Music Documentaries

[poinoup]

I watched 30th Century Man yesterday. I knew of Scott Walker, but not much of his work. I was blown away by this documentary, how he went from "MOR slop" to his "avant-garde art-rock".

Using a garbage can with a terra cotta pot on top, and a slab of meat for percussion...indescribable. This is going to need a repeat viewing down the line, there's a lot to take in in this piece in only 90 minutes.

[frankie teardrop]

i've seen that documentary six or seven times now, twice in the theatre in NYC, and the rest trying to turn friends of mine on to scott and it still blows my mind. i've been a long-time scott walker fan (all eras, including early walker brothers) but i knew very little about him until the movie premiered. i don't think anyone really did...

[NIN64]

Just the other day I watched . It is loosely based around the Billy Joel's last concert at Shea Stadium in New York, but it jumps topics from the history of the stadium to Billy Joel's career. I thoroughly enjoyed it. Not sure how anyone feels about Billy Joel, but he has always been a guilty pleasure of mine from my childhood. My father and I used to listen to his greatest hits on car trips, and we used to watch a lot of Mets games. . . I guess that might be why I liked it so much. Anyway it was a good music documentary of sorts. That is all. . .

[richardp]

Some of this was just downright hard to watch. Like the scenes with Wayne's junkie brother, and Wayne talking about how he almost died at Long John Silvers, and the scene with Steven Drozd doing heroin.

Definitely. The Heroin scene is so surreal and in your face that it can't help but really bum you out after watching it.

[50 Volt Phantom]

Some good'uns I've seen of late:

Synth Britannia
Until the Light Takes Us
We're Living On Dog Food

I second Until The Light Takes Us, I've been meaning to get the blu ray so I can watch all the extra footage and interviews.

[redshoewearer]

Funky Monks - the making of RHCP's Blood Sugar Sex Magik
And more Pearl Jam - Single Video Theory about them making Yield.

[onthewall2983]

You really have to be a Genesis fan to dig it, but the documentary on their When In Rome 2007 DVD, Come Rain Or Shine ​is quite good at showing how to put on a big stadium show.

[thevoid99]

You really have to be a Genesis fan to dig it, but the documentary on their When In Rome 2007 DVD, Come Rain Or Shine ​is quite good at showing how to put on a big stadium show.

I saw that. It was pretty good. The guy who had the job to push buttons for the visual effects. Man, that must be tough.

[sheepdean]

For a written documentary (I think they're called books, idk I live on youtube), Dirty Life and Times of Warren Zevon is really well written and poignant. It's compiled from many of his friends and family, giving a really interesting warts-and-all description of his life.

[onthewall2983]

The guy who had the job to push buttons for the visual effects. Man, that must be tough.

I felt worse for Phil's drum tech, losing his mind looking for bar stools.

[peter]

Anvil The story of Anvil
Spinal Tap
Woodstock
Classic albums series

[xmd 5a]

I can't believe I forgot about 1991: The Year Punk Broke. Recently bought the DVD and loved every moment. Funny, crazy and even a little bit enlightening with some blistering live performances. Got a second copy for my dad for Xmas.

[Stereo75]

PBS(!) is showing me 'Blacking Up: Hip-Hop's Remix of Race and Identity'. In a nutshell it's about 'Wiggers'. Definitely an interesting watch. It actually distracted me from ma pornz.

[Leviathant]

I can't believe no one's mentioned Metallica's Some Kind of Monster. I am indifferent about Metallica, and I couldn't have cared less about this documentary, but I caught it by accident and I was riveted! It was like a real live This Is Spinal Tap.

[Highly Psychological]

Two words - SYNTH BRITANNIA - Interviews with Gary Numan, New Order, Throbbing Gristle, Cabaret Voltaire, Depeche Mode, Soft Cell, Human League, The The, OMD, Petshop Boys, Art of Noise, Yazoo, Eurythmics, Duran Duran , The Normal.
Im guessing this is probably Trent Reznor's favorite documentary of all time.!!! It explains a lot. Follows the transition from how obscure arty UK bands went from underground Post-Punk to New Wave Synth Pop and how they inadvertently created the 1980's pop sound. Just too much awesomeness. I love every single artist featured in this documentary.They were all innovative forward thinking people interested in breaking new ground. They are all truly inspirational.
This is a documentary to watch for any aspiring musician who requires the motivation to experiment with new sounds.I like the fact they also say anyone can do it. There are no rules. You dont have to be a classically trained or conventional musician to write great music and change things.

[Pillfred]

I forget the name but i think i heard of it hear so maybe someone will remember but i watched one about early punk bands, which seemed to have a focus on Social Distortion that i thought was pretty good. If only i could remember the name of it.
I also thought Fearless Geeks was pretty solid as well, very open and honest.

[Oberstgruppenführer CFI]

Lots of great recommendations, couple more I saw and loved:

GG Allin - Hated. You must see this.
John Peel's Record Box. Very nice one.
Talkin' Headz - The Metalheadz Documentary. Great docu about the Metalheadz label, if you like your 90's d'n'b you should not miss this.
Cannibal Corpse - Centuries Of Torment. Easily my fav music documentary, almost three hours of fun and information about the band and death metal history.

[emptydesk]

I watched 30th Century Man yesterday. I knew of Scott Walker, but not much of his work. I was blown away by this documentary, how he went from "MOR slop" to his "avant-garde art-rock".

Using a garbage can with a terra cotta pot on top, and a slab of meat for percussion...indescribable. This is going to need a repeat viewing down the line, there's a lot to take in in this piece in only 90 minutes.

His "MOR slop" is lightyears better than the borderline unlistenable art rock from the mid-80s onward.

[frankie teardrop]

oh posh, it's all pretty fucking brilliant.

ps- in case there's confusion, the MOR slop thing was a julian cope quote from the documentary.

[xmd 5a]

Recently caught Automluminescent: Rowland S. Howard. Brilliant, utterly essential documentary.

[thelastdisciple]

If you liked Synth Britannia then i definitely recommend Kraftwerk and the Electronic Revolution.

[onthewall2983]

[scorpiusdiamond]

For those that can handle pop music.
I just finished watching the (Michael Jackson) Bad 25th Anniversary Doc by Spike Lee. It's pretty damn good, with a classic albums vibe to it in some parts and has some rad insight... although be prepared to cry if you're a fan.
Followed of course by saying This Is It is awesome for those interested in concerts.

A wildcard also is, wait for it... Never Say Never. If you cut out all the Bieberyness (I hate him for sure after watching it, he's an absolute handful) the insight into the industry is absolutely fascinating.
edit: Besides the music there isn't actually that much Bieber, he rarely talks to the camera at all, so it's really tolerable.

[Jinsai]

Nobody's mentioned Pink Floyd Live in Pompeii yet? That's some seriously epic stuff right there. Also, the documentary chronicling the creation of Dark Side of the Moon is pretty fantastic. Forgot what the title was though.

also:

Fugazi - Instrument
Bjork - Medulla (the documentary about the making of the album is fascinating. It really enhances the music).
Wilco - I am Trying to Break Your Heart (no matter how you feel about the band's music, this is awesome).
Moog
Flaming Lips - The Fearless Freaks
Rolling Stones - Gimme Shelter (if you haven't seen this but you like music documentaries, drop everything you're doing and watch this now).
Thelonious Monk - Straight No Chaser
The Pixies - Loud Quiet Loud
Bob Dylan - No Direction Home
Bob Dylan - The Other Side of the Mirror (more of a concert video for the most part, but it's brilliant, and it feels like it's documenting something important).
Until the Light Takes Us (fascinating and fucked up look into Scandinavian black metal)
Radiohead - Meeting People is Easy
Pavement - The Slow Century
Modulations

[Frozen Beach]

The Devil and Daniel Johnston. I watched it like 5 times within a week. So haunting, beautiful and sad.

[Camille]

The Devil and Daniel Johnston. I watched it like 5 times within a week. So haunting, beautiful and sad.

Great docu/film/whatever. The part where his father is describing Daniel's Bi-Polar is sad but riveting. Daniel Johnston is a great songwriter, such simple and beautiful songs, and this film is equally beautiful.

[Camille]

This docu on Can is essential.



English subtitles throughout, but great viewing all the same.

[Presideo]

Shut Up and Play the Hits, the doc about LCD Soundsystem's final show, was nicely done. Great performances littered throughout the film, along with a very gripping last 15 minutes or so (if only the interview with James weren't so hit-or-miss)

[BRoswell]

Closure
Gimme Shelter
Heima
Meeting People Is Easy
Shut Up And Play The Hits
This Is Spinal Tap
Under Great White Northern Lights
Woodstock

[keysersoze]

Sad thing to watch.
Bunch of fucking assholes, fans from a stupid band.
"woot-woot"