Smells Like Kim Spirit

The News Review:

- Smells Like Kim Spirit
- Montreal Mirror : Music : Compact Discs
- Former US Detainee in Iraq Recalls Torment

Smells Like Kim Spirit
Asia Sentinel – Dec 18, 2006
Jean-Baptiste Kim a self-described “man with three fatherlands” is behind “Rock for Peace” which scheduled for May 1-4 in the capital city of Kim Jong-il’s socialist paradise. Sketchy enthusiastic and slightly skewed English details are available on his Voice of Korea website for what he is calling “the 2007 version of Woodstock rock festival in 1969 but in a different location and with a different goal. We welcome every musician as long as they are purely music based without political intentions. ” Though the gig is open to any band “even if you are from USA” they have to have the requisite visas stamina and money to fly themselves and their gear to Pyongyang. There are also additional caveats not quite in the Woodstock or even modern goth punk or death-metal rock spirit. “The lyrics should not contain admirations on war sex violence murder drug rape non-governmental society imperialism colonialism racism anti-DPRK and anti-socialism. ” That pretty much rules out everybody save Barry Manilow Celine Dion Canto-pop cutie pies or anyone from American Idol… Even though USA was the incubator of rock music I still love rock music because I believe frontiers must not exist among us when we enjoy music. Music is the greatest tool to unify all different people from all different places” Kim said in an e-mail interview from Voice of Korea headquarters in New Malden a south London suburb that one western blog North Korea Zone describes as “home to thousands of (South) Koreans living in Britain. ” Kim a 40-year-old father of three and former correspondent for North Korea’s largest newspaper Rodong said 62 bands from 20 countries have signed on so far but aside from one Norwegian death metal band he’s reluctant to provide any details just yet. “Too many bands from all over the world. I will release full list of participants soon on the web site” he wrote. He’s confident that Pyongyang – which has hosted grand spectacles like the annual Arirang Mass Games tae kwon do tournaments and the International Pyongyang Film Festival – will have no problem with a rock fest and the attendant messy details – plentiful port-a-potties lodging a big kick-ass sound and light system and presumably back stage passes for hangers on and lots of Jack Daniels in the green room. “DPRK is well experienced for large international events” Kim wrote.

Montreal Mirror : Music : Compact Discs
Montreal Mirror – Dec 18, 2006
As ambitious as this project is pairing Biggie with artists both living and dead it’s an LP far from worth getting excited about. The truth is that Biggie outshines just about everyone here making songs with Diddy Nelly Missy Elliot Twista R Kelly and yes 2Pac seem almost silly. The Clipse come close on “Just a Memory” as do Big Pun Fat Joe and Freeway on “Get Your Grind n” but every song on the album should have been as tight as “Whatchu Want” featuring Jay-Z. Let’s try to forget the song with Korn and remember how many MCs still don’t even come close to the Notorious B.

Former US Detainee in Iraq Recalls Torment
New York Times – Dec 18, 2006
After an hour or two he was returned to his cell fatigued but unable to sleep. The fluorescent lights in his cell were never turned off he said. At most hours heavy metal or country music blared in the corridor. He said he was rousted at random times without explanation and made to stand in his cell. Even lying down he said he was kept from covering his face to block out the light noise and cold. And when he was released after 97 days he was exhausted depressed and scared. Detainee 200343 was among thousands of people who have been held and released by the American military in… Vance said the company had a growing cache of weapons it was selling to suspicious customers including a steady flow of officials from the Iraqi Interior Ministry. The ministry had ties to violent militias and death squads. He said he had also witnessed another employee giving American soldiers liquor in exchange for bullets and weapon repairs. n a visit to Chicago in ctober 2005 Mr. Vance met twice with an F.