#The unherd ones movie

The band had great chemistry and excellent presence. X, like many punk and old school hardcore bands, sincerely enjoyed their own gigs - and it was apparent. 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.

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. 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. 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. 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.

#The unherd ones movie

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. 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.

Before I present my review, please note that I have been an X fan since 1979, and was a first-generation American punk rocker.