The problem with this movie

I didn't watching it because Streep just doesn't work as a rocker?

Sort of like saying, I don't eat crème brulee cause it just doesn't look good on the top, so what's beneath has to be bad.

Streep wasn't playing Bonnie Raitt or Stevie Nicks or Sheryl Crow, for she was playing the role of the over the hill, "failed" rocker.

Mainstream films usually focus on people who chase their dreams and achieve them, whereas their are far more people like Ricki who hocks their wears at crummy neighborhood bars and work even crummier day jobs to keep a roof over their heads.

No doubt this was a wait for cable, but that's true for most of Streep's films.

To be fair, she probably IS screwed up because her mother walked out and then didn't see them for years (even if that wasn't entirely her doing, children don't accept excuses). BUT she didn't seem to actually blame her mother for her depression given she very plainly stated that she was devastated because her husband left her for another woman. In real life this certainly could have dredged up abandonment issues (speaking as a trained therapist). She was clearly (and well represented as) suffering from a clinical depression, and that can happen to anyone no matter how well-adjusted they are given it's from the brain's screwed up chemistry.

People who are depressed may blame themselves for everything that's gone wrong and it is actually healthier to turn the blame outward--in this case on the husband where it belonged. Having her mother turn up unexpectedly after all of those years could have made things significantly worse--or made things seem more promising--depending on how she saw her mother's exit and return. When someone is in the throes of a deep depression it can be difficult to see the positive side of anything, or even think that clearly. I thought this was one of the best depictions of depression I'd ever seen in a film--and while it was unrealistic to show her suddenly throwing off her anger, sadness and melancholy in one dramatic move (at the reception), the actress up until that point did a pretty good job of expressing her struggle. Kudos as well for being willing to look so bad! (I didn't know she was Streep's daughter, but I did wonder given the strong resemblance. Her mother certainly has been willing to look less than her best--or even quite different for her roles as well when it was called for.)

As far as Meryl Streep's singing--she isn't that bad and far from terrible (I liked her very much in Mama Mia where she also played a washed up singer), and I thought her level of singing acumen was perfect for the role given some of the most famous (and successful) rock stars really aren't great vocalists (just listen!). Many would never win a singing contest on their own (particularly ones from the 70s and 80s). So for her to be playing a singer in a rock band with one album behind her fits very nicely. Ron stewart is one example. Cher wouldn't have worked, as her voice would be too good for the role--though one could make the argument that her unique style could potentially have kept her from making it big under different circumstances and different choices.

And by the way, it's not unusual at all for professional musicians to have a day job. Standard middle of the road touring bands don't get paid all that well (particularly after expenses). It's the stars who rake in the big bucks, and most of that can wind up in the studio coffers. And yes, I'm speaking from experience.