Best Steve Albini Produced Album...

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...not including anything done by any of the Pixies.

My thanks to you all. --JM

― JM, Tuesday, 2 October 2001 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Seamonsters by The Wedding Present.

― Tom, Tuesday, 2 October 2001 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

I'm quite enjoying the new Sadies record. Lots of nice reverb and clear, well defined guitar sound. Not sure how much of that is due to Mr. Albini, but it sounds like he did a good professional job.

― pauls00, Tuesday, 2 October 2001 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

"Travel on, Rider". - Scrawl 1995. One of the best albums ever produced by anyone.

― Dave225, Tuesday, 2 October 2001 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

I would have offered either of Low's last two albums (especially _Secret Name_), but I'll have to put my money on Nina Nastasia's _Dogs_ (which might be as close as he's ever come to achieving the same sort of restraint & dynamics Brian Paulson mastered - & never bettered, from what I know - on Slint's ubiquitous _Spiderland_).

― David Raposa, Tuesday, 2 October 2001 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

I don't know (I will go away and think about it, mind you), but around the time that the Albini-produced Beachbuggy album came out, I ranted on here about how it kind of reminded me of Mclusky and I'd like to hear Albini produce Mclusky, and recently I heard a rumour that that is actually happening (I mean, obviously not because I said so, but clearly somebody else also thought it was a good idea). So, can anyone confirm this?

― Rebecca, Tuesday, 2 October 2001 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Either Freedom Bondage by Zeni Geva or Songs About Fucking.

― Kris, Tuesday, 2 October 2001 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Great call on Scrawl, though I'll go with Velvet Hammer.

― Andy, Tuesday, 2 October 2001 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Yeah, Seamonsters by The Wedding Present.

― DavidM, Tuesday, 2 October 2001 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Make that Weddoes 3, Scrawl 2.

― Nitsuh, Tuesday, 2 October 2001 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

4-2! Go Gedge Go!

― scott p., Tuesday, 2 October 2001 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

ah, but albini didn't produce all of songs about fucking.

(indie pedants to the rescue!) ;)

damn your exclusionary no pixies rule. therefore i shall say the in utero boot. even the one released is pretty damn fine.

― jess, Tuesday, 2 October 2001 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

That would have to be the Shellac 7", Uranus, featuring Doris and Wingwalker. The drums are just fantastic.

― Philippe, Tuesday, 2 October 2001 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Spiderland. As much as I love the earlier works of the band of Gedge, I haven't actually listened to Seamonsters since my tape died a year ago and I've never got round to replacing it. But I listened to Spiderland last week and it sounded terrific.

― Richard Tunnicliffe, Tuesday, 2 October 2001 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Steve didn't record Spiderland. Brian Paulson did.

― hstencil, Tuesday, 2 October 2001 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

The no pixies rule is what makes this a challenge -- Honestly, this is for my senior thesis film. I was leaning towards Seamonsters myself...

― JM, Tuesday, 2 October 2001 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

It's not technically a "Steve Albini Engineered" album as half the songs are Steve, and the other half are Bob Weston.. But A Minor Forest's "Flemish Altruism" collection is probably the best exhibition of Steve's talents on record.

Otherwise, I'd go with Melt Banana's "Speak Squeak Creak".

And I don't think Steve really "produces" any band.. he's always resigned to calling himself an engineer, and usually prefers to not be credited at all.

― Brian MacDonald, Tuesday, 2 October 2001 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Viva Last Blues in the engineer role.

― Jeff, Tuesday, 2 October 2001 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Doesn't anyone like In Utero then? Or is it because the record company/band chickened out and remixed it so it doesn't count.

Failing that Plush 'More you becomes you' or The Auteurs 'After Murder Park'.

― Billy Dods, Tuesday, 2 October 2001 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

"Doesn't anyone like In Utero then? Or is it because the record company/band chickened out and remixed it so it doesn't count."

ahem. scroll up. ;)

(i think, even on the released version, "scentless apprentice" has the best "albini-drum sound" EVAH.)

― jess, Tuesday, 2 October 2001 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Ah, you didn't use CAPITALS Jess that's why I missed it ;-)

― Billy Dods, Tuesday, 2 October 2001 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Ok then, Seamonsters it is. Joint second: Rid Of Me and Secret Name.

― Richard Tunnicliffe, Tuesday, 2 October 2001 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Yes "Rid Of Me" is ace, great drum sound, and I like "In Utero" as well.

― Sean, Tuesday, 2 October 2001 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Silkworm's 'Libertine'.

― daniel, Tuesday, 2 October 2001 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

'Arise Therefore' by Palace or 'After Murder Park' by the Auteurs.

― Andrew L, Tuesday, 2 October 2001 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

I would KILL to hear the pre-tampered version of _In Utero_. (Well, not kill - maim, perhaps.) And, to be honest, I can't think of any recording Mr. Albini's been involved in that I haven't enjoyed. (I'll have to scare up that Auteurs album.) I will say, though, that the idea of him working with Page & Plant still doesn't sit well with me - I get gaseous just thinkin' about it. (And the one song I heard doesn't abate such gaseousness.)

But, then, what I like best about Albini's work is that it's "honest" - that is, he records the band (more often than not), warts & all. Whether it's a belabored process or something more natural, I don't know, but it always sounds great. Silkworm's _Firewater_ (especially "Miracle Mile" or "Slow Hands"), or the Veruca Salt _Blow It Out Your Ass_ EP are great examples of this. Probably some Jesus Lizard LPs, too (except for _Down_, which just sounds ... odd).

― David Raposa, Tuesday, 2 October 2001 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

No one's gone the obvious - Shellac At Action Park. Fantastic: huge dynamic range, amazing drums sounds and some very sneaky stereo imaging...

― Ben Butler, Tuesday, 2 October 2001 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

I would think that the Shellac records were a group effort, though, given the presence of Bob Weston as well as Mr. Albini (as some folks have discussed above). The record doesn't offer any information about that, anyway (as far as I can recall).

― David Raposa, Tuesday, 2 October 2001 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

the answer is no. there are no good 'steve albini produced albums'.

― ethan, Wednesday, 3 October 2001 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

I'd agree with Kris about Zeni Geva, but I'd plump for Nai- Ha.

― Kodanshi, Wednesday, 3 October 2001 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

PJ Harvey's "Rid of Me", obviously.

The Auteurs "After Murder Park" is a good runner too.

― DV, Wednesday, 3 October 2001 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Yo Rebecca up the top... I seem to remember reading in my local rag's music pages that McLuskey are working with Steve Albini, so yep, your wish has come true. Local band makes good. Hurrah.

― Rob M, Wednesday, 3 October 2001 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

palace's arise therefore/nirvana's in utero

― Geoff, Wednesday, 3 October 2001 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

ALL Shellac & PJ Harvey "Rid of Me"!!!

― Tony, Wednesday, 3 October 2001 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Definitely 'After Murder Park' by the Auteurs.

― zaxxon25, Wednesday, 3 October 2001 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Ooh yeah! 'Rid Of Me'! 'Arise, Therefore'! Classic!s!

I don't think there is really much discernable difference between the Albini recording of 'In Utero' and the Corperate version. I think it's all been a bit overplayed by a stroppy Albini.

Err... I don't actually have any evidence to back this up... it's just an opinion I hold in ignorance.

― DavidM, Wednesday, 3 October 2001 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Secret Name by Low

― Jimmy Sparrer, Thursday, 4 October 2001 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

did he produce any other Auteurs albums?

― m jemmeson, Thursday, 4 October 2001 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Dial M For Motherfucker, Pussy Galore...best PG, best SA, plus, unlike rest of PG, SA still talks to JS.

― Emmet, Friday, 5 October 2001 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

I want to put in a word for Sovereign by Neurosis, if only for the epic title track. I haven't heard a lot of the other albums.

I love the guitar and drum sounds on Songs About Fucking but I'm giving Loder the credit for that.

― sundar subramanian, Friday, 5 October 2001 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

I guess In Utero may be a better album but I don't think the production has much to do with that.

― sundar subramanian, Friday, 5 October 2001 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Sundar, if you haven't listened to "Enemy of the Sun" by Neurosis you should check it out. One of my favorite albums ever.

― Kris, Friday, 5 October 2001 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

three weeks pass...

Without a doubt Dogs, by Nina Nastasia. It's very delicately recorded and super subtle. Fucking impossible to find a copy though. Close seconds: Seamonsters (drums!!) and Viva Last Blues.

― Iska, Sunday, 28 October 2001 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Labradford: 'fixed::context'. Recorded by Albini in his Electrical Audio studio in Chicago, using (I'm guessing here) his Neotek Elite II mixing console (pushes imaginary specs up bridge of nose).

$1200/day, apparently.

― Michael Jones, Monday, 29 October 2001 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

As stated earlier: Albini is not a producer. In fact, he is downright pissed at anyone using his name in the same sentence as that word. That said, In Utero gets the vote. All you people trying to be purists, indie, or whatever the fuck you're trying to be, KNOCK it off and just trust your ears not your beer funnel - it's cool 'cause it's obscure - "ideals". Jackasses! The only possible answer is In Utero (although Albini has a grudge because Nirvana "sold out" and would't use a COUPLE of his mixes). Also, Albini would probably say one of the Jesus Lizard albums as his best credit, if he were so inclined to brag. Fuck you.

― matt, Tuesday, 30 October 2001 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

*sob*

― Josh, Tuesday, 30 October 2001 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Aside from RID OF ME and In Utero, no one has mentioned the "correct" answer:

Pod!!! by the the Breeders. I should start a thread about it since no one ever talks about this album, but I've never started a thread before, so it's intimidating

― Vic, Tuesday, 30 October 2001 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Just cause he say he isn't a producer, doesn't make it not so. Would anyone be saying 'oh, he's not really a producer' if he didn't claim it himself?

Anyway, yeah - 'Seamonsters'.

― Nick, Wednesday, 31 October 2001 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

WHiTEHOUSE - Halogen or perhaps Thank your Lucky Stars, the follow up to the classic Great White Death...

― Shane, Friday, 2 November 2001 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

"we didn't say that" by Daphne & Celeste best fucking drum sound ever. and just because nirvana's in utero is a record it doesn't mean my mum knows any of the tunes. you "my mum knows all the tunes" purists - damn your fundamentalism!!

― bob snoom, Saturday, 3 November 2001 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Engine Kid "Bear Catching Fish"... PJ Harvey "Rid Of Me"/"4-Track Demos"... Stagmummer "Rim"... Slint "Tweez"... Labradford "Fixed Context"... the Jesus Lizard "Liar".

― Philouza, Tuesday, 6 November 2001 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Seamonsters - especially the EPs - and the Box Elder cover from Brassneck, recorded 18 months before Slanted and Enchanted came out in the UK.

― K-reg, Tuesday, 6 November 2001 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

the Box Elder cover from Brassneck, recorded 18 months before Slanted and Enchanted came out in the UK.

Considering "Box Elder" isn't on S&E, and was released by Pavement three years before that album, why does it matter it was recorded 18 months before S&E's release? Why not just say 9 years before Domino released Westing (By Musket and Sextant) for all the relevance it has on this point?

― Vic Funk, Tuesday, 6 November 2001 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Probably because as far as I remember, in the UK not even John Peel was aware of Pavement until around the time 'Trigger Cut' and 'Slanted and Enchanted' came out. God knows how David Gedge got into them.

― Nick, Thursday, 8 November 2001 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

This is cool. I've always loved Seamonsters. The drums are perfect-o and the guitars are insane and beautiful. I'm also trying to get any info on the sessions for Lows Secret Name for a school project. If anyone knows any links or hooks, id appreciate anything.

― terry, Thursday, 8 November 2001 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

yeah its true mclusky did record the latest album with steve albini, im the drummer from the band - and we were going to hear the pre- tampered with in-utero but we ran out of time - oh well.........

― mat, Sunday, 11 November 2001 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Hey. To say that calling Steve Albini a "producer" pisses him off is true. But from what I've heard, he already hates "you and everybody else" so I think it would be fun to call him a "producer" just to piss him off. I really do respect his work--whatever one should call it--but when I heard that "he hates you," I gotta admit that I wanted to laugh.

Anyway, Steve's obviously great at what he does, but I haven't heard enough of him to make a call on his best. I was actually looking for Brian Paulson info...if anyone knows where I can find some, please let me know. Thanks

― Micah, Monday, 19 November 2001 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

one month passes...

Jesus Lizard's Goat is the correct answer. Thanks to all for participating.

― PMcPine, Wednesday, 26 December 2001 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

two weeks pass...

goat is amazing i was waiting for someone to metion it.....actually, all of the recordings he did with the jesus lizard are excellent.

― steve abbott, Sunday, 13 January 2002 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Idea behind 'Albini != producer' is presumably that he gives the musicians a very nice environment to work in, sets up some fancy mikes, lets them get on with playing, hits Record and does very little post-processing.

I expect Albini regards the word 'producer' as having negative connotations, as this is associated with mixing-desk-as-instrument, creation of multilayered sound-world greatly distanced from live-band- in-room, and other Carduccian sins. Also, in his indie world, 'producer' often means 'shill for big record company'.

I'm not making a judgement on any of this, but that's how I interpret his stance. (Someone will now refer me to an online article Why I'm Not A Fuckin' Producer by S Albini, which makes the above look silly).

― Michael Jones, Sunday, 13 January 2002 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

i liked it best when steve albini produced a rabbit out of a top hat

― bob snoom, Monday, 14 January 2002 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

PJ Harvey's "Rid of Me", obviously.

I second that. I thought his much-praised job on In Utero was an utter hatchet job.

― Lord Custos, Monday, 14 January 2002 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

two weeks pass...

has to be Pod - good call. brutal album. I'd love to hear the whole Nina Nastasia album though. but how to get a copy?

― gram steele, Wednesday, 30 January 2002 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Pod, Rid of Me, Goat. . . Hell yeah. Who started this thing? Are y'all Music Engineering students or somethin? People keep talkin bout Theses and shit. Fuck that. Theses about Steve Albini are for lazy ass gossipers. I vote Goat!

ROCK ON

― mr john cory, Friday, 1 February 2002 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Slapping Pythagoras by Tony Conrad. And hes worked on some other great O'Rourke related stuff but i can't remember which ones off the top of my head.

― hamish, Friday, 1 February 2002 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

The first Storm and Stress record, especially the golf club slashing through the bottle.

― Colin Meeder, Friday, 1 February 2002 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

he has yet to produce his best album

― slop e. phil, Thursday, 7 February 2002 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Albini 'records', rather than 'produces', which would imply imposing his own opinions on structure, arrangement etc. This neatly allows him to get away with ruining potentially brilliant records (such as 'Rid Of Me') by shifting the blame for any inadequacies onto the artist. Though I'm sure he's a diamond geezer, loves his old mum etc etc.

― Snotty Moore, Saturday, 9 February 2002 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

I am DEAD excited about the record of my local band DeadManRay being produced/fucked up/recorded by Steve Albini.

― helenfordsdale, Saturday, 9 February 2002 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

I want this thread to end. The best record produced by Steve Albini is, in fact, Blow It Out Your Ass, because it is the most funny. It has been comitted to film. End of thread.

― JM, Saturday, 9 February 2002 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Silkworm-Firewater.

― BGB, Wednesday, 13 February 2002 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

My local charity shop has a CD he produced for Cordelia's Dad, anyone know anything about them? Is it worth £2.10?

― Billy Dods, Wednesday, 13 February 2002 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

If the album you're talking about is this one, Ned seems to think so.

― Sean Carruthers, Wednesday, 13 February 2002 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Floging Molly is the best steve albini produced album.

― chaki, Wednesday, 13 February 2002 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Flogging Molly are idiots who should be killed while I dance a merry jig on their grave. HA FUCKING HA.

And yes, that Cordelia's Dad album is a good 'un.

― Ned Raggett, Wednesday, 13 February 2002 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Blow It Out Your Ass is DEAD SERIOUS, people. Jimmy's hitting the crack pipe.

― David Raposa, Wednesday, 13 February 2002 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Don't be acting like you know me.

― JM, Wednesday, 13 February 2002 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

wow ned. thats harsh.

― chaki, Thursday, 14 February 2002 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

I first encountered Flogging Molly opening for the godlike Rocket From the Crypt a couple of years back. That was more than enough exposure to them for an entire lifetime.

― Ned Raggett, Thursday, 14 February 2002 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Well, not the best, but a good one: 18th Dye "tribute to a bus" -- sort of a Pixies meets Belle & Sebastian kind of beast (well, Belle & Sebastian as a fetus).

― Tim DiGravina, Thursday, 14 February 2002 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

but THAT DRUM SOUND!

― chaki, Thursday, 14 February 2002 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

three months pass...

The lack of positive Jesus Lizard comments on this thread is flatly appalling and demonstrates just how many of the posters on this board know about the engineer in whose ass you so willingly plant your tongues. Everything Albini worked on with the Jesus Lizard, up to and including "Down," demonstrates a rare and uncompromising commitment to a raw and unvarnished sound that has found comparable pedigree in few other recordings. One such recording is the Breeder's "Pod," once a phenomenal bad sound is, I'm sure, closer to the idiom of the majority of the posters to this board that the Jesus Lizard might have been. I would also say that Unsane's "Vandal-X"/"Streetsweeper" single certainly represents from the opposite end of the spectrum. (Extra Unsane geek points -- seek out the version of "Bath" from the same session.) From an engineering perspective, I'd nominate Shellac's "At Action Park" as well. Slint's "Tweeze" is decent, but considering that it was early work and considered to be a demo, it's like judging the author of GRAVITY'S RAINBOW on something in SLOW LEARNER, which would be a mistake that I wouldn't be so unwise as to make.

― Aquaboy Bohnen, Saturday, 25 May 2002 00:00 (twenty-two years ago)

Aquaboy, might I suggest reading the g'd dang thread first?
Jesus Lizard's Goat is the correct answer. Thanks to all for participating.
-- PMcPine (kbrotz99@hotmail.com), December 26, 2001.
I myself disagree though.

― cuba libre (nathalie), Saturday, 25 May 2002 00:00 (twenty-two years ago)

all 'pod' votes are hereby nullified in light of the qualification "not including anything done by any of the Pixies"

― Ron, Saturday, 25 May 2002 00:00 (twenty-two years ago)

Bohnen? As in John Bohnen? Or is Aquaboy your real name?

― Roland, Saturday, 25 May 2002 00:00 (twenty-two years ago)

two months pass...

The Jesus Lizard's "Goat" and "Liar". "Rid of Me" is phenomenal as well.

― JPK, Wednesday, 31 July 2002 00:00 (twenty-two years ago)

two months pass...

The first two Shellac seven inches and "Action Park" completely blew my mind. The Jesus Lizard albums are just as amazing.

I also love the sound on the first two Silkworm full lengths when they were a four piece.

The question might be where did it not work? Fugazi never released the sessions they did and Guided By Voices ended up reworking with the tapes they cut with Albini, maybe this was because the performances wasn't cutting or the sound, I don't know.

― earlnash, Thursday, 10 October 2002 03:30 (twenty-two years ago)

i find it very exciting that the answer to my question about what band did the EP in question was answered with the google "blow it out your ass albini".

― Dave M. (rotten03), Thursday, 10 October 2002 05:22 (twenty-two years ago)

I'd say Jesus Lizard's Goat and Low's Things We Lost In the Fire. I'll have to listen to In Utero again... pretty much avoided it since you know who died...

― Pete Scholtes, Thursday, 10 October 2002 07:20 (twenty-two years ago)

No contest here:

DON CABALLERO - "American Don".

(The sound is great of course, but it's musically that this album dwarfs its stablemates.)

― James Larcombe, Thursday, 10 October 2002 09:22 (twenty-two years ago)

i forgot albini produced. yeah that's fucking great one!

― Julio Desouza (jdesouza), Thursday, 10 October 2002 09:34 (twenty-two years ago)

one year passes...

R.L. Stein to record with Steve Albini???!??!
IP: 205.188.116.203
Posted on May 4, 2004 at 01:06:03 PM by Noise Nerd

Are the rumors true? Is R.L. Stein to record with Steve Albini???!??!

― GET TO THA' (PRICE) CHOPPA!!!!!!!! ROFFLE!!!!!!!! (ex machina), Wednesday, 5 May 2004 02:39 (twenty-one years ago)

woah.

that's some hot shit.

ask REN and NEWTON.

― Ian Johnson (orion), Wednesday, 5 May 2004 04:28 (twenty-one years ago)

viva last blues

― roxymuzak (roxymuzak), Wednesday, 5 May 2004 04:29 (twenty-one years ago)

i am listening to viva last blues! i don't know if it really tops those jesus lizard albums, though.

― Ian Johnson (orion), Wednesday, 5 May 2004 04:35 (twenty-one years ago)

IAN THAT WAS ON THE BREATHMINT BOARD WE SHOULD TROLL THERE

― GET TO THA' (PRICE) CHOPPA!!!!!!!! ROFFLE!!!!!!!! (ex machina), Wednesday, 5 May 2004 04:45 (twenty-one years ago)

That new Electrelane album he did sounds great, by the way.

― Tim Ellison, Wednesday, 5 May 2004 06:30 (twenty-one years ago)

one year passes...

Bedhead - Transaction de Novo

― KPH, Friday, 6 May 2005 16:31 (twenty years ago)

The correct answer is: Tad, Salt Lick.

― pdf (Phil Freeman), Friday, 6 May 2005 16:35 (twenty years ago)

Electrelane's The Power Out.

― kornrulez6969 (TCBeing), Friday, 6 May 2005 18:22 (twenty years ago)

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