Why have I watched Holy Mountain, a psychedelic cult classic first released in 1973, a total of five times this month?

Because every single band in Atlanta (and the entire world) is insanely influenced by Holy Mountain director/composer/actor/set and costume designer Alejandro Jodorowsky’s work. Take, for example, the video for “Ambling Alp,” Yeasayer’s latest single:

A deserted desert? Huge amounts of unglamorized and unsexualized nudity? Mystical themes and mysterious rituals? Those are the hallmarks of Jodorowsky’s style, and the video is clearly a very well considered Jodorowsky homage. Closer to home, I’ve seen two different Atlanta bands playing with Holy Mountain projected behind them. The first Holy Mountain spotting was courtesy of El Fossil*. The second, a week later, was at a Tree Creature show.

Of course, after seeing all those references from my favorite local bands, I had to re-watch Holy Mountain. Disappointingly, the film doesn’t quite have the oomph I remembered from the first time I saw it. The scenes feel ridiculously drawn out, and the spectacle of (for example) seeing hundreds of birds fly out of a disemboweled mans stomach feels more silly then spiritually significant on second viewing.

Still, I’d recommend checking out Holy Mountain, if only to see where some of your favorite bands get their ideas.

*El Fossil play awesome surf-rock music. If that’s what you’re into, check out BeAtlanta.com’s in review of the band (with videos).