This is not a performance film from Young; it’s a documentary that analyzes a 30-year chunk of his career. Among those handling the analysis are several respected figures in the journalism field: rock critic Robert Christgau, Young biographer John Einarson and Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young biographer Johnny Rogan.

These folks know a lot about Young’s career but mostly they know what they like, and here they explain each album beginning with American Stars & Bars. They don’t pull any punches either; sure, Rust Never Sleeps was a watershed moment for Young and rock music in general, but Hawks and Doves, Reactor, Old Ways and Everybody’s Rockin’ are raked over the coals as suck-fests.

The commentary is dotted with brief concert snippets, but there is no interview with Young or any of his band mates (the film is not authorized by Young or his management.)

One of the more interesting segments covers the albums Young put out during the grunge era; he was somehow tagged the godfather of grunge and was deeply affected when Kurt Cobain quoted one of his lyrics (“It’s better to burn out/Than to fade away”) in his suicide note.

Grade: B

Under Review 1976-2006 is currently available.