Albums with outstanding production

[Tom]

It seems like 15-20% of the traffic on PE is (mostly negative) comments on production. I won't bore you with examples, just click on a random thread to find them.

So, what albums have actively good production, that really brings out the music? This thread isn't so much about great albums, as albums whose production lets them "be all they can be."

A couple examples to kick off:

Procol Harum, A Salty Dog (1969). Clear, spacious, slightly sweet sound. It's an easier task because the music is not extremely dense, but every note has its own life.

Queensryche, Operation: Mindcrime (1988). Yes, it's barely prog at all. I think compression leads to some loss of musicality; but this actually makes the sound more emphatic -- a declaration free from hesitation or doubt.

[JKL2000]

I always notice Marillion albums as being ones that definitely don't give in to the volume wars - you often have to crank them to hear everything, and it feels more like you're in control.

Djam Karet goes to great (or easier?) lengths to deliver a live in the studio sound. I definitely feel like there's nothing between me and the music when I listen to their releases.

Dare I say the new Steven Wilson album has that quality too? If I crank it, it's because I want to crank it. Everything seems perfectly balanced.

[Frankh]

It seems like 15-20% of the traffic on PE is (mostly negative) comments on production. I won't bore you with examples, just click on a random thread to find them.

So, what albums have actively good production, that really brings out the music? This thread isn't so much about great albums, as albums whose production lets them "be all they can be."

A couple examples to kick off:

Procol Harum, A Salty Dog (1969). Clear, spacious, slightly sweet sound. It's an easier task because the music is not extremely dense, but every note has its own life.

Queensryche, Operation: Mindcrime (1988). Yes, it's barely prog at all. I think compression leads to some loss of musicality; but this actually makes the sound more emphatic -- a declaration free from hesitation or doubt.

This, a poorly produced post.







I kid, I kid!!! It's fine, really. Really it is...

[Tom]

Djam Karet goes to great (or easier?) lengths to deliver a live in the studio sound. I definitely feel like there's nothing between me and the music when I listen to their releases.

I love Djam Karet -- compare my avatar with https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PuoI-LM5fiM#t=05m55s -- but I think their production is subpar. The deep bass is too weak on tracks where it should shine ("Burning the Hard City" and especially "Lights over Roswell"), and the drum sound is lifeless. Comparing "A Sailor's Tale" (KC 1971) to "Going Home" (DK 2001), you can't help being struck my how much more alive the former sounds.

I don't think Djam Karet is famous enough to get the SW remix treatment, alas.

[alucard]

Beatles : Abbey Road (George Martin)
Beach Boys : Pet Sounds (Brian Wilson)
Bob Dylan : Blonde On Blonde (Bob Johnston)
Yes : Close to the edge (Eddie Offord)
Genesis : Selling England (John Burns)
Gentle Giant : Free Hand (Gentle Giant)
Utopia : Ra (Todd Rundgren)
Clash : London Calling (Guy Stevens)
Joy Division : Closer (Martin Hannett)

[battema]

Massive Attack - Mezzanine

[Tom]

Yes : Close to the edge (Eddie Offord)

Really? I would honestly say the production here is average at best. Though it shines by comparison to the catastrophic mis-mastering of Fragile.

[walt]

Baba Scholae-69(1969)

[Kcrimso]

Mike Oldfield: Amarok

[at least 100 dead]

Roxy Music - Avalon

[noisynoise]

Tears for Fears - The Seeds of Love

[at least 100 dead]

Oxbow - Thin Black Duke

[bill g]

Mike Oldfield: Amarok

Absolutely.

Also:

Prefab Sprout - Jordan: The Comeback
Fleet Foxes - Crack Up
Sally Oldfield - Water Bearer
Anthony Phillips - The Geese & The Ghost
David Gilmour - On An Island
Stereolab - Dots & Loops
Big Big Train - English Electric (Full Power), Folklore

[Dave (in MA)]

Roxy Music - Avalon

I always thought it seemed a bit weak on the low end.

[at least 100 dead]

I always thought it seemed a bit weak on the low end.

I never noticed that myself. What I admire about Avalon is that you can pick out every instrument on every track; there are many layers, but it's never cluttered or claustrophobia-inducing. The drums sound great too.

[Tom]

Mike Oldfield: Amarok

Amarok is a real treat, with a ton of sonic goodies. Also, Oldfield seems to have cured the high-end shrillness that afflicts both finales in Ommadawn.

As an aside: the overall narrative of Amarok is our protagonist wandering around a vast hall full of other musicians, looking for themes to develop together. E.g. at 18:00 while he is pausing to brush his teeth, the electric guitar player jumps in through the window. At 32:30 his bandmates flee and he is left alone, wondering "Where did everybody go?" And then finding out.

[at least 100 dead]

One of best anti-productions, though, has got to be The Fall's Dragnet. It's not even low-fi. I don't know what it is, but it's gloriously fucked up.

Bob Drake likes to deliberately screw up some of his recordings as well by recording outside with defective equipment...it's hilarious. Of course, he also does audiophile productions, if he feels like it.

[Lopez]

Not prog at all, but I'll submit Save for a Rainy Day (1966) by Jan & Dean. Though Jan had nothing to do with it, it shows how much studio craft Dean learned from Jan and friend Brian Wilson. Dean used the then little-known Chamberlin to simulate orchestrations and even when he did swap out the Chamberlin (in the demos) for a real orchestra (in the final cuts), he mixed it way back (on one of the tape's four tracks) so it sounded like a Chamberlin.

[the winter tree]

Shreikbacks's "Oil and Gold"
David Sylvian's "Gone To Earth" and "Secrets of the Beehive"

I'm also usually very impressed by almost anything recorded and produced the Rupert Hine/Stephen W. Taylor team.

[Jerjo]

Here's an obvious one:

Supertramp - Crime of the Century

[Tom]

Here's an obvious one:

Supertramp - Crime of the Century

Yes, and the albums after that. It's a shame about their first album, which had beautiful compositions but thin arrangements and mediocre production. Did they ever do that early material live, later on?

[battema]

One of best anti-productions, though, has got to be The Fall's Dragnet. It's not even low-fi. I don't know what it is, but it's gloriously fucked up.

Bob Drake likes to deliberately screw up some of his recordings as well by recording outside with defective equipment...it's hilarious. Of course, he also does audiophile productions, if he feels like it.

If we're going that route, then nothing but deafeningly shrill love for Ulver's Nattens Madrigal

[TheH]

Baba Scholae-69(1969)

Yes, this one almost sounds to good to be really from '69

[TheH]

Early Iona albums sound near perfect, considering they are almost private releases.

[at least 100 dead]

If we're going that route, then nothing but deafeningly shrill love for Ulver's Nattens Madrigal

I'm checking that out on YT right now. Man, this makes "And Justice for All" sound like one of Bill Laswell's dub projects.