Sounds Like a Revolution

Good insight into the dark side of the music industry, as well as the good side of humanity where artists stay true to their art and their message rather than going for the fast buck. Like so many other things today, music has become sickeningly commercialised to the point where no intelligent people I know ever listen to the crap being pumped out over the mainstream radio waves anymore. While some rebel rockers come across as simply angry airheads lacking in substance, artists like Michael Franti and Paris, featured in this film, are the epitome of what music should be: passion, message, inspiration, fun. Their great music combined with their intelligent reflection and their refusal to pander to the big corporate music mafia like most of the big money 'artists' out there is part of what makes them true artists, and I hope everyone who watches this film will support them and others like them. Kudos to the filmmakers for telling their story. Would love to see more specifically on the inner workings of the toxic music and media industry.

The Toronto Undeground Cinema was host to a politically charged punk rock documentary in their third-annual Moving Images Festival. Corporate vs. independent and the political debate between both; should artists have to conform to the censorship of large corporations, or should they simply make their own independent label? This was the topic discussed in the two-hour documentary, Sounds Like a Revolution. Tailing the lives of independent artists such as Fat Mike, Tom Morello, Michael Franti and Anti-Flag, viewers were given their perspectives on the corporate America music scene. The footage seemed a little dated, but it made a clear point, on numerous occasions, the loss of freedom of expression through the eyes of these independent artists. Their rise of activism and their steep fall on the music charts. With a background in Political Science and a passion for film making, Ontario born Summer Preney (Love) created this bureaucratic documentary. She got a force of enthusiastic film makers and activists who now go by the name, Deltatime Productions. That being said Preney touched on the subject of 9/11 and how it had affected the music scene. How the Dixie Chicks were blacklisted for standing up for their political views and much more. I would have to say the Preney made me think about how the music scene here in Canada is also affected by corporate America. Many Canadian artists sign with American Corporations and are used as clay and molded to what Sony or Epic Records believes will sell the most. I would have like to hear from a major recording artists, the Dixie Chicks perhaps or a large corporation and gotten their perspective on the issue, even if they refused to comment, perhaps that put into the mix to shake things up and make it not so independent. However, that being said there was a lot of information thrown at me and I walked out of the theatre mulling things over in my head and wondering how my music choices have affected the music scene. rachelmchollister.wordpress.com

By far, this is the best documentary I have ever seen! From learning what these artists go thru on a daily basis just to be able to sing what they truly believe and at same time, make a decent living - made me gain so much more respect for them. This film taught me so many life lessons, including to never be afraid to take a stand for something you believe. Couldn't help but wonder after watching "Sounds Like a Revolution," Where is this "freedom of speech" that we hear so many great things about in America? And what exactly do our soldiers fight for if we never have it completely? If the US government makes it very difficult for any artist who wants to take a stand and sing against war or something else they strongly believe....So glad I watched this documentary as I'm more aware of what is really going on nowadays and now I can try and help make a change - for the better, at least!

Saw this film in Calgary at the Plaza. I was aware of the premise from a preview I saw and interested in learning more. The topic struck me as one with great challenges when dealing with the culture who's input was required. Still, the film maker managed to line up some incredible interviews- a broad range of performers from Fat Mike of NOFX to David Crosby. Other performers, too, give their voice with good, solid results. And the inclusion of industry professionals added the economic angle to the mix. The money side of things can never be dismissed. The questions asked (though unheard on screen) moved the sequence of topics ahead based on the responses of the interviewees. Using this approach the issue of music as a tool of revolution was expanded to include a broad range of conditions influencing its effectiveness. And it was through these revelations that this doc really hit home with me. The pace, editing and especially the apparent quality of those interview questions- are outstanding considering the fact that (from my research) this seems to be the first feature length documentary from this film maker.

"Sounds Like A Revolution" is a powerful, insightful documentary about the state of protest music today, as well as a critique of and primer on the consolidation of the music industry and radio. With countless interviews and compelling profiles of four artists - Anti-Flag, Michael Franti, Paris, and Fat Mike (NOFX) - this film aptly demonstrates the ability of music to energize and mobilize people to action. I enjoyed all of the profiles, particularly those of Justin Sane (Anti-Flag) and Paris. Both men are insightful, thoughtful, intelligent and just downright interesting to listen to. I was already quite familiar with Anti-Flag, having been a fan for years, but not with Paris, whose music I was inspired to buy after seeing this film. Michael Franti is intelligent and thoughtful, and Fat Mike a textbook case of how someone who never paid much attention to politics becomes politicized.

If you are interested in protest music - not only its history but the seeming lack of new and established artists to carry on this proud tradition - "Sounds Like A Revolution" is a must see.