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Old 12.01.2020, 09:47 AM   #1
Screaming Skull
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I've thought this for years and even posted about it here, but Elvis Costello sums it up quite beautifully...

I remember seeing PJ on The Tonight Show. She stood there with just a guitar and did “Rid of Me.” It was like seeing Howlin’ Wolf on Shindig! So great. And then I got the record [Rid of Me], and it was nowhere near as good, but it didn’t matter. For me, the record sounds like shit. That guy [Steve Albini] doesn’t know anything about production. He might be the second-worst producer of a great record after Jimmy Iovine, who totally fucked up [Bruce Springsteen’s] Darkness on the Edge of Town. It sounds like Bruce is in a fucking shoe box full of tissue paper.

https://pitchfork.com/features/5-10-...c-of-his-life/

When I want to listen to 'Rid of Me'-era PJH, I reach for '4-Track Demos' every single time.
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Old 12.02.2020, 08:23 AM   #2
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Never really thought about it but I guess I can see this.
I don’t personally reach for 4-track demos over Rid of Me, but maybe I’ll start.
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Old 12.02.2020, 08:44 AM   #3
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Agreed that rid of me sounds rough. I actually NEVER listen to it I'm that turned off by it. Give me down by the water any day.

100% disagree that he doesn't know anything about production though. First two Pixies albums and In Utero sound incredible no matter how you look at it.
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Old 12.02.2020, 09:33 AM   #4
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Fuck Elvis Costello.

Rid of Me is a fucking MASTERPIECE.

he should concentrate on his wife's fake jazz career.
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Old 12.02.2020, 12:09 PM   #5
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Rob Instigator
Rid of Me is a fucking MASTERPIECE.

The fact is still rises to that level despite Steve Albini choking ALL of the dynamics out of it is amazing. PJ Harvey is an absolute genius. 4 Track Demos crushes Rid of Me.
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Old 12.02.2020, 12:11 PM   #6
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Severian
I don’t personally reach for 4-track demos over Rid of Me, but maybe I’ll start.

Go listen to the 4 Track Demos version of 'Yuri-G'. Turn it WAY up. You're welcome.
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Old 12.02.2020, 08:13 PM   #7
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Elvis Costello still hasn’t found a producer who can make his songs listenable.
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Old 12.03.2020, 06:50 AM   #8
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