The Steve Albini Experience

Steve Albini - acerbic singer, gifted guitarist, mesmerising performer, indie icon, and one of the most universally regarded audio engineers on the planet. Mention his name and most people will think of Nirvana, Pixies and PJ Harvey, and considering the brilliant albums that he produced with these artists, they would be right to do so. However the man has worked with well over a thousand bands. He also helped to re-examine and re-mould minimalist guitar rock with three wildly dichotomous bands of his own; Big Black, Rapeman, and his current project Shellac. To coincide with the upcoming release of Shellac's first album in seven years, he gave an interview with Foggy Notions' Eamon Sweeney in the May issue of the magazine.

Albini has always been a critic of the machinations of the music industry and his vehemency does not relent in the company of Sweeney. One of the highlights of this interview is an excerpt from an emotional letter he wrote to the Chicago Reader in 1993. He was somewhat perplexed about the Reader's review of the year's best albums. The letter ended thusly:

Artists who survive on hype are often critic's pets. They don't, however, make timeless, classic music that survives trends and inspires generations of fans and other artists. There are artists in Chicago doing just that, but you don't write about them. You save your zeal instead for this year's promo fixtures. Shame on your lazy head. Clip your year-end column and put it away for ten years. See if you don't feel like an idiot when you re-read it.

Fuck you,

Steve Albini.

A prescient and timeless statement in and of itself... Ten years from now I hardly think I will be desperately seeking friends for a lend of their albums by Razorlight, Klaxons, or The Kooks. Nor tomorrow either, come to think of it... NME, take note.

In the interview Sweeney also mentions Albini's detailed critical analysis of the music industry, The Problem With Music, published in the American cultural-political journal The Baffler in 1993. A fascinating read. Check it out at:

http://www.negativland.com/albini.html

Whilst on the topic of Albini, beneath lies a clip of considerable interest... Subtle covering Shellac's "Prayer To God" live in Salt Lake City, Utah in March of this year. Dose gripped by convulsions of anger. His delivery dripping with targeted invective. Enjoy: