"Mudhoney - I'm Now: The Story Of Mudhoney" DVD (directors: Ryan Short and Adam Pease)

As the great 90's rock scene of the Pacific Northwest (aka the "Seattle/Sub Pop Scene") dissolved due to drugs, death, and self-destruction, one prominent and influential band persevered and survived. Mudhoney may have been cut from similar cloth as Nirvana, Alice In Chains, Pearl Jam, Soundgarden, and others, and perhaps they never had a huge radio hit, but the band did well enough, traveling the globe, playing for rabid fans, and inspiring countless others in their wake.

From their classic debut single, "Touch Me I'm Sick" (which still stands as a scuzz-rock landmark), Mudhoney crafted a series of solid albums that joined heavy "superfuzz" rock with sixties-inspired pop (aka "songs"). They survived Sub Pop's lean period, a major label signing, a member leaving, and the inevitable drug and alcohol abuse. And they're still around.

Short and Pease's superb documentary includes the participation of all Mudhoney members, and the interviews and footage here are as world class as it gets. Sub Pop's owners (Pavitt and Poneman), affiliated bands (Sonic Youth, Soundgarden, Pearl Jam, Tad), label personnel, and friends are all interviewed, and there's plenty of old live and promo footage as well. As far as rock docs go, "I'm Now" is as comprehensive as I've seen. Kudos to everyone involved for a well-done history (and celebration) of this band's life and times, from the underground to the "grunge" explosion to now. Excellence.

King Of Hearts Productions

Mudhoney Movie site

Neil Young - "DVD Collector's Box" 2xDVD

Comprising two previous documentary titles ("Neil Young Under Review 1966-1975" and "Neil Young Under Review 1976-2006"), this well-done set provides a fairly comprehensive critical appraisal of one of Canada's most beloved (and perplexing) musical icons. 

The first disc details Young's early days with Buffalo Springfield, his work with Crosby, Stills, & Nash, and his early post-folk solo career. Disc two highlights his later solo career, and his collaborations with Crazy Horse, Devo, and Pearl Jam, among others. Both DVDs are individually-packaged and simply housed in the "DVD Collector's Box" slipcase.

As with most of Chrome Dreams' unauthorized documentaries, there are plenty of "talking heads" -- critics, biographers, writers, and associates, to narrate and analyze the recordings. With plenty of live footage and splices of music, this is an entertaining and engaging set, essential for serious Neil Young fans, and enlightening for those not so familiar with his extensive and widely-varying body of work. (Chrome Dreams)

Neil Young official site

Big Money And The Spare Change - "God Dammit, Danny!" EP

Big Money are a young Fort Wayne, Indiana indie rock trio, and if this free 6-song download EP is any indication, their forthcoming full-length album could be something quite special. Taking elements from punk-tinged 90s grunge (ala Nirvana or Foo Fighters) and mixing it up with a fine Midwestern alt.country/Americana vibe and tight musicianship, Big Money rock with a perfect amount of swagger and slack. The title track is the definite standout, but "Scar Stories (I Know)" is nearly as strong and anthemic, as well. "Friends Like Those" is a cello-accented piece that shows these guys aspire for more than simple rock. Good stuff! Grab this download from their facebook page. Big Money facebook

Neil Young - "Here We Are In The Years - Neil Young's Music Box" DVD

A 2-hour unauthorized analysis of Young's musical influences, this one isn't so much a bio of the Canadian rock renaissance man as it is a look at what the man himself was listening to at various stages in his long and storied career. There's no interviews with Neil himself, only a series of journalists, writers, and historians who examine (with critical eyes and ears) the various facets and periods of Young's music.

Beginning with the early rock and roll and rhythm-and-blues (Little Richard, Jerry Lee Lewis, Elvis, Chuck Berry), the disc travels into folk (Dylan, Ian and Sylvia) to punk (Sex Pistols) to electronics (Kraftwerk, Devo) and "grunge" (Pearl Jam, Nirvana). "Here We Are..." is an interesting behind-the-scenes look at an influential and ever-evolving artist who has always followed his own muse. Young is a musical treasure, and this examination of what inspired him is a must for any serious fan. (Chrome Dreams via MVD Visual)

Neil Young official site

Flipper - "Love" CD + "Fight (Live)" CD

You just can't keep a good Flipper down. Most bands, when losing their charismatic lead singer (as Flipper did when Will Shatter passed away back in 1987), simply wither away. Not so here. After some kinda 'meh' releases in the 90's, this set of new releases (one studio, one live) from all the surviving original members show a feisty and faithful continuation of the group's legendary noise-dirge-punk spirit. With bassist Krist Novoselic in tow (on both releases), Flipper's skronky, atonal riff-o-ramas are spot-on, sloppy, and messy as ever. This is thick, sludgy, and greasy nihilist rock that just simply smokes. 'Love' is co-produced by Seattle scenemaker Jack Endino, and he captures the group's raw proto-grunge faithfully -- slow, insistent, and relentless riff-driving madness. Bruce Loose's vocals are just on this side of sanity, and the band's legendary and trademark wallop is still there. The live album, 'Fight', brings a mix of classic tunes and new ones, and is every bit as intense and unhinged as ever. Flipper may have been through some tough times, but they are back and firing on all cylinders. Make no mistake, 'Love' and 'Fight' are huge, mean, and well worth a listen. (MVD Audio)

Flipper site
Another Flipper site

Tad - "Busted Circuits And Ringing Ears" DVD

The life and times of the grunge-era Seattle band once deemed 'too ugly for MTV' is revisited here in a sympathetic and thoroughly well-produced documentary. Thankfully, input from the band is included, and fellow period scenesters like members of Nirvana, Soundgarden, and Mudhoney all contribute their thoughts and reflections on Tad's 'heavier than God' sound. The band's rise on the influential Sub Pop Records label in the late 80's is detailed here, as is the major label courting that inevitably came and contributed to the band's quiet demise. From the best of times to the worst, these grizzled rockers rode the Seattle grunge wave and subsequently imploded through a series of bad business choices, drug addiction, and personal strife. Amidst this all, some rather classic noise-addled rock excesses were produced, and this DVD is a definitive look at one of the more interesting Northwest acts of the era. The inclusion of Tad's promo videos is an added bonus. Essential for fans, and pretty interesting even for those merely curious. (MVD Visual)