DVD

Burn to Shine’s Seattle stop for volume five finds the DVD series looking and sounding its best. Producer Brendan Canty (Fugazi) and director Christoph Green continue to scout condemned buildings (mostly houses) in specific cities, calling upon local musicians to gather fellow artists for one final day concert before the structure disappears. On January 27, 2007, Death Cab for Cutie’s Benjamin Gibbard curated rare, living room performances by Eddie Vedder, Harvey Danger, hip-hop duo Blue Scholars, Minus the Bear, and Jesse Sykes and the Sweet Hereafter among others. There are few chances for snazzy camera angles here but it’s sonically tough and, where a montage of the building’s destruction is usually included, this home was actually transported across Seattle, providing the most unique BTS ending yet. Read an interview with Brendan Canty at exclaim.ca Vish Khanna