Some of it was absolutely fresh and captivating, so I went online to watch the whole thing. The black and white cinematography, Feist’s crazy, mysterious curly long hair, (she looks amazing in it too – when you finally get to see her – more on that in a minute) the dramatic natural forest setting, a beautiful cloud sky shot, but something was not quite right with it either. It’s too bad, because a few tweaks would have made this a classic!

I’ve been working on a couple videos of late for work (which I’ve really been enjoying) and I feel it’s sharpened my critical eye. So below I’ve put in some critical feedback on the video…

Please watch the music video and check out some of my suggestions (right below it). Find out if you agree with my thoughts.

As promised, here are a couple suggestions I have for the video if they were to re-do it.

First, a few things I really like about it:

• black and white
• forest scene (day and night)
• smoke
• some wind
• cool hair (didn’t have to be that long though i don’t think)
• sky shot (could have been another, even)
• feist looks amazing (up close)
• emily carr in the forest vibe

What I think could be improved:

• Need to see Feist’s face more in general, and a bit more in particular at the start. At .23 seconds, you should see a glimpse of her face here! Were they trying to be intriguing hiding her like that? I don’t feel it worked, it’s  awkward and you should show a little profile so people know who’s song it is…she’s a star! In fact, you barely see her face in the first whole minute of the song. That’s crazy I think, and you should have her signing at least one of the lines in the first minute as well….they wait too long and show her, and then almost too much (mostly getting blown around) at the end of the video.

• .55-58 should again see at least a bit of her, and ideally singing a verse here…instead she ends up looking too witch-like, not like an artistic, reflective, lonely creature

• 1.38 again is too witch-like – switch up the forest setting (new location)!

• 2.12-2.17 is phenomenal and could be repeated like 3 times and it’s still be fun to watch…so why not at least once more! could have been a daytime version of that move as well perhaps?

• 2.25-2.37 could be totally removed. this spot looks really run down after a full day shooting – pick a new untrampled on spop + the wind also starts to get way to extreme here, looks really cold and awkward for here. some cool forest night setting stuff would have been great. a rock, a waterfall, even a quick shot of a frog or an owl or hawk or some creature…

What do you think about the video, or about her new song/cd? Please comment here >>

Listen to the new Feist Album on iTunes >>

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At McMicheal Gallery's Cemetery - Lauren & Bess Harris' Headstone

A few weeks ago I went with a friend to the renowned McMichael Art Gallery in the village of Kleinburg just north of Toronto for the first time. It’s a gem of a place. I noticed a picture in the gallery near the cafe of Pierre Trudeau and his son from way back at the gallery having fun. I felt very Canadian at that point, but yet very international too, and proud of it. I was in the right place. And I was grateful to be there.

I went specifically this time to see an exhibit called Following in the Footsteps of the Group of 7. This unique exhibit “trace[d] the work of Jim and Sue Waddington who have a passion for locating the actual sketching sites for artworks by members of the Group of Seven… Juxtaposing the original artworks with photographs taken by the Waddingtons in the La Cloche Hills in Killarney where these Group members camped, canoed, portaged and sketched, the show allow[ed] visitors to examine iconic images of the northern Ontario landscape and discover the real inspiration behind them.”

It was a very insightful exhibit and to top it off Jim and Sue were there that day too, the last day of the exhibit. Jim and Sue were at the exhibit often I was told. And they kindly answered questions and shared their stories. They told us to check out www.groupofseven.ca more more info and an interactive website featuring their work etc. Do check it out, you’ll get a feel for the concept.

I’ve been a Lauren Harris fan for quite some time now and also have certainly grown to appreciate the rest of the Group of 7 as well, including Tom Thomson (especially this time at the gallery) and Emily Carr.

The visit at McMichael was inspiring in many ways, but after that visit I knew I wanted and needed to get into the great outdoors and explore like the Group of 7 did, in the place(s) they explored. I’ve done some outdoorsy stuff in the past, but it has been awhile and it’s about time to renew that part of my life. Algonquin Park came to mind and was an obvious first step as I have never been.

Many of the paintings at the gallery were in the fall (with their beautiful fall colours) and since it was the end of summer when I visited McMichael I figured it was nearing prime time to go…so why not this Fall!

I suggested the idea to a outdoorsy friend of mine, and almost miraculously, it turned out he was  thinking of the same thing – going to Algonquin Park! I’m pleased to say that I’m going this weekend just a few short weeks since visiting Algonquin, and three of us plan to hike one day and do a canoe portage one day. We won’t be staying on the camp grounds this time around, but at a nearby motel.

In preparation for this trip I went on YouTube for some insights and came across a couple songs that I really enjoyed.  I thought I would share them here. Enjoy!

I find myself quite often looking for good yoga-type music and this is a good example of what I’m looking for. YouTube has some decent meditation/yoga songs, but there’s a lot not so great stuff too. Hit and miss. I’m probably going to end up buying some music on iTunes or at the music store, but I’m also on the hunt to put together a good YouTube playlist too… Enjoy!

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You can actually listen to the whole new album ‘Forgiveness Rock Record’ on the player below so have a listen and buy the album if you wish.I haven’t actually listened to the whole album yet, but so far so great!

Right now you can also download their song ‘World Sick’ for free on their MySpace site. Enjoy! http://www.myspace.com/brokensocialscene