Originally released 25 years ago, this well-deserved reissue is a classic documentary of the legendary L.A. punk band X, recorded at during their prime, and featuring the participation of all members of the band, most notably both John Doe and Exene Cervenka.Interspersing superb and intense live footage with interviews, behind-the-scenes images, and stock footage to illustrate the times, "The Unheard Music" examines a band at it's peak, and at odds with the music industry. Major record company executives are, entertainingly, also interviewed expressing their confusion at X and their supposed "lack of commercial appeal", while forgotten glam rock bands are mentioned as "the next big thing". Just hilarious! But best of all are the candid and honest conversations with Doe, Cervenka, Billy Zoom, and D.J. Bonebrake. There's plenty of prime live footage, as well, illustrating how very unusual and innovative X really were in melding their Americana/country-tinged rock with rockabilly and punk.
This movie often gets cited by those "in the know" as one of the great rock documentaries out there, and after seeing it, I'm not doubting the validity of that claim. And having not been too familiar with much of the band's catalogue (and history), this made me a fan. Bravo! (Angel City Media/MVD Visual)
X website
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