Documentary-Before the Music Dies

We are smack dab in the dead of winter. Most everything is frozen in place. Those who chose to move, are doing so slowly. Cautiously. With the brutal wind in their face, pushing them back to their own personal safety zones. It is there, they wait for a break from the nasty front that rendered them immobile. They regroup, and re-layer for warmth, safety and progress.

You could say that the state of the music business is much like a noreaster. A massive storm that hovers over and controls its own environment, and renders its inhabitants, those weary travelers called musicians, immobile and home bound.

The storm is quite like a big machine, yet slow moving, on autopilot and capable of swallowing anyone not "dressed properly" and conquering  any force of nature that may pose a change or challenge to its power. Well, yes and no.

Although it was released a couple years ago,The wonderful documentary "Before the Music Dies" examines what went wrong with the music business, and what the musicians themselves think about it. The relevancy is still thick with emotion and spirit. The Rock Doc is full of candid interviews from musicians of all genres including Eric Clapton, Doyle Bramhall II, Erykah Badu and Questlove which are paired and compared with extremely revealing storytelling from industry vets and engineers.

Technology is exposed as a necessary evil. The file sharing "exposure vs. lost revenue" argument is  assessed with a view from both sides. The catch -22 via blessing or cursed digitally processed fakery and economical advantage of computer based home studios is discussed in depth and leaves the viewer with an open book of opinions.

Additional highlights include Doyle Bramhall's personal  journey through the majors and back again, and the story of  Dave Matthews' upstart label ATO.

Here is a trailer... 







Just so you know, Britney Spears' new single, which was just released a week ago, is breaking all kinds of pathetic records. Teach your children. Teach your brothers and sisters, brothers and sisters. Accost a teen at the mall. Do something.  We are to blame.