Steve Albini Absolutely Butchered 'Rid of Me'

Screaming Skull · 12.01.2020, 09:47 AM

I've thought this for years and even posted about it here, but Elvis Costello sums it up quite beautifully...

I remember seeing PJ on The Tonight Show. She stood there with just a guitar and did “Rid of Me.” It was like seeing Howlin’ Wolf on Shindig! So great. And then I got the record [Rid of Me], and it was nowhere near as good, but it didn’t matter. For me, the record sounds like shit. That guy [Steve Albini] doesn’t know anything about production. He might be the second-worst producer of a great record after Jimmy Iovine, who totally fucked up [Bruce Springsteen’s] Darkness on the Edge of Town. It sounds like Bruce is in a fucking shoe box full of tissue paper.

https://pitchfork.com/features/5-10-...c-of-his-life/

When I want to listen to 'Rid of Me'-era PJH, I reach for '4-Track Demos' every single time.

Severian · 12.02.2020, 08:23 AM

Never really thought about it but I guess I can see this.
I don’t personally reach for 4-track demos over Rid of Me, but maybe I’ll start.

h8kurdt · 12.02.2020, 08:44 AM

Agreed that rid of me sounds rough. I actually NEVER listen to it I'm that turned off by it. Give me down by the water any day.

100% disagree that he doesn't know anything about production though. First two Pixies albums and In Utero sound incredible no matter how you look at it.

Rob Instigator · 12.02.2020, 09:33 AM

Fuck Elvis Costello.

Rid of Me is a fucking MASTERPIECE.

he should concentrate on his wife's fake jazz career.

Screaming Skull · 12.02.2020, 12:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rob Instigator

Rid of Me is a fucking MASTERPIECE.

The fact is still rises to that level despite Steve Albini choking ALL of the dynamics out of it is amazing. PJ Harvey is an absolute genius. 4 Track Demos crushes Rid of Me.

Screaming Skull · 12.02.2020, 12:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Severian

I don’t personally reach for 4-track demos over Rid of Me, but maybe I’ll start.

Go listen to the 4 Track Demos version of 'Yuri-G'. Turn it WAY up. You're welcome.

Savage Clone · 12.02.2020, 08:13 PM

Elvis Costello still hasn’t found a producer who can make his songs listenable.

Diesel · 12.03.2020, 06:50 AM

Brutal

12.01.2020, 09:47 AM	#1
Screaming Skull children of satan Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 393	I've thought this for years and even posted about it here, but Elvis Costello sums it up quite beautifully... I remember seeing PJ on The Tonight Show. She stood there with just a guitar and did “Rid of Me.” It was like seeing Howlin’ Wolf on Shindig! So great. And then I got the record [Rid of Me], and it was nowhere near as good, but it didn’t matter. For me, the record sounds like shit. That guy [Steve Albini] doesn’t know anything about production. He might be the second-worst producer of a great record after Jimmy Iovine, who totally fucked up [Bruce Springsteen’s] Darkness on the Edge of Town. It sounds like Bruce is in a fucking shoe box full of tissue paper. https://pitchfork.com/features/5-10-...c-of-his-life/ When I want to listen to 'Rid of Me'-era PJH, I reach for '4-Track Demos' every single time.
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12.02.2020, 08:23 AM	#2
Severian invito al cielo Join Date: Feb 2012 Posts: 11,798	Never really thought about it but I guess I can see this. I don’t personally reach for 4-track demos over Rid of Me, but maybe I’ll start.
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12.02.2020, 08:44 AM	#3
h8kurdt invito al cielo Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: In Mulder's Basement room Posts: 5,459	Agreed that rid of me sounds rough. I actually NEVER listen to it I'm that turned off by it. Give me down by the water any day. 100% disagree that he doesn't know anything about production though. First two Pixies albums and In Utero sound incredible no matter how you look at it. __________________ Down with this sort of thing.
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12.02.2020, 09:33 AM	#4
Rob Instigator invito al cielo Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: In the land of the Instigator Posts: 27,991	Fuck Elvis Costello. Rid of Me is a fucking MASTERPIECE. he should concentrate on his wife's fake jazz career. __________________ RXTT's Intellectual Journey - my new blog where I talk about all the books I read.
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12.02.2020, 08:13 PM	#7
Savage Clone invito al cielo Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 11,290	Elvis Costello still hasn’t found a producer who can make his songs listenable.
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12.03.2020, 06:50 AM	#8
Diesel the destroyed room Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 616	Brutal
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