Critic Reviews

• Tom Long, Detroit News

  There's a purity -- sense of righteousness and reunion and optimism -- that makes Thunder Soul galvanizing. Also, the music is smoking hot, which is pretty amazing, considering it comes from a high school band. And a bunch of oldsters.

• William Goss, Film.com

  All of the agreeable ingredients are there, but director Mark Landsman doesn't coast on the built-in feel-good factor.

• John DeFore, Washington Post

  Arguably, the current generation of funk and soul revivalists owes a debt to musicians who forged their astonishing sound in between Algebra study sessions.

• Sheri Linden, Los Angeles Times

  Though it sometimes overplays the sentimentality, "Thunder Soul" gets not just the music but also the sense of possibility for this post-civil-rights generation.

• J. R. Jones, Chicago Reader

  A precious scrap of American history.

• Roger Moore, Orlando Sentinel

  An uplifting and entertaining film...

• Kam Williams, NewsBlaze

  They don't make 'em like Prof anymore!

• Corey Hall, Metro Times (Detroit, MI)

  ...the unstoppable power of the music is an undeniable, stone groove

• Kam Williams, AALBC.com

  They don't make 'em like Prof anymore!

• Matt Pais, RedEye

  Radiates warmth and energy from fun, kind people sharing love for each other and playing music together.

• Sandie Angulo Chen, Common Sense Media

  Uplifting docu spotlights legendary high school jazz band.

• Marjorie Baumgarten, Austin Chronicle

  Thunder Soul tells the story of the Kashmere Stage Band, and before the film is through, this high school band you've never heard of will have earned a top spot on your personal hit parade.

• Nathan Rabin, AV Club

  Thunder Soul represents a feast for the senses, a soulful celebration of the black musical renaissance of the late '60s and '70s, but the filmmakers don't seem particularly interested in peering beneath the dazzling surface.

• Brent Simon, Shockya.com

  Not without its problems, but overall a compelling snapshot of how and why good teachers matter, as well as a case for the value of the continued study of the arts in high school curricula.

• Brian Orndorf, BrianOrndorf.com

  A film flooded with memories and declarations of respect, laughs and tears, and plenty of funk to keep toes tapping along as director Mark Landsman investigates how one man's authority carried from high school to the modern day.

• David Noh, Film Journal International

  Warmly uplifting documentary about an inspiring teacher and the funky, funky music he made with generations of happy kids.

• Clint O'Connor, Cleveland Plain Dealer

  Thunder Soul is touching, charming and easy to love.

Read all 17 critic reviews