New West

WATCH IT: Ryan Bingham "The Weary Kind"

This theme song from the Jeff Bridges country crooner flick Crazy Heart just tool Best Original Song honors at the Golden Globes. It should do the same at the Oscars, though who knows, they could go for something like this. Director/photographer Danny Clinch captures singer/songwriter Ryan Bingham performing the tune at a lackluster bar, mixing in the requisite footage from the film. A perfect soundtrack for your next early morning shot and a beer. --> watch "The Weary Kind"

QUICK CLIP: Ben Lee "I Love Pop Music"

OK, so we're seriously screwed. Ecologically. Economically. The doomsday clock is ticking and Ben Lee has the only solution: Turn on the radio, turn up the pop music and dance your fears away. The troubadour politics through the small town of Rosewood, Australia with his message of peace and pop. --> watch "I Love Pop Music"

[[{"type":"media","view_mode":"media_large","fid":"99","attributes":{"class":"media-image","typeof":"foaf:Image","height":"225","width":"400","style":""}}]]

IN DEPTH: IV Thieves "You Can't Love What You Don't Understand"

Imagine it's your first video. You're shooting in the area around the notorious Salton Sea in Southern California. It's July. It's so hot that the cameras have to be placed in a cooler every two minutes just to keep them working.

That's the situation described by photographer/director Brantley Gutierrez in this commentary for the IV Thieves — a group with a story as interesting as the video. If embedded player does not appear, visit YouTube

[[{"type":"media","view_mode":"media_large","fid":"84","attributes":{"class":"media-image","typeof":"foaf:Image","height":"350","width":"425","style":""}}]]

DVD New Release - Stan Ridgway

In Stores Today:

Stan Ridgway's Holiday in Dirt

New West Records releases this unique compilation from former Wall Of Voodoo frontman Stan Ridgway. Fourteen filmmakers were each given $500 or less and charged with the task of shooting short films for the unreleased and rare Ridgway recordings featured on this collection. Contributing directors include Rick Fuller, Phil Harder, Steve Hanft, Carlos Grasso and Chuck Statler. Highlights include Fuller's look at the starlets who make up the Hollywood Walk Of Fame in the video for "Beloved Movie Star" and Statler's creepy ventriloquist act in "Behind Closed Doors."

Also included are a couple alternative videos and two clips that supported Ridgway's 2003 solo album, Black Diamond.

Check out samples at the DVD's site.