as friends who met at university to being massively successful in the US and the UK, the documentary covers a lot in 2 hours.  The remaining bandmates discuss the controversy of the band performing at Sun City in the 80s, when certain parties felt that performing at Sun City was obviously the same thing as saying “we love apartheid, it’s awesome”—something that the living members of Queen greatly disagree with; the band’s issues with productivity being interrupted by drugs, alcohol, and sex; and the sickness and eventual death of frontman Freddie Mercury.

I have enjoyed Queen’s music over the years without ever being a super hardcore fan.  I really enjoyed this documentary though, but documentaries that are stories tied to people are generally my favorites (obviously, based on my recent post about Frank Lloyd Wright).  I can highly recommend watching this documentary, especially since the parts are readily available on YouTube.  I didn’t find an official source for the DVD so I can’t share a link, but it’s worth a viewing online.

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Beautiful Bands from Nurit Design Jewelry

by Jamie Sanford on May 31, 2011

I’ve been looking at band rings a lot more now that I am planning a vow renewal for my 5-year wedding anniversary.  I don’t want to replace my original wedding band at all but a right-hand band to remind me of the event would be welcome.  Nurit Designs on Etsy has some beautiful band rings with an organic feel.

Autumn leaves in sterling silver with rubies, this band is available for $150 from NuritDesign on Etsy.

This is a unisex gold band that gives me an interlocked branches feeling. This 9-karat gold band is available from Etsy seller NuritDesigns for $280.

There are multiple versions of this lace ring band available.  This version is in 14k white gold and is available for $280. There’s a larger version in 9kt yellow gold available as well.

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