new Brendan O Brien interview

2

Comments

  • BSully
    BSully Indiana Posts: 1,519
    Interesting...
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  • TheLuckyOnes
    TheLuckyOnes Posts: 477
    Great post, fortyshades.

    Bands absolutely go to specific producers for specific sounds, Binaural being a super-obvious example of that. So when they went back to BO'B for Backspacer, they wanted what works for them. All the people crying about his production might want to listen to albums 2-5 again, same dude. As far as i'm concerned, No Code is my favorite "produced" record ever. Riot Act and Avacado are not the best examples of how this band sounds on record, not by far. Go back and read your PJ20 book, this is the same guy who kept them from giving freaking Betterman away, never recording it for themselves. Trust the dude a bit. I think Brendan is not alone amongst music elite (Bono has said it before) in thinking that PJ has an undeniable, all-time #1 classic rock album in them still, one that forever is remembered in the same conversation as Pink Floyd, The Clash, Zep. But it's one they haven't made yet, and it sure ain't Riot Act. So he want's them to be busy, and he wants to push. That's my take. They should push, imo. Now's the time, they're almost 50.

    And Ed was the one who was quoted as saying he wanted the songs for BS short and concise, for optimal live use. Relax peeps!!
  • backseatLover12
    backseatLover12 Posts: 2,312
    duccivespucci_2 wrote:
    Is it me or does it seem theat O'Brien come across as arrogant? He seems like a cocky guy win a few of the interviews, it's like those other records PJ made with other producers don't even count. Like when he said if they want to get creative they need to call him. Sounds like he's being a d ick there to me or am I wrong?

    That being said, if that's what it takes to make a great record then I'm all in! I'm ready for the Lightning to strike!

    Agreed.

    Personally, I think they need to get rid of O'Brien if they make another album.
  • on2legs
    on2legs Posts: 16,386
    I read the interview and I think that when he says they call him when they want to do something more significant or outgoing he's referring to him producing a more commercially successful album. I don't think he's knocking the band as much as explaining role as the producer.
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  • DewieCox
    DewieCox Posts: 11,432
    edited September 2013
    TheLuckyOnes wrote:
    Great post, fortyshades.

    Bands absolutely go to specific producers for specific sounds, Binaural being a super-obvious example of that. So when they went back to BO'B for Backspacer, they wanted what works for them. All the people crying about his production might want to listen to albums 2-5 again, same dude. As far as i'm concerned, No Code is my favorite "produced" record ever. Riot Act and Avacado are not the best examples of how this band sounds on record, not by far. Go back and read your PJ20 book, this is the same guy who kept them from giving freaking Betterman away, never recording it for themselves. Trust the dude a bit. I think Brendan is not alone amongst music elite (Bono has said it before) in thinking that PJ has an undeniable, all-time #1 classic rock album in them still, one that forever is remembered in the same conversation as Pink Floyd, The Clash, Zep. But it's one they haven't made yet, and it sure ain't Riot Act. So he want's them to be busy, and he wants to push. That's my take. They should push, imo. Now's the time, they're almost 50.


    I don't think that Vs-Yield or even the stuff that is remixed by BOb on Binaural have similar sounds for the most part. I compare it to Zeppelin's run, where the producer was basically the engineer, so the band had a lot of say in the sonic signature.

    I do think it's ridiculous to blame BOb for anything. I think PJ was doing fine work without him, but they were obviously going for something different with BS and from the talk about the material on LB they are trying to balance the straight forward approach with something a little more creative. From the sound of it, we might still be waiting a year or 2 if he wasn't pushing PJ to get into the studio.

    Even though its not my favorite album, there is not a better produced PJ album than Riot Act. It would be flat out amazing sounding if Ed would've recut some of his vocals.

    Not trying to sound pessimistic about the new material but PJ made their all time albums 20 years ago. Can they have some sort of late career resurgence? Sure, but almost every bit of rock history tells me otherwise, and I highly doubt it's gonna be mentioned along with Ten, even if its really successful for them.
    Post edited by DewieCox on
  • rival.
    rival. Chicago Posts: 7,775
    YieldToNothing wrote:
    dude seems like he has a hard on for himself

    i was goingto make a quip about his ego having an erection or something along those lines, but this do!

    what a homer. hope they are done with him after ightning bolt.
  • EarlWelsh
    EarlWelsh Buffalo, NY Posts: 1,127
    on2legs wrote:
    I read the interview and I think that when he says they call him when they want to do something more significant or outgoing he's referring to him producing a more commercially successful album. I don't think he's knocking the band as much as explaining role as the producer.

    That's what I got from it, too. When they want something more widely accessible, which is what he pushes for (Betterman).
  • thefixer9
    thefixer9 Posts: 9,376
    DewieCox wrote:
    mikerl wrote:
    i have wondered this also, but we know for sure that he had nothing to do with it from 2000-2006, pretty good years. i do know, that BoB has had A LOT to do with many records outside of pearl jam that he has worked on. for example, playing all the guitar solo's, and most of the bass parts on the Black Crows record he did. However i dont see PJ letting him get quite that involved. but he plays the keys parts.. so.... who knows.

    I've only heard that he supplied the outro solo for Hard to Handle on the Crowes first album.



    I can't really fault BOb much for PJ's recent shortcomings. He makes recommendations and its up to the band whether to follow them or not. I'm guessing that PJ met with him and told them what they are going for and he helped nudge them in the direction that he understood they wanted to go.

    He's produced and engineered some pretty awesome albums and you know who I give most of the credit for those? The bands that made them.


    I think you guys are blowing one little comment way out of proportion.

    I totally agree.
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  • YieldToNothing
    YieldToNothing Posts: 3,667
    shitting on riot act makes your opinion useless

    TheLuckyOnes wrote:
    Great post, fortyshades.

    Bands absolutely go to specific producers for specific sounds, Binaural being a super-obvious example of that. So when they went back to BO'B for Backspacer, they wanted what works for them. All the people crying about his production might want to listen to albums 2-5 again, same dude. As far as i'm concerned, No Code is my favorite "produced" record ever. Riot Act and Avacado are not the best examples of how this band sounds on record, not by far. Go back and read your PJ20 book, this is the same guy who kept them from giving freaking Betterman away, never recording it for themselves. Trust the dude a bit. I think Brendan is not alone amongst music elite (Bono has said it before) in thinking that PJ has an undeniable, all-time #1 classic rock album in them still, one that forever is remembered in the same conversation as Pink Floyd, The Clash, Zep. But it's one they haven't made yet, and it sure ain't Riot Act. So he want's them to be busy, and he wants to push. That's my take. They should push, imo. Now's the time, they're almost 50.

    And Ed was the one who was quoted as saying he wanted the songs for BS short and concise, for optimal live use. Relax peeps!!
    i have a paper here that entitles me to fast track status
  • southernmanfan
    southernmanfan Johannesburg, South Africa Posts: 1,027
    Great post!

    At the end of the day its the band's choice. I respect that. 8-)
    rustedsigns
  • cincybearcat
    cincybearcat Posts: 17,031
    I didn't get any ego from BoB from that interview. Some people read what they want to read.
    hippiemom = goodness
  • blondieblue227
    blondieblue227 Va, USA Posts: 4,511
    southernmanfan wrote:

    At the end of the day its the band's choice.

    i would hope so.

    my 2 cents: EV solo song shouldn't be on a PJ album. but whatever. hope it doesn't create ego fights within the band.
    thou.... hey, the boys have made this far! :)
    *~Pearl Jam will be blasted from speakers until morale improves~*

  • Parksy
    Parksy Posts: 1,897
    Its great to be back on here talking about stuff from an upcoming album! :)

    My $0.02 on this issue... I gotta reserve judgement until I hear the album. I hope it's amazing!

    To be honest though.. if it's not.. I'll be a bit disappointed because I know the amount of talent in that studio.
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  • on2legs
    on2legs Posts: 16,386
    blondieblue227 wrote:
    southernmanfan wrote:

    At the end of the day its the band's choice.

    i would hope so.

    my 2 cents: EV solo song shouldn't be on a PJ album. but whatever. hope it doesn't create ego fights within the band.
    thou.... hey, the boys have made this far! :)

    If Bugs or Stupid Mop can make it on an album then SBM can be on an album. It's their band and their album so let them put out what they want. :)
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  • PJFAN13
    PJFAN13 Posts: 1,422
    cincybearcat wrote:
    I didn't get any ego from BoB from that interview. Some people read what they want to read.
    100% agree...
    Let's see - what do all of the following have in common:
    Pearl Jam, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Mick Jagger, STP, Aerosmith, Rage Against the Machine, Westerberg, BRUCE, Soundgarden, Neil Young, Korn, Incubus, Killers, Gaslight Anthem and countless others?
    They all lined up to work with Brendan O'Brien...the guy knows his shit, whether its mixing, engineering, producing or flat out picking up an instrument and jamming.
    Talent.
    The fact he got Vs to be the masterpiece it still stands up to be (and my fave PJ album ever) - in that time with the bands dynamic and popularity (and uncertainty) - wow...and it speaks volumes...
    I for one can't wait for LB. Really looking forward to Sleeping By Myself full band as well...was hoping that My Father's Son was the Fistful of Mercy cover :D
    Lets hear the album a few times, then banter about how cocky and lousy BOB is :lol:
    11.30.93~10.2.96~9.13.98~9.1.00~8.25.00~7.3.03~7.5.03
    7.9.03~9.28.04~10.1.05~5.12.06~5.13.06~5.27.06~5.28.06
    8.5.08(EV)~10.9.09~5.21.10~6.20.11(EV)~7.5.11(EV)~7.9.11(EV)
    11.21.13~8.27.16(EV)~11.14.16(TOTD)~4.13.20~9.27.20~9.26.21~10.2.21
    2.15.22 (EV)~2.25.22 (EV)~2.27.22 (EV)~5.3.22~5.7.22~9.17.24~9.29.24
  • backseatLover12
    backseatLover12 Posts: 2,312
    I did not buy the EV Uke album, so I don't even know that song.

    But hey, maybe it fits into the album song progression nicely. After all, artists order their songs on the album in the way they want it listened to (I know times have changed but artists did this for a reason). Who knows. I just don't get all the negativity before even giving it a chance.

    The negativity is just so toxic on here.
  • MK13579
    MK13579 Posts: 217
    Ditto.. I've never heard the song before and I'm excited about it.
  • slightofjeff
    slightofjeff Posts: 7,762
    A message board taking a quote out of context and using it to crucify a guy? That's unpossible.

    (Seriously, some times this place is ridiculous to the point of parody. Hail hail the rational ones. You know who you are)
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  • Abe Froman
    Abe Froman Posts: 5,411
    slightofjeff wrote:
    A message board taking a quote out of context and using it to crucify a guy? That's unpossible.

    (Seriously, some times this place is ridiculous to the point of parody. Hail hail the rational ones. You know who you are)
    :clap: No shit man! Someone actually said they want BoB "off this earth???" Over a couple out of context quotes and one record (Backspacer) they don't enjoy as much? This guy has been instrumental in PJ's career and produced some of my favorite records ever. Like "slightofjeff" said lets try to be a little more rational around here. Oh yeah, and Lightning Bolt isn't even fucking out yet and people are calling for this guy to never be used again?!?!?! :roll:
  • pdalowsky
    pdalowsky Doncaster,UK Posts: 15,339
    Abe Froman wrote:
    slightofjeff wrote:
    A message board taking a quote out of context and using it to crucify a guy? That's unpossible.

    (Seriously, some times this place is ridiculous to the point of parody. Hail hail the rational ones. You know who you are)
    :clap: No shit man! Someone actually said they want BoB "off this earth???" Over a couple out of context quotes and one record (Backspacer) they don't enjoy as much? This guy has been instrumental in PJ's career and produced some of my favorite records ever. Like "slightofjeff" said lets try to be a little more rational around here. Oh yeah, and Lightning Bolt isn't even fucking out yet and people are calling for this guy to never be used again?!?!?! :roll:

    its ridiculous

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