Review of Sound City (2013) by Calvin C — 27 Apr 2013

This is rocker Dave Grohl's love letter to rock music and the studio that gave his group Nirvana and many other well-known artists their start. For rock fans, the list of musicians that are interviewed will make them feel in rock heaven. All of them have great stories and Grohl matches it with great pictures and video. The beauty of this documentary is that you don't have to be a fan of rock music to appreciate the story. I was fascinated by the history of this little studio that could and even more impressed how many great albums it produced with very little resources. It wasn't about style, but substance. The entire first hour is a gem to watch. Then Grohl uses the remaining time to show a behind the scenes of the making of his new album. This adition makes it feel like we're watching two different movies. This is where the non-rock fans will lose interest. But, the music is fine to listen to and we do get to see Paul McCartney jam with Grohl. Overall, this is a very well made documentary that gives us insight of how music was and should be made.

Grade: A-.