steve albini, 1962 - 2024

fuck.

'a man who could identify 100 enemies as a sophomore in college'

i don't think anyone else in the history of 20th century music has had the impact albini did on how music sounds or is conveyed. such range, such vision; such philosophy, even.

was lucky enough to catch him in shellac around 2 years ago at primavera sound- perfect tension and release all around, and a buzzsaw guitar tone that sounds like your brain getting drawn and quartered. of course, it was always the dream to eventually reach electrical audio...

i think that the weight of this loss will only really hit a few years down the line, when records he's made stop coming out and stop penetrating music's wall of rockradio mono-compression. for now, i'll grieve and throw on some of the countless perfect sides he recorded- and play them loud

steve whipping a guitar into shape

some favorites:

ron- slint

i'm amazed- pixies

doe- breeders

mouth breather- the jesus lizard

milk it- nirvana

shimmer like a girl- veruca salt

nothing ever changes- braniac

farewell transmission- songs: ohia

wasted days- cloud nothings

my black ass- shellac

steak & black onions- rapeman

bad penny- big black

RIP