Sound City (2013)
Average Rating: 7.7/10
Reviews Counted: 34
Fresh: 34 | Rotten: 0
No consensus yet.
Average Rating: 7.6/10
Critic Reviews: 15
Fresh: 15 | Rotten: 0
No consensus yet.
liked it
Average Rating: 4.3/5
User Ratings: 4,005
Movie Info
Deep in the San Fernando Valley, amidst rows of dilapidated warehouses, was rock n' roll's best kept secret: Sound City. America's greatest unsung recording studio housed a one-of-a-kind console, and as its legend grew, seminal bands and artists such as Fleetwood Mac, Neil Young, Rick Springfield, Tom Petty, Metallica and Nirvana all came out to put magic to tape. Directed by Dave Grohl (Nirvana, Foo Fighters) and featuring interviews and performances from the iconic musicians who recorded some
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Cast
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Dave Grohl
Dave Grohl -
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Butch Vig
Butch Vig -
Kevin Cronin
Kevin Cronin -
Joshua Homme
Joshua Homme -
Lee Ving
Lee Ving -
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Nick Raskulinecz
Nick Raskulinecz -
Rick Rubin
Rick Rubin -
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Stevie Nicks
Stevie Nicks -
Rick Springfield
Rick Springfield -
Vinny Appice
Vinny Appice -
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Keith Olsen
Keith Olsen -
Lars Ulrich
Lars Ulrich -
Trent Reznor
Trent Reznor -
Brad Wilk
Brad Wilk -
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Mick Fleetwood
Mick Fleetwood -
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Barry Manilow
Barry Manilow -
John Fogerty
John Fogerty -
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Lindsey Buckingham
Lindsey Buckingham -
Taylor Hawkins
Taylor Hawkins -
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Jim Keltner
Jim Keltner -
Benmont Tench
Benmont Tench -
Tom Petty
Tom Petty -
Neil Giraldo
Neil Giraldo -
Stephen Pearcy
Stephen Pearcy -
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Pat Smear
Pat Smear -
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Krist Novoselic
Krist Novoselic -
Tim Bob Commerford
Tim Bob Commerford -
Frank Black
Frank Black -
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Nate Mendel
Nate Mendel -
Brian Bell
Brian Bell -
Patrick Wilson
Patrick Wilson -
Alain Johannes
Alain Johannes -
Rivers Cuomo
Rivers Cuomo
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All Critics (34) | Top Critics (15) | Fresh (34) | Rotten (0)
A joyous ode to a lost era of music making that will delight music buffs and those who appreciate a well-done documentary.
Top CriticA cocky, affectionate and very musical documentary that may make its central point a few times too often.
In his directing debut, Dave Grohl shows the instincts of a real filmmaker. Sound City hits you like a shot in the heart.
Even if you don't know what [Grohl's] talking about when he says a room gives "great decay," or when somebody else extols "24-track sensibility," the passion of this project really pops right out of the groove.
If it doesn't break any ground as a documentary, it's a heartfelt testament to a place he considers among the most hallowed halls of rock.
High-spirited, emotional and funny, "Sound City" is, of all things, a mash note to a machine. Not just any machine, however, but one that helped change the face of rock 'n' roll.
It's (a) part documentary homage to the defunct Los Angeles rock-and-roll studio where Grohl's earlier band, Nirvana, cut its breakout album, 'Nevermind'; and (b) part self-promotion for the DVD release of this very film and its companion CD soundtrack.
It cheapens itself by hitting some self-congratulatory notes, but until it does it covers some fascinating rock 'n' roll ground.
For those about to rock, we salute you. A fond acknowledgement of a special time when a studio produced several albums that signaled key moments in music history.
An infectious appreciation for rock and roll lingers past the somewhat self-satisfied finale.
There's something rock about the film's messy, nostalgic imperfection.
Fascinating, as rock history, thrilling as rock entertainment.
Grohl has ... created both a fascinating account of the process of analogue recording and a tender tribute to the rock bands of yesteryear.
A rich, kaleidoscopic, rock music documentary.
A total blast to watch, sustaining momentum with a sharp admiration for the thrilling highs and lows of the complex and its rich history with some of the biggest artists around.
It's a sprawling documentary that laments what's been lost in analog recording without ignoring the benefits of technology.
Loving doc about a legendary recording studio is one of the very best-and quite essential-movies about rock music ever made.
... offers a behind-the-scenes glimpse into the studio, but in the process chronicles a recent history of rock music that both fans and non-fans can appreciate.
An authoritative, beautifully assembled, personal, even romantic account of one of rock music's most important waypoints, a film which aficionados absolutely should not miss.
An electrifying and enthralling labor of love that acts as a defibrillator for your creative juices.
Audience Reviews for Sound City
Super Reviewer
Super Reviewer
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- Trent Reznor: Now that everyone is empowered with these tools to create stuff, has there been a lot more great shit coming out? Not really. You still have to have something to do with those tools. You should really try to have something to say.
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