The 10 Best Music Documentaries Of The Decade

Perhaps I’m an optimist, but I’d like to think the idea of female musicians strapping on a guitar and chasing their rock n’ roll dreams is no longer an anomaly, as it was in my youth, back in the last century. Last year’s Joan Jett bio-doc Bad Reputation makes it abundantly clear that she and her bandmates in The Runaways represented a crucial step in making room for the ladies up on stage. Like her rough and ready music, Jett’s story is laid out simply, but told expertly, providing a road map of self-determination and success for future generations of rockers, regardless of their gender.

Where to stream Bad Reputation

Released on the first anniversary of Bowie’s death, Francis Whately’s documentary David Bowie: The Last 5 Years is one of three he’s done about the “Thin White Duke,” which include 2013’s David Bowie: 5 Years and David Bowie: Finding Fame, which came out earlier this year. The film concerns itself with the flurry of artistic activity rock’s “Starman” undertook after learning of the illness that would ultimately take his life. Always one of music’s coolest and most cutting edge artists, the film humanizes Bowie and illustrates his unceasing creative bravery, making his loss sting just a little bit more.

Where to stream David Bowie: The Last 5 Years

The sorry tale of a musician’s fortunes rising and falling in rhythm with whatever substance they happen to be abusing is the premise of a million Behind The Music episodes. In the case of Bobby Liebling, singer of seminal stoner doom band Pentagram, and the subject of Last Days Here, the fact that his fortunes were never very high to begin with make the depths to which he sinks even deeper. Like a car accident you can’t avert your eyes from, and featuring addiction, jail stints and possible demonic possession, the film is a harrowing look at the price of non-fame, with the slight redemption at the end saving it from being a total bummer.

Where to stream Last Days Here

There’s a lot of people behind the scenes who are responsible for a lot of the music we all grew up on. Like 2002’s Standing in the Shadows of Motown and 2016’s Hired Gun, music documentarian Morgan Neville’s 20 Feet From Stardom told the story of those backup singers whose voices powered hits from the ‘60s to the present day. At times hilarious, heartbreaking and insightful, it shines a light on singers whose talent has been unrecognized for far too long.

Where to stream 20 Feet From Stardom

Described by high-pitched lead singer and bassist Geddy Lee as “the world’s most popular cult band,” Rush: Beyond the Lighted Stage is perhaps the best film of its kind, an attempt to explain the appeal and greatness of an artist who has always operated at music’s margins, even if, as in the case of Rush, they’re hugely popular. The film succeeds thanks to impassioned tributes from famous fans and an engaging and at times surprising portrait of the band members themselves.

Where to stream Rush: Beyond The Lighted Stage

One of the most influential music documentaries of the last 10 years, Searching For Sugar Man tells the “too strange to be true” story of Mexican-American singer-songwriter Sixto Rodriguez, who released two forgotten early ’70s albums, which, unknown to him, were beloved and culturally important hit records in Apartheid South Africa.The mystery of how his records got over there and the artist’s ultimate fate draw the viewer in and would influence subsequent rock docs which tried to uncover music’s missing links.

Where to stream Searching For Sugar Man

One may be excused if they’re sick of hearing about how great The Beatles were, though that doesn’t mean it isn’t true. If it makes you feel any better, the best documentary pertaining to any of “The Fab Four” is Martin Scorsese’s epic examination of their often underexposed lead guitarist. George Harrison: Living in the Material World is a tale of spiritual rebirth and physical death, and makes a good case that being a member of the most important rock band of all-time wasn’t the most interesting facet of the life of “The Quiet Beatle.”

Where to stream George Harrison: Living In The Material World

Released four years after her tragic death at the age of 27, Amy is a nuanced and gripping portrait of singer Amy Winehouse that would also influence subsequent music docs by eschewing talking heads and relying on audio and home video footage to craft its tale of woe. Knowing how the story ends, makes the footage of a young Winehouse, with so much talent and hope, even more heartbreaking.

Where to stream Amy

Honestly, ranking these movies is unfair, and any of the top 5 could easily be considered the best music documentary of the twenty-teens. However, if your film begins with its subject breaking the director’s nose, you’re a shoe-in for one of the top spots as far as I’m concerned. Beware Of Mr. Baker chronicles the life of legendary rock drummer Ginger Baker, whose behavior and exploits were as bombastic and unpredictable as his drumming.

Where to stream Beware of Mr. Baker

Like any movie or series, character and narrative are at the heart of a good documentary. You will find few more compelling characters than soul singer Sharon Jones, a former corrections officer who found fame late in life as the flagship artist of Daptone Records. Miss Sharon Jones! finds the singer battling cancer, and trying to keep her career afloat. Delivered with a minimum of sentimentality but more soul than a gospel choir, it is a powerful and moving portrait of a woman literally fighting for her life.

Benjamin H. Smith is a New York based writer, producer and musician. Follow him on Twitter:@BHSmithNYC. 

Where to stream Miss Sharon Jones!