Close-down Rock-u-mentary Tips/Hints

 Tre veckors partiell nedsläckning startar i Finland i morgon, måndag. 

För att höja tempen och humöret under första nedsläckningsveckan bjuder jag på ett dagligt tips på en musikdokumentär att roa sig med att kolla in. Från söndag till söndag.

As a three week partly close-down period starts in Finland on Monday I present music documentary hints to watch for the first close-down week. From Sunday to Sunday.

These music documentaries will get your blood pumping, and keep your minds awake.

MUSIC DOCUMENTARY WATCHLIST 

Sunday: 

Punk: Attitude (Dir. Don Letts)

The best documentary about the Punk Rock movement in the 1970's, and beyond. An absolutely stellar star cast of talking heads explained what punk attitude really is. The 2 DVD version also included replica issues of the fanzine Sniffin' Glue No's 1 & 7 and some very beefy interview extras. Almost everybody worth mentioning is present here and gives their views on the movement, music, what punk is and discuss its legacy. Amazing. Length 88 mins (+ 136 mins extras on 2DVD-version). 2005.

Monday:

Winnerbäck - Ett slags liv (Dir. Oysten Karlsen)

A very likeable portrait of the media-shy Swedish star musician Lars Winnerbäck, perhaps the biggest solo artist in contemporary Sweden. The documentary is low key and very intimate, with fine live clips as well as revealing clips of Winnerbäck discussing and reflecting about his childhood, artistry, school memories, home town and so on. A wonderful, intimate portrait of a great artist. Length 95 mins. Bluerays adds a few extras, including 2 live songs.

Tuesday:

Mit Udo Lindenberg auf tour - Deutschland im März 2012, Ein Roadmovie (Dir. Hannes Rossacher)

Germany's greatest artist on tour, in Germany, is a major live enterprise. Rossacher promise a roadmovie and that is exactly what the viewer gets. Rossacher has full access, with input from the artist himself, band members, other staff members, guest artists etc and paints a fine picture of touring with Udo Lindenberg and how Udo himself experiences tour and artist life. Included are also many fine live clips from the tour. A great artist and great band on a great tour. Total running time 120 mins (with blue-ray extras included)

Wednesday:

Kenen Joukoissa Seisot (Dir. Jouko Aaltonen)

The politically radical music of the Finnish 1960-70's was a strong contemporary cultural movement. This documentary tells that story, what inspired the young artists and the experiences of being part of that movement. Members of bands like Agit-Prop, Torpeedo, Arkiviisu, composer Kaj Chydenius, and many more participate. It is a fascinating documentary over a bygone era, but also on life today for activists of that musical-political movement, that now in hindsight reflect on their views then, and now. The documentary ends with Agit-Prop performing Oppimisen Ylistys (Praise for Learning) live at contemporary festival Provinssirock. A revealing documentary. Running time: approx. 96 mins. 10-year celebratory publication dvd includes comments track from Peter von Bagh and four live songs. 

Thursday:

The Fearless Freaks : The Wondrously Improbable Story of The Flaming Lips (Dir. Bradley Beesley)

The Flaming Lips is a unique band consisting of strong personalities and irrepressible spirits, something that Beesleys films give many examples of. It is a warm and honest portrait of a truly alternative american rock band. Lips with frontman Wayne Coyne have always walked their own path, done their own thing. Creative ideas and personal problems are openly discussed as well as their sense of community and family. 2 DVD version also includes a disc of 90 mins extras, including live clips. Running time: approx. 110 mins.

Friday:

Searching for Sugar man (Dir. Malik Bendjelloul)

An astonishing film. Winner of Oscar for best documentary, and rightfully so. Perhaps the most unbelievable music story ever, of a person that was superstar in another country, South Africa, while everybody in his homeland USA, including himself, thought he was a musical failure that never sold any records. It might be the best music documentary ever made, because the story is also truly one of a kind, with a happy end that is as unbelievable as all the rest. No extras on blueray version, but, really, this doesn't need any extras to be a 10/10 film. An absolute must see! There is no better way to stress down and feel good for the weekend. Running time: approx. 88 mins.

Saturday:

Leave The World Behind (Dir. Christian Larsson)

Astonishing portrait of the EDM supergroup Swedish House Mafia, mostly centered around their very last world tour. Larsson has had unrestricted access to the group and gives a strong portrait of a group reaching superstardom and then cracking up and splitting, in a way, to save what's left of their friendship they have to split the group. One more tour is a warm portrait of these three stars, their life on the road and short clips with families, some fantastic dance music and euphoric fans. All's well that ends well, and that is what the viewer is left with, plus some clips from enormously upbeat concerts. And if that was not enough, the deluxe edition includes a double mix cd; One Last Tour: A Live Soundtrack. Perfect for starting a saturday party, or for listening to thinking of future parties, after corona. The obvious saturday choice. Running time: approx. 95 mins. But choose the Deluxe edition with fabulous bonus, 2 CD:s with live mixes.

Sunday:

History of the Eagles : The story of an American band (Dir. Alison Ellwood)

The story of 1970's legendary supergroup Eagles is fascinating, and Ellwood tells this story thoroughly, in great detail. Even though it is a long documentary, it stops with the split in 1980, which is already in itself a long and juicy story. This documentary is revealing and filled with drama, but also with high class musicianship and signature angellike singing in stems. The many live and studio clips of Eagles performing reveals why this band went superstar. The main songwriters Frey and Henley figure most prominently and dominate the storytelling, but all members get a say concerning the history. And this film puts them also right in the center of the relevant Southern California scene, where Linda Ronstadt played such a major role in the band's early history. Ellwood, wisely, concentrate on the active 70's band. This film has all you could ask for, with a running time of 3h 7 mins.