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Originally Posted by roostert  I hope you understand that I agree with your post, for the most part. Just don't make it sound like I don't have a set when you don't even know who I am, or what I've accomplished. I'm not sure you've ever worked in Nashville, and if you have, I'm wondering how long you were able to last? If you don't dig it, not my problem. I was simply stating that when an artist like Jamie Johnson comes along (and do you know any of his background of getting to this point, this album?.....maybe T can fill you in, let's just say he's had quite a journey in 3 years), you have the opportunity to do exactly what you were saying in your post, let the music be.....That's why I gave props to T. I'm not gonna make a Keith Urban record the same way I would a Jamie Johnson record. Different deal. Jamie sounds great a little out of tune and a little out of the pocket. If you pocket him, and tune him it doesn't sound right. But some artists sing with great emotion and feel, and they require some massaging. I can't tell you that I like all "modern" country, but you also can't tell me that it doesn't sell. Taylor Swift sold 660,000 units the first week. If the label is paying me $1800/day to work on Taylor, I'm going to work on it. I'm beyond the Eutopia of believing that it's all about the music. It's a business, and ultimately the producer is my boss. I'm not the producer. I do what is required to stay employed. I work closely with my employers, and offer suggestions and advice, but I'm never the final decision maker. I have to deliver on whatever they want. Not all of us can be Daniel Lanois. For every gem I get to be a part of, there are 9 or 10 that pay the bills. That's the reality. And don't give me the song and dance that all music in the past was done way better because of different recording techniques, or artistry. It was the same then as it is now. There was a bunch of crap back then, just like now. We always remember the good stuff, and I hope that this Jamie Johnson album, 30 years from now, will be remembered as the good stuff!  |
Oh yeah, well, I agree 125% with your post!
That's right, I totally agree. It hasn't changed much in practice, but in funding it has, less artists are selling 660,000 every year. I am frustrated that labels can't see what they've inadvertently done and that they take no responsibility and no action to correct.
I'm not stuck on the "things were better in the past" thing, I have too good of a memory for that.
Artists that sell a lot the first week don't necessarily sell to actual customers, sometimes they are sold to the label, not as promo, to boost the numbers and sometimes that's part of the deal. I didn't get here yesterday.
My post was not directed at you as any sort of personal afront, it was more of slag on all of us me especially. Normally and mostly I do what I said, but, in the past I've been as guilty as the next guy doing what anybody wants. I don't think everyone is doing that and I don't think that one approach to all recordings is appropriate either. What I mean is, that little bit of work that we do that is definitely non-artistic bill paying is very potent at destroying the craft as a whole. Gee, wish I'd said it like that before instead of pissin in the beans.