The Power of Independent Polling – A Selection of Steve Albini'ed LPs

Maybe I need to get my ears checked but I feel like almost every song on Pod has a much better-sounding version that's not on Pod: whether on the demos or through live version scattered here or there

Just a friendly reminder that you should vote for your favourite, but if you'd rather pick the best-engineered, that's fine too.

They're all the best-engineered tbf

Rid of Me is a great record but it sounds like shit.

Think I went for Low but could as easily have been ‘Seamonsters’ or Songs:Ohia or ‘Mclusky do Dallas’ or one of the Nina Nastasia records or...

Write-in: Poster Children, Daisychain Reaction.

I cannot BELIEVE Sloy were not included in this poll

"Pop" is a jam!

hah yeah I was being tongue-in-cheek but that one is a banger!

I figured that! tbh I can't really remember the rest of the album, but Sloy will always be fine by me for that one track.

In theory I like Albini a lot, so it's interesting how many of these I don't like as much as other records by the same bands, sound-wise.

I generally prefer the Albini'ed version to its counterparts (In utero over Nevermind, Surfer Rosa over Doolittle), although that may also come down to what the band was aiming for in choosing to work with him.

Albini was the secret ingredient in making GY!BE really good imo, might vote for that if I don't fancy the write-in

BTW you're not a philistine for not having heard of Cheer-Accident but you probably should check out that album

I most certainly will.

I voted for GY!BE. Albini really got the best out of them, somehow.

Will check out Cheer-Accident as well, never heard of them before.

Rid of Me is a great record but it sounds like shit.

McLusky Do Dallas is one of the best albums ever made by anyone.

So, that.

Songs:Ohia for me. One of my all time favourites

I'm tempted to go with In utero because it's the record that turned me on to heavy music forever at the not-so-tender age of 13. But we've all got plenty of time to mull it over – there's much I haven't heard yet, and I'm especially curious about the write-ins.

gastr del sol's mirror repair might be my fav thing not on this list. I've definitely listened to american don the most

voted Ocean Songs, maybe not my #1 favorite Dirty Three record but it's a good one and the record sounds fantastic.

no Silkworm?

― Blues Guitar Solo Heatmap (Free Download) (upper mississippi sh@kedown), Monday, May 27, 2019 11:31 AM (yesterday) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

To my great shame, I've never heard them. Is Firewater a solid starting point?

yes. only issue with firewater is it's pretty long, but i love it

Noted, thanks.

My only addition would be Labradford - Fixed:Context.

I mean he did record The Stooges - The Weirdness, but no-one would vote for that.

Songs About Fucking by a country mile

Maybe I need to get my ears checked but I feel like almost every song on Pod has a much better-sounding version that's not on Pod: whether on the demos or through live version scattered here or there

― think the toledo mud hens but for twitter (Drugs A. Money), Tuesday, May 28, 2019 12:29 AM (eight hours ago)

shortly after posting last night re: Pod I looked up a few Albini interviews re: his own recording career and in two he claimed Pod as his best engineering work.

He loves Britt and he loves Kim. He may be grading on a curve.

Forgot he did ‘Fixed:Context’!

American Don over In Utero

Considering a write in for Tar - Jackson

Don't think I can not vote for In Utero but I re-listened to Goat for the first time in ages recently and that really is a fantastic record.

american don

I’m not really a fan of Albini’s work as “recorder” or however he bills himself. That said his style works well on KEN Mode’s Success.

Songs About Fucking by a country mile

― specific goats my way (Noodle Vague), Tuesday, May 28, 2019 10:51 AM (yesterday) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

Aka I haven't heard most of the list

Lifestyle is another good entry point for Silkworm

Sunn O))) Life Metal would be a good 2019 addition to this list

I considered it, but it struck me as premature. Besides, write-ins count too.

What no STNNNG?!

I'd probably pick "Run To Ruin" or "Ocean Songs" or "Griller" or "Times of Grace" or...

The amazing thing to me about "Rid of Me" is Harvey using the Slint record no one likes as a sonic template, though bless her for doing it

A few years ago, I realized that 30% of my all time fav albums were recorded by Albini, though I don't really care about his core style of Big Black/Jesus Lizard/Don Cab anymore. I'm incredibly fond of his engineering though - Surfer Rosa, Pod, Rid of Me might not be those artists' best writing, but they're my favorite recordings of them, by a good bit. Nina Nastasia is all time for me, and On Leaving is my favorite, also recorded by Albini. Blessed Black wings is probably my favorite album of the 00s, and Esben and the Witch - A New Nature might be my favorite album of the 2010s. The presented choices come down to Pod vs Blessed Black Wings vs Road to Ruin.

I had to force myself not to include Nina Nastasia's entire discography in the core options.

Songs About Fucking by a country mile

― specific goats my way (Noodle Vague), Tuesday, May 28, 2019 10:51 AM (yesterday) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

Aka I haven't heard most of the list

― Blues Guitar Solo Heatmap (Free Download) (upper mississippi sh@kedown), Wednesday, 29 May 2019 12:28 (five hours ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

oh behave

Would add Electrelane's Axes and Edith Frost's Wonder Wonder.

ctrl-f "the ex" 0 results

wtf

good point!

Top 20 according to Stereogum (in 2012):

https://www.stereogum.com/933612/the-top-20-steve-albini-recorded-albums/franchises/list/attachment/steve-albini/

Looking through my notes, I made this list in 2015, I guess waiting for a thread like this. I'd change that order now.

High on Fire - Blessed Black Wings
Joanna Newsom - Ys
Nina Nastasia – On Leaving
Breeders - Pod
Esben & the Witch - A New Nature
PJ Harvey - Dry
Pixies - Surfer Rosa
The Ponys - Celebration Castle
Electrelane – The Power Out
Future of the Left - Travels with Myself and Another
Nina Nastasia – Road to Ruin
Neurosis – Given to the Rising

contemporary bands I'd like to hear stop by Electrical: Ufomammut, Shana Cleveland/La Luz, Goat Girl

Shana Cleveland/La Luz

yes please!

Still haven't made up my mind.

I prefer Last Splash! idk, I think Albini's soundworld works incredibly well for certain artists and others? not-so-much, but I clearly have somewhat of an outlying idea about What's Good, I mean, "Kidnapped By Neptune" would also make my top 5 Albini records but I know everybody here hates that stuff. Flip-side of the coin, I don't care for what Steve Albini does for Nina Nastasia, really

'Tis time for me to catch up with the Albini'ed LPs so many of you have graciously singled out as highlights, and that I haven't heard yet. Cheer-Accident and Tad and others, here I come.

Love both of those - you're in for a treat

Been on a kick listening to a couple of Tar Cds (Jackson & Toast) in the car the past couple of weeks. Still don't know what the heck most of their lyrics are about, but they got cool drums and feedback.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ghzzqQWbb-A

Impossible, but would vote for Firewater because more people need Silkworm in their lives