Amazing Production

[DanD]

I'm looking for some albums that sound amazing production-wise. As in, it sonically sounds great. Doesn't necessarily have to be very good musically or even rock or metal for that matter.

Some of my favorites are Dredg's Catch Without Arms and Opeth's Ghost Reveries mainly because of the drums sounds.

[Cocaine]

Mr. Bungle - California
Brian Wilson - Smile

[repcak]

for me most albums have great production, but check out Agalloch

[Angmar]

for me most albums have great production, but check out Agalloch

Agreed

[DanD]

I also forgot about Devin Townsend's Synchestra

All of the layered synths and processing works very well

[Dr. Jake Destructo]

Dude Agalloch albums are horribly produced. Could just be me I guess.


And amazing production is sort of a subjective term. I mean, if you mean amazingly clean and smooth production, then I would suggest some Porcupine Tree, maybe In Absentia. But if you are talking about production that goes amazing with the music, I would point you in the direction of Boris/Michio Kurihara - Rainbow. It's a slightly low fi, crunchy sound that Boris creates anyhow, but it is reflected through the studiowork as well as the music itself.

Portishead is another example of amazing production. The samples were all record on tape players, then mixed into the song, creating a more 'outdated' or 'primitive' sound. Because Dummy the album uses lots of jazzy arrangements, the intentionally lo-fi sound of the samples gives me the feeling that I'm listening to stuff that was lifted off early 50's jazz or something.

EDIT: Thinking about Agalloch again, I think that they shoot for what Boris and Portishead accomplish, creating a unique atmosphere that fits the music, but for some reason it doesn't click with me.

[Angmar]

You honestly think say... The Mantle had horrible production :confused:

[DanD]

I understand and respect albums that have production qualities that add to the overall atmosphere of the whole disk. (Such as Agalloch)

But in this case, I am looking for albums that sound very clean, crisp, as well as having superb dynamic range, i.e. not overly compressed.

feel free to discuss either though

[Dr. Jake Destructo]

AATG was actually the one that stuck out to me as being subpar in that department, yeah.

[Eliminator]

Sonic Youth - Daydream Nation
Dalek - Abandoned Language
Kayo Dot - Choirs of the Eye
Boredoms - Vision Creatin Newsun
Various Production - The World is Gone
Beastie Boys - Paul's Boutique
Jim O'Rourke - Eureka
Time of Orchids - Sarcast While
Scott Walker - The Drift
Yo La Tengo - I Can Hear the Heart Beating as One
GZA - Liquid Swords
Darkspace - Dark Space I
Eluvium - Talk Amongst the Trees
Talking Heads - Remain in Light
Talk Talk - Laughing Stock
The Velvet Underground - White Light/White Heat

Both albums Coke listed have awesome production/engineering too.

[Angmar]

A lot of those are good, especially Kayo Dot and Darkspace.

[eighty d]

Devin Townsend's Synchestra

Yes. Also, Strapping Young Lad - The New Black. Listen to anything Townsend has produced recently on a good sound system. When I listen at one friend's house, parts of Judgement off Synchestra make my shirt move. And there's a bass drop in Antiproduct off The New Black that makes the second floor of his house shake when his system is in the basement.

Muse - Black Holes and Revelations is pretty stellar too. The chorus of Starlight has a really cool high to low back to high sweep. With a decent sub you can watch it slow down to maybe 5-10 Hz.

[Dark_Hero]

Cryptopsy - None So Vile

Best sounding death metal album of its time.

[YouGottaBeCrazy]

Tool's Lateralus

[Shattered_Future]

Really, anything Steve Wilson gets his hands on has superb production. I love the production on Deadwing by Porcupine Tree and Blackwater Park by Opeth the most of his. Crisp and crystal clear.

Once by Nightwish also has very good production in my eyes. The orchestra is balanced out perfectly with all the regular instruments.

If I want a band that has production that enhances the album, I think Resurrection Through Carnage by Bloodbath has the perfect production. It's terrible quality-wise, but the added crunch and poorness perfectly enhance the album.

[Angmar]

I actually hate the production on Resurrection Through Carnage...

[knuckleduster]

As do I. Actually I pretty much dislike everything about that album.

[Shattered_Future]

Really? I love the chainsaw guitars.

[knuckleduster]

Haha, I really can't stand that. I like it a bit more wet. I can't really explain what I mean but thats the only adjective I can think of.

[i am the robots]

The Diplomats, tbh.

Also, I absolutely love the production on Dance Tonight! Revolution Tomorrow! by Orchid, it's just a little fuzzy, and not overproduced, it fits real well.

[Apocalyptic Raids]

Pixies - Surfer Rosa (my favourite production ever)
My Bloody Valentine - Loveless
Portishead - Dummy
Smashing Pumpkins - Siamese Dream
Snoop Dogg - Doggystyle

plus alot of the albums Eliminator mentioned

[Meatplow]

Tom Waits - Mule Variations

Incredible through headphones, i love all the little nuances.

[Shadius]

Radiohead - OK Computer
My Bloody Valentine - Loveless
Talk talk - Laughing Stock

off the top of my head some interestingly produced albums

obviously porcupine trees production is great

i dunno tho, a lot of albums that feature heavy production can be "overproduced" for my tastes, depanding upon the style of music. good production is obviously highly subjective.

[Pete]

A Wilhelm Scream's "Ruiner" has pretty flawless production. I also think Neuraxis' "Trilateral Progression" is impressive in that everything is crisp and audible despite the heaviness.

[beastman168]

CKY - IDR......it seems to fit your description pretty good. great album too

[naboo]

Symphony X - Paradise Lost

[Knifeboy]

65daysofstatic - The Destruction Of Small Ideas

The mastering of this album is a direct response to the LOUDNESS war, and is mastered very quiet, and crisp, so you can crank it, and it'll sound amazing
Love the sound on this album
Very dynamic

[Eliminator]

Haha the loudness war might be the most retarded thing ever.

[thunderzstruck]

Air- Pocket Symphony

[ZapatoDiablo]

If you liked the drum sounds on Ghost Reveries, check out Dark Tranquillity's new album Fiction...the bass drum is nice and pronounced and I think that the snare sounds awesome.

[DanD]

Haha the loudness war might be the most retarded thing ever.

Why is that?

How loud a song/album/whatever is mastered often has a direct affect on its dynamic range.

[Eliminator]

Doesn't bother me.

[thunderzstruck]

Doesn't bother me.

but that doesnt mean its retarded for the people it does bother

[Eliminator]

Did I ever say that?

[Shattered_Future]

If you liked the drum sounds on Ghost Reveries, check out Dark Tranquillity's new album Fiction...the bass drum is nice and pronounced and I think that the snare sounds awesome.

That's actually something I noticed too. I usually never take notice of the drums, but the snare tone on that album is terrific.

[Dark_Hero]

Devin Townsend - Synchestra

[ZapatoDiablo]

There are moments in Synchestra when you really need a subwoofer because he puts in some really loud low frequency sounds. It sounds awesome though if you have the equipment.

[Dr. Jake Destructo]

Good call on Synchestra. The cool thing about that album is that it is uniquely produced, but it also meets the crisp and clean criteria.

[Cain]

I like wall-of-sound washout production probably a lot better than most albums that sound "live," although I'm learning to love that kind of thing.

Ozric Tentacles, New Age music, and post-rock wets my whistle for that kind of stuff, because I love the sound of layering in the studio with loads of tricked-out sounds and ambient noises and stuff. I also love Blackwater Park's production.

As far as having everything more up front but still layered, I rather enjoy Rush's album "Signals."

[thunderzstruck]

Did I ever say that?

Haha the loudness war might be the most retarded thing ever.

you stated it as a fact not as in your opinion that it doesnt bother you

[Riva]

Mike Oldfield - Light + Shade
The Red Paintings - Walls
Therion - Sirius B
Lost Horizon - Awakening The Worlds (I prefer the bass being mixed up slightly higher than is usual in power metal, simply because Martin Furangen is such a beast)

[Eliminator]

you stated it as a fact not as in your opinion that it doesnt bother you

You seriously have to be ****ing retarded to think that.

[thunderzstruck]

You seriously have to be ****ing retarded to think that.

no not really
you didnt imply anywhere in your post that it was just your own personal opinion

[Eliminator]

Haha should I put IMO at the end of every post?

[thunderzstruck]

no but to not come off as an arrogant prick doesnt seem like a bad idea either

btw this tycho stuff you uploaded in triphop is seriously good, thanks

[Deth]

C'mon, his comment was fine. I think you have to try to misconstrue that completely to see him as being arrogant.

[3FingeredHoek]

Devin townsend - Terria
Strapping Young Lad - Alien
Soilwork - Natural Born Chaos
Oceansize - Everyone into Position
A Perfect Circle - Mer de Nom
Lost Horizon - A Flame to the Ground Beneath
Meshuggah - Chaosphere
Sigur Ros - Takk

[tribestros]

Smashing Pumpkins MACHINA sucked.

MACHINA I sucked.
MACHINA II was the worst **** that I'd ever heard production-wise. My old garage band sounded better on tape.

[Det_Nosnip]

I'm looking for some albums that sound amazing production-wise. As in, it sonically sounds great. Doesn't necessarily have to be very good musically or even rock or metal for that matter.

Some of my favorites are Dredg's Catch Without Arms and Opeth's Ghost Reveries mainly because of the drums sounds.

lol. Ghost Reveries had piss poor production and the drums were the worst. WAAY too compressed, toms were too low...yuck.

[i am the robots]

:lol:

The production is not piss poor, there's tons worse.

[Kage]

lol. Ghost Reveries had piss poor production and the drums were the worst. WAAY too compressed, toms were too low...yuck.

Yeah, and the production on Catch Without Arms sucks too.

[Det_Nosnip]

I also love Blackwater Park's production.


My only complaint about that was that Martin's kicks were waaay too low in the mix. Damnation was their best produced album IMO.

[Det_Nosnip]

:lol:

The production is not piss poor, there's tons worse.

You can get worse than piss poor. Either way, I much prefer the sound of something that sounds inferior because it's underproduced than something that sounds like crap because it's overproduced. His parts were sooo awesome on that record, too...

[Knifeboy]

TS likes overproduced albums... to each his own

I don't think Ghost Reveries production is all that bad (the vocals sound great), but I agree that Catch Without Arms production is annoying

[Apocalyptic Raids]

The Red Paintings - Walls
eh, I don't think that has particularly great production. There's certainly nothing wrong with it, but I don't think it's anything spectacular production-wise.

[RiceMonster]

My Bloody Valentine - Loveless

Yes, this. That's probably my favorite production job.

[Det_Nosnip]

TS likes overproduced albums... to each his own
I do too, though...that's the thing. Or, at least, I can appreciate clean production, and generally prefer it to muddy, buzzy, or grim productions.

Nevermore's "Dead Heart in a Dead World" had great production IMO. As far as metal goes, you can't get much better, and Loomis's guitar tone was absolutely killer. Their past few have been well produced, aside from the first edition of Enemies.

This is a random pick (as it's something I haven't listened to in a few years), but Rage Against the Machine's "Evil Empire" had awesome production.

[TojesDolan]

Kayo Dot, in general.

[Cain]

My only complaint about that was that Martin's kicks were waaay too low in the mix. Damnation was their best produced album IMO.

Damnation was rather underproduced, I thought, which was in keeping with its '70s prog vibe.

Stop being so drummer-centric. :p

[Det_Nosnip]

Damnation was rather underproduced, I thought, which was in keeping with its '70s prog vibe.


Yeah, it had a very natural production, which really suited it...but I wouldn't necessarily call it "underproduced."

Stop being so drummer-centric. :p


Loomis's guitar tone was absolutely killer.
Ok, you're right. :D

In all honesty, though, as far as production goes, the drums can make or break an album, and having prominent, clear bass drum tones is crucial to getting a good sounding metal record.

[NemesisDivina]

who likes having bass high in the mix? (Spiral Architect, Cynic, Death- Individual Thought Patterns, etc.)

[TojesDolan]

I do. I like funk-based higer bass, when mixed properly with a nice drum production. Otherwise it's annoying.

[NemesisDivina]

I usually find it to be somewhat obnoxious, but it's very tolerable if there's actually a bassist that can play as good (or better) than the guitarist. Such as... Steve DiGiorgio

[Riva]

I like it when the bassist is a great player who is also non-mastubatory. See Martin Furangen, Steve DiGiorgio.

[Cocaine]

Steve DiGorgio can get pretty obnoxious sometimes.

[Riva]

It's never bothered me in Sadus or Testament, though.

[Cocaine]

It's never bothered me in Sadus or Testament, though.

The latest Sadus it gets a little ridiculous, same with his appearance on the Quo Vadis album but yeah, he's definitely tolerable 99% of the time.

[Riva]

Haven't heard the latest Sadus, so I will be guided by you in this, Tyler.

[Cocaine]

Haven't heard the latest Sadus, so I will be guided by you in this, Tyler.

It's pretty lame so I wouldn't bother anyways

[Dr. Jake Destructo]

This is a random pick (as it's something I haven't listened to in a few years), but Rage Against the Machine's "Evil Empire" had awesome production.

Best production for a RATM album, but it's very raw. I'd reccomend Battle for LA over anything else because their debut is underproduced and while Rick Rubin did produce Renegades, it's just a lackluster album.

[Knifeboy]

I do too, though...that's the thing. Or, at least, I can appreciate clean production, and generally prefer it to muddy, buzzy, or grim productions.


The overproduced sound isn't a "well produced sound".. It's that glossy, sparkly, anoyingly clean production sound

dredg's catch without arms, is a great example of this

[DanD]

I can't understand how an album can be "overproduced"

How can having a clean sound be annoying?

[NemesisDivina]

example: Darkthrone would sound terrible if the production was clean.

[DanD]

example: Darkthrone would sound terrible if the production was clean.

I understand that

I understand and respect albums that have production qualities that add to the overall atmosphere of the whole disk. (Such as Agalloch)

I just don't see how a band like Dredg, who's music benefits greatly from good production values, can be "overproduced"

[Cain]

Yeah, it had a very natural production, which really suited it...but I wouldn't necessarily call it "underproduced."



Ok, you're right. :D

In all honesty, though, as far as production goes, the drums can make or break an album, and having prominent, clear bass drum tones is crucial to getting a good sounding metal record.

My favorite metal bass drum sound is Jayson Sherlock's on "Within the Ancient Forest" by Paramaecium.

[Deth]

I understand that



I just don't see how a band like Dredg, who's music benefits greatly from good production values, can be "overproduced"

Because overproduction leads to a sterile atmosphere and sucks the life out of a recording. Overproducing is cleaning and shining the character out of something.

[Det_Nosnip]

I can't understand how an album can be "overproduced"

How can having a clean sound be annoying?

Applying too many effects to acoustic instruments tends to make them sound fake, as is adding/cutting too many frequences in post production. Cutting out all of the room ambience can result in a "dead" or "flat" sound (e.g: alot of prog metal). Overly-happy compressors kill dynamics and result in an artificial sound.

[Det_Nosnip]

My favorite metal bass drum sound is Jayson Sherlock's on "Within the Ancient Forest" by Paramaecium.

Hmm...haven't heard it/of them. Not sure what sound I would choose for favorite metal bass drum sound...

Martin's tone was decent. Someone just needed to turn the knob up a bit on Blackwater Park. :p I like that the drums weren't too clicky, though...that obnoxious clickiness is one of my biggest pet-peeves.

[Dark_Hero]

Steve DiGorgio can get pretty obnoxious sometimes.
Agreed.

[Shattered_Future]

Yeah, that's what I don't enjoy about a lot of drumming sounds on many metal albums. The bass drums all sound the same, and they don't sound like a damn bass drum.

Ahab, on the other hand, has one of the beastliest bass drum tones ever. The Call Of The Wretched Sea has terrific production. It's unbearably crushing, and makes all the instruments sound so much heavier as a result.

Overproduction...see Heavenseeker by Galloglass. It's too clean for its own good.

[SuperID]

Soft Machine third, and fourth. Cynic as been mentioned also had awesome production. Martyr Warpzone, and Hopeless Hopes had great production. Frank Zappa freakout had awesome production. Actually any really good group has good production in most cases.

[Cocaine]

Cynic's production was only good when they remastered it.

[Josh D.]

Lamb of God - Ashes of the Wake and Metallica's s/t have very good production to me.

Oh, and The Jester Race too.

[Eliminator]

nah.

[SuperID]

You mean like their 2004 remixes and what not?

Cynic

[Josh D.]

EDIT: nvm

[Cocaine]

You mean like their 2004 remixes and what not?

Cynic

No I mean the remastered tracks. The remixes were on the re-release with the remastered ones.

[SuperID]

No I mean the remastered tracks. The remixes were on the re-release with the remastered ones.

Hmm, guess I only heard the remasters then. Im still looking around for their eps. If anyone has them please upload for my listening pleasure.

BTW I thought the remixes sounded like crap.

[Cocaine]

BTW I thought the remixes sounded like crap.
They do but they're entirely separate.

[Apocalyptic Raids]

This is a random pick (as it's something I haven't listened to in a few years), but Rage Against the Machine's "Evil Empire" had awesome production.
Yeah, that's a great one.

[Josh D.]

August Burns Red's Messengers has really good production.

Keep in mind, I don't like all the albums/bands I am posting on here, so take it easy.

Except that first post I made up there.

[DanD]

Another good one is The Flaming Lips' Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots.

On DVD Audio in 5.1 it is sooo badass

[Inkstar]

Tool's Lateralus

This.

Also, Porcupine Tree - In Absentia.

[Kage]

Laterlus' production is pretty thin.

[Apocalyptic Raids]

Another good one is The Flaming Lips' Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots.

On DVD Audio in 5.1 it is sooo badass
Totally. The Soft Bulletin is also excellent in that regard.

[YouGottaBeCrazy]

Laterlus' production is pretty thin.

I was referring more to the dynamic range of the album, which I think is well done. What about its production do you find to be thin?

[i am the robots]

Blut Aus Nord's Decorporation has really awesome production.

[Jude]

Pretty much anything Steven Wilson was involved in at all

[Eliminator]

Brian Eno - Ambient 1: Music for Airports
Joanna Newsom - Ys
Bruce Springsteen - Born to Run
Black Dice - Beaches and Canyons
Shpongle - Tales of the Inexpressible
Tom Waits - Orphans
The Beatles - Revolver
Flying Saucer Attack - Further
Pixies - Surfer Rosa
Merzbow - 1930
Neurosis - Through Silver in Blood
Sigh - Imaginary Sonicscape
Low - Long Division
UNKLE - Psyence Fiction