Album With The Best Production Options

[The Uncreator]

Another interesting question I thought about, what albums do you think have the best production? Which one has the best mix?

I would have to pick Iron Maiden's "A Matter Of Life And Death", every instrument is audible, bass, guitars, drums, and vocals are all layered perfectly. And Between The Buried And Me's "Colors", Not only is every instrument completely and superbly represented in the mix, But each instrument has its moments of utter and undeniable attention that force you to listen and concetrate on them.

[DeepRoots]

[sarcasm] Death Magnetic [/sarcasm]

...but honestly i have no idea- i generally only pick up on production when its really bad- so i guess mostly all the music i listen to is more than adequately mixed.

[Ivan Milenkovic]

I love the production in all 80ties tracks and modern production sounding like that. There were really a lot of creativity in those kinds of mixes. Also I think Hendrix tracks are highly creative as far as production goes (for late 60ties).

[skennington]

Nice topic Brett and since DR mentioned how bad Metallica's last few album's have been mixed, I couldn't help but comment.

There "Black" album, to me, was one of the best I've heard. I like a bassy sound so maybe not for everybody. It rock's hard, not muddy, and you can hear the higher frequencies clear as well. Just my opinion as I've all but abandoned these guys, except for the old school stuff, but think it was wonderfully mastered.

[Rated Htr]

Nice topic Brett and since DR mentioned how bad Metallica's last few album's have been mixed, I couldn't help but comment.

There "Black" album, to me, was one of the best I've heard. I like a bassy sound so maybe not for everybody. It rock's hard, not muddy, and you can hear the higher frequencies clear as well. Just my opinion as I've all but abandoned these guys, except for the old school stuff, but think it was wonderfully mastered.

In October 1990, Metallica entered One on One studio in North Hollywood to record its next album. Bob Rock, who had worked with the bands The Cult, Bon Jovi, and Mötley Crüe, was hired as producer. Metallica (also known as "The Black Album") was remixed three times, cost $1 million, and ended three marriages.


With that money, imagine the mixings...even My band could do a great production...

[Ramiro Delforte]

I think Awake from Dream Theater is really nice mixed and produced.

[Trond Vold]

I've got a few favourites in this deparment!

Metallica - The Black Album
I just love the sound of this album. Everything fits perfectly together.
The guitars are heavy, bassy, dense and crystal clear and the drums are well rounded and powerfull.

Nine Inch Nails - The Downward Spiral
I really cant add anything new about this album that havent really been said. But it's industrial perfection in my ears.

Dream Theater - Awake
This one reminds me a bit about the Black Album actually. The drums seems to have a similar type of reverberation.
Another album where everything fits perfectly together in my opinion.

Strapping Young Lad - The New Black
This album's got one of the coolest recorded guitarsounds i've heard. Crystal-clear uberheavy guitars that sound good even in high BPM. The drums sound seriously cool too!
It's how metal of this genre should sound in my humble opinion

[jdriver]

Pretty much anything engineered and produced by George Massenburg, long time producer for Linda Ronstadt, Little Feat, Randy Newman, Lyle Lovett and many others.

Two great examples: Trio from 1986, a project album with Linda R., Dolly Parton, and Emmylou Harris. Lyle Lovett:Joshua Judges Ruth. Both have nearly perfect recording, and the production is so clean you could eat off of it.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Massenburg

[David Wallimann]

I'll be old school on this one, but Dark Side of the Moon for me is one of the best to this day.

[Emir Hot]

I'll be old school on this one, but Dark Side of the Moon for me is one of the best to this day.

I agree David

I have a couple of more besides

1. Whitesnake - Slip of the Tongue
2. Europe - Prisoners in Paradise
3. some I. Maiden albums

[Mandos]

The Devin Townsend Band - Synchestra is a good example of a very good production. All instruments are crystal clear and it's a pleasure to listen to it.

And I also agree on "The Black Album" and "Awake".

[audiopaal]

A few of the Iron Maiden albums.

Testament - The Formation Of Damnation.

Devin Townsend - Ocean Machine.


And a few others, but they escape me at the moment..

[superize]

I never really pick up theese things when listening.....

I only listened if the song is good or bad

Sometimes i may notice some things bu it is nothing i really think of

[Toni Suominen]

Opeth - Ghost Reveries (love the guitar tone on that one, plus the acoustic guitars sound awesome)

Gojire - The Way of All Flesh (guitar tone rules, drums sound awesome too)

These are just a couple of examples of some newer stuff that I find has great production. Some of my favourite producers/mixers are Andy Sneap, Jens Bogren, Devin Townsend and Tue Madsen, so anything produced by those guys pretty much sounds awesome.

I agree with Ivan, the typical 80's production just rocks (the snare usually sounds like someone is playing it at a large, empty hall etc.). Reverb units were really becoming popular in those times, so that's why a lot of producers probably used them quite extensively.

[Crazyfret]

I'll be old school on this one, but Dark Side of the Moon for me is one of the best to this day.

Yep +1 on that one David my favourite album

[Darfuria]

Floyd - Dark Side of the Moon
Santana - Moonflower
Dream Theater - Scenes from a Memory

[Boson]

Sticking with the old school theme!

All of the Beatles albums produced by George Martin were incredibly well recorded when you consider how primitive the equipment was back then. Many of the techniques developed were truely inovative and influenced countless bands that followed.

Coming forward a little check out stuff by Tears For Fears, really high production values especially Sowing THe Seeds OF Love.

If ever you get the chance to listen to music in DVD Audio format then there are some fantastic albums which sound just so clear its like sitting in the middle of the studio with the band.

Abraxas by Santana, Night at The Opera by Queen and Hotel California by the Eagles to name but three take on a whole new life.

[Resurrection]

+1 for Dark Side (and several other Floyd albums). +1 also for various Iron Maiden albums.

Another one to mention (IMHO) is Operation Mindcrime by Queensryche. There's a certain clarity, especially on the guitars and vocals, that I like a lot.

I'll be old school on this one, but Dark Side of the Moon for me is one of the best to this day.

[alesha]

I would add Def Leppard "Hysteria"

[Alex Lewis]

I would go for Lamb of God - Ashes of the wake the guitar sound is absolutely killer!

Also worth mentioning Machine Head- burn my eyes, Tool- Lateralus, killswitch engage- Alive or just breathing, and Judas Priest- Painkiller