Sound City is a documentary that first debuted at the Sundance Festival on January 18, 2013 and finally hit big screen on February 1, 2013. 

The movie starts out with David Grohl (rock musician, singer, songwriter) acquainting the viewers with the very popular Los Angeles, California recording studio Sound City. Many famous musicians used the Neve analog console to record their records, which many of them developed into certified gold and platinum.

Since it’s opening in 1969, many famous musicians entered and exited the doors of Sound City Studios, to record their music on vinyl. Beginning with the recording artist, David Briggs (Spirit) in 1970, to Noah and the Whale in 2011, and all those in between utilized the studio’s sounds. 

Grohl decided to purchase the legendary console and relocate it to Studio 606, a studio that he had designed just for the placement of the console. He invites some of the most popular musicians of all times to join him at the Studio 606 for a communal practice session. Paul McCarthy, Stevie Nicks, Tom Petty, Trent Reznor, and Rick Springfield gave a short version of their history inside the studio. 

David explains how modern day musicians are using digital Pro Tools to record their music, which he felt was a form of cheating. This new equipment digitally enhances the voice making it sound better than it truly is. It also nullifies the studio experience. Even half-hearted musicians witht very little talent and skills can sound amazingly flawless with this digital software. 

After the comparisons of the Neve analog console and the digital Pro Tools, it makes one begin to wonder if the pop and rock stars of today can truly carry a tune. Have we been fooled to think that they were given the gift of singing? Is computers and new technology destroying art and music?

Review

This documentary gives us an inside look at how the veteran musicians recorded, created, and produced some of the most listened to music in history. It was great to see how passionate David Grohl is about music and his new Neve analog console. He should be considered a hero for saving this wonderful product of history from ruin. This documentary deserves 8 out of 10.