Saw this back in February when it first came out.
1.) Awesome documentary.
2.) Never been a Fleetwood Mac fan. That said, I didn't mind that they played a prominent role in this film - they did in
the studio's story. Whatever.
That said... While I too would ave loved a bit more of a "techie" look at what was going on in
the studio, this is a propaganda piece. It was IMO a two-pointed assault on the part of Dave Grohl, first arguing, and this is so simple that it's pretty obvious to all of us but less so to non-musicians, but that music is
important, and that the process of creating music is an absolutely awesome, macigal, and inspiring thing that a whole bunch of people have dedicated tremendous amounts of their lives to, and secondly, that computers and the "Pro Tools era" are kind of eating into that, by making music something that anyone can do (Neil Young's comment on a young band he talked to, "oh, we don't have to practice, we can just use a computer to get it right"). As far as I'm concerned Trent was the exception that proves the rule, for Dave - he's a legitimately creative guy doing interesting stuff with computers, and by including him then it gives him the illusion of impartiality. Other than Reznor, it's a story about
a studio with an awesome mixing board and a drum room that for some
reason just
worked that was put out of business by studios using computers, and then about a bunch of people rocking out in a room together, making music "like they used to," and making a live-in-the-studio record, warts and all.
It's an awesome documentary, but one that gets a little dogmatic for maybe the middle third. I kind of see it both ways - I'm a musician because I love playing and I love the feeling of rocking out with a bunch of other musicians, but as a guy writing and recording instrumental rock, if it wasn't for the home recording revolution I also know I'd never be able to record an album, because the stuff I write just has too small a fanbase to send me to a place like Sound City. I see it both ways, I guess. I recommend everyone I know who's into music to go watch it, but I also make a point of warning them that it's definitely a movie with an agenda.