the point

So I don't know if you have seen this movie...but if you haven't...you clearly need to rethink your cinematic choices.

The Point! is a 1970's fable created by the brilliant Harry Nilsson (you put the lime in the coconut...), and narrated with the playful English lilt of Ringo Starr. It's about a world full of points, and a little boy named Oblio (who has a band named after him...they wrote a song called Kathleen) who is born without a point. It's painted with whimsy, and talks to both the child in us, and the grown up activist.

When asked what his inspiration was for the film, Nilsson very honestly admitted;

"I was on acid and I looked at the trees and I realized that they all came to points, and the little branches came to points, and the houses came to point. I thought, 'Oh! Everything has a point, and if it doesn't, then there's a point to it."

If you understood that...then you'll absolutely adore the movie.

The songs from the movie help with the psychedelic aesthetic, and are poignant in their catchy, touching composition. The story is so transcendent. It plays to equality and love without relying on any cliches. The imagination that went into the conception is absolutely joyous, and timeless. There have been three remakes of The Point! since its release in 1971, so it clearly isn't going to lose its touch anytime soon.

But the tribute to The Point! that I shrieked in joy over was the recently released cover album of all Nilsson's songs...by some incredible artists. Artists like Nathaniel Rateliff and the Wheel, Martha Wainwright, Nada Surf, Andrew Bird and DeVotchka relive their childhood introduction to political allegory and dreamy jazz riffs by making these songs their own.

I knew that there had to be a common element between me and the artists I adore. That common element is The Point!

Think About Your Troubles (Harry Nilsson)- Andrew Bird

Think About Your Troubles- Harry Nilsson