So I first off have to say that I couldn't stop laughing when you guys were opening for the stooges at the congress recently. I dont know when you guys decided to start [censored] with the audience, but they deserved it and kudos to you for finishing the set.

I too am a vinyl junkie, but things being as they are I was interested in finding out if you will ever mix a release differently for Mp3 given the [censored] [censored] nature of the ipod D to A converter.

BTW you should give the scoutmaster a listen, its a pretty amazing piece of equipment.

LOL at all the lurkers coming out.

Being into the Chicago music scene, I'm sure you have an opinion of Billy Corgan and the Pumpkins. What are your thoughts about the reunion, Billy's solo album (lol), or anything else about them? How have they impacted the music scene in Chicago?

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.

The Didjits were a great band and good friends. My bands got to play with them several times and it was always a hoot. At one point, while I was still running Ruthless Records, I was going to put out the album that became Hey Judester, but luckily for everyone Corey Rusk from Touch and Go got to hear it and agreed to put it out. I worked on Full Nelson Riley, Little Miss Carriage and some other odds-and-ends. They got a well-deserved windfall when the punk band the Offspring covered "Kill Boy Powerhead" on an album that sold in the millions.

The Didjits reunited for the Touch and Go 25th anniversary, and it was like someone stopped the clock on them in the 80s and then started it again for the show. Immaculate.

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

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

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

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.

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?

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.

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

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.

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.

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?

Sure.

Nope.

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

Jeez, all these people with one post asking questions. Don't they know that they can go to the Electrical Audio Forums and ask these questions? They must not. Back to the poker questions!

Thanks for answering my previous questions. I'm pleased to hear that you think Russ is the best LHE player in your regular game, but am surprised that you didn't mention him in the NLHE category especially considering his outstanding NLHE tournament record.

Three more quick questions, if you'd be so kind:

1. Have you ever smooth-called on the river with the nuts when heads-up?

2. Have you ever shot an angle? Even a little one?

3. What are your favorite poker phrases?

Grazie

A couple of questions for you:

1. The new Shellac record is great! I've always wondered, though, how do you keep your objectivity when it comes to your own performances (and bandmates, whom you are close with)? Is it more difficult to do? Or are you capable, or used to, being able to judge properly whether you are happy or not happy with a performance, recording work, mix, with Shellac of North America?

2. I love your work with Low. My band recently recorded with Alan Sparhawk and Eric Swanson in Duluth (at their church/studio) and it was a great experience. One thing that always struck me on those records you did with Low was the string quartet (or more?) sounds -- just beautiful. How in particular did you get those sounds and was it any different then just miking up, sans amp, an acoustic guitar or something like that?

Hi Steve. I'm a big fan. I hope this is really you.

Where did the name Rape Man come from? Was it named after someone specific?

I hear you like baseball. Do you play? Have you ever thought about owning a team? If so, I would like to be the manager, ha ha.

What is your philosophy for playing NLHE against bad, unpredictable players?

Who is the best Swingo player you know? Does he make a lot of money playing it?

Sorry for all the questions. I think I am just nervous or something.

This is a fun diversion from discussing the softness of Florida O8 tables...and oh they are newly-minted-baby-bottom soft...

I saw Rapeman at CBGBs way back in 199X. Jeez is Rey an amazing drummer; he and George Hurley freak me out. At any rate, I saw that you used Dunlop copper picks. I love the things for their durability and the bright kind of sound they help deliver. However, on yours I noticed there was a little snip taken from the tip of the pick so that there were in effect two little points at the tip. Was that something deliberate? If so, why and how did you do it?

And for those who asked getting in to the recording biz, or for folks who are just curious about amateur recording, there's about a bajillion options for noodling around as an amateur. Any Sam Ash will be happy to overcharge you for a casette (or digital) 4 track. Any Mac will have "Garage Band" for free, though the time I've spent with it has been frustration. The Tascam 428 is a nice, cheap option that will allow multitracking. Where you'll realy end up spening $$$ is on mics. Steve, feel free to debunk this free advice...

stereogum.com and metafilter.com have posted links to this thread...interesting

What are some good swingo angle shoots?

Steve,

1. Janet Weiss yes or no? and why.
2. Any stories you can share on your working with Polly Jean Harvey? When Rid of Me came out, she went on record as saying she was pleased with the work you had done. Would you like to work with PJ again?

i read in an interview w/ grant (rudimentary peni) that he and jon laid down some tracks and sent it to you. what has/will ever become of these?
thanx...

awesome thread mr albini.

thanks for the insight.

LOL Homegameaments

Not heads-up. I misread my hand once and smooth called a three-way pot with a straight flush. I thought I had backdoored a one-card flush the 8 when I had actually made a straight flush.

Can't think of one. But this might be an angle right here. Wait, here's one. I was out of position against Devin with some mediocre hand like second pair, and another overcard comes on the river. I said "I check and call." Hoping to get him to reveal the strength of his hand. He obliged by betting about twice the pot, so I folded.

Well, I love hearing "I fold." Just love it. Like pretty music. I like the French term for pushing all-in, "Tapis," meaning "carpet," as though you were emptying your house out down to the carpets in order to bet everything.

There are some poker expressions that are unique to the Tuesday game that I quite like, and deserve to see wider use:

"Shitapes" unskilled players of the type found in low-limit online games and at the casino boats near Chicago. Inspired by a chat-box insult, but appropriate because they jabber and throw their chips in the pot the way monkeys fling their poo.

"Bot" an opening raise to 5x the BB, after a player in the game who would pretend to be a robot calculating the perfect bet. Also, a min-raise following a Bot is a re-Bot.

"Crapass" complaining about the way the cards fell. After another player who would occasionally violently muck his "crapass cards!" Also, complaining about anything is now "crapassing."

"Wizard mode" when a player is passively calling bets on the river, being a pay-off wizard, he is said to be stuck in "Wizard mode." It is also a subtle jab at role-playing gamers, the only class with a higher dork quotient than poker players.