It’s hard to make a direct comparison, but my childhood was surrounded by a local folk music scene filled with many unremarkable working-class musicians – ballad singers, guitarists, fiddlers – all believing they were destined for some level of musical achievement. This film confirms that those unrealistic ambitions weren't unique to Glasgow in the 1970s. The story then moves forward to the early 2000s and introduces a group of "musicians" in New York City whose hopes far exceeded their abilities. Julian Casablancas, with “The Strokes,” stands out as an exception; he managed to rise above generic noise, and the documentary does a good job showing that the pressures of achieving and maintaining success are just as challenging as those involved in initially gaining recognition. More broadly, it highlights how difficult this business is, how much effort people put into attaining something slightly better than basic survival, and how fleeting and changeable everything can be. I did find myself growing weary of the unsuccessful performers complaining about sexual exploitation and objectification, acting surprised by these issues as if they’d been unaware of them for years. They sought success in an industry known for its sexualization – and they were frequently intoxicated – yet it seemed to shock them. Genuine talent is the surest route to creating real and lasting change. The documentary uses a fly-on-the-wall approach, incorporating plenty of archival footage edited together to create what appears to be an honest look into these people's lives, but I often felt that they were clueless about what they were doing. The inclusion of 9/11 seemed like a deliberate attempt to ground this otherwise flimsy and superficial portrayal of the music industry, reminding me of those nights in pubs with folk singers who sounded impressive after several drinks but lacked any lasting appeal.

Source on TMDB