Steve Albini Discussion Thread
 

Musical Genius? Sexist Asshole? More-Punk-Than-Thou Prick?

How about all of the above.

Actually, I can't verify the sexist asshole tag.

L Dopa fix me, alright?

I love Steve Albini's work, not sure that I'd get along with him too well though.

I think Steve Albini's musical output is staggeringly and consistantly great.

I think that his relative modest output over such a long period may have something to do with this.

As I've probably said on numerous occassions, ATP in 2002 (curated by Shellac) was one of the best weekends of my life (pre-children). For three days in a row, I got out of bed, had breakfast, went for a walk on the beach, and then went to see Shellac play (they opened each day).

As Shakin' Stevens said, describing Alan Partridge's autobiogorphy: 'lovely stuff'.

I get so sick of listening to his down-to-earth self-righteousness when he's being interviewed. As a teenager he might've got away with it, but the guy has to be in his 40s now. His attitude actually puts me off of wanting to listen to what he does in the studio these days.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=WV3yF5xKXaQ
haha!
He produces mostly great albums. Big Black and Rapeman are both good.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dUj99b-eQhg
Pretty cool Touch and Go doc.

I think the Rapeman album is possibly the best thing he's done.

For sure. Pookie, I thought you might be interested in a Rapeman show I just upped
http://www.sendspace.com/file/8gj7sm

I feel sorry for you :(

Great, thanks. I'll give this a go when I'm not at work.

Albini is a musician with high principles. People with high principles are very rarely popular, but that doesn't stop him from being a fucking great musician.

I think we should all start judging musicians on their behavior rather than their music. Yes, this sounds like an exceptionally bright idea to me.

He seems like my kinda guy.
Big Black are hit and miss, not as great as everyone makes out but still good. Never heard Shellac. Obviously a productive worker in studio, he probably gets too much credance as an engineer though i like the term, it makes sense as a description of what a third party should do with the sound of an album.
I can imagine enjoying a good beer with the fella... even though he doesnt drink, but oh well.

isnt he married? To a female

he's made some of the best rock music ever and i don't understand why people get so riled by him

Took the words out of my mouth.

Last I heard in an interview about a year ago it said that he has a girlfriend, and they've been going out for years. He said something around the lines of not feeling like he wanted to get married so they haven't

marc P interview, right?:cool:
i wouldnt buy any record that he recorded simply because he will record anybody that pays him. so its not like he only records good artists...
other than that hes great. love big black, have heard a little bit of shellac, and thought they are pretty good...
rich mans 8 track tape, is one of my favorite albums

steve compares the harmonic perculator to some copiees of it

http://www.gearwire.com/bp1-albini-comparison.html
http://www.gearwire.com/pussy-fuzz-albini.html

a woohoo!

He's great. Met him. Great guy. Love his work.

I'll never ever understand, after all these years, why certain people still go on and on and on, like a broken record, about Steve Albini's misogyny or sexism when it's obvious that he is neither and in Big Black/Rapeman and Shellac has produced some formidable music, not to mention that he often makes mediocre bands sound more appealing.If he was so misogynistic and sexist, why would he produce Electrelane, who are an all girl-band and in various interviews said that he was a great guy to work with, etc etc?

I haven't got any Rapeman, sinful I know, I know. But I love Shellac and Big Black.

I'm starting to think people are basing it on some of his lyrics content such as Kim Gordons Panties.

Oh, i see.

get 2 nuns and a pack mule. its awesome

whats the difference between steve albini and hitler?










the moustache.

One was a killer and the other one makes killer music.The only thing that doesn't make them any different from each other is that both of them have/had plans and stick/stuck to them with serious intent.

Before people slag Albini off, I recommend that they read PunkPlanet's interview with him from a few years ago, reprinted in the "We Owe You Nothing" anthology. He seems a pretty damn decent, sincere guy to me.

i like and dislike him in equal measure. some of the stuff he has done is really amazing but some of it i find kinda dull.

And, anyway, what has the fact that he charges this or that for producing a record got to do with anything?He's not exactly someone who started messing about with knobs 3 hours ago, you know?

I admire the fact that he looks upon his recording sideline in a totally business sense, not as art of some sort. He makes a point of saying that he's not a producer, he just uses the skills that he has as a recording engineer to make as good a recording as possible of what a band plays in the studio. He doesn't try to influence the band's style or act as an conciliator if there are disagreements with the band he's recording, he just records what they play. You record with Albini, you know that you're not going to get your tapes back and find the producer has dubbed a horn part onto your recording or something dumb like that.

He and the other staff at Electrical Audio all wear workmens' overalls while they're working: "Workmens' clothes for men doing a job of work". To me, that's cool.

shellac are one of the most ripped off bands i can think of. well they are in leeds anyway.

i've seen a few leeds bands play in london supporting other bands and they all sounded a bit like shellac in one way or "t'other"

Good use of northern vernacular. Good one.

Steve Albini and his crew have the greatest sound to my taste. I really like what they got from an amp, guitar, bass, drums etc. I like their work from many years and I like them more year by year!

LONG LIFE TO SIR STEVE!!

well I did very long discussion about ALBINI'S RECORDING with friends but is not easy to spk about it thru a keyboard and I think KEYBOARDS aren't an ALBINI's thing haahah

Rapeman, shellac and big black are all great, what other bands has he been in?
He's also produced some top bands, slint, don cab, dis-, man or astroman? etc... He has put a lot of hard work into music, for a long time. to be fair, i've never really read his lyrics, but i have read interviews with him and he seems OK...But if he's cool or an arsehole he's done a lot of good for music!

haha.

Make music as good as he has and then talk.For the time being......just chat.