John Loder, 1946-2005.

August 16, 2005 11:37 AM

The legendary John Loder, owner of the fiercely independent Southern Records and Southern Studios, has died. In addition to championing many of the past couple of decade's best independent bands (Shellac, The Jesus Lizard, Jesus and Mary Chain, Fugazi, Minor Threat, Crass), he was a brilliant recording engineer and mastering specialist, responsible for overseeing some underground classics (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6). Mourners are requested to wear T-shirts and jeans. Rest in peace, John. You'll be missed.
posted by nylon (21 comments total)

., indeed.
posted by OmieWise at 11:47 AM on August 16, 2005

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posted by joe lisboa at 12:15 PM on August 16, 2005

To these ears, the production on Songs About Fucking and Psychocandy has dated terribly, if it ever was any good at all. It's like recording distorted guitars didn't get figured out until the early nineties.

Yes, I do realize it is a bit unseemly to speak ill of the dead, but it's something to talk about and I'm not into posting dots.
posted by dydecker at 12:30 PM on August 16, 2005

To these ears, the production on Songs About Fucking and Psychocandy has dated terribly


White folks love their high-end. :) They still sound great to me.

And...

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posted by dhoyt at 12:37 PM on August 16, 2005

On dot-view, I think the production on Psychocandy helped establish that record as canonical. Whether you think it's a deserved place, of course, is your opinion.
posted by joe lisboa at 12:43 PM on August 16, 2005

the production on Psychocandy helped establish that record as canonical

Yes but the album is rather a one trick pony. The feedback doesn't vary in texture or timbre throughout the whole thing and only once or twice cuts through with any power (In A Hole, You Trip Me Up). Of course the Reid Brothers were rather limited musicians but still there is not the same variation and detail you find on something like Loveless.

But the main sin is the reverb on the drums!
posted by dydecker at 1:13 PM on August 16, 2005

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posted by mrs.pants at 1:30 PM on August 16, 2005

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posted by sohcahtoa at 1:44 PM on August 16, 2005

Dydecker : It was the 80s.

Also, the two albums you mentioned haven't had a proper remaster since being simply dumped onto CD in the mid/late 80s. Back then, engineers feared that any digital signal over -12db would be inherently distorted. Nowadays we know different. Sure, many commercial releases are brickwalled so hard that there are no dynamics left. But listen to the remixed / remastered The Stooges 'Raw Power' - that's the way rock music should sound - red lights all the way. Both albums you mentioned could definitely benefit from a sympathetic remaster - but I'd leave the mixes alone.
posted by coach_mcguirk at 1:49 PM on August 16, 2005

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Dang. My fave Southern release (of many, many that I love) is probably Sweep the Leg Johnny's Tomorrow We Will Run Faster.
posted by dobbs at 2:13 PM on August 16, 2005

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posted by Smart Dalek at 2:50 PM on August 16, 2005

Sad. I'm glad for him and his family that the end was mercifully fast. Still...tragic.
posted by dejah420 at 6:12 PM on August 16, 2005

Not many people like this nowadays.
posted by destro at 6:19 PM on August 16, 2005

an original.
posted by 3.2.3 at 7:29 PM on August 16, 2005

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posted by snowsuit at 7:53 PM on August 16, 2005

coach_mcguirk, I have seen the enemy, and he is you ;-)

A good remastering is a blessing, certainly, but there's no need for "red lights all the way." CDs have > 100dB of dynamic range. I don't know about you, but I just don't play CDs above 100dB on my stereo. 100dB hurts. And if you're below that level, you don't need to redline anything.
posted by Ptrin at 8:23 PM on August 16, 2005

Great man, great post.

As for treble, these albums have nothing on Andy Gill!
posted by bardic at 10:22 PM on August 16, 2005

A true inspiration to all...

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posted by mrblondemang at 10:55 PM on August 16, 2005

Ptrin : I think you misunderstand my point. I'm not saying that a CD should be mastered / enjoyed at 100db - that's patently ridiculous. But I'd definitely say that agressive rock music definitely needs to be driven somewhat, preferably through a nice pair of tubes. These would be the red lights I'm referring to. Not the overall SPL of the finished article.
posted by coach_mcguirk at 12:26 AM on August 17, 2005

Make sure you read the comments on that blogspot page. It's a who's who of indie rock royalty.

And, .
posted by fletchmuy at 8:06 AM on August 17, 2005

A great shame.
posted by jack_mo at 11:29 AM on August 17, 2005