Sound City

2013

Sound City

Critics Consensus

Smart, affectionate, and unabashedly sincere, Sound City pairs a great soundtrack with a well-argued ode to one of rock 'n' roll's most fondly remembered bygone eras.

100%

TOMATOMETER

Total Count: 45

90%

Audience Score

User Ratings: 6,907
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Sound City Photos

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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 of rock's greatest albums at the studio, Sound City doesn't just tell the story of this real-life rock 'n' roll shrine, it celebrates the human element of music as Grohl gathers some of rock's biggest artists to collaborate on a new album. Using Sound City's legendary analog console, together these artists continue to create musical miracles in a digital world. (c) Variance

Cast

Dave Grohl
as Dave Grohl
Joe Barresi
Butch Vig
as Butch Vig
Kevin Cronin
as Kevin Cronin
Josh Homme
as Joshua Homme
Lee Ving
as Lee Ving
Jim Scott
Nick Raskulinecz
as Nick Raskulinecz
Rick Rubin
as Rick Rubin
Siobhán O'Brien
Shivaun O'Brien
Paul Salvatore
Chris Goss
Stevie Nicks
as Stevie Nicks
Rick Springfield
as Rick Springfield
Vinny Appice
as Vinny Appice
Rick Nielsen
Rick Neilson
Keith Olsen
as Keith Olsen
Lars Ulrich
as Lars Ulrich
Trent Reznor
as Trent Reznor
Brad Wilk
as Brad Wilk
Mike Campbell
Mick Fleetwood
as Mick Fleetwood
Corey Taylor
Tom Skeeter
Neil Young
Sandy Skeeter
Barry Manilow
as Barry Manilow
John Fogerty
as John Fogerty
Rupert Neve
Lindsey Buckingham
as Lindsey Buckingham
Taylor Hawkins
as Taylor Hawkins
Omar Hakim
James Brown (II)
Jim Keltner
as Jim Keltner
Benmont Tench
as Benmont Tench
Tom Petty
as Tom Petty
Neil Giraldo
as Neil Giraldo
Stephen Pearcy
as Stephen Pearcy
Ross Robinson
Pat Smear
as Pat Smear
Warren DeMartini
Krist Novoselic
as Krist Novoselic
Tim Bob Commerford
as Tim Bob Commerford
Frank Black
as Frank Black
Robert Levon Been
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News & Interviews for Sound City

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Critic Reviews for Sound City

All Critics (45) | Top Critics (19) | Fresh (45)

View All Critic Reviews (45)

Audience Reviews for Sound City

  • Mar 09, 2014
    This is an awesome documentary by Dave Grohl, telling one of rock's coolest and more obscure stories. If you're a fan of rock n' roll, you owe it to yourself to check this film out.
    Stephen S Super Reviewer
  • Nov 02, 2013
    Dave Grohl is a GENIUS! I love him so much!!!
    Marc-André B Super Reviewer
  • Sep 21, 2013
    An intimate look at one of the most storied recording studios ever in Los Angeles, CA, a place of magic and luck that appeared to be nothing more than a dump, but instead possessed an indescribable environment full of special people that ultimately stood the test of time despite many instances where it could have been sold. Director Dave Grohl, one of the best musicians of our time, shows a lot of skills behind the camera, making this little studio seem ultimately timeless despite the inescapable shifts in success it experienced given the changes in the music industry. Mostly, this documentary is a treat to watch because of the cameos involved, from Tom Petty, to Rick Springfield, to even Sir Paul McCartney, all with fond memories of when they produced albums there.
    Dan S Super Reviewer
  • Mar 21, 2013
    Dave Grohl's directorial debut is a phenomenal documentary about the legendary Sound City Studios, a studio where some of the most legendary records in music history have recorded. Grohl interviews many musicians who have used the studio and they give their insight as to why Sound City was such an integral part in their creative process to create something memorable on tape. Sound City Studios was a studio that used analog recording equipment instead of digital to record its artists. No matter the genre of music you enjoy, this is a must see documentary that is truly impressive. The stories told by the musicians are wonderful. Grohl goes deep into the subject matter and give his film the human connection of making music with a band, and not simply a computer. Analog tape is an obsolete technology in terms of recording, and the film gives us an explanation as to why recording with tape is the best way to record music. Grohl gets his point across very well by stating that with tape, you can hear every little mistake and imperfection, which makes the music more real, while with digital you can easily fix it, tweak and perfect it, but at the same time cheapening the feel of the art form. With that being said, I have a profound respect for this dying form of recording and the stories are simply stunning. Dave Grohl interviews everyone from Mick Fleetwood to Stevie Nicks, Neil Young, and Lars Ulrich to producers Rick Rubin, Butch Vig and Ross Robinson. I've seen plenty of music documentaries, all of them were great, but Sound City is very different. This is a film not just about a studio, but the human element of creating real, pure music from the heart, something that most popular artists of today have forgotten all about. Everything nowadays is all about auto tuned vocals, electronic, computerized beats and not about playing an actual instrument. Sound City is a film that will delight music fans as well as those interested in this classic recording method.
    Alex r Super Reviewer
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