Week 02: Jan 14-20, 2013

+ Indie roots rock band, The Lumineers perform on Saturday Night Live. As predicted, they are absolutely fantastic.

+ Jimmy Fallon hearts Brits: The Joy Formidable play their latest single off their sophomore album on Jimmy Fallon. It holds promise. Michael Kiwanuka plays a lovely 'Tell Me a Tale' with help from The Roots. Kiwanuka is wonderful.

+Jerry Seinfeld will be on Wale's next mixtape. Say what?! It's not as random as you might think. A few years before Wale broke into the interweb, he made an album called 'The Mixtape About Nothing'. This was inspired by Seinfeld. The mixtape was in direct reference to the show, showing parallels to the classic sitcom in way of song title, and musical scores. Jerry Seinfelds probable boredom to accompany Wale's fanboy boner.

+ Wiggity, wiggity... what?! No one, NO ONE could have predicted the return of 90's boys Kris Kross. No no, the former grade school one hit wonder rappers aren't back for good. They have admitted to one performance. I doubt it'll end there though. Maybe more than one should be anticipated.

+ The lineup for the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival has been released. It's a stellar lineup with The Black Keys at the top.

+ Loveable indie rock band Yo La Tengo release latest album called 'Fade'. It's as pretty as it's album artwork. Very.

+ The best show on television Girls is selling music like hot cakes. Since the Golden Globes, Robyn's 2010 album has had an increase in sales. No doubt all thanks to Girls promotional pumping 'Dancing On My Own'. Donald Glover aka Childish Gambino aka Troy (of Troy and Abed in the Morning of Community) aka boy genius is playing Sandy on Girls. Fingers crossed we hear some of his music on the show.

+ James Brown biopic in the works. Casting will begin shortly.

+ West of Memphis: Voices for Justice is released this week and it's perfect.

West of Memphis: Voices for Justice

Though having an obsessive personality is a prominent idiosyncrasy of mine most of my "obsessions" tend to be more trivial. Well, in comparison to my latest "interest". If that's what you could call it.

I hadn't heard of the West Memphis 3 until 2011. I hadn't heard in depth of their story until 2012. I have no intention of telling you what their story means to me. That is irrelevant. I simply think it important that people find the time to research it on their own. It is not that the story is particularly unique. People are wrongly convicted all the time. Sadly. What makes this story stand out, though, is the way - in my opinion - Damien Echols has risen from the heart breaking cards he was dealt. This story is devastating and inspiring all wrapped up into one complicated piece.

In 1996 a three part documentary was released; Paradise Lost: The Child Murders at Robin Hood Hills. The documentary was a strong effort to educate America, and portray the ill-conviction of three boys based on questionable evidence. Despite two of the three being sentenced to life imprisonment, and the third sent to death row, they were released in 2011 to serve a ten year suspended sentence.

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West of Memphis: Voices for Justice
Released: January 15, 2013

Usually I don't talk about movie soundtracks too much but if I'm going to make an exception for anything it will be for the 'West of Memphis' documentary movie soundtrack; West of Memphis: Voices for Justice.

I've never been to jail. Listening to this soundtrack, the poignant aspect of ill-conviction is displayed in the most heart breaking way. I chose, foolishly, to listen to this soundtrack while reading Damien Echols book (released in September 2012), 'Life After Death'. As Johnny Depp's band, Tonto's Giant Nuts, played Mumford & Sons 'Little Lion Man' unwillful tears pooled in my eyes. The song, though beautifully played by its originator or by Depps band, never served so much reverence as on the West of Memphis soundtrack. 'Little Lion Man' performed this way, is hauntingly devastating.

The score is put together by an all star cast featuring a fair share of covers. All portraying each song in a new light. Natalie Maines, lead singer of the Dixie Chicks, daringly covers Pink Floyds 'Mother'. An edgy move. She does a perfect job. Playing slightly less country and slightly more grungy, Maines fits in perfectly with the rest of the artists who contribute to the score. It's a humble, beauty of a song.

The entire album is chalk full of beautiful songs that tug on every heart string. The album also includes the reciting of two letters Damien Echols had written while on death row - read by Johnny Depp and Henry Rollins with Nick Cave playing in the background.

I find it difficult to go into depth with this album further because it is so fully based on the West Memphis 3 story. To understand the album would be to understand the story. I strongly encourage you, reader, to make the time to research it, if only to both show support to the men who were unjustly convicted; West Memphis 3 (Damien Echols, Jessie Misskelley, and Jason Baldwin) and also to honor the three eight year old boys who were killed in 1993.

By purchasing this album you are contributing directly to the West Memphis 3.