Music that touches you at a deep level is a rare delight. Same with a book, a movie, a piece of art or anything that is the result of the creative process. Today I had the good fortune to stumble upon something that did this on several levels.

Sonic Highways is a documentary series on HBO, put together by Dave Grohl and Foo Fighters. The series is an incredible journey, taking you on a deep musical exploration of eight cities, building a song in each city based on the musical foundation found in that city.

For example, the series opens in Chicago and revolves around artists like Buddy Guy, Muddy Waters, and Rick Nielson (the baseball hat-wearing, scorching guitar player from Cheap Trick). You get the chance to meet Steve Albini, controversial producer of Nirvana’s In Utero album. All the while, you watch the elements that would ultimately form the first of the album’s 8 songs unfold. The song is a tribute to Buddy Guy and you get to meet Buddy and hear him talk about his deep friendship with Muddy Waters. The Buddy Guy interview snippets actually turn up in the song lyrics. Rick Nielson stops by the studio and lays down a track on the album.

The finished song, like the documentary itself, is deep, complex, and polished. Sonic Highways is a gift to anyone with an interest in music. The series is available on HBO, on HBO Go, and on demand.

Here’s the trailer, which gives a pretty good sense of the show format and tone.