The term “yacht rock” came into being not in the sun-dappled harbors of the 80s, but two decades later through a satirical web series—a perfect origin for a genre that somehow sounds like it should have existed all along. Some see it as a response to the raw angst of the grunge-dominated early 2000s, an ironic celebration of smoothness. Others see it as a subtle message that the most intense cultural shifts need spaces for relaxation.

Garret Price’s “Yacht Rock: A Dockumentary” takes a mellow look at this musical period. The film blends old footage with new interviews, acknowledging its history while sharing stories from musicians who shaped the era.

The name itself plays with both the ocean themes incorrectly linked to the music and Price’s examination beyond the comedic surface that shaped its resurrection. The term “dockumentary” moves easily between historical documentation and cultural observation—staying...