Late garage rocker Jay Reatard was the subject of the documentary Better Than Something, which premiered at film festivals back in 2011. This holiday season, the flick will now come to DVD, arriving December 18 through Factory 25.
As Pitchfork reports, the 91-minute film is being sold along with a 14-song vinyl record containing rare tracks (see the tracklist below). This is available in a standard black edition or a numbered blood-red version, the latter of which is being pressed in a limited run of 500. Both versions come with a 50-page book containing essays, photos and an unreleased interview with Jay. Contributors to the book include V Smith (Adverts), Cole Alexander (Black Lips), King Khan, Alicja Trout and more. (If you don't want the record, there is also a fanzine edition.)
In terms of bonus content, the DVD will include 20 minutes of additional interviews with Reatard and others. An official synopsis describes the film like this: "With their feature documentary Better Than Something, filmmakers Alex Hammond and Ian Markiewicz let Jay tell his own story: a poverty-stricken childhood, teen years spent as a two-fisted tunesmith battling fans and band mates alike, and a short-lived adulthood of focused and relentless productivity."
A trailer is at the bottom of the page, and pre-order the record here.
Better Than Something:
1. Jay Reatard - "Such a Shame" (TV Rennes 2008)
2. The Reatards - "Bummer Bitch" (Gonerfest 2005)
3. The Reatards - "No One Stands Me" (Gonerfest 2005)
4. Lost Sounds - "I Get Nervous" (VPRO 2005)
5. Lost Sounds - "Tyrants Head" (VPRO 2005)
6. Angry Angles - "You Call It Love" (Gonerfest 2005)
7. Jay Reatard - "Let It All Go" (SXSW 2007)
8. Lost Sounds - "Better Than Somethings" (1998)
9. Jay Reatard - "Fading All Away" (Studio Brussel 2009)
10. Jay Reatard - "Death Is Forming" (Crystal Ballroom 2008)
11. Jay Reatard - "Not a Substitute" (Stuy Town NYC 2009)
12. Jay Reatard - "Waiting for Something" (Walter's 2009)
13. Jay Reatard - "Nightmares" (Studio Brussel 2009)
14. Jay Reatard - "Let It All Go" (France 2008)
As Pitchfork reports, the 91-minute film is being sold along with a 14-song vinyl record containing rare tracks (see the tracklist below). This is available in a standard black edition or a numbered blood-red version, the latter of which is being pressed in a limited run of 500. Both versions come with a 50-page book containing essays, photos and an unreleased interview with Jay. Contributors to the book include V Smith (Adverts), Cole Alexander (Black Lips), King Khan, Alicja Trout and more. (If you don't want the record, there is also a fanzine edition.)
In terms of bonus content, the DVD will include 20 minutes of additional interviews with Reatard and others. An official synopsis describes the film like this: "With their feature documentary Better Than Something, filmmakers Alex Hammond and Ian Markiewicz let Jay tell his own story: a poverty-stricken childhood, teen years spent as a two-fisted tunesmith battling fans and band mates alike, and a short-lived adulthood of focused and relentless productivity."
A trailer is at the bottom of the page, and pre-order the record here.
Better Than Something:
1. Jay Reatard - "Such a Shame" (TV Rennes 2008)
2. The Reatards - "Bummer Bitch" (Gonerfest 2005)
3. The Reatards - "No One Stands Me" (Gonerfest 2005)
4. Lost Sounds - "I Get Nervous" (VPRO 2005)
5. Lost Sounds - "Tyrants Head" (VPRO 2005)
6. Angry Angles - "You Call It Love" (Gonerfest 2005)
7. Jay Reatard - "Let It All Go" (SXSW 2007)
8. Lost Sounds - "Better Than Somethings" (1998)
9. Jay Reatard - "Fading All Away" (Studio Brussel 2009)
10. Jay Reatard - "Death Is Forming" (Crystal Ballroom 2008)
11. Jay Reatard - "Not a Substitute" (Stuy Town NYC 2009)
12. Jay Reatard - "Waiting for Something" (Walter's 2009)
13. Jay Reatard - "Nightmares" (Studio Brussel 2009)
14. Jay Reatard - "Let It All Go" (France 2008)