Sound City is a 2013 American documentary film produced and directed by Dave Grohl, in his directorial debut, about the history of recording studio Sound City Studios in Van Nuys, Los Angeles.[3] Grohl was inspired to create the documentary after he purchased several items from the studio, including the Neve 8028 analog mixing console, when it closed as a commercial studio in 2011. The film discusses the historic importance of Sound City Studios and its Neve 8028 console to the world of rock music, along with other recording genres. Sound City debuted on January 18, 2013, to positive reviews, with a 100% Rotten Tomatoes score. The film engendered a record, Sound City: Real to Reel, which received two Grammy Awards.
Background
Historical Importance
The 106-minute documentary film covers a variety of important and record-breaking albums that all came out of Sound City Studios.[4] Sound City Studios is located in the San Fernando Valley, amidst rows of industrial warehouses. The little-known recording studio housed a rare analog Neve recording console and had a reputation for recording drums. Artists such as Nirvana, Kyuss, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Fleetwood Mac, Neil Young, Rick Springfield, Tom Petty, Rage Against the Machine, and Slipknot recorded groundbreaking music at the studio. In 1991 Nirvana recorded the album Nevermind at Sound City Studios. This was one of many platinum albums that came out of the studio, placing Sound City among the most well-known names and record labels in the music industry.[5] Sound City played an important role in the history of Fleetwood Mac. After hearing a recording of Stevie Nicks and Lindsey Buckingham made at Sound City, Mick Fleetwood asked Buckingham if he would join, to which he agreed so long as Nicks was invited in as well. This version of the group later earned three Grammy awards.[5]
Neve 8028 Console
The documentary credits much of the studio's success to the Neve 8028 console and the strong and grungy drum sound that the studio produced. The sound that came out of the studio is often credited to the shape of the studio and the way that sound waves acted within the room.[6] Even though much of the studio's success was credited to the shape of the booth, another large factor was credited to the console. Their custom Neve 8028, designed by Rupert Neve, produced a strong and punchy sound that defined '70s rock music. Sound City has produced gold & platinum albums for over five decades.[6]
Synopsis
The film tells the story of the studio from its early days in 1969 until its closing in 2011 (as a commercial studio). The film covers the reasons for the studio's success along with the reasons for the distinct sound that came from the studio. The film covers stories from recording in the studio, the eventual deterioration of the studio, and even the non-musical production of albums in the studio. Sound City even produced albums by people like Bill Cosby.[5] It then follows Dave Grohl's purchase of the studio's custom analog Neve console, which he moved to his personal studio, Studio 606. Rupert Neve was an English engineer who founded Neve Electronics in 1961, designed and manufactured the Neve 8028, "one of four in the world",[7] and is interviewed by Grohl in the film.[8] In the film, famous musicians who recorded at Sound City reunite at Studio 606 for a jam session and to make an album of "all-new all-original songs, each one composed and recorded exclusively for the film within its own 24-hour session on that console."[9]
Release
The film was first exhibited in the 2013 Sundance Film Festival on January 18, 2013,[10] and released on video-on-demand and in theaters on February 1, 2013.[11] It was screened on January 31 in five Australian cities (Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth).[12] The documentary was also screened in three cities in Canada (Toronto, Vancouver and Montreal) and 51 cities in the United States.[13] The film was screened for a one-off showing on February 18, 2013, in 23 theaters across the UK.[14]
After the closing credits there is a short, silent segment of a home movie showing a band getting set up. The picture freezes on one person and the following text appears: "In memory of Brian Hauge (1970 – 2012)."[15][16] He was the key grip of the film.[17]
Appearances
The documentary features interviews conducted by Grohl of artists associated with the studio:[18][19]
Sound City received overwhelmingly positive reviews. Film review aggregatorRotten Tomatoes reports that 100% of critics gave the film a positive review, with an average rating of 7.7/10 based on 46 reviews. The site's consensus states: "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."[20] It was one of the highest rated limited release and documentary movies of the year on the website.[21][22] On Metacritic the film has a score of 76 based on reviews from 15 critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews".[23]
Kenneth Turan from Los Angeles Times gave the film a positive review, saying "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."[24] In a review for The Daily Telegraph, Sebastian Doggart awarded the documentary five out of five stars and proclaimed it as "an exhilarating exploration of the creative process."[25]Peter Travers of Rolling Stone admits "In his directing debut, Dave Grohl shows the instincts of a real filmmaker. Sound City hits you like a shot in the heart."[26] Bill Goodykoontz of The Arizona Republic remarks "Sound City is a music geek's dream, a rollicking look at a dumpy California studio where a lot of musicians found magic. It's also a bit of a mess, like all good rock and roll ought to be",[27] while Elizabeth Weitzman of New York Daily News praised that "Grohl's aim is to explore the aura of a place, but what he winds up proving is that people make the magic."[28]
In a mixed review, Gillian G. Gaar writes, "The film's final third drags a bit because there's too much of the recording sessions Grohl set up using that famous Neve board, most notably featuring Paul McCartney and Grohl's Nirvana bandmate Krist Novoselic (on the raucous "Cut Me Some Slack"), as well as Stevie Nicks, Trent Reznor and Joshua Homme, among others". Phil Gallo from Billboard stated "Grohl's inexperience as a filmmaker only shows when the film makes a sharp turn out of history and into the more recent past: There's a sense that instead of celebrating great rock 'n' roll moments, a product is about to be pitched at the viewer."[29]
The documentary won the Grammy for Best Compilation Soundtrack for Digital Media in 2014. The documentary was also won the Cinema Eye Audience Choice Prize at the Cinema Eye Honors Awards in 2014. The film received a Satellite Award for Best Documentary Film nomination in the 18th edition.[30]
Sound City: Real to Reel is the official soundtrack of the documentary and can be seen in production during the latter part of the film. The album was recorded within Grohl's Studio 606 after his purchase of the Neve console from Sound City Studios. In partnership with a variety of famous recording musicians, the album was released on March 12, 2013. The album would go on to win the Grammy Award for Best Compilation Soundtrack for Visual Media, along with a win for Best Rock Song for "Cut Me Some Slack".[30][32]
^Burger, David (January 19, 2013). "Behind the music: 'Sound City' story told by Dave Grohl in directing debut". The Salt Lake Tribune. ProQuest1270930316.
