Some documentaries create a story, much like a work of fiction, building a narrative that draws you in emotionally, even if it takes some jiggling of facts to make that story work. Most modern docs are like this, blurring the line between fact and fiction, and making it clear that the ultimate goal isn't to … Continue reading Beautiful Noise
Tag: music documentary
Little Richard: King and Queen of Rock ‘n’ Roll
Most likely, you're kind of like me when it comes to Little Richard: you grew up with his name floating around in the background of your music history knowledge: one of the rock n' roll pioneers, sang a few of those oldies you hear in movies sometimes, and you can probably guess that he got … Continue reading Little Richard: King and Queen of Rock ‘n’ Roll
In the Court of the Crimson King
Being the control freak that he is, Robert Fripp would get very, very, very upset if he knew that this new documentary on his band was viewable for free, for it goes against many of his publicly stated beliefs. And if you do have the money, by all means, give him $27 and purchase a … Continue reading In the Court of the Crimson King
Gimme Danger
There's a pretty sharp irony in the fact that Iggy Pop and the Stooges- the ones who invented punk rock, who have never sold out, who want no part of the fame and money offered from the corporate nipple, who never played ball with any person in a suit, and who stand against everything that … Continue reading Gimme Danger
Gigantic (a Tale of Two Johns)
They Might Be Giants... love them or hate them, because few people fall in between those two poles. My personal discovery of the band was fairly early on, when Dr. Demento started playing tunes off their first album and grabbed my young brain for a long, long, time. Decades later, it's encouraging to know they're … Continue reading Gigantic (a Tale of Two Johns)
Theremin
One of the 90's best documentaries, which seems to have been forgotten these days, Steven M. Martin's Theremin is an almost textbook case of what a documentary should be, if you happen to stumble upon an amazing real-life story like this one. It functions on multiple levels, covering that oddball and distinct musical instrument that … Continue reading Theremin
When We Were Kings
Documentaries are everywhere, about every possible subject, and most of them are basically glorified Wikipedia entries designed for people too lazy to read a book; people with attention spans so short, filmmakers have to throw in every trick in the book, from snazzy animations to energy-boosting soundtracks, to keep you from bailing on your stream. … Continue reading When We Were Kings