Wow.... Where do you begin with someone as ignorant as you? How do you approach someone with so little understanding of a wider world? Here's a quote from the DISCUSSION board. (not the REVIEW board. Can you see a difference?)
"Somebody accused me of being Republican! Because I criticized a film??!!! People that don't like Eric Clapton (I hate him) are reactionary and narrow minded?? What am I if I like Jeff Beck? What am I if I don't like Eddie Van Halen? What am I if I do like Steve Vai? Do you see how silly that is..... "
I love music. If I say I like King Crimson (since the early '80's) and have been to their shows, does that give me Indie Cred?
If I say that I was in Dade County, Fla and on the front lines protesting a Klan rally back aroung 1992, does that make me "liberal" enough? This film is bad, and I reviewed it. I didn't say that the music industry is not in a bad state. It is. This film just explains it in a facile and desultory way. I have a clue that this a movie review forum, and not an outlet for people's feelings and inner life. You might not like my point of view, but please look at my review and point out anything factually inaccurate.

"Making money being a musician does not run counter to the point of this documentary" That is what you think I said? What I said was, the example of Dave Mathews' success as depicted in this film, runs counter to the point of this documentary. In what way is that not a truthful and accurate statement? You might not like that I noticed it. You might not like Dave Mathews. You might not be happy that filmmakers contradict their own argument. But it is accurate. And in my opinion it is a flaw. Dave Mathews made a pile of money and avoided traditional corporate distribution. So it is possible. But you are upset that it is not more probable? You are like the petulant Star Trek fans that think because it is possible to put men in space, it is vexing that NASA doesn't give you your own rocket ship. I did not miss the point that the music industry has been" Super Sized" (good documentary) The point you have obviously missed is that nobody drove your car to the drive through window. I drive by McDonalds every day. I can stop at A-J's for a great italian beef, eat good pizza at Auralio's, and have fine Mexican food at the Las Angeles Cafe. The music industry could use a good deal of criticism- but this film panders, and whines, and doesn't make a good case. Stick to reviewing the film and not reviewing other people's taste. Please see my discussion of the racist charge in the DISCUSSION forum- not the REVIEW section.

Forgive me. I seem to be unable to correct my digital error and erase the last message (as seen below) that accidentally was posted before i was done. Anyway...
Something that i was going to add to the actual review was that i think that Before the Music Dies does a good job of portraying 2 things: 1- the state of the major labels in the industry & 2- the state of change in medium/distribution of music (napster, myspace, peer 2 peer, etc) I don't believe that they are really trying to say (at least not emphasize) any kind of money exchange/fairness/wrongdoing as far as musicians go, i don't think they are trying to say that "corporate America" is bad, i don't think they are saying that music sucks now and that music was better 40 years ago, etc... I do believe that they are simply stating that as far as the heavy hitter labels go, they (being executives first and musicians second or not at all) have adopted profits as policy (as do most corporations) and in the film they show how they believe they have done this. They make it a point to explain that in the past (where there weren't "indie" labels for the most part) things were done differently and to put it simply here, times have changed. That is ALL. In my opinion. There is a lot of talk about some corporate America being the bad guy, however i don't think that such an idea has much to do with the film other than the makers thinking that said large labels are taking a more corporate approach to running their business. The beginning and the end of the film also seems to elude to there being the possibility of a dim future for the industry/new artists which i would disagree with very much so. But that prognosis could defiantly be contested.
Looks like it's back to the soapbox:
Joe Schmoe:2
The point was, if you are not actively involved with the industry, i think that what you have to say can only hold so much weight. When you mention Dusty Rhodes, is there anyone else that you have seen that is even comparable to their level? I have seen them a few times and they are pretty good. I don't have a problem with them. I actually think that they are doing pretty well for themselves being on SideOneDummy and all. You say that you have been "indulging the local music scene for years". To me that just means that you go to shows every once in a while to tell all your friends that your a true local. That you spend your hard earned money paying the cover to see bands that you know nothing about. Maybe you'll catch a good one here and there, but "indulging". Indulging?! How can you expect me to believe that you are God's beautiful creation when you appear to be touting yourself as some savior of the little people when you grace them with YOUR self indulging presence, a wrinkled Lincoln, and your bad attitude? And believe me when i say that this isn't aimed at only you. I have both enjoyed and cringed at reading a few pages deep into these "reviews" and feel like i am scattering my spatter to other posts that share similar attitudes (and worse ones with far worse grammar and far less passion that you put into your posts Joe Schmoe, i just think you are wrong) without replying to each one individually with equally long winded responses. To get back on point. I just think you are wrong, and i think that your view has been created by too narrow of a spectrum. I also feel like the topic of music may not be your strong point due to the experience you seem to have. However i am more than willing to admit that i only know you from the few hundred words that you have written in these few posts. So when all is said and done, for now, i respectfully disagree with how your seeing things.
I do enjoy reading these posts however and they give me a good feeling that people care enough about music to watch the whole film and then engage in sometime semi-lengthy discussions and just to share their opinions of whats going on. Thank you to those that care enough to write your great responses.
Janet Grace: i have a feeling that you like Dave Matthews and Dave Matthews Band. But maybe i'm wrong...