Since 1978, a man who calls himself "Jandek" has been releasing strange little folk records full of monotone acoustic guitars and a slight bluesy howl on his own Houston label, Corwood Industries. Chad Freidrichs' documentary Jandek On Corwood looks into the mystery man's mysteries, but just a little. The film is more about the cult musician's fans, and why they channel so much devotion to a man who refuses to love them back. Freidrichs talks to underground rock critics, college-radio DJs, and indie record-store clerks, who all seem most excited about charting Jandek's progress over 25 years via his stark album covers and the microscopic changes in his music and lyrics. As one woman says, hearing about Jandek provokes a stronger reaction than actually hearing him.
To that end, Jandek On Corwood proves invaluable. Freidrichs captures the mood of Jandek's music by alternating talking-head interviews with shots of abandoned houses and empty streets; at times, the documentary seems in on the hoax, with its evocative images representing secret clues. The DVD commentary track by Freidrichs and producer Paul Fehler mainly reveals technical details about how some footage was digitally altered, and only briefly alludes to any contact the filmmakers may have had with the artist (who, after all, had to give them permission to use his music). Mostly, the meaning of the movie and the music comes from the devout Jandekians, who find undeniable artistry and drama in the sound of a man making noise alone, cut off from any public interaction.