Before the Music Dies (2006)

User Rating:

8.0/10   

Director:

Andrew Shapter

Writers:

Joel Rasmussen (writer)
Andrew Shapter (writer)

Genre:

Documentary | Music

Plot:

With outstanding performances and revealing interviews Before the Music Dies takes a critical look at...

Cast

Doyle Bramhall II	...	Himself
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Erykah Badu	...	Herself
Eric Clapton	...	Himself
Elvis Costello	...	Himself
Taylor Hannah	...	Herself
Josh Jackson	...	Himself
Branford Marsalis	...	Himself
Dave Matthews	...	Himself
Billy Preston	...	Himself
Nick Purdy	...	Himself
Bonnie Raitt	...	Herself
Ahmir-Khalib Thompson	...	Himself

Also Known As:

B4md (Australia)

Runtime:

USA:95 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Australia:M

Filming Locations:

Austin, Texas, USA

Excellent documentary

Director Andrew Shapter has created a marvelous documentary concerning the health and well-being, not of the Music Industry, but the vulnerable muse behind it that changes certain people from being just competent musical technicians into transcendent artists channeling their muse and changing the lives or their listeners. Through interviews with musicians and industry players past and present, the director tells a story of change; a change from radio nurturing new stars to the time of video killing the radio stars. What has replaced those stars does not forebode well for the future of musical art.

All is not lost, however. A few powerful personalities have found a way to use their indomitable will and contemporary technology to forge a new direction. That direction suggests an exciting future that will continue to allow artists to connect to their audience without the mediation of an ever-consolidating Music Industry Distribution Network.

Anyone who is concerned with the dearth of challenging, intelligent and enduring musical art should see this film and make it their duty to seek out that muse.