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Bad Mix on First Two Tracks

(10 posts)
  • Started 9 years ago by Mylo
  • Latest reply from Tyler Darling

  1. User has not uploaded an avatar
    Mylo
    (2 Posts)

    Ugh. I love the new album, but I can't listen to the first two tracks. At all. The bass drum and bass guitar are too loud. I know Spoon has always had a penchant for the lo-fi, but this is ridiculous. I don't want to ruin my speakers. It sucks because those are two very strong tracks on the album. Can we start a groundswell and get them to remix those tracks without the rhythm section clipping? PLEASE?!?!

    Mylo

    Posted 9 years ago #
  2. User has not uploaded an avatar
    sstbmadsen
    (10 Posts)

    I don't have that problem.

    Posted 9 years ago #
  3. Tyler Darling
    Tyler Darling
    (706 Posts)

    It could be the speakers. What format are you listening in, digital, vinyl etc? And what type of system are you listening on?

    Posted 9 years ago #
  4. User has not uploaded an avatar
    Mylo
    (2 Posts)

    I'm listening through phones. All other tracks are fine. These are the digital tracks from iTunes.

    Mylo

    Posted 9 years ago #
  5. Tyler Darling
    Tyler Darling
    (706 Posts)

    I have the vinyl, also on got it on itunes, where the songs are "mastered for itunes". I think that's just the sound of the headphones. I used the generic apple earbuds that come with ipods, etc. The older ones, and listened through itunes on my laptop. I personally think it sounds amazing. Also I comared to some songs on Transference which I also got on itunes, along with vinyl. Songs on that album sound rougher to me.

    That is really weird.

    Posted 9 years ago #
  6. User has not uploaded an avatar
    Proler
    (20 Posts)

    I don't know what's this. I think it might be the phones too.

    Posted 9 years ago #
  7. User has not uploaded an avatar
    ccpkeet
    (10 Posts)

    I'm also noticing the harshness on the first two tracks. On the first track, it's VERY distorted. I mean distortion is all over everything, the vocals, the bass, the guitars, the drums. It's a creative decision that was made by the band and the producer Dave Fridmann. Listen to the NPR interview and they cop to it. Look up the Sleater Kinney record that Dave Fridmann did, too. It's super-mega blown out. This is kind of his "thing". I went to a music conference once when the Sleater Kinney record came out and Dave Fridmann played some tracks off of it. People were giving him shit, saying that he was ruining records. The thing is, this is how the band wanted these tracks to sound.

    On "Inside Out" I don't really hear it as much, but the snare sample is very harsh, almost just white noise. I think maybe that's what you could be reacting to? The rest of the stuff sounds pretty lush to me.

    I really like the way that Mike McCarthy's mixes sound on "I Just Don't Understand" and "Let me Be Mine" :) I hope Spoon does more work with him.

    Posted 9 years ago #
  8. User has not uploaded an avatar
    iamthekey
    (81 Posts)

    I love that snare on Inside Out. Inside Out in particular needs that loud drum/bass thing. It adds to the rap beat vibe of the song.

    I haven't heard it. My question is. Do you guys who hear it hear it even on the youtube preview video of the track? Or is this a new thing. Like an iTunes error.

    For the record I love The Woods. Yes, The Fox is super blown out. But I love it….I think it works for the song. I don't think the other songs are blown out on that record.

    Posted 9 years ago #
  9. devilsdishes
    devilsdishes
    (88 Posts)

    iamthekey - Agreed! I always noticed that on The Fox, and just accepted that that's how the song was intended to sound. It's assaulting, intentionally, and makes complete sense when you consider the story she's telling with her lyrics. I immediately noticed Rent I Pay sounded distorted (or blown out) when the iTunes single was released, and when I heard them play it live for the NPR taping I didn't even like the song, at first. But now I think I get why they did it, and can appreciate the context that it adds to the song as a whole.

    Posted 9 years ago #
  10. Tyler Darling
    Tyler Darling
    (706 Posts)

    I don't really notice anything on Inside Out. I compared the beat to "Knock 3x" and it they both sound good. No bad distortion. Rent I Pay was definitely intended to sound loud. Like the drum is being hit so hard...like a 5 gallon pale being hit with a big stick, in an echo chamber. I love the grit of it.

    I don't think everyone will enjoy it though. I think we are debating sound preference, over if the songs have been mastered correctly. "Ga 5x" is a super slick sounding record. Listen to the drums on "Black Like Me". Very polished, snare is very warm.

    It's just a difference of taste. I think it's natural progression after Transference. That record sounded very raw and distorted at times, but beautifully done.

    Posted 9 years ago #

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