Does Rick Rubin's involvement signify an artists peak in the studio?

tonadax

Does anyone else think Rubin is cosistently involved in the best album of an artist's career?
He did System of a Down's Toxicity. He's in the studio now with Metallica. he has constantly worked with Slayer. And worked with Johnny Cash on his last few albums...

intodeep

He is hit or miss.

For instance
Red hot Chili Pepers-
Blood Sugar Sex Magik=AWEOMSE
One Hot MInute= Not so much
Stadium Arcadium-okay

All the danzig albums He did 1-4 and they were all okay but they were not spectacular.

slayer- Reign in blood, south of heavan, Seasons in the abyss, christ illusion... Okay you got me here these are my favorite slayer albums he also did undisputed attitude which was not so good but the others are awesome

ACDC- BallBreaker Not even he could save them by this point (which may be the case with Metallica too)

Beastie Boys- Licensed to Ill.... some great work there

Tom Petty- wildflowers again some magic on this album

Rage Against the Machine- Renegades.. their weakest work

Audioslave- Audioslave- This was their best work but that is not saying much
also did out of exile which stunk

Mars Volta- De Loused -their most focused work he really helped

Cash- all his work with him was good

So yeah He has quite a list of awesome albums but sometimes he can only do so much with a band.

DaytimeDilemma

Yes, he is hit or miss. He has had amazing work with the Peppers and horrid work with the Peppers. I like his Hip-Hop producing quite a bit though. Also, he single handedly ruined Weezer.

ashtrayrock

Here's a quote I recently read from a Dixie Chick, about him.

Nathalie says:
"When it comes to the music, he's so sure of his opinion that you become sure of his opinion, too. And isn't that what guru's do? They know how to say the right things at the right time and get the best of you"


For sure he did that with Johnny Cash and Wildflowers(Petty) is such an amazing cd.

Shawn Smith Collective

In general, I think he's able to really, truly understand an artist, the roots of the music they make and their strengths and weaknesses.

Yes, there are "misses" on his list, but EVERY legendary artist or producer has misses on their list. But when you judge Rick Rubin's full body of work, it's amazing. What he's done for many established-but-fading artists is nothing short of a miracle.

I just hope he has enough in him to save Metallica.

lucylespian

Metallica don't need saving, they just need people to allow them to grow , and not keep them locked in their box.
I admired Yield, BInaural and Riot Act as progressive evolutionary albums that reflected the age and maturity of Pearl Jam as they changed from angry young men into contented, thoughtful older ones.
The Load era was Metallica doing the same thing.

The Avocado album showed PJ trying yo recapture their youthful vigour, and for me personally, it tanked. I perfered the other approach.

ST Anger was the same. Had it's strenghts, but lacked too many of Metallica's strengths of melody and dynamics.

If Rubin lets Metallica continue to evolve, and not go for another MOP or Justice, then the next album will be great.
I'm bothered that stagnation will triumph over evolution.

wolfbear

I thought this was funny. It's from the Rolling Stone interview with Mick Jagger.

"Don't Tear Me Up" (1993)
Jagger recruited Rick Rubin to produce his third solo album, Wandering Spirit, after hearing the Red Hot Chili Peppers' Blood Sugar Sex Magik. "We had quite a few rows," Jagger says of the producer. "I respect his opinions, but when we disagreed I said, 'It's my record, I'm singing it, and it's my opinion that counts.'" Despite the tension, Jagger was pleased by the final result -- especially on this tender ballad. "All the instruments and the vocals sound quite close to you, there's very little reverb," Jagger says. "It's the antithesis of the 'Just Another Night' sound. The fashion swung in the complete opposite direction."

pjoasisrule

Hes done some good work but definitely not all the best of the artists. Lately has been producing some real crap too (Linkin Park, Kid Rock, Slipknot, etc)

r1vers

the most disturbing point of this thread:

rage - renegades - "their worst work"



disgust.


but yea, hit or miss i agree with.

intodeep

r1vers wrote:

the most disturbing point of this thread:

rage - renegades - "their worst work"



disgust.


but yea, hit or miss i agree with.

sorry i never liked that album at all.

Oh, Jimmy

I have read that he isn't real hands on and will just be patient for as long as it takes to get good material together, which is prolly better for most bands, and better for a band actually soundin like itself.

South of Seattle

intodeep wrote:

sorry i never liked that album at all.

I like it, but it's just basically a thrown together cover album. That's like saying "Into the Wild" is better than "No Code."

Get_Right

its a sign the band wants increased commerical success and more mass appeal

people hire him to sell records, not to make the best music they can

rhinomagic

ashtrayrock wrote:

Here's a quote I recently read from a Dixie Chick, about him.

Nathalie says:
"When it comes to the music, he's so sure of his opinion that you become sure of his opinion, too. And isn't that what guru's do? They know how to say the right things at the right time and get the best of you"


For sure he did that with Johnny Cash and Wildflowers(Petty) is such an amazing cd.

Glad someone noted his work on the most recent DCX album. Most folks in this forum may not care for it, but I thought it was an excellent project, well-done all the way around.

Rubin probably had some influence in bringing Chad Smith (RHCP) and Mike Campbell (Heartbreakers) into the fold as guest musicians on the album, too.

I think the answer to the original question--more often than not--is yes. The next Metallica album will probably help to solidify or destroy that answer in my mind. I'm thinking they need to come up big with this one, thus the hiring of Rubin.

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