Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.2 9/18/84; site utcsrgv.UUCP Path: utzoo!utcsrgv!elf From: elf@utcsrgv.UUCP (Eugene Fiume) Newsgroups: net.music Subject: Re: Knocking Steve Lillywhite (fashionable) Message-ID: <537@utcsrgv.UUCP> Date: Fri, 30-Nov-84 12:48:36 EST Article-I.D.: utcsrgv.537 Posted: Fri Nov 30 12:48:36 1984 Date-Received: Fri, 30-Nov-84 13:38:09 EST References: <518@utcsrgv.UUCP> <1229@dciem.UUCP>, <521@utcsrgv.UUCP>, <1008@druri.UUCP> <1234@dciem.UUCP> Organization: CSRI, University of Toronto Lines: 24 Lillywhite strikes me as a better-than-average producer with a characteristic "sound". I am not paticularly enamoured with this sound, though I think I'm in the minority. Perhaps it's true that he is responsible for better-recorded drum tracks, though I recall several Strawbs albums from the early 70's that had nicely-mixed drums. However, much as I like the sound of drums, nowadays they tend to be placed too far forward in the mix. Whereas in the 70's virtually everything seemed too far back, I think everything is now too far forward. It makes for exciting sounds that gives one's hi-fi a good aerobic workout, but I personally want a smidgen more depth and a more expansive "soundstage". As far a Lillywhite's recent work is concerned (U2, Big C, Simple Minds), I find Big C's "The Crossing" most satisfactory in this regard (and most others). The Simple Minds sound I love is the one evident on their "Sons and Fascination" album (my personal favourite). They were not a so-called "synth-pop" group then, and I think they are now in danger of becoming just another rocknroll band. Again, I'm in the minority, but judging by their last album and by their last live appearance here in Toronto (in which Jim Morrison--sorry Kerr--strutted his stuff at the expense of their music) I can only hope for an about-face. Eugene Fiume U of Toronto {allegra|decvax}!utcsrgv!elf