Sound City
A heartfelt rock documentary follows Dave Grohl from Sound City's storied analog past toward a joyful revival of collaborative music-making.
Overview
A journey through the heart of rock music, revealing the magic behind iconic sounds.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Moderate
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- None
- affectionate
- high spirited
- sincere
- music fan night
- concert documentary marathon
What critics said
Critics broadly praised the documentary as an energetic, sincere, emotionally engaging tribute to Sound City, analog recording, and the collaborative creative process.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
The film centers Sound City's famous Neve recording console and argues that its analog character helped shape landmark rock recordings.
Its history contrasts Sound City's analog recording culture with the accessibility and transformation enabled by digital production.
Dave Grohl, Trent Reznor, Tom Petty, Mick Fleetwood, John Fogerty, and other musicians recall the studio's role in their careers.
Grohl's attempt to resurrect the studio's spirit culminates in sessions featuring musicians including Paul McCartney, Stevie Nicks, and Krist Novoselic.
Films like Sound City, and why
Muscle Shoals
music documentary built around artists, creative process, and affectionate rock history
The Wrecking Crew
artist-centered music documentary combining performance, archival history, and intimate interviews
20 Feet from Stardom
warm, energetic documentary portrait of a defining music scene and its creative community
Movie Details
- Director
- Dave Grohl
- Release Date
- 2013-01-18
- Runtime
- 106 min
- Rating
- 7.4 / 10 (253)
Cast
- Dave Grohl
- Trent Reznor
- Tom Petty
- Mick Fleetwood
- John Fogerty
- Rivers Cuomo
- Taylor Hawkins
- Barry Manilow
- Stevie Nicks
- Krist Novoselic
Common questions
- What is Sound City about?
- A heartfelt rock documentary follows Dave Grohl from Sound City's storied analog past toward a joyful revival of collaborative music-making.
- What is Sound City like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Sound City as brisk, its intensity as moderate and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is Sound City violent?
- No — Ember's analysis finds no violence in Sound City.
- What did critics think of Sound City?
- Critics broadly praised the documentary as an energetic, sincere, emotionally engaging tribute to Sound City, analog recording, and the collaborative creative process.
- Which films are like Sound City?
- Films with a similar feel include Muscle Shoals, The Wrecking Crew, and 20 Feet from Stardom.
- How long is Sound City?
- Sound City runs 106 minutes.
