In reviewing a documentary, one may discuss the object of the film, or the way the object was covered. Echo in the Canyon does present a significant period in American pop music. I wouldn't say that it was a unique period, even restricting the judgment on the USA only: for instance, the era of the Great American Songbook is also memorable. While the 60s in California was marked with better than average creativity on the pop scene, it's certainly ludicrous for Tom Petty to say that Mozart never wrote anything to surpass Brian Wilson! But I understand why the folks who were active in that era consider it to be most meaningful. The documentary does reflect this very vividly, alternating between focusing on what happened during that period and how it is reflected today, by the younger generation of musicians.
However, focusing so much on Jakob Dylan was a major blunder: hey, the film is not about him! The film could have been much better if someone had replaced his lengthy and pointless appearances with more interviews of the people who made that era important. In a nutshell: a nice movie for Boomers, which may also interest history-minded youngsters.
Review of Echo in the Canyon
