Which Album Has the Best Production?

[Anders]

No Code

[digster]

Probably Yield, with No Code close behind. Really any album from Vs. - Riot Act could be a contender. Binaural is a bit of a different story, but I still think it's one of the best; though there are a few suspect choices, it's brightest spots in terms of production outstrip anything else they've done.

[stip]

Ten and Vs. are too "90s" generally - but I do love the reverb filled Oceans original mix.

Yield sounds like the band playing in a room - which is great, but doesn't work for everything. For example, In Hiding, should be as big a stadium-filler as Given to Fly, but falls a little flat production wise.

Binaural works, and sounds lovely on headphones - but loses some grit on the way.

Riot Act is fine, but the vocals sometimes get lost. Seems like production is an after thought on this record.

Avocado is a nightmare from which I'll never wake up.

Backspacer and Lightning bolt have far too much of a pop-sheen.

However, Vitalogy has energy and bite, while the slower songs resonate beautifully - THAT guitar tone on Nothingman is glorious. And No Code just works. The heaviest songs - Habit and Lukin sound INTENSE and on the verge of collapse, while the delicate moments such as Off He Goes are perfectly captured.

So, Vitalogy and No Code joint.

Habit is pretty intense, but Lukin and Red Mosquito (compare that to the richness of the sound in the compositionally inferior 1/2 full) feel muffled. The full throated roar of Habit makes Lukin sound a little bit like a hissy fit.

[hlniv]

1. Vitalogy
2. No Code
3. Vs.
4. Riot Act
5. Yield
6. Binaural
7. Backspacer
8. Ten
9. Avocado
10. Lightning Bolt

[hlniv]

Where's the poll?

[Tuolumne]

Yield - has nice little nuances without sacrificing guitar tone (not that I know jackshit about guitar tone).

I've always thought BoB is a fantastic producer when it comes to performance, and no one gets the best out of Ed's vocals than him. Just want him to stay out of the songwriting.

[LoathedVermin72]

Binaural is a bit of a different story, but I still think it's one of the best; though there are a few suspect choices, it's brightest spots in terms of production outstrip anything else they've done.

Agree on this. "Sleight of Hand" sounds particularly amazing.

[joostone]

Vitalogy > No Code > Yield > Riot Act > Vs > Binaural > Backspacer > Ten > Avocado* > Lightning Bolt

*= Problem lies more within mastering than production.

[darth_vedder]

The full throated roar of Habit makes Lukin sound a little bit like a hissy fit.

Well, Lukin kinda is a hissy fit.

[stip]

well that's true, but I think it's pretending not to be

[Kaius]

What does Lukin' think it is?

[LetMeSleep]

What does Lukin' think it is?

[mastaflatch]

Yield
No Code

I think those two are stellar and despite (or because) their stylistic differences, they probably cover the whole band's palette in an era when everyone was at the top of its game. The headroom is perfect, it's warm but still pretty abrasive when needed.

Vitalogy
Vs

This is how the music on those albums should sound like, in that aspect, they're perfect. I just don't think that the production plays a big role in that achievement.

Riot Act

The production/sound quality is probably the best argument for this album (although I now think it's a great one).

Binaural

Many songs on this are perfectly produced but the album's troubled post-production makes it frustratingly uneven.

Ten

What I like about this one is that the producer didn't try to make the songs shorter in order to be "pop" - the jams are long enough and despite being very early-90s sounding (questionable use of reverb and the overall drum sound) it's still pretty efficient.

Backspacer
Lightning Bolt

Uneven with a few nice touches. Production reaches its limited goal but nothing much more than that. It seemingly shows (honestly) a band that doesn't put its whole heart into its music as much as it used to.

Pearl Jam

It sounds good on a shitty system. Better songs and performances than on the last two but it tries too hard. Also, it loses steam halfway through - a producer could have sensed that.

[LetMeSleep]

Vitalogy
Vs

This is how the music on those albums should sound like, in that aspect, they're perfect. I just don't think that the production plays a big role in that achievement.

Backspacer
Lightning Bolt

Uneven with a few nice touches. Production reaches its limited goal but nothing much more than that. It seemingly shows (honestly) a band that doesn't put its whole heart into its music as much as it used to.

Pearl Jam

It sounds good on a shitty system. Better songs and performances than on the last two but it tries too hard. Also, it loses steam halfway through - a producer could have sensed that.

Good points masta.

There are a couple of telling points made here. For Vs and Vitalogy the production was incredibly minimal. The band pretty much turned up and played, live in a room. The guitar sounds, the drum tones, that cracking snare....it all just had to be captured and harnessed.

Cut to 17 years plus later and the studio is now a tool to be used to get a record. That is probably down to both the band not playing together as much as they did, but also BoB's evolution as a producer. He has a stamp on nearly every track on LB.

Interestingly the period that's getting the most appreciation here is when the band and the producer wanted to explore the studio's possibilities whilst remaining essentially a live band in a room.

[BurtReynolds]

Yeah, vitalogy is probably the answer.

And No Code

[BurtReynolds]

well that's true, but I think it's pretending not to be

No. It isn't.

[Birds in Hell]

I have a particular soft spot for No Code but all of their records from Vs through Yield sound fantastic, Riot Act does too.

S/T was recorded in the same studio and with the same producer as Riot Act, I think remastering could do wonders for that material in the right hands.

[LoathedVermin72]

S/T was recorded in the same studio and with the same producer as Riot Act, I think remastering could do wonders for that material in the right hands.

This is an interesting point. I wonder how much a remastered version with completely different album art would change the feel.

[bodysnatcher]

S/T was recorded in the same studio and with the same producer as Riot Act, I think remastering could do wonders for that material in the right hands.

This is an interesting point. I wonder how much a remastered version with completely different album art would change the feel.

Same artwork, but with a 10-year-old rotted avocado instead

[BurtReynolds]

Vitalogy was recorded partially in New Orleans, right?