Ask a music scene micro celebrity

[ua1176]

Steve-

one more question if you don't mind. since you're dealing with semi-long term sessions that (as far as i can tell) have a definitive start date and end date....how do you deal with situations where things take longer than planned?

pull a bunch of all-nighters toward the end of the session?

postpone the next clients for a couple days?

postpone the current clients until there's free time available?

always curious about how other people handle this. thanks,

jon

[vibizoom]

I'm a big fan of the Plush record you produced. What was it like working with Liam Hayes? I once heard that all the mistakes were deliberate. Is this true?

Also, if you were a musician of modest means, who had an appreciation for analog recording, what type of multitracker would you use for home recording?

Thanks,
Bob

[nath]

[ QUOTE ]
those aren't lurkers, someone leaked the thread on metafilter. And metafilter... that cmyr guy there, totally different dude. Don't even know that guy. Even a little bit.

[/ QUOTE ]
oh man, i haven't been there in like 4 years, but i used to read MeFi all the time

sorry for the "old internet coot" hijack

[electrical]

[ QUOTE ]
since you're dealing with semi-long term sessions that (as far as i can tell) have a definitive start date and end date....how do you deal with situations where things take longer than planned?

[/ QUOTE ]
I don't let them get that far out of hand. If need be, I'll work a long night, but if I sense that there won't be enough time to finish at the current pace, then I get the band to comprehend and either lighten the work load, schedule more time (usually requires a bit of lead time) or get the band to work quicker. Except in a few rare cases (acts of god, injury, illness, personal tragedy etc.), I wouldn't impose on an upcoming session. I can't justify letting a band's simple lack of preparedness interfere with another session.

In an absolute sense, the budget decides everything. If there's money enough, then nothing is really a problem. If there isn't, then the band gets to make the kind of record their budget allows, and at the pace the budget dictates. If they can't deal with that, then they have bigger problems than finishing their record.

But one way or another, I'm not going to send the band back to Belgium without their record.

[galmost]

This thread [censored] delivers!

What stakes do you play?

Are your screennames public?

How rigged is pokerstars?

You recorded "Icarus" by "The Forms", What do you think of them? Are there any bands you would recommend to a fan of The Forms?

[electrical]

[ QUOTE ]
What stakes do you play?

Are your screennames public?

How rigged is pokerstars?

[/ QUOTE ]
I have played stud online as high as 25-50, but the games are not as good lately, so I stick to 8-16 and smaller. In NLHE, HORSE or PLO8, I try not to have more than a grand or so in play, so I'll play live stakes appropriate for that sort of buy-in (1-2 NL, 3-5 NL, 5-5 NL, up to 8-16 limit), or online I'll 2-table $200 NLHE or a medium stakes stud game and a $200 NLHE game. I haven't been in casinos where they spread stud enough to have a feel for how those games play, but I'd probably take a shot at live stud up to $40-80.

My FT screen name is pretty tricky, "steve albini." Hunt me down.

Stars is probably not too rigged. Live poker is way more rigged.

[ QUOTE ]
You recorded "Icarus" by "The Forms", What do you think of them? Are there any bands you would recommend to a fan of The Forms?

[/ QUOTE ]

If you like the Forms, you will probably like their alter-ego, the Desert Fathers.

[electrical]

[ QUOTE ]
I'm a big fan of the Plush record you produced. What was it like working with Liam Hayes? I once heard that all the mistakes were deliberate. Is this true?

[/ QUOTE ]
That record was made pretty meticulously. Anything on the record was chosen specifically and put there intentionally.

Liam has the spark of genius, but he's a little in the clouds, and he has a lot of philosophical baggage about how he makes his way in the world. It makes it difficult to count on him in any formal way, but every once in a while he does something incredible.

[ QUOTE ]
Also, if you were a musician of modest means, who had an appreciation for analog recording, what type of multitracker would you use for home recording?

[/ QUOTE ]
If you want to build a studio, you can buy an excellent multitrack tape machine for a grand or so, but they are inappropriate for just putzing around. They're a commitment of time and money.

I'd just get a simple 4-track and see how you like it. If you do, then you can move up to more sophisticated gear.

[porcelain]

Steve,

Few things, here -

1. Jessica Hopper/ Stephen Merritt/Song of the South/ "Rockism"....any thoughts?

2. Once when I saw Shellac, there was a technical issue with one of the amps. You took the opportunity to quote (if I remember correctly) a stand-up comedy adage. Something about preparedness and timing? I thought it was funny, and for years I've wished I could remember it. Have any clue what I'm talking about?

[electrical]

[ QUOTE ]
1. Jessica Hopper/ Stephen Merritt/Song of the South/ "Rockism"....any thoughts?

[/ QUOTE ]
Sure.

[ QUOTE ]
2. Once when I saw Shellac, there was a technical issue with one of the amps. You took the opportunity to quote (if I remember correctly) a stand-up comedy adage. Something about preparedness and timing? I thought it was funny, and for years I've wished I could remember it. Have any clue what I'm talking about?

[/ QUOTE ]
Nope.

[cameronw01]

Steve,

you seem to really despise Urge Overkill. I've heard that they're difficult to work with etc. Any stories you'd like to share?

Thanks again,

Cameron