Documentaries about a particular musical time and place?
April 30, 2014 9:02 PM Subscribe
Looking to watch music documentaries in context. Not just a single band.
I just finished watching the Muscle Shoals documentary on Netflix and I loved it. I watched the Sound City documentary on Amazon Prime a couple weeks ago and enjoyed it immensely too. I think I like these music docs where they showcase a specific sound or feel, rather than a single band. Are there any more? Anything commercially available (buy/sell/rent) is good. Streamable gets bonus points (not redeemable but I love you for it and we can trade "you're awesome" knowing looks from across the room).
I just finished watching the Muscle Shoals documentary on Netflix and I loved it. I watched the Sound City documentary on Amazon Prime a couple weeks ago and enjoyed it immensely too. I think I like these music docs where they showcase a specific sound or feel, rather than a single band. Are there any more? Anything commercially available (buy/sell/rent) is good. Streamable gets bonus points (not redeemable but I love you for it and we can trade "you're awesome" knowing looks from across the room).
I think that Another State of Mind may qualify.
posted by Radiophonic Oddity at 9:31 PM on April 30, 2014
posted by Radiophonic Oddity at 9:31 PM on April 30, 2014
Twenty Feet From Stardom is about backup singers. Really good.
Pearl Jam 20 is ostensibly about PJ, but it's also kind of a Cameron Crowe retrospective of the birth of grunge.
posted by Lyn Never at 9:45 PM on April 30, 2014 [1 favorite]
Pearl Jam 20 is ostensibly about PJ, but it's also kind of a Cameron Crowe retrospective of the birth of grunge.
posted by Lyn Never at 9:45 PM on April 30, 2014 [1 favorite]
"Hype" is about the Seattle grunge scene.
posted by Potomac Avenue at 12:34 AM on May 1, 2014
posted by Potomac Avenue at 12:34 AM on May 1, 2014
"Kill Your Idols" is about the NYC No Wave scene from the 80s-mid 00s.
posted by Potomac Avenue at 12:36 AM on May 1, 2014 [1 favorite]
posted by Potomac Avenue at 12:36 AM on May 1, 2014 [1 favorite]
How could we forget "Decline of Western Civilization (Parts I & II)" about the LA hardcore and metal scenes respectively.
posted by Potomac Avenue at 12:39 AM on May 1, 2014 [1 favorite]
posted by Potomac Avenue at 12:39 AM on May 1, 2014 [1 favorite]
RE:GENERATION is an interesting behind-the-scenes look at some different artists collaborating. Available on Hulu.
posted by kuanes at 5:13 AM on May 1, 2014
posted by kuanes at 5:13 AM on May 1, 2014
The filmmaker Les Blank devoted most of his career to different regional/American music cultures and usually the cuisines that came with them.
And the site www.folkstreams.net might have some things you'd be interested in.
posted by AtoBtoA at 5:19 AM on May 1, 2014
And the site www.folkstreams.net might have some things you'd be interested in.
posted by AtoBtoA at 5:19 AM on May 1, 2014
We have it on DVD, and I think it originally aired on PBS, but The History of Rock and Roll is AMAZING, and it covers everything across all genres of rock and roll.
posted by Ruthless Bunny at 5:20 AM on May 1, 2014
posted by Ruthless Bunny at 5:20 AM on May 1, 2014
I just added Upside Down: The Creation Records Story (Netflix) to my list based on recommendations from friends.
I liked Until the Light Takes Us (website), about Norwegian black metal; it isn't on Netflix or Amazon Prime. [The website suggests you can stream the entire movie/clips there but I am not sure that is true anymore].
posted by mountmccabe at 5:20 AM on May 1, 2014
I liked Until the Light Takes Us (website), about Norwegian black metal; it isn't on Netflix or Amazon Prime. [The website suggests you can stream the entire movie/clips there but I am not sure that is true anymore].
posted by mountmccabe at 5:20 AM on May 1, 2014
If you're into the Delta blues (which I am) I've heard Delta Rising is good. I think you can stream it for free here.
posted by lillian.elmtree at 5:48 AM on May 1, 2014
posted by lillian.elmtree at 5:48 AM on May 1, 2014
It Might Get Loud is so good, and this isn't even remotely my area.
posted by you're a kitty! at 6:41 AM on May 1, 2014
posted by you're a kitty! at 6:41 AM on May 1, 2014
Blank City is an excellent doc about the No Wave scene in late 70s New York.
posted by Chenko at 9:15 AM on May 1, 2014
posted by Chenko at 9:15 AM on May 1, 2014
You Weren’t There: A History of Chicago Punk, 1977–1984
posted by swoopstake at 9:36 AM on May 1, 2014
posted by swoopstake at 9:36 AM on May 1, 2014
Though Big Star: Nothing Can Hurt Me is about the band Big Star, it is also a rich portrait of the Memphis scene and the recording studio where they did it all. I loved it.
posted by Riverine at 12:57 PM on May 1, 2014
posted by Riverine at 12:57 PM on May 1, 2014
Tom Dowd and the Language of Music is easily one of the best music documentaries I've ever seen. Tom Dowd was a recording engineer/producer from the 40's till the 70's and worked with an amazing variety of performers (Miles Davis, John Coltrane, Eric Clapton, Booker T and the MGs) and he invented a lot of studio techniques.
posted by doctor_negative at 4:02 PM on May 1, 2014 [1 favorite]
posted by doctor_negative at 4:02 PM on May 1, 2014 [1 favorite]
"The Blues"
Martin Scorsese's series is awesome if you're interested in the origins of the Blues genre.
posted by MeatheadBrokeMyChair at 4:25 PM on May 1, 2014
Martin Scorsese's series is awesome if you're interested in the origins of the Blues genre.
posted by MeatheadBrokeMyChair at 4:25 PM on May 1, 2014
It's not a documentary, but if you're curious about the current state of So Cal garage/punk/dream pop/rock, there's a new episode of BrgrTV every Thursday, and they're all on YouTube.
posted by Juliet Banana at 9:28 AM on May 2, 2014 [1 favorite]
posted by Juliet Banana at 9:28 AM on May 2, 2014 [1 favorite]
Seriously? WOODSTOCK! It's THE way to experience not only the music of the late 1960's, but the people. I rewatch it often.
posted by msleann at 9:12 PM on May 6, 2014
posted by msleann at 9:12 PM on May 6, 2014
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posted by Johnny Wallflower at 9:14 PM on April 30, 2014 [3 favorites]