Hype [VHS]
This hip look at the Seattle music scene of the past decade treats the  hype with bemused humor but treatsthe musicwith respect. Packed  with witty interviews with band members, record execs, and Seattle music aficionados, much of the film places a welcome spotlight on the bands that didn't become part of the national "grunge" phenomenon and scores of live clips and rare recordings show that "the Seattle Sound" didn't begin with Nirvana or end with Soundgarden. You don't have to be a fan to enjoy this ebullient rockumentary, and if you're not careful, director Doug Pray's infectious love of the music may even make you one. This video features performances by  Blood Circus, Coffin Break, Crackerbash, Dead Moon, Fastbacks, Flop, Gas Huffer, The Gits, Hammerbox, Love Battery, The Melvins, The Mono Men, Mudhoney, Nirvana, The Posies, Seaweed, 7 Year Bitch, Some Velvet Sidewalk, Soundgarden, Supersuckers, Young Fresh Fellows, and Zipgun, and includes Nirvana's first live performance of the grunge anthem "Smells Like Teen Spirit."--Sean Axmaker