music Archives - The Spool | The Spool

music Archives - The Spool

The Eras Tour Film Is Here—Are You Ready For It?

Taylor Swift's biggest concert film yet, about the US's biggest tour of the summer, gives fans an “as close to live as possible“ experience.

TIFF 2023 Dispatch: Stop Making Sense, Swan Song & more

The rerelease of Talking Heads' iconic concert film is a delight for even casual fans.

SXSW 2023: You Can Call Me Bill, Hung Up on A Dream, Going Varsity in Mariachi, & Angel Applicant

A quartet of docs investigate how art affects its creators and its audience.

Unraveling pop-culture one thread at a time

The Spool is an irreverent, informative source for film and television coverage, focused on diverse, thoughtful opinions that seek out a greater understanding of the media we love.

In Swarm, Donald Glover and Janine Nabers give stinging commentary

While it may not be everyone’s cup of Lemonade, Swarm gives plenty of thrills and a fantastic performance by Dominique Fishback.

A study of adaptation: Daisy Jones & The Six

Exploring how Prime Video's band on the run drama captures and strays from the novel's charms.

Daisy Jones & The Six is sex, drugs, and rock n’ roll like you remember

Prime Video’s traditional take on “the biggest rock band in the world’s” rise and fall succeeds on the back of strong performances.

Moonage Daydream hits a cinematic high note reflecting the mind of David Bowie

The unforgettable musician is the centerpiece of an appropriately maximalist documentary.

The Velvet Underground gets the trippy, immersive treatment it deserves

Todd Haynes directs a dazzling documentary about the seminal 60s art-rock band.

Madonna concert doc Madame X flirts with political provocation

The queen of pop serves up a filmed version of her controversial 2020 tour, one as lush in style as it is thin in substance.

Reeling 2021: Invisible: Gay Women in Southern Music is as enthralling as it is expansive

Invisible, T.J. Parsell's documentary about queer women and the country music they make, gives its subjects a space to shine.

TIFF 2021: Jagged tells you everything you oughta know about Alanis Morrissette

Alison Klayman's chronicle of the Canadian singer's rise to fame centers around her seminal 1995 album, and the trail it blazed for female artists.

TIFF: Listening to Kenny G is about as pleasantly inoffensive as his music

Penny Lane's profile on the smooth jazz superstar can't quite muster up enough energy to make its explorations of his notoriety (good and bad) sing.

McCartney 3,2,1 strikes the right notes for music fans

This loose conversational look at McCartney's work has plenty for those into him or music, but little for the casual viewer.

Tangerine Dream taught filmmakers to embrace electronic music

The electronic group redefined the sound of '80s cinema, pioneering an iconic electronic soundscape that reverberates into modern film scoring.

“FANNY: The Right to Rock” corrects the record, just as Bowie wanted

Bobbi Jo Hart's energetic documentary shines a light on one of the greatest, most forgotten all-female rock bands in music history.

SXSW 2021: “Tom Petty: Somewhere You Feel Free” is genial to a fault

Mary Wharton's doc celebrates Petty's life and works, but the lack of conflict makes it hard to latch onto.

SXSW 2021: “Demi Lovato: Dancing With the Devil” shows it’s OK to not be OK

This YouTube Original documentary refuses easy answers for the pop star's struggles with addiction and mental health.

“Tina” tells an incomplete story about a living legend

The first feature-length documentary dedicated to Tina Turner leaves out too much to be truly engaging.

“Biggie: I Got a Story to Tell” leaves the viewer wanting more

While the documentary about legendary rapper Biggie Smalls is somewhat lacking, the occasional insider's look at his all-too-short life makes it worthwhile.

Learn a little more about Billie Eilish in a winning documentary

Apple TV+'s Billie Eilish: The World's a Little Blurry traces the music sensation's rise to fame, without falling prey to the usual music doc cliches.

“The United States vs. Billie Holiday” can’t build a strong case for itself

Andra Day shines in Lee Daniels' otherwise-messy biopic about the Black cultural icon, squandering some fine potential.

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