Gone further down hill: Steve Albini or Calvin Johnson?

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Note that I don't mean to take Albini's production/engineering career into account.

But my vote goes for Johnson. Halo Benders? Dub Narcotic? Bleh. (His solo record isn't too bad, though.)

― Ian Johnson (orion), Wednesday, 16 October 2002 22:43 (twenty-three years ago)

What's wrong with Shellac?

But Calvin Johnson.... man... I tricked him into thinking there was a new Minor Threat LP coming out.

― Jonathan Williams (ex machina), Wednesday, 16 October 2002 23:37 (twenty-three years ago)

Shellac get pretty boring. I think there are only two Shellac songs that rank up with his best Big Black work. (those being Prayer To God and Billiard Player Song)

And Rapeman aren't anything to write home about either.

― Ian Johnson (orion), Wednesday, 16 October 2002 23:59 (twenty-three years ago)

Halo Benders? Dub Narcotic? Bleh.

I quite like both, myself.

― Phil (phil), Thursday, 17 October 2002 01:35 (twenty-three years ago)

Thumbs up on Halo Benders, down on Dub Narcotic.

― Jody Beth Rosen, Thursday, 17 October 2002 01:37 (twenty-three years ago)

I can understand why Dub Narcotic wouldn't click for a lot of people, but they were really, really, really fun live, so I have fond memories. Nice folks, too.

The Halo Benders album God Don't Make No Junk is ace; it's definitely my favorite stuff from Martsch, and possibly from CJ as well. "Will Work For Food", "Snowfall", "Don't Touch My Bikini" are all great songs. My suitemate used to listen to it on his turntable all the time, and I don't think I ever got tired of it.

― Phil (phil), Thursday, 17 October 2002 01:49 (twenty-three years ago)

calvin johnson didn't have very far to fall.

― keith (keithmcl), Thursday, 17 October 2002 02:08 (twenty-three years ago)

production-wise, I think both are still at the top of their game..

music-wise, I don't like their respective bands much anyways. Shellac's OK, but I can only listen to stuff that aggressive for so long.

Halo Benders rule, but anything else CJ is involved in tends to be hard on my ears..

― tinobeat (tinobeat), Thursday, 17 October 2002 04:02 (twenty-three years ago)

Calvin Johnson's still around and I still love the guy, but clearly the best is behind him, he's coasting now. I actually prefer to listen to Shellac than Big Black, who haven't aged well I fear although part of it is I'm too old to bounce off the walls to "Bad Penny" anymore also. Calvin Johnson comes through town about every year to year and a half with something and I always go and always have fun, but I don't anticipate half as much as I would a Shellac show.

― James Blount (James Blount), Thursday, 17 October 2002 04:15 (twenty-three years ago)

albini because he's made something approaching a listenable album in the past and i don't live in the aftermath of his bizarre teenage petri dish experiment gone awry.

― jess (dubplatestyle), Thursday, 17 October 2002 04:36 (twenty-three years ago)

Wait, was that pro-Albini or pro-Johnson? Cause living in the aftermath of a bizarre teenage petri dish experiment gone awry sounds alright from where I'm sitting (easy sex right? girls with glasses?)

― James Blount (James Blount), Thursday, 17 October 2002 04:40 (twenty-three years ago)

you would think!!

(that damn gina arnold book has lied to me again.)

― jess (dubplatestyle), Thursday, 17 October 2002 04:50 (twenty-three years ago)

I knew a guy who went to Evergreen and the way he described the place was like Columbus describing the natives - 'these people are so innocent and naive, manipulating them will be a cinch'

― James Blount (James Blount), Thursday, 17 October 2002 04:59 (twenty-three years ago)

well, you know james, i do have a woman already who might frown upon "manipulation of the natives."

visually olympia's the greatest city in america for my money (oh HO HO.)

― jess (dubplatestyle), Thursday, 17 October 2002 05:02 (twenty-three years ago)

"manipulation of the natives" - where's Dan Perry when you need him?

― James Blount (James Blount), Thursday, 17 October 2002 05:05 (twenty-three years ago)

although i'm sure any number of tight-sweatered eric the red's have been to these shores already, etc. etc.

― jess (dubplatestyle), Thursday, 17 October 2002 05:07 (twenty-three years ago)

"hey, baby, wanna get native with me" (HO!)

― M Matos (M Matos), Thursday, 17 October 2002 07:03 (twenty-three years ago)

alternately: "I'd like to man those nipulators you've got there, my righteous li'l thang!"

[bows] thank you. thank you very much.

― M Matos (M Matos), Thursday, 17 October 2002 07:05 (twenty-three years ago)

I'd say both of them are still going strong. Calvin's solo album was, to my ears at least, exactly the comeback effort he needed - an album of structured SONGS, not dub experiments or frivolities. Half the album contains the best stuff he's done in years. I've also noticed a resurgence in the K homemade/lo-fi scene - the Blow, the Microphones, Little Wings, etc. are very much in the spirit of the old K cassettes. Haven't heard much of Shellac at all, but Albini still seems to be doing well as a producer.

― Mike Appelstein (mike a), Thursday, 17 October 2002 13:27 (twenty-three years ago)

Love Dub Narcotic. Too funky for some people? Dont know.

Steve never went away baby. NEVER

― David Allen, Thursday, 17 October 2002 13:51 (twenty-three years ago)

calvin johnson didn't have very far to fall.

Agreed on this.

And I've got to side with James: I like Shellac just as much, if not more, than Big Black. Saw Shellac play here in NYC on Saturday -- the best show I've ever seen them play, plus the new stuff was _great_.

― Yancey (ystrickler), Thursday, 17 October 2002 14:11 (twenty-three years ago)

I like Dub Narcotic, but I seriously doubt the problem some people have with them is that they're too funky.

I can't really answer this question, though, as I've been equally indifferent to Albini's stuff all along.

― nabisco (nabisco), Thursday, 17 October 2002 14:37 (twenty-three years ago)

haha i dunno nitsuh, for some people in this town dub narcotic might be that step too far.

― jess (dubplatestyle), Thursday, 17 October 2002 14:40 (twenty-three years ago)

''Shellac get pretty boring. I think there are only two Shellac songs that rank up with his best Big Black work. (those being Prayer To God and Billiard Player Song)
And Rapeman aren't anything to write home about either.''

shellac's last rec was beautiful and rapeman i do like (nothing to do with the name so don't get started).

― Julio Desouza (jdesouza), Thursday, 17 October 2002 14:59 (twenty-three years ago)

good question:

two emotionally retarded manboys very eager to share their opinions...

i'd give albini the edge if only for the bassplaying on that pegboy ep.

― gygax!, Thursday, 17 October 2002 15:22 (twenty-three years ago)

And Rapeman aren't anything to write home about either.

Rapeman is/was easily the best band Albini was in. Then again, I've never heard Just Ducky or Husker Don't or Run Nigger Run, so maybe there's more to investigate.

― hstencil, Thursday, 17 October 2002 16:11 (twenty-three years ago)

random side note: Brian, one of the original Dub Narcotic guys, is now a soundman at various Seattle venues (Chop Suey, The Baltic room). We've shared soundman stories. He usually does sound at the Sunday hip-hop nights at Chop Suey. He seems to be doing fine. *Soooper* friendly guy... (I didn't know about his stint with the band until many conversations later)

― donut bitch (donut), Thursday, 17 October 2002 18:21 (twenty-three years ago)

haha i dunno nitsuh, for some people in this town dub narcotic might be that step too far.

I'm still weirded out by the one time I saw Dub Narcotic (at Yoyo 2001). I think C.O.C.O. was basically Calvin's backing band (zzzzzz) Calvin seems to be the Heino of his generation. Complete, unfazed adoration by his fans... very solid 2x4 posture, rusty quirky dancing style, baritone voice... ("All the girls wanna be me.. all the boys wanna do me"). It was very entertaining, but very bizarre.

― donut bitch (donut), Thursday, 17 October 2002 18:26 (twenty-three years ago)

WHEN I DISGUISE MY BODY IN THE SHAPE OF A PLANE!!!

― Andy K (Andy K), Thursday, 17 October 2002 18:32 (twenty-three years ago)

Calvin also still has K Records, although I dont know what he's releasing on there now. I just remember it as the place that released Modest Mouse in the early days.

― David Allen, Thursday, 17 October 2002 23:25 (twenty-three years ago)

Calvin also still has K Records, although I dont know what he's releasing on there now. I just remember it as the place that released Modest Mouse in the early days.

The most recent Microphones album and the most recent Mirah album, both on K are worth investigating. Incredibly rich lo-fi pop stuff--"The Glow, Part 2" and "Advisory Commitee" respectively.

― Ian Johnson (orion), Thursday, 17 October 2002 23:33 (twenty-three years ago)

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