Reference mixes/tracks

[hoodlum1436]

Just curious what various different tracks/CDs folk have used/are using for reference mixes for any and all genres of music. Not really looking for a golden list to use either; I'm aware that the best thing to use (generally) is music that you know intimately. Tho then again what happens when you're working with a genre of music that you're less familiar with and don't really know of any good references? So yeah, it'll be a learning experience as well as a curiosity.

I'll start it off. In the past months I've used the Hourglass by James Taylor, Instrumentals by Ricky Skaggs and Kentucky Thunder, Damnation by Opeth, Deadwing by Porcupine Tree, From Mars to Sirius by Gojira, and Dark Side of the Moon by Pink Floyd.

(and yes, I posted this same thread in the Mastering forum, but it got looked over, so I thought I'd give it another whirl in another thread).

[Ermz]

I tend to use certain CDs for different things. I'm definitely with you on the 'Deadwing' and 'Damnation' albums!

Space, tightness, high end presence: Dave Weckl Band - Synergy

Space, dimensionality, EQ balance: Opeth - Damnation

Fat roomy drums, tight bass (with slightly too much low mid): Porcupine Tree - Halo (just that song)

Tight metal, impeccable EQ balance, high-end aggression: Arch Enemy - Doomsday Machine

Controlled pumping & fatness, 'american' sound: Breaking Benjamin - Phobia

American radio rock: Nickelback - The Long Road

Chilled out, roomy, ambient, soft: Paul Motian Band - Garden of Eden

[psycho_monkey]

Anything vaguely indie rock - Cenzo Townsend's mixes (Ruby by Kaiser Chiefs is a good one).

American Rock - err, American Idiot!

Coldplay's 1st album for soft rock stuff.

[gollumsluvslave]

heavy Rock:-

Foo Fighters - The Color and the Shape
Deftones - White Pony
Fugazi - Steady Diet of Nothing, Red Medicine, In on the Kill Taker
Catherine Wheel - Adam and Eve
Swervedriver - Mezcal Head
Pearl Jam - VS

Others:-

U2 - Joshua Tree / Achtung Baby (With or Without You specifically)
Talking Heads - Remain in Light
Talk Talk - The Colour of Spring
Television - Marquee Moon
Public Enemy - Fear of a Black Planet
DJ Shadow - Endtroducing
Leftfield - Leftism

[doorknocker]

Here a a few tracks that I always come back to lately:

- Tom Petty 'Free fallin' + 'Mary Jane's Last Dance'.

- Pretenders 'Night in my veins'

- Jeff Buckley: All of 'Grace', especially 'Last Goodbye' and 'Lover you should've come over'

- Eric Clapton 'Change the world': Generally I'm not so much into Clapton's AOR-type stuff but this Babyface-produced track is just GREAT, amazing definition and fullness.

- Edwyn Collins 'A girl like you' : I love everything about this track: great song, vocal, arrangement, mix, etc.....just fantastic.

-Bruce Springsteen 'Born to run' : The Boss beats Phil Spector at his own game! It's incredible how much stuff was put on this yet it all works and the 'Making of' DVD that comes with the 'Born to run' reissue set shows that they even recorded much more parts that never made the final mix. I'm generally a follower of 'less is more' but sometimes more IS more like here with 'Born to Run'.

- Frank Sinatra 'Angel Eyes' and 'Mood Indigo': Speaks for itself, I guess. Pure sonic bliss.

[hoodlum1436]

Ah! I forgot to list Snake Farm by Ray Wylie Hubbard. Kind of Americana rootsy bluesy country. GREAT damn vibe. Dirty funky gritty, yet clean and clear as well. Damn good recording.