Reference Albums

diVer · 11th July 2006, 03:57 AM

To begin... this is my 1st post, so greetings and all that

I was thinking of albums the other day, and I was brought to think about the albums that both as just a listener impressed me, and as someone who writes, records and mixes have influenced me most. These then are albums that get frequent rotation in my music listening, and due to their influence I also go back to to study (their aspects such as the sounds chosen, arrangements, the mixing, production, etc.)

I've narrowed my list down to these albums:

- The Cure's "Disintegration" and "Pornography"
- Slowdive's "Souvlaki Space Station"
- New Order's "Movement"
- Curve's "Cuckoo"
- Aphex Twin's "Selected Ambient Works"

I'm curious as to other people's lists similar to what I've chosen to call reference albums.

Sonicvalley · 11th July 2006, 08:02 AM

steely dan-aja or gaucho
new switchfoot record
sting
pat methany
an endless list...

just find a good mainstream comparison for whatever client you are working with

TheArchitect · 12th July 2006, 12:16 AM

Steely Dan - Aja and later
Donald Fagen - The Nightfly
Marillion - Seasons End
John Patitucci - Imprint / Communion
Diana Krall - Love Scenes
Steve Vai - Sex and Religion
Queen - Anything

vixapphire · 12th July 2006, 12:28 AM

my studio reference monitor record that gets played everywhere i go as a "test record" is black dog by zeppelin. sure, it has no low end by today's standards, but i've lived this record since i was 2 years old (i'm 36 now) and by this time i *know* how it's supposed to sound. that's probably at least as important a criterion than the fidelity of any given reference recording, when it comes down to calibrating/trusting your ears in a mixing situation.

plus, it's just such a great song to start the day with!

WilliamFF · 12th July 2006, 01:32 AM

Wrecking Ball - Emmylou Harris
Shine - Daniel Lanois
Kenny Wheeler - Angel Song
Amon Tobin - Permutations
Velvet Underground - Banana Album
Theme From Deadwood - David Schwartz
Tusk - Fleetwood Mac ( Remastered version )
Seasons In The Abyss - Slayer

feyshay · 12th July 2006, 01:44 AM

The Feelies--The Good Earth
Los Lobos--Kiko
Pat Metheny--The Way Up
Steely Dan--Aja
Radiohead--Kid A

djwayne · 12th July 2006, 02:11 AM

Interesting thread.

Just today I wanted to do a demo recording of a 30 year old song by CSN. I had these great memories of how wonderful their music sounded. I was tweaking my system to get my recording to sound like I remebered them sounding. Then I played their actual recording and A/B'ed it next to mine......It's not a perfect match, it's a little different, and I'm not gonna say mine sounded better, but all of a sudden I was happy with the sound I was getting out of my system, compared to the original recording. The original recording wasn't bad, but it certainly wasn't the sonically perfect thing I had remembered it to be.

hmmmm.

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11th July 2006, 03:57 AM	#1
diVer Gear interested Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Montreal Posts: 1	Reference Albums To begin... this is my 1st post, so greetings and all that I was thinking of albums the other day, and I was brought to think about the albums that both as just a listener impressed me, and as someone who writes, records and mixes have influenced me most. These then are albums that get frequent rotation in my music listening, and due to their influence I also go back to to study (their aspects such as the sounds chosen, arrangements, the mixing, production, etc.) I've narrowed my list down to these albums: - The Cure's "Disintegration" and "Pornography" - Slowdive's "Souvlaki Space Station" - New Order's "Movement" - Curve's "Cuckoo" - Aphex Twin's "Selected Ambient Works" I'm curious as to other people's lists similar to what I've chosen to call reference albums.

11th July 2006, 08:02 AM	#2
Sonicvalley Gear nut Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Oregon Posts: 117	steely dan-aja or gaucho new switchfoot record sting pat methany an endless list... just find a good mainstream comparison for whatever client you are working with __________________ Alpha Studios www.THEYWILLLISTEN.com

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12th July 2006, 12:16 AM	#3
TheArchitect Lives for gear Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 705	Steely Dan - Aja and later Donald Fagen - The Nightfly Marillion - Seasons End John Patitucci - Imprint / Communion Diana Krall - Love Scenes Steve Vai - Sex and Religion Queen - Anything

12th July 2006, 12:28 AM	#4
vixapphire Lives for gear Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 2,088	my studio reference monitor record that gets played everywhere i go as a "test record" is black dog by zeppelin. sure, it has no low end by today's standards, but i've lived this record since i was 2 years old (i'm 36 now) and by this time i know how it's supposed to sound. that's probably at least as important a criterion than the fidelity of any given reference recording, when it comes down to calibrating/trusting your ears in a mixing situation. plus, it's just such a great song to start the day with!

12th July 2006, 01:32 AM	#5
WilliamFF Gear nut Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 103	Wrecking Ball - Emmylou Harris Shine - Daniel Lanois Kenny Wheeler - Angel Song Amon Tobin - Permutations Velvet Underground - Banana Album Theme From Deadwood - David Schwartz Tusk - Fleetwood Mac ( Remastered version ) Seasons In The Abyss - Slayer

12th July 2006, 01:44 AM	#6
feyshay Lives for gear Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 1,270	The Feelies--The Good Earth Los Lobos--Kiko Pat Metheny--The Way Up Steely Dan--Aja Radiohead--Kid A

12th July 2006, 02:11 AM	#7
djwayne Lives for gear Join Date: May 2005 Location: United States Posts: 2,418	Interesting thread. Just today I wanted to do a demo recording of a 30 year old song by CSN. I had these great memories of how wonderful their music sounded. I was tweaking my system to get my recording to sound like I remebered them sounding. Then I played their actual recording and A/B'ed it next to mine......It's not a perfect match, it's a little different, and I'm not gonna say mine sounded better, but all of a sudden I was happy with the sound I was getting out of my system, compared to the original recording. The original recording wasn't bad, but it certainly wasn't the sonically perfect thing I had remembered it to be. hmmmm.