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2 Years Ago, the World Lost the Man Responsible for Shaping the Sound of 1990s Rock as We Know It

Steve Albini shaped the ’90s rock sound from the underground on up, but his antagonistic public persona was often at odds with his work.

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On May 7, 2024, the music world mourned the loss of legendary recording engineer Steve Albini. His work on some of the most iconic ’90s albums helped shape the rock sound of the decade and beyond.

Albini’s ability to capture the natural acoustics of a room in a way that worked on a record, along with his steadfast preference for analog recording, made him a sought-after engineer for many years.

When considering pioneers of the ’90s rock sound—especially punk, grunge, alt, and early indie-rock—several guys come to mind: Rick Rubin as basically an unofficial member of the Red Hot Chili Peppers; Michael Beinhorn’s hands-on approach with Soundgarden, which birthed “Black Hole Sun“; and Butch Vig developing the Smashing Pumpkins’ breakthrough sound.

The Contradictions of Steve Albini: Iconic Sound Engineer and Reformed Punk Antagonist

But Steve Albini notably produced The Jesus Lizard’s Pure, Slint’s Tweez, and more in the ’80s. In the ’90s, he engineered The Breeders’ Pod, Killdozer’s God Hears Pleas of the Innocent, Bush’s Razorblade Suitcase, and many others. Famously, he produced PJ Harvey’s Rid of Me, the Pixies’ Surfer........

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