There was some mention of this around here earlier, I think, when this was in theaters. It's been out on DVD for a little while now, and I had the chance to watch it last weekend. Anyway, somehow in surfing around this morning at work, I got Jandek on my mind, and I thought I'd see if any of you guys had any thoughts or opinions on him or the documentary.

It's funny how in the film, no one really seems to give his music a full, unapolagetic endorsement. They just say it's "wierd", "fascinating", "mysterious", etc. I've seen people profess to love some of his stuff (emphasis on "some"), but from the film, you get the feeling that people are more in love with the mysterous persona than the music. That's certainly part of it, but I find it kind of odd that I've seen much better explanations for why people actually like his music on internet message boards (i.e. "some of its is perfect blues").

Anyway, I know Twilight Kid says he has a Jandek CD. Do any of you other guys have anything? I've got some odds and ends as .mp3s, but I've only given them cursory listens. I was looking around for info this morning, and I found out that his CDs can be bought fairly cheaply ($7) from the few distributers that have bought them in bulk, but that if you buy 20 or more directly from Corwood, they're just $4 (otherwise they're $8 ea.). I doubt I could ever want more than 2 or 3 of his albums, if any, but I'm tempted to write to Corwood for a catalog. I wonder if tons of other dorks have done that since that documentary came out.

So does anyone else here give a shit about Jandek? I'm not sure if I do as far as his music is concerned, but I think the documentary on him is definitely worth watching for pretty much anybody.

Yeah, I went through my 15 minute obsession with Jandek several months back...

After all this time, my consensus vote is: "the legend of Jandek is far more interesting, then the music is".

I bought one of the CD's at Kims for 8 bux, and it is slightly interesting in the sense that I was fascinated by him at the time....It's nothing I would ever play, or feel I would have the desire to play on it's own....

I did love 'Jandek on Corwood'. Bought it actually...I love these types of reclusive artists, and their stories.

I've written to the mysterious address, and 'Jandek' did write me back twice which was kind of cool.

I have my doubts on alot of stuff though....I think he is pulling a long joke on his 'cult fan base'. Of all the stuff I read, on top of my 'somewhat' music biz experience, someone as 'mysterious and reclusive' as he likes to be percieved, alot of stuff doesnt add up, and seems rather calculated...but thats just me....

In the end, the movie is fascinating and I have watched it 3-4 times....As for the music, i'll leave that up to the peeps on here who have more of a pulse on the 'true indie scene'.

He would do a lot better with this "mysterious" vibe if he refrained from releasing 5 mediocre albums a year and just put out one good one every two-three years.

Watched this last night and was quite intrigued. I see where some of the early SY (Thurston in particular) got his slow, methodical vox from on songs like "She's in A Bad Mood". I dig Jandek. I think its actually refreshing that people are still into or interested in his stuff after all these years. I hope to one day own the entire catalog.

I think the doc is a good starting place for people who didn't know this guy existed. With the exception of Byron Colely and a few others, most of the interviewees were just twits that probably don't even listen to albums, but only analyze them, so I don't put too much stock in their comments. From a filmmaking standpoint, the format of the doc just annoyed the hell out of me. Long pieces of black, and other such nonsense really interrupted the natural movement forward. As for people not giving why they liked Jandek...I've found with other music docs its the same way. They figure either a)you already know the work, or b)yr interested in knowing what he is like, and therefore the brief discriptions+music samples should give you an idea.

I'm not familiar enough to say whether or not I like his music, but I have acquired mp3s of "Six and Six" and "Blue Corpse", and will pay special mind to listening closer to them in the coming days.

H ie snmow starting to play shows fairly regularly. I still keep up on his website, as I still maintain that it's a fascinating story, but the music I still have not gained any more interest in.

He doesn't have a website, and he has only played some shows overseas...was supposed to play Chitown in Sept, but due to the Hurricane wasn't able to.

http://tisue.net/jandek/

This is as close to an official unofficial website as he has....Everything you could possibly wanna know.

and over the last 12-18 months, has played a few US shows.

youre welcome.

I was always curious, and I actually liked the mood of the track on the Songs in the Key of Z comp, so, figuring one's as good as another, I grabbed one called Worthless Recluse on an Amoeba spree one day.

It's fucking spoken word. No music.