New Replacements Album Producer Wish List

[daddybrave]

OK, it doesn't hurt to be prepared. Yes, The Replacements could play these three shows and disappear again forever. Which in itself would be awesome and keeping with their mindset.

But.

They could also record a new album and hit the road to conquer the world the way they didn't ever set out to do but what the fuck, why not?

So. Who produces that album?

This question sidesteps the whole "produce it themselves" question which at this point they could obviously handle and would be AOK.

However, I just listened to "Pleased To Meet Me" all the way through again and man oh man does that record sound fantastic. And it left me wondering who the boys might turn to next, assuming they turn to anyone for anything at all.

1. Rick Rubin. He somehow seems to push people to do their best work and encourage them to get in touch with whatever drove them to make music in the first place. Anyone who can deal with Neil Diamond AND Johnny Cash AND The Dixie Chicks AND System of a Down AND Eminem??? He is my top choice hands down.

2. Jimmy Iovine. I know, he's gone off into some other weird world but the guy produce Tom Petty's Damn The Torpedos which (in spite of the tour rift between Petty's wife and The Mats and him ripping off "rebel without a clue") is a great sounding rock record.

3. Ric Ocasek. I am one of the few who unabashedly loved his production of Guided By Voices on Do The Collapse. The songs were a bit weaker than GBV's normal power but the album sounds insane.

4. Peter Jesperson. Actually, this is the wrong #. He's # 1.

5. Don Was. I was a "Suicaine" hater for years. Then one day I listened again and almost had a nervous breakdown the emotional weight hit me so hard. The production is perfect.

6. Joan Jett. Another duet, a killer rhythm guitar player to throw 3 cents in, and shit, she's fucking Joan Jett.

7. Chris Goss. Perhaps a bit prog-rock, but the mastermind behind Masters of Reality, QOTSA and countless others, never sacrifices tone or swing for noodling. Plus the idea of The 'Mats going out to the desert and out-rock-'n-roll-ing Queens of the Stone Age? Kind of perfect.

Throw yer ideas out there! Any speculation on this album increases the likelihood that it will actually come into existence.

[gage]

Mark Ronson-His production can be a bit retro, but it usually seems to be original and appropriate for whatever setting it's in.
Kenny Laguna and Richie Cordell: They did wonders for Jan Jett. Big guitars, big wad of bubblegum.
Bob Rock: Motley Crue's Doctor Feelgood sounds amazing. Just take one Bass Drum away.
Mike Chapman: More bubblegum. Imagine the Replacements with the production of Material Issue's Freak City Soundtrack...

[ClamsCasino]

Great lists, but it may be a moot point, since Tommy has implied that they already recorded a bunch of material back in April/May and are still deciding what to do with it it all.

[Schecky]

Butch Vig

[bigbak]

I'll throw in with Don Was, as I absolutely love Suicaine.

[farmerted]

I'll third Don Was. It took me probably 10 years to buy that album, and I've been kicking myself for about 5 years that I didn't buy it sooner.

[Jer]

As awesome as Joan Jett is, she's got very little producing experience and what she does have is as part of a team on a couple of her own records. I'm ok with anything she does, but producing a Replacements record wouldn't happen.

Rich Rubin is an interesting choice for anything, just about. I could see it as a great match up for a PW record but not the mats. It would be interesting and could be amazing, but could also be a bit too much Rubin and not enough mats. I wouldn't count it out, but he wouldn't be my first choice. Highly unlikely I think.

I don't really feel the same way about Don Was, except I hated SG - but I blame that on the material and not him at all. He has a real sensibility about stepping back alot, but chiming in when it counts, and choosing his inputs wisely. Throw in an aggressive engineer that might get PW out of his comfort zone with some new amps and tones, and it could work.

But yeah, if a bunch of the songs are recorded then there either is no producer, they're doing it themselves, or there's already someone there. It's pretty rare to for a producer to get involved well into the tracking process.

[ClamsCasino]

I already said this in the other producer wishlist thread, but the word is that Rubin is more of a hands off producer these days, just giving his stamp of approval after all the work is done. He's just a brand name now. Corey Taylor of Slipknot says he only saw Rubin a few times during the entire making of their album even though he's credited as the sole producer.

[monkeytot]

Some good suggestions people, except put me in the "not a fan of SG" category. Totally agree about Ocasek and DTC.

Here's some more:

Dave Fridmann (Flaming Lips, Sleater-k-love what he did with their last lp The Woods)
John Agnello (Sonic Youth, Hold Steady, Dive by Ts-good straight ahead rock n roll sound)

Tom Waits would be awesome, give The Mats that ol timey juke joint/road house sound

[dee]

Jack Frost

[markc]

Jack Douglas

[holeinthedrapes]

Steve Van Zandt

[adamapple]

Just make it and release it!