The Sound City documentary from Dave Grohl (Nirvana, Foo Fighters) is engaging – even if you’re not a music nerd. The journey is built around the Sound City studio’s Neve mixing console Grohl is buying before the studio is demolished. But its also about the people who recorded great albums there including Fleetwood Mac, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, Rick Springfield, Nirvana, and many more. Its fascinating to see the ups and downs of the studio told through conversations with the artists.
When the console is moved, Grohl hammers out an album with his musician cohorts, including Sir Paul McCartney showing how easily its done (if you’re Paul McCartney). Although we’re huge music fans, we expected this would be a self-absorbed, dry affair. It turned out to be much about what makes us human. Not bad for a rock guy’s doc. The film and soundtrack, Sound City – Real to Reel, are well worth a watch and listen. The film is currently the movie of the week on iTunes for $0.99 rental if you want to check it out there.