"I Need That Record!": Doc exploring the death of the indie record shop now in stores
When Twisted Village announced that it was closing it's doors a couple of weeks ago, a massive wave of outrage, sadness and wistful reminiscence followed. It isn't the first of it's ilk to fold and, sadly, it won't be the last (damn the man! won't somebody save the Empire?) So, perhaps, this is the perfect time for the DVD release of "guerrilla filmmaker" Brendan Toller's new documentary, I Need That Record! The 2008 doc, which screened to considerably favorable critical reception at film festivals nationwide, was released on DVD yesterday in stores everywhere. Previously, it was only available for sale in, aptly, independent record stores. The documentary explores the loss of over 3,000 indie record shops across the U.S. over the past decade. What's the cause behind this rampant disease. Is there a cure? With cameos by the likes of Chris Frantz [the Talking Heads], Thurston Moore [Sonic Youth] and more, this doc might be a soothing, if largely inadequate, salve to the wound Twisted Village's announcement caused for many long-time Bostonians. Though the irony of the DVD being released through mondo-chains like Best Buy and Amazon after a short stint in independent record stores alone won't be lost on anyone. Damn that man.