Muscle Shoals
Dir: Greg 'Freddy' Camalier
2013
***
There is no denying that Muscle Shoals, Alabama has its place in modern music. In this documentary we hear from many great artists about the importance and unique influence the area had on them and their careers. Indeed, the examples given make it clear that there is a certain signature sound that was developed and maintained in the studios there that are unlike any other in the world. The string of classic songs recorded there is nothing short of astonishing. There is definitely something in the water. The style of documentary is nothing new, it is informative and well structured. Unfortunately however, we hear from many different musicians who don't really have anything to do with it. Bono didn't record there and the Rolling Stones are even cited in the documentary as being copy cats, wannabes who came over because it was fashionable but left unchanged. They are given way too much screen time but I guess the makers felt they needed bigger names. I enjoyed it but it can be incredibly slow at times, if only it could grab the audience the same way the music does.