Music Topic 4) Best Produced Local Albums

[bassist_25]

Alright, I have some free time, so let's go for four. This really isn't a favorite local album thread - though you're favorite might be really well-produced. This is kinda the opposite of the bad demo thread. So let's hear what you think the best-produced local albums are. For me...

Worryknot (Michael Hughes) - Under Trees - I think that this is one of the best all-time produced local albums. The production is flawless. I love albums that you can listen to again and again and hear something new. This album does exactly just that.

Stept On - Lonely - What can I say? It's a local classic. Very professionally produced:
Well produced vocals: Check
Professional drum sound: Check
Matt Day's bad-ass guitar tone: Check
Adam's full-bodied Warwick sound: Check
Well written songs that have hooks and don't all sound the same: Check

The Grimm - Resurruption - I'm consistently impressed with the production on this disc. I've told Kent that personally. It's great that a band did a concept album without it coming off cheesy or pretentious

Alright, those are my top three. I'd really like to hear from 313 on this. I think he's familiar with every basement demo released by every band after 1930. LOL

Edit: almost forgot

Felix and the Hurricanes - Travelers Not Forgotten - I think that Dave at Data Music really hit a homerun with this one. Professional quality and album but not over-produced. The guys really produced an honest album with this one, and I always thought that it was a very accurate reflection of what Felix, Jeff, and Bobby are all about.

[Merge]

Another fine thread, lol. I can't really comment on albums that bands from PA have released, I'm not all that familiar with the original acts up that way. In my area (western Maryland), I honestly think that our 2nd album is the best produced album. I might be a little biased, but I've heard most of the CD's that original acts in this area have released and I still think ours sounds better than any of the others. We have some songs on our Myspace page, maybe some of the other members on here can take a listen and let me know what they think. The link is www.myspace.com/merge1 . I think, if a band is going to record a CD for the purpose of promotion, it's important to spend the money and do it right. Just because you know someone that has a laptop with some recording software doesn't mean that they can produce CD quality recordings.

[mourekick]

Stept On! That CD kicks ASS!! Dawg and I just listened to the whole album when I filled in for Vs. The Earth a few months back.

[IN-BASS]

Wow ! Thanks guys. Recording the Lonely album was one of the best experiences of my life. I'm glad to hear that all of the hard work, time and money that we spent putting that album together was appreciated.

[DrumAndDestroy]

I don't know if this is crass commercialism or not since I play drums in this band, but, "Therapy for Retards" by the Scraps does it for me.

That was my first 'real' studio experience. The final product was simply amazing.

Mr. Small's studio turned our sloppy, drunk punk stuff into music that a lot of people really seem to enjoy.

Don't take my word for it either...just take one listen to the latest Maruaders CD. They did theirs at Mr. Small's too.

[rreihart]

Every Coinmonster CD. Bill Dodd at Mud Hut Studios (Sharon, PA) is the man.

He also did a very nice job with Flord's second disc, The Next Level.

[xero380]

Vs. The Earth's current album sounds good

And not because I was part of this band playing drums, but when I recorded with FAYTED in 2005 at Precision Audioworks. That was a great sounding disc seeing as how it came from New Kensington of all places. Mike from there is great with mixing. Interestingly enough never knew before we got there that he did work for Richard Marxx and was currently at the time also doing some work for Fuel, The Clarks, and the Hot Zippo Tour bands. www.precisionaudioworks.com

[ToonaRockGuy]

I have to put up a nod to Inside Out's self-titled CD, back before Jason and Dave left the band. Great CD full of hooks and recorded in a completely professional manner. Great job.

Others for me:
"Travellers Not Forgotten" - Felix And The Hurricanes
"A Different Kind Of Blues" - Fat Vinny & The Wiseguys

And because I'm biased...

All the old Bashful records.

[Jim Price]

Since I get to hear mostly all the local CD's that come down the pike, I can echo a number of the albums already mentioned. Stept On's Lonely definitely came to my mind right off the bat; totally kicked ass! I also agree with The Grimm's Resurruption, both Inside Out albums, Fayted's CD, the Hurricanes' and Fat Vinny CD's, also Wine Of Nails' On and Beyond. More recently, I think two very well-produced local albums are 4 Days Dirty's Raise Your Hand...If You Feel Like Dying, and John Charney's solo album, Be Water. The latter is one of those albums where you hear something new every time you listen to it.

There are a lot of good-sounding local/regional albums out there, I just referenced a few.

Overall, the quality of recordings has improved dramatically from when I first started doing the "Backyard Rocker" in 1998 to now. It's rare any more that I receive anything that's not at least close to broadcast quality. Recording technology has become more commonplace and affordable, and even a lot of home studio-produced stuff sounds pretty good.

[313]

Some of my picks:

Ask A Stranger "Stranger Things Have Happened" recorded at Rick Witkowski's studio in Weirton, WV

Blaz-On "In Our Spare Time"
Triple X "Bang"
Bashful "Time Will Tell" (one of my all-time faves)

[313]

I'd really like to hear from 313 on this. I think he's familiar with every basement demo released by every band after 1930. LOL

Alright Paul, here are some demos/45's/LPs from further back that I thought were very well done - especially given the technology of the era:

--Nitro "Lethal" from 1982. Very raw, but works perfectly!
--Brass Tactics "By Silence Betrayed" fro State College circa 1988
--Full Moon s/t LP from 1980. It has since been remastered, but original is still great.
--John Crispino "Bad Night" 45 RPM form 1981. Received some airplay on WDVE, which was rare for the locals back then.
--The Front "Girl Like You" 45 RPM from 1980. Well done, & was regional radio hit.
-- Lyssa "One Shot Five" demo from State College. I think that one of the Slammer guys produced this one.
--Inside Out s/t CD from 1993. Great recording, someone else already mentioned
-- Resistance s/t LP from 1979. Produced by Norm Nardini
--Slammer "Demo-Lition" demo from 1987 and...
--Slammer "Breakout" demo from 1988
--Torn & Frayed "Bad Juju" demo from 1993. Great recording.
--Valhalla s/t LP from 1984. Still highly sought after LP from Pgh.
--Moore or Less "Crying for Love" 1977, 45 RPM from Clearfield.
--Metropolis LP from 1981 (Chambersburg)
--Seance s/t from 1991

[bfoust]

I just want to re-iterate that "Lonely" is a kickass CD. My dad, brother, and I all think so!

The newest Vs. The Earth CD is pretty damn good sound-wise. At least, from a non-musician..

[Team Transylvania]

Where can i hear the Stept On Lonely cd? I heard one of theirs and wasnt really into it, but i dont think it was that one. can anyone make me a copy?

[Bag]

Harpo's demo sounded awesome back in the day. Dirty Looks' too.

[bassist_25]

Where can i hear the Stept On Lonely cd? I heard one of theirs and wasnt really into it, but i dont think it was that one. can anyone make me a copy?

Someone put up some tracks at http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fu ... D=90716603

Even if it's not your thing, the quality of the recordings and the band can't be denied.

[Team Transylvania]

Yeah, its recorded really well. Thanks for posting the link, dude.

[Chris]

OK -I have to ask here... Does this thread refer to music that has been recorded locally or just if the band is from the local vicinity?

Just curious, since no one had mentioned the Edison album from '97. I'm biased on that one, but I think it came out sounding pretty damned good. We just didn't record it locally. We got to spend time at Oz studios in Baltimore and then master it in NYC at Masterdisk.

Some great experiences...

[Just A Phase]

I love the Edison CD. I still listen to it monthly when it comes up on my IPOD. Way ahead of its time.

[Plastered Bastards]

Anything that The Insignificant did.I am biased because I was in that band for a loooooong time.