the audience applauded

The movie turns out to be a little better than the average. Starting from a romantic formula often seen in the cinema, it ends in the most predictable (and somewhat bland) way.

It really made me laugh, but for some moments I was tearing up because I could relate so much.

Close shines in drama with strong language, adult themes.

There's people that prefer the drafting board to computers, prefer a typewriter to word-processing software, prefer film to digital cameras, etc. The list is extensive and the people on it are usually dismissed and eventually forgotten as technology moves forward. CGI creates better special effects; digital images can be deleted without wasting film; and Computer Aided Drafting and Manufacturing creates better, more accurate products. However, the case for analog over digital methods in music continues to be made. Musicologist Dave Grohl brings this debate to the court of public opinion in "Sound City." Called to the witness stand is a variety of fellow artists from the 60's to present which includes Paul McCartney, Stevie Nicks, Tom Petty, Neil Young, John Fogerty, Barry Manilow, Rick Springfield, et al. All these participants not only testify to their in experience with the studio but on the influences and differences of digital over analog methods on music culture. It's made apparent early on that this documentary is more than just a "day in the life" of musicians and how they created the art we enjoy as Dave later affirms: "It all started with this idea that I wanted to tell the story of the board. The conversation became something much bigger. Like . . . in this age of technology, where you simulate or manipulate anything, how do we retain that human element . . .? How do we keep music to sound like people? That feeling that I got when I was young, Oh, I could that too." And so the case is made that it's the analog imperfections that retains the human quality much like hand-made furniture as compared to the mass produced. But the film is not a total dis on technology. It's stated quite clearly that it was the "Neve" sound board that much homage is paid to including an interview with sound engineer Rupert Neve himself. For although this was the pinnacle of technology, it was still analog technology. As the film's humble narrator/producer conducts a multi leveled journey spanning many decades of music, digital methods continued to penetrate the music culture. In all these examples there are those who reject it, those who embrace it, and those who find a middle ground for old and new technologies to coexist in their vocation. Some prefer a set of drums and others use an electronic drum machine. Eventually, Sound City couldn't compete with the digital world where artists steadily became more like computer music "file makers" rather than instrument trained musicians. Through many examples we are shown that in music, in spite of the advances in recording and producing technology, many musicians can preserve the "human" quality with state of the art "analog" technologies. Come to think of it, one of my favorite composers "Vangelis" uses a variety of electronic and digital methods. But he's still very much in charge of the mood his music inspires. This quality would probably be lost if he just programmed a computer to play his compositions. Dave never forgot where he came from. This was the impetus for making this film and the reason for preserving the Neve board which now resides in his private studio. He waxes some heavy philosophy but never comes off preachy which could easily turn this movie into a "vanity project." In fact he comes off very altruistic with his many homages to the staff and studio where he cut his first album with Nirvana. And to top it off is Jam sessions including many of the artists who were interviewed throughout the feature.

Viewed at the Metro IV on January 30, 2013, during the Santa Barbara International Film Festival at 10:20 P.M. Reviewed by Larry Gleeson. "Sound City," a documentary by Foo Fighter Dave Grohl, former Nirvana band mate, delivers an upbeat up-tempo roller coaster ride through the legendary Van Nuys Studio City started in 1969 by Joe Gottfried and Tom Skeeter. Studio City would come to serve as the launching pad for the commercial rise to stardom of Fleetwood Mac, Nirvana, Credence Clearwater Revivial, and Rick Springfield to name just a few and would come to its subsequent obsolescence as the digital age was ushered in with great fanfare. A vital point is made along the way that while yes music can be engineered solely from a software program it can't allow for the soulful expression of the musicians who actually play musical instruments to create a product. Sound City was a hole-in-the-wall studio that became home to legendary rock-n-roll bands from Bachman Turner Over Drive to grunge rockers Nirvana due in no small measure to a massive hand made mixing board console, one of four in the world. The sheer size and scope of the Neve is impressive and in some respects it's a major force of the film. I liken it to Kubrick's monolith in his ""2001: Space Odyssey." Those who were in touch with the monolith evolved spiritually and, in my opinion, the same case can be made for those musicians who played together and were recorded with the Neve. Those interviewed for the film often felt their time there was very special and that digitizing music lacks the more soulful, human approach to live studio recording with your band mates. It's not to say that digitizing music is the Armageddon. It's more to say that solely digitizing music sets it apart from the original source. The film touches lightly here the more commonplace reaction is Mr. Grohl being full of himself telling the story of the Neve from his personal viewpoint and for not being a little more objective. But really, his story is history. He also recorded on the Neve with Nirvana and breathed life back into a decaying Sound City before it's ultimate demise. Hhe eventually purchased the Neve, restored it and invited musicians to come and play with his band, The Foo Fighters, including Sir Paul McCartney. In some respects I felt privileged to sit and watch Grohl's story of the Neve unfold. He used a plethora of archival material including rare footage, telling photographs and present day testimonial from former Studio City employees and from rock legends Stevie Nicks, Mick Fleetwood and Neil Young. Springfield met his future wife there while others left a piece of their heart there. And, along the way Grohl, provides some fundamental rock-n-roll basics about the drummer's role as the backbone of any given band and the acoustical effects Sound City provided to accentuate this. The film closes with Grohl housing the Neve in his own studio jamming. Curiously, an outtake comes across the screen with no sound with a memorial tribute. I felt this choice quite unnerving and called to mind the cut-throat win at all costs music business and the sometimes fatal outcomes for those who pursue the Muse. Warmly recommended especially for those who have a cursory interest in the music business and the history of rock-n-roll.

I didn't really see Dave Grohl as a documentarian, but here we are. And he did a pretty damn good job. "Sound City" covers a few different things: one, the life and times of the eponymous hole-in-the-wall recording studio; two, the now-legendary Neve sound board at which a plethora of legendary albums were recorded; and three, the debate between analog and digital recording. And it's a passionate fight. Sound City was the kind of place that needed to be highlighted for its place in music history, both as a low-rent studio, and then as a hub of old-school (tech speaking) musicians. And kudos to Grohl for taking on the job. The filmmakers spend plenty of time interviewing (most of) the people that recorded here, its dark times in the '80s when processors were all the rage, and its rebirth when Nirvana exploded after recording "Nevermind" there. ... right down to the day it closed its doors for good, and Grohl bought the Neve console and set it up in his very studio. This was clearly a labor of affection, and Grohl pulled it off. And even though everything about the studio's history is covered, he brings it back home to the very thing that made Sound City a focal point in the first place:That righteous sound board. 8/10

I don't know. Color me bad but I just thought it was sort of OK. I guess it was sort of interesting to see how some of that old school stuff was made but Dave Grohl annoys the tar out of me always trying to mug for the camera and act like the big hero. Who is he anyway some b-grade so called musician. But it is sad I guess about how all of this Protools and computer stuff did take over music making which is really why there is so much garbage so called music out there anyway like kayne west and milly cyprus because none of them can are really pros or trained anymore on how to play instruments. Just soulless beat machines like tr808's and samplers. But as a movie basically even though we can see what it was done for its still supposed to be entertainment and I took my girlfriend to it on a Sat nite but we left because it wasn't funny or anything so really all that was left was to just go to iHop at that point but like I said I was a bit depressed about spending that money on it. I don't really care about Fleetwood or those guys anyway because all they really did was snort that coke and keep all that money and not really give anything back to the studio which made them famous which is why that studio went bankrupt anyway. But why is Grohl doing this you must ask yourself in the mirror and again just like with nirvana its just all about getting his mug out there wanting to be Mr. big speaker hero.