76
Metascore
15 reviews · Provided by Metacritic.com
- 91The PlaylistKatie WalshThe PlaylistKatie WalshA vibrant and vital tribute to a piece of recording and rock history that could have been lost to the ether, and Grohl packages the story of this little studio with a detailed celebration of the craft and skill necessary to this kind of recording, all with a killer soundtrack (which should go without saying).
- 80The Hollywood ReporterDavid RooneyThe Hollywood ReporterDavid RooneyDave Grohl has more than clout in his corner in his terrifically entertaining documentary Sound City. He brings elements that can't be faked -- passion and heart -- to this lovingly assembled insider account of what it feels like to make real handcrafted rock music.
- 80Time OutJoshua RothkopfTime OutJoshua RothkopfFor a movie that's essentially about a piece of hardware-the legendary Neve mixing console, an imposing slab of knobs and meters - this geeked-out documentary beats with more heart than could be imagined.
- 80The New York TimesNeil GenzlingerThe New York TimesNeil Genzlinger[Grohl] shows a decent grasp of how to pace a documentary and how to push nostalgia buttons, avoiding the marsh of smarminess most - though not quite all - of the time.
- 80Arizona RepublicBill GoodykoontzArizona RepublicBill GoodykoontzSound 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.
- 80Los Angeles TimesKenneth TuranLos Angeles TimesKenneth TuranHigh-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.
- 75Miami HeraldMiami HeraldGrohl's appreciation for the inhabitants of this dingy demimonde, from the artists to the secretaries at the front desk, makes Sound City an infectious and sincere Valentine to a rapidly disappearing art form.
- 70Village VoiceVillage VoiceDave Grohl's Sound City is an exciting, sometime illuminating documentary about how a squad of technicians and engineers in a hole-in-the-Valley music studio helped great rock 'n' rollers make great rock 'n' roll.
- 70Grohl's jovial presence is the hook; playing interviewer and emcee as well as director, he's the catchy bit you welcome every time it returns. The star-studded interview list provides much of the personality and attitude, as does a fantastically tense behind-the-scenes video of Petty and his band laboring long hours to craft their breakthrough record.
- 63Slant MagazineSlant MagazineGiven Dave Grohl's reputation for versatility and good taste, the film's sturdy sense of forward motion may come as no surprise.