Time Travel Tuesday: Lebowski Turns Ten
We at Speed of Dark are movie and book buffs as well as music lovers, and in the area of film few hold higher esteem with us than the Coen Brothers, Joel and Ethan.
Indie Mom can quote verbatim from "Raising Arizona," and my husband's favorite is "The Big Lebowski," which we have to watch every couple of months. For his birthday last year he asked for a T-shirt that says, "The Dude Abides." No surprise that our copy of the 10th Anniversary Edition, released today, is already on its way. I did not, however, order the Limited Edition, with its bowling ball display case (at right). The regular DVD case will fit better on the shelf.COPYRIGHTED CONTENT HAS BEEN REMOVED
I couldn't begin to cite all the websites and references to "The Big Lebowski" here, so I'm not attempting that. Today's Time Travel is not about the movie or even about any of the music in the movie although a lot could be said about that. Rather, this is about three bands whose names come from some reference in the movie.
The Prayers and Tears of Arthur Digby Sellers
Even for those who have watched "The Big Lebowski" many times, this one might require some explaining. Remember the man in the iron lung machine, the father of the boy whose homework was found in the Dude's car? That character is Arthur Digby Sellers, the author, according to Walter (John Goodman), of 156 epidsodes of "Branded" (a real 60s TV series that starred Chuck Connors).
The Prayers and Tears of Arthur Digby Sellers are Perry Wright and Alex Lazara of Chapel Hill NC. Wright, a guitarist with a master's of divinity degree from Duke University, is the songwriter; Lazara is the arranger as well as in-house producer for Bu Hanan Records, their label. The band's sophomore release, The Mother of Love Emulates the Shapes of Cynthia (2005), won acclaim from Pitchfork and other publications when it was released. Indie Mom did a post on this album in October 2006 (Rock Star Laments). Their latest activity that I know of was contributing a song to It's Hard To Find a Friend blog's Peace On Earth Christmas charity project last December.
I find their somber, lo-fi offerings compelling which makes them my personal favorite of these three. I love this melancholy cover of Michael Jackson's "Billie Jean." They have made an EP of b-sides and rarities available for free download at Bu Hanan Records. Just follow the link below to Bu Hanan.
The Prayers and Tears of Arthur Digby Sellers:
Billie Jean (Michael Jackson cover)
Saving Since September from Psalterie (2003)
MySpace | Website | Label: Bu Hanan Records Collective
Buy at Prayers and Tears Store
The Fucking Eagles
This band name references the Dude's reaction to hearing "Peaceful Easy Feeling" on the chauffeur's radio: "I had a rough night, and I hate the fucking Eagles, man."
The Fucking Eagles are a rockabilly punk outfit from Tacoma, WA, who love to make fun of the name of their hometown (versions include Tacomatose, Tacomama, and Tacomausoleum) and list about a billion influences in their MySpace page. Obviously these are some fun-loving dudes who don't take themselves very seriously, which is in-synch with the movie Dude's life philosophy.
The Fucking Eagles:
When Will I Be Loved
Out of the World from A Million Dollars Worth of Music (2007)
MySpace | Label: Gaptooth Jukebox Records
Buy at Sonic Boom Records
Little Lebowski Urban Achievers
In the movie, the Little Lebowski Urban Achievers were the beneficiaries of the charity foundation run by Maude Lebowski. This band, from Minneapolis, which is the Coens' own childhood stomping grounds, probably takes its connection to the movie the most seriously of the three. Below is a photo of two of the members with the Dude himself, Jeff Bridges, probably at a Lebowski Fest, from their MySpace page.
This track suggests another Coen Bros movie, "Raising Arizona," where H.I. (Nicolas Cage) punches his boss Glen in the nose for suggesting to swap his wife (Frances McDormand) for Ed (Holly Hunter).
Little Lebowski Urban Achievers: It's a fine line you walk in the wife swapping business from Is This a Party or An Intervention? (2007)
MySpace | Buy Is This a Party or an Intervention? 7-inch at Interpunk or purchase tracks for download from LLUA on their MySpace page.
Lebowski Trivia:
The role of the Dude was originally offered to Mel Gibson. Can you imagine that? Naw, me either! The Dude's film wardrobe came from Jeff Bridges' own closet, including those awful jelly shoes. Bridges still has the shoes and that sweater, but Jesus' purple pantsuit was thrown out after the movie was completed.
Excellent site on the works of the Coen Brothers: You Know, For Kids. Includes scripts!
3 comments:
Seriously, who would want a dvd in a bowling ball display case? Where would one even put it? Also due to the tenth anniversary of Lebowski there was an article in olde Rolling Stone mag that mentioned an album Jeff Bridges cut w/ backing vocals by none other than Michael McDonald. Don't bother tracking it down like I did, it is the most worthless piece of crap imaginable.
=w=
healthryder.blogspot.com
LOL, I am seriously trying to get RID of useless junk, not acquire more. But I guess the same kind of people who collect Star Wars figures and Simpson's cereal boxes (you know who you are) will go for this thing too.
I read that Rolling Stone article too, and I enjoyed it a lot.
Thanks for your comments!
You know, this post really brings the site together.. ;-)
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