Album review: DAVE GROHL & Others – Sound City Real To Reel

April 1st, 2013 by GRTR! HQ

Sony Music

Hot-housing for 24 hours in a studio using a legendary Neve 8028 mixer sounds like musical nirvana. And indeed it was during the making of Nirvana’s ‘Nevermind’ album that Dave Grohl was introduced to the desk. He bought it in 2012 after the studio – Sound City in Los Angeles – had closed its doors.

Grohl then had the idea to make a documentary film about the studio which was witness to classic recordings from the likes of Fleetwood Mac and Tom Petty, and the soundtrack that resulted brought together some of those artists touched by their previous experience.

It has to be quite an achievement to get Macca to play on your album especially when he sounds decidedly heavier than usual and in the company of such post-Grunge luminaries as Grohl and members of Nirvana, Krist Novoselic and Pat Smear. It’s one of the many highlights included here and is documented more fully in the film.

The Sound City album is full of great songs and either Grohl or perhaps the Neve has also brought out the best from the likes of Stevie Nicks (a wonderful ‘You Can’t Fix This’) and Rick Springfield (‘The Man That Never Was’).

More than anything, when consumed with the accompanying film, this is an affectionate and inspiring tribute to a former ‘golden’ age and a perfect antidote to digital ‘progress’. ****

Review by David Randall

David Randall presents ‘Assume The Position’ on Get Ready to ROCK! Radio every Sunday at 22:00 GMT.

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SMALL TOWN POLITICS Red Lights (indie)

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