Steve Albini roasting Steely Dan - turns out he's not a fan...

Jalapeno

I get that SD can be an accquired taste, but if you don't like it why listen, and why the need to publically diss it ?

I don't get Stockhausen or Birtwhistle, but I'll let those that do get on with it without comment.

Creed_Clicks

Litterick said:

Middle-aged man thinks he is punk.

He is punk.

roberty

drofluf said:

Rowby1 said:

A pro engineer/producer mate of mine just commented on one of the Facebook threads about this.

” I guess anything sounds like a lot of effort if you don’t have much input in making a record except providing microphones and asking the band if they liked the take or want to erase over it.”

So that's what producers actually do. I'd always wondered

That is quite reductionist lol

This guy from Brighton went to Albini's studio to study his recording techniques

Long format interview here:



But more interesting is when he puts them to use for a some Nirvana covers and gets as close to the sound of the records as close as you could realistically hope to

Creed_Clicks

axisus said:

Amazing band that have written incredible iconic songs, which feature some of the all time classic guitar solos, gets dissed by some bloke I've never heard of. I'll pass thanks.

You've never heard of him? It's common knowledge in music land who he is. I don't dislike SD, but they are responsible for several cover and original bands where I am from, who sound the same, similar to that band Joe Dart, the bass fella is in. Like 2 hours of "very superstitious" over and over.
I also don't get people slagging off bands in public unless they think one person in the band is a particular C U Next Tuesday.

Pjon

distressed said:

Reverend said:

He's been an in-demand producer for over 30 years  as well as playing in plenty of very influential bands. so it's not like he is an unknown

Not only that, his way of operating business is awesome. From refusing to get royalties for his engineering and producing work, letting bands do their own thing without interferring and forcing his own ideas, to flexible pricing that depends on band's budget. There are only few people like him (Ian MacKaye/Fugazi and Jello Biafra), staying true to their principles and having a decent living off their work.

Presumably he's getting as much work in as possible before the kids realise the name of his second band and cancel him?  

distressed

He's already apologized for that. Fair enough.

https://guitar.com/news/music-news/steve-albini-rapeman-inexcusable-edgelord-shit-offence/

Kebabkid

Reverend said:

Kebabkid said:

distressed said:

Reverend said:

He's been an in-demand producer for over 30 years  as well as playing in plenty of very influential bands. so it's not like he is an unknown

Not only that, his way of operating business is awesome. From refusing to get royalties for his engineering and producing work, letting bands do their own thing without interferring and forcing his own ideas, to flexible pricing that depends on band's budget. There are only few people like him (Ian MacKaye/Fugazi and Jello Biafra), staying true to their principles and having a decent living off their work.

He was paid £2 million for working on the Nirvana album.

Fagen's first solo album, The Nightfly, took a while to finish but came in at just over a million to make.

he was paid $100,000 and studio fees were $24,000. 

@Reverend @distressed - there appear to be conflicting reports about that

"We paid Steve Albini $2 million to produce it," Kurt Cobain slyly added, "only because of we wanted the same sound he got from other bands like Breeders and Pixies. You've probably heard of them." from this
https://www.mtv.com/news/hbnjt9/nirvana-in-utero-20-interview-rare-archive

Reverend

Kebabkid said:

Reverend said:

Kebabkid said:

distressed said:

Reverend said:

He's been an in-demand producer for over 30 years  as well as playing in plenty of very influential bands. so it's not like he is an unknown

Not only that, his way of operating business is awesome. From refusing to get royalties for his engineering and producing work, letting bands do their own thing without interferring and forcing his own ideas, to flexible pricing that depends on band's budget. There are only few people like him (Ian MacKaye/Fugazi and Jello Biafra), staying true to their principles and having a decent living off their work.

He was paid £2 million for working on the Nirvana album.

Fagen's first solo album, The Nightfly, took a while to finish but came in at just over a million to make.

he was paid $100,000 and studio fees were $24,000. 

@Reverend @distressed - there appear to be conflicting reports about that

"We paid Steve Albini $2 million to produce it," Kurt Cobain slyly added, "only because of we wanted the same sound he got from other bands like Breeders and Pixies. You've probably heard of them." from this
https://www.mtv.com/news/hbnjt9/nirvana-in-utero-20-interview-rare-archive

that was Cobain taking the piss. 

roberty

Reverend said:

Kebabkid said:

Reverend said:

Kebabkid said:

distressed said:

Reverend said:

He's been an in-demand producer for over 30 years  as well as playing in plenty of very influential bands. so it's not like he is an unknown

Not only that, his way of operating business is awesome. From refusing to get royalties for his engineering and producing work, letting bands do their own thing without interferring and forcing his own ideas, to flexible pricing that depends on band's budget. There are only few people like him (Ian MacKaye/Fugazi and Jello Biafra), staying true to their principles and having a decent living off their work.

He was paid £2 million for working on the Nirvana album.

Fagen's first solo album, The Nightfly, took a while to finish but came in at just over a million to make.

he was paid $100,000 and studio fees were $24,000. 

@Reverend @distressed - there appear to be conflicting reports about that

"We paid Steve Albini $2 million to produce it," Kurt Cobain slyly added, "only because of we wanted the same sound he got from other bands like Breeders and Pixies. You've probably heard of them." from this
https://www.mtv.com/news/hbnjt9/nirvana-in-utero-20-interview-rare-archive

that was Cobain taking the piss. 

Cobain also told a guitar magazine that he used piano wire on his guitars because he couldn't find guitar strings thick enough

Whitecat

roberty said:

Reverend said:

Kebabkid said:

Reverend said:

Kebabkid said:

distressed said:

Reverend said:

He's been an in-demand producer for over 30 years  as well as playing in plenty of very influential bands. so it's not like he is an unknown

Not only that, his way of operating business is awesome. From refusing to get royalties for his engineering and producing work, letting bands do their own thing without interferring and forcing his own ideas, to flexible pricing that depends on band's budget. There are only few people like him (Ian MacKaye/Fugazi and Jello Biafra), staying true to their principles and having a decent living off their work.

He was paid £2 million for working on the Nirvana album.

Fagen's first solo album, The Nightfly, took a while to finish but came in at just over a million to make.

he was paid $100,000 and studio fees were $24,000. 

@Reverend @distressed - there appear to be conflicting reports about that

"We paid Steve Albini $2 million to produce it," Kurt Cobain slyly added, "only because of we wanted the same sound he got from other bands like Breeders and Pixies. You've probably heard of them." from this
https://www.mtv.com/news/hbnjt9/nirvana-in-utero-20-interview-rare-archive

that was Cobain taking the piss. 

Cobain also told a guitar magazine that he used piano wire on his guitars because he couldn't find guitar strings thick enough

Cobain also swore he didn’t have a gun…

Lodious

Creed_Clicks said:

unless they think one person in the band is a particular C U Next Tuesday.

Which definitely does not apply to SD....there were two of them. 

DiscoStu

I can see both sides. I was a thrash metal kid who totally got in to grunge, but in later life learned to appreciate the stuff I used to hate.
Asking me about Steely Dan at 19 and asking me at 49 are different questions.

The talk box guy in this SD tribute act totally slays me.

Stuckfast

drofluf said:

Rowby1 said:

A pro engineer/producer mate of mine just commented on one of the Facebook threads about this.

” I guess anything sounds like a lot of effort if you don’t have much input in making a record except providing microphones and asking the band if they liked the take or want to erase over it.”

So that's what producers actually do. I'd always wondered

Steve Albini hates being considered a producer. He considers himself an engineer. IIRC he is very dubious about the value of specialist producers, and thinks that the artists themselves are usually the best people to make artistic decisions during the recording process.

Mind you he also says that his records don't have "a Steve Albini sound" whereas to my ears a lot of them clearly do.

 

Johnnyseven

I kind of met Steve Albini once, he's a lot shorter than he looks on the telly.

I love Steve's music and some Steely Dan, is that allowed?