Sound City (film)

Sound City is a 2013 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] Dave Grohl was inspired to create the documentary after he purchased several items from the studio, including the Neve 8028 analog mixing console, when the studio closed in 2011. The film discusses the historic importance of Sound City Studios and its Neve 8028 console to the world of Rock & Roll albums along with a variety of other recording genres. The film first debuted on January 18, 2013. Upon its release, the film received a 100% Rotten Tomatoes score, but had its fair share of mixed reviews. The film also produced a record, Sound City: Real to Reel, which received two Grammy Awards.[4]

Sound City
Theatrical release poster
Directed byDave Grohl
Produced by
Written byMark Monroe
CinematographyKenny Stoff
Edited byPaul Crowder
Production
company
  • Therapy Content
  • Diamond Docs
Distributed by
Release date
Running time
107 minutes[1][2]
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Box office$521,181[1]

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.[5] Sound City Studios was located in the San Fernando Valley, amidst rows of dilapidated warehouses. The little-known recording studio housed a unique 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.[6] Another large impact that Sound City had on the music industry was the birth of Fleetwood Mac. The three-time Grammy-winning band was formed because of connections that occurred within Sound City. After hearing Stevie Nicks and Lindsay Buckingham recording in the studio, Mick Fleetwood asked the two to join the band.[6]

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.[7] 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 70’s rock music. Sound city produced platinum albums for four decades.[7]

Synopsis

The film tells the story of the studio from its early days in 1969 until its closing in 2011. 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.[6] 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 is an English engineer who founded Neve Electronics in 1961, designed and manufactured the Neve 8028, "one of four in the world",[8] and is interviewed by Grohl in the film.[9] 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."[10] It also shows album covers by some bands: Red Hot Chili Peppers's One Hot Minute, Nirvana's Incesticide and Nevermind, Rage Against the Machine's self-titled album and many others.

Release

The film was first exhibited in the 2013 Sundance Film Festival on January 18, 2013,[11] and released on video-on-demand and in theaters on February 1, 2013.[12] It was screened on January 31 in five Australian cities (Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth).[13] The documentary was also screened in three cities in Canada (Toronto, Vancouver and Montreal) and 51 cities in the United States.[14] The film was screened for a one-off showing on February 18, 2013 in 23 theaters across the United Kingdom.[15]

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)."[16][17] He was the key grip of the film.[18]

Appearances

The documentary features interviews conducted by Grohl of artists associated with the studio:[19][20]

Current or former members of the bands Dio, Black Sabbath, Heaven & Hell, Pixies, Fleetwood Mac, Nirvana, REO Speedwagon, Weezer, Ratt, Creedence Clearwater Revival, Queens of the Stone Age, Them Crooked Vultures, The Beatles, Cheap Trick, Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, Nine Inch Nails, Slipknot, Stone Sour, Metallica, Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, Fear, Foo Fighters and Rage Against the Machine appeared in the film. The drummer of Foo Fighters, Taylor Hawkins, also appeared in the film.

Reception
Dave Grohl while directing the movie.

Sound City received overwhelmingly positive reviews. Film review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes reports that 100% of critics gave the film a positive review, with an average rating of 7.7/10 based on 44 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."[21] It was one of the highest rated limited release and documentary movies of the year on the website.[22][23] On Metacritic the film has a score of 76 based on reviews from 15 critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews".[24]

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."[25] 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."[26] 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."[27] 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",[28] 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."[29]

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."[30]

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.[31]

Certifications
Region CertificationCertified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[32] Platinum 15,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Soundtrack
Main article: Sound City: Real to Reel

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 Dave 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 for Best Compilation Soundtrack for Visual Media, along with a win for Best Rock Song on track 9, Cut Me Some Slack. [31][33]

See also

References
  1. "Sound City". The Numbers. Nash Information Services, LLC. Retrieved June 23, 2016.
  2. Sound City at IMDb.
  3. Blistein, Jon (July 18, 2012). "New and Hot Video: Preview: Tom Petty, Trent Reznor Reminisce in Dave Grohl's Sound City Documentary". Rolling Stone. Retrieved October 14, 2012.
  4. "Sound City: Real to Reel", Wikipedia, November 3, 2020, retrieved December 13, 2020
  5. Burger, D. (2013, Jan 19). Behind the music: 'sound city' story told by dave grohl in directing debut. The Salt Lake Tribune Retrieved from http://proxy.library.georgetown.edu/login?qurl=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.proquest.com%2Fnewspapers%2Fbehind-music-sound-city-story-told-dave-grohl%2Fdocview%2F1270930316%2Fse-2%3Faccountid%3D11091
  6. Rob (August 29, 2013). "Sound City: A Dump, A Palace". Retrieved December 13, 2020.
  7. "Legendary Consoles and Their Impact on Music History | Sweetwater". inSync. June 1, 2019. Retrieved December 13, 2020.
  8. Filbin, Patrick (April 9, 2013). "Rock Docs: Sound City (2013)". Buzz Weekly. Champaign-Urbana, Illinois. Retrieved June 11, 2013.
  9. "Rupert Neve. Self". IMDb. Retrieved August 21, 2013.
  10. "Sound City: Real To Reel - Editorial Reviews". Amazon.com. Retrieved March 28, 2013.
  11. Van Syckle, Katie (January 25, 2013). "Q&A: Dave Grohl on His Sound City Doc and Taking Risks in Music". Rolling Stone. Retrieved April 6, 2013.
  12. Gallagher, Brian. "Sound City Confirmed for Theatrical and VOD Release February 1, 2013". MovieWeb. Retrieved December 13, 2012.
  13. Mann, Tom (January 21, 2013). "Dave Grohl's Sound City movie to screen in Australia 'for one night only'". FasterLouder. FasterLouder Pty Ltd. Archived from the original on January 26, 2013. Retrieved March 19, 2013.
  14. Hogan, Marc (January 14, 2013). "Dave Grohl's Sound City Documentary Is Coming to a Theater Near You". Spin. Buzz Media. Retrieved March 19, 2013.
  15. "Vue cinemas to show exclusive screening of Dave Grohl's Sound City". indielondon.co.uk. February 18, 2013. Retrieved May 25, 2018.
  16. "Sound City (2013). What's After The Credits?". aftercredits.com. February 1, 2013. Retrieved October 1, 2013.
  17. Screenshot from https://web.archive.org/web/20160304205252/http://www.torrentino.com/torrents/1436661. Retrieved March 12, 2018.
  18. "Sound City (2013) Full Cast & Crew - Camera and Electrical Department". IMDb. Retrieved December 3, 2014.
  19. Halperin, Shirley (December 9, 2012). "Dave Grohl Writes Letter to Fans: Sound City Doc 'Is My Life's Most Important Work'". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved December 13, 2012.
  20. "Cast - Sound City". soundcitymovie.com. Retrieved December 13, 2012.
  21. "Sound City (2013)". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango. Retrieved February 27, 2018.
  22. "The 15th Annual Golden Tomato Awards". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango. Retrieved January 14, 2013.
  23. "The 15th Annual Golden Tomato Awards". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango. Retrieved January 14, 2013.
  24. "Sound City Reviews". Metacritic. CBS Interactive. Retrieved February 1, 2013.
  25. Movie review: Sound City is homage to recording studio equipment. Los Angeles Times. Retrieved January 31, 2013.
  26. Dave Grohl's Sound City Players, Sundance Film Festival, review. Daily Telegraph. Retrieved January 23, 2013.
  27. Sound City | Movie Review. Rolling Stone. Retrieved February 11, 2013.
  28. Sound City, 4 stars. The Arizona Republic. Retrieved January 31, 2013.
  29. Movie review: Sound City. Daily News (New York). Retrieved January 31, 2013.
  30. Gallo, Phil (January 18, 2013). "Sound City Review: Dave Grohl Shines His Light on a 'Dumpy' Mecca". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved April 5, 2013.
  31. Sound City - IMDb, retrieved November 4, 2020
  32. ARIA Charts - Accreditations - 2014 DVDs
  33. Sound City: Real to Reel - Original Soundtrack | Awards | AllMusic, retrieved December 13, 2020
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