loudQUIETloud: A Film About The Pixies

All right, so the sight of lead singer Frank Black laying on a hotel bed in his underwear might be a little too intimate for all but the most rabid fans. But Steven Cantor and Matthew Galkin's documentary loudQUIETloud, covering the seminal alternative rock band The Pixies' 2004 reunion tour, is a warts-and-all, up-close-and-personal look at band members Black (who's often referred to by his birth name, Charles), Kim Deal, David Lovering, and Joey Santiago. The filmmakers were granted almost unlimited access during rehearsals, backstage before and after the shows, and on the road. The result is a heartfelt profile of a band that self-destructed in 1992 and reformed 12 years later to battle the same demons (including fame, loneliness, rivalry, and incompatibility) that did them in the first time out. In addition, there's some riveting concert footage, including a shot of Black storming offstage after performing “Something Against You,” as drummer Lovering continues to pound the skins. The death of Lovering's father and his subsequent descent into substance abuse, Deal's constant battle against alcoholism, Santiago's struggle to finish a documentary score on the road (including setting up an ersatz studio in the bathroom of his hotel room), and Black's conflicting desires to build a solo career and work with his old band mates are all covered in this funny, informative, almost painfully intimate, and genuinely touching portrait of one of indie rock's most beloved bands. DVD extras include a commentary track featuring the directors and editor Trevor Ristow, deleted scenes, and a booklet. Highly recommended. Aud: P. (M. Moore)