Gordon Lightfoot Book, Music and More!

Fans of Funkadelic, Captain Beefheart and the Residents all point to Zappa as the godfather of eccentric rock. This DVD, the latest in the Classic Albums series, focuses on Zappa’s two breakthrough recordings of the 1970s, featuring hits like “Don’t Eat the Yellow Snow” and contributions from Tina Turner and ex-Cream bassist Jack Bruce. Son Dweezil acts as tour guide, while artists from Alice Cooper and Steve Vai to Billy Bob Thornton all pay tribute to the genius who claimed that “absurdity is the only reality.”

This roots-rock trio formed initially as a tribute to singer-songwriter Willie P. Bennett. But it’s grown to cover other Canadian icons as well as fine originals by members Stephen Fearing, Colin Linden and Tom Wilson. Here, on the companion to last year’s Let’s Frolic, BARK tackles two Willie gems (“Sometimes It Comes So Easy” and “Don’t Blame Your Blues on Me”), one Murray McLauchlan nugget (“Down By the Henry Moore”) and even a Teenage Head classic (“Something on My Mind”). CanCon cool.

Billed as an “unathorized [sic] documentary,” this DVD features licensed interviews with Brandon Flowers and rare performance footage (including some shot at Toronto’s Opera House). But, because it was made without approval from the band or its record company, there is no original Killers music—nothing from Hot Fuss or Sam’s Town, just sound-alike tracks from unknown groups. Relying on material from former band members and “friends” of the Killers, it amounts to a bargain-basement bio. To be avoided at all costs.