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X: The Unheard Music (1986)

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4 out of 4 people found the following comment useful :-
X fans already love this, but you should see it..., 26. November 1999

Author: TIALI von usa

I own this video and have seen it a few times...I love X...they're one of the best live bands I've ever seen. That said, this is a video about a band that should have become extremely famous and wealthy, but didn't. They came at a bad time when punk was big, but not big in a way that anyone really made any money from it (before Green Day). But there aren't many documentaries about "unheard" bands, and not many about people as talented as the members of X.

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1 out of 1 people found the following comment useful :-
Play Really Loud, 6. Februar 2007

Author: trollkillah von U.S. and A

*** This comment may contain spoilers ***

I just saw a recent screening of a new 35mm print of this film, at the Museum Of The Moving Image, in New York. It was, in my humble opinion, a transcending experience, in other words, it was freaking awesome! The director, W.T. Morgan, was there afterwards, for a question and answer session, and that made it even more compelling.

As someone who's been into Punk since 1977, and has seen X live many times over the years, lastly in 2006, I couldn't believe how much new found respect and admiration for the band I came away with. The band members are so talented yet humble, they give sincere props to those at the musics roots, probably not what many would expect. This movie was the embodiment of the punk DIY spirit, (do it yourself); W.T. Morgan saw them play live and was so blown away, he decided to make a film about them. This film was a labor of love, that took about five years to put together, always tottering on the edge of the abyss; from financial ruin, to technical issues, to personal reasons, as explained afterwards by the director. As so well and humorously put forth in the film, mainstream record companies wouldn't touch X with a ten foot pole, then Ray Manzarek,(The Doors and former UCLA film student), stumbled across, fell in love with, and opened a few doors for the band, (pun intended). This is the best band documentary I have ever seen, and the soundtrack is simply amazing; most songs are played in their entirety and if I'm not mistaken, there's one or two that are film exclusive, (not on vinyl). At the start of the film, on screen it says, "Play Really Loud". That they did!

As mentioned in the screening, this film has been added to the Sundance Collection for eternal preservation, a great honor, given that films selected are the embodiment of the indie landscape. Due to ownership issues just recently resolved, a new, special edition DVD is going to be put out in the very near future, (there's one currently available, but it's bare bones; wait for the new one). This film was WAY ahead of it's time and has aged well. It needs to be widely re-released for viewing on the big screen, but shy of that, the new DVD should do. As an added bonus for us old-timers that were there, there's some unbelievable archival footage and montage, that begs to be seen using the pause button of the remote. Just remember: "Play Really Loud"!!

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3 out of 5 people found the following comment useful :-
A great film about rock's greatest band, 28. September 2000

Author: theeht von ny,ny

A rock film, interspersing interviews and performances of X. Exene Cervenka, John Doe, Billy Zoom, DJ Bonebrake, 4 incredibly talented, extremely charismatic people who formed a rock band in LA that should have been the biggest band in the world. They're definitely the greatest. This film, one of the greatest rock movies ever made, is extremely well shot, but after its over you long for MORE.It doesn't capture the excitement of seeing X live, but if you're a fan, you'll love it. SEE also: Urgh!a Music War(l981).

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Innovation and Art vs. the Music Industry, 17. Juni 2008

Author: mstomaso von Vulcan

Before I present my review, please note that I have been an X fan since 1979, and was a first-generation American punk rocker. I do not state this as credentials, but rather because I am going to directly contradict some of the views of other reviewers who were there. Of course, this is all a matter of opinion, but - in my opinion - seeing "The Unheard Music" only as a tribute/biopic/fan movie about X misses the point by a wide margin. The genius of "The Unheard Music" is that it simultaneously provides a solid biography of X and an indictment of the American popular music industry - two stories which are, unfortunately for X, inescapably connected.

As an X fan, I especially appreciated the artistry of the film - which nicely mirrored Exene's aesthetics and poetry, and highlighted her as both John Doe's muse and, in many ways, the driving force behind the band. X was an almost leader-less group. With Billy Zoom - a very talented RnR/Rockabilly guitarist, John Doe - an excellent bassist and song-writer, DJ Bonebrake - a solid and innovative punk drummer and Exene - the brilliant bizarre and strangely beautiful poet and lead singer, they really did not need a leader. The film depicts and appreciates each band member's personalities accurately, and unlike most fan films, does not soft-soap them or go out of its way to make them all look good.

X was fascinating in concert - the juxtaposition of Billy's endless stiff smile and totally suppressed energy, Exene's inexplicable obsessive weirdness and often avant-garde vocal style, John's wild energy and exceptional vocal talent, and DJ's pounding rhythms - all welded into tight, exciting and loud but still very melodic and musical Rock and Roll. X, like many punk and old school hardcore bands, sincerely enjoyed their own gigs - and it was apparent. The band had great chemistry and excellent presence. All of this shows up nicely in the film's occasional live clips.

The film's story is nicely summed up in their classic song "I Must Not Think Bad Thoughts"

"Will the last American band

to get played on the radio

please bring the flag"

and

"Woody Guthrie sang about

b-e-e-t-s, not b-e-a-t-s"

X welded traditionalism (both in lifestyle and musical form), patriotism and radicalism (much like the libertarian political philosophy of the American founding fathers) and punk DIY ethics harmoniously. This hybridization produced a remarkably distinctive, original, yet familiar and fun musical repertoire.

Unsurprisingly, the music industry was not ready for them. Despite critical acclaim and a few 'album of the year' awards, only an open-minded independent label would sign them early-on, and they were systematically mismarketed and mishandled by distributors.

The flip-side of this, however, is that X was not and would never be a sell-out. Unlike more contemporary 'popular punk', X retained their uniqueness, their originality, their obscure politics, and their artistry, throughout their largely successful career. It is worth comparing this film to Jim Fields' "End of the Century: The Story of the Ramones" (2003). Though the Ramones were a larger commercial success than X, End of the Century paints much the same story for them.

I believe that this is a trope which has come to identify post-punk sentiment. There is a considerable amount of whining to be done about the injustices of the pre-home-studio-cheap-cd music industry, for sure, but perhaps we should try to remember what happens to the musical integrity of almost every band that actually does emerge from the underground to the harsh light of commercialism - The Clash, Metallica, etc. Think about it - most people really don't have a great deal of taste when it comes to music. They simply want something to dance to, or something to distract them from life, or something undemanding in the background.

I liked the Ramones DESPITE their commercial success. I loved X because of what they did, who they were, and how they sounded. I can't say the same about any of the neopunk groups signed to major labels and spreading expensive designer 'punk' fashion all about magazine covers today.

What is a looming commercial monolith on the surface is a barely recognizable shadow in the underground.

Nicely filmed, wonderfully edited and compiled, with never a dull moment. X: The Unheard Music is a great introduction to X, the music industry, and American punk.

Highly recommended.

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Consider this required viewing for Rock History 101, 1. April 2008

Author: Willowisp1684 von United States

*** This comment may contain spoilers ***

While it's heartening to see rock legends like Led Zeppelin, the Rolling Stones, the Clash, Queen, Metallica, the Ramones and Aerosmith (just to name a few) get their due, rock history runs so much deeper than that. If you ask me, it's the less commercially successful bands that end up laying the groundwork for the following generation's superstars. Think about it. If it weren't for Husker Du, would we have Green Day? Without the Velvet Underground, would we have Sonic Youth, or anybody for that matter? X, the subjects of this sublime rockumentary, are one of the, shall we say, unheard legends.

X came out of the L.A. rock scene of the '80s, which in addition to legions of hair-metal bands, gave us more fringe bands like Concrete Blonde, and of course the aforementioned foursome, X. "The Unheard Music," taken from the title of one of their songs, traces the band's origins, and through one-on-one interviews, gives the viewer a glimpse into their lives, and throws in some kick-ass music (my personal favorites being "Johnny Hit-and-Run Pauline" and "I Must Not Think Bad Thoughts") and live footage. But the scope of the film goes beyond that. We see studio heads explaining why they wouldn't sign them. We hear from venue owners-"venue owner" being a bit of a joke-and even letters from fans.

Some people claim to be the real thing. X actually are. They are gifted musicians, which is, of course, a direct contradiction to the misconception that punk rock is what people play when they want to be in a band but they have no talent. They show no traces of the egomania and self-importance that infect nearly everyone in rock. "The unheard Music" shows us what it truly means to be the genuine article and not some wanna-be knockoff band. Consider this film required viewing for Rock History 101.

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3 out of 6 people found the following comment useful :-
Not up to the music, 1. Januar 2004
Author: Wendell Walker von Berkeley, California

I love X, I love seeing them live, but this movie added very little to the music. The band seems kind of halfhearted about doing the film, their stories are not that interesting. When they go out on tour trying to get their music heard, there's not a single foot of film from the tour; instead, there's a cutesy montage of postcards.

As for the live footage, a good portion of it is from a shoot made expressly for the film, and to judge by the credits, at least half the songs are either videos or lip- synched.

On the whole, the live X in Decline of Western Civilization is far more compelling than the whole of The Unheard Music.

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