Too much to say. Look him up if you don’t know.
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A significant influence on the music scene, especially in Chicago. Steve could be a handful, but could provide the sound a band sought. It will be interesting to hear what becomes of his Chicago studio Electrical Audio:
I understand forum member @dcm recorded with Steve at some point.
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Wasn’t recorded by him, but met him a couple of times. I know his bandmate Bob Weston better - Bob also a decent producer and has gotten into mastering as well
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He had some funny things to say about Fagan and Becker.
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Could you elaborate. I get the feeling he wasn’t alone in that regard.
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“Christ the amount of human effort wasted to sound like an SNL band warm up.”
“They spent three weeks on the guitar solo…” Three weeks of watching guitar players give it their all while doing bumps and hitting the talkback, “More 'Egyptian” but keep it in the pocket…"
“Music made for the sole purpose of letting the wedding band stretch out a little”
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There used to be a really great recording arts expo every year that sadly went away - I went to it a few times, including once in New Orleans where they did a cool thing and set up a “studio” in a hotel ballroom and recorded a song by Steve Wynn & the Miracle Three live in front of us the audience with a range of producers doing different parts. Steve did basic tracks - drums, bass, gtr. While he was talking about his process he kept dumping all over the “yacht rock sounds” of the 70s/early 80s.
He was immediately followed by a guy who had produced a lot of yacht rock albums back in the day (I forget his name… could it have been Ted Templeman?? Ugh, cant remember). Anyway, that guy was gracious and didn’t take the bait.
Steve had strong opinions.
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A new term to me…
Blue eyed soul, I get that as in Three Dog Night and the Doobie Brothers. Yacht Rock, as possibly soulless, with a de-emphasis on the beat?
Found this to be interesting, Steve’s take on the recording industry, with a quote regarding recording engineers/producersthat jumped out at me:
Tape machines ought to be big and cumbersome and difficult to use, if only to keep the riff-raff out.
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I think the term grew out of this video from back when the internet was more innocent
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After reading the Albini piece John Fogerty, Creedence Clearwater Revival, and Fantasy Records’ Saul Zaentz immediately came to mind.
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Thanks, and now I get it! Yup, George Benson’s Breezin’ in the background. I used the term medicated music, as in quaaludes, in the day.
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It breaks my heart when some people distill the legacy of a boldly independent, free-thinking and confident person to disparaging a few comments (s)he made - sometimes many years or even decades in the past - that they apparently disagree with.
My perspective: If someone speaks their mind publicly in a way that is courageous, fearlessly honest, and doesn’t care whether others have a different view … you’re inevitably going to disagree with that person some or even most of the time.
Yet, regardless of Steve Albini’s provocative opinions on various topics … it’s also possible to focus on his body of work as an engineer, studio builder/owner, sound technician, musician, and kind-hearted and generous friend to many … and celebrate his life as one well-and-fully-lived.
And also … he evolved his thinking and perspective on a great variety of topics over the years, and also had the courage to admit when his earlier stances were not great. I also find that to be very inspirational.
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He did tend to make those comments with some good natured appeal by the way, its not like he was a mean guy - quite the opposite.
The other thing that was so admirable about his opinions were the ones he held about his job - he just wouldn’t take percentages of earnings like most other producers, he got a flat fee - he never thought his contributions to other artists as part of the songwriting effort, more it was the craft of recording and that was included in his fee. Some folks who have worked for and with him continue in that spirit, but most don’t.
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And as I understand, he pushed buttons intentionally, in both his written and verbal comments, and in the music he recorded with his bands. So I guess I shouldn’t be so broken-hearted when some people are activating based on the buttons he pushed. Maybe I over-reacted in my comment above. I think mostly I’m missing and grieving the loss of his presence among us.
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It was a big presence to be sure - he is definitely missed
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I liked Steve. He was a character. We have characters here who I really like.
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