It's not surprising that he'd work with any band. Pretty much any band can get Steve Albini to record them. He doesn't choose the bands he records because he likes them, he just does it as a job. You might have to go his personal studio though, but that's a small price to pay to have a Steve Albini recorded album.

isn't neurosis a metal band? albini already worked with them. probably why zao chose to work with him...so, ALBINO GOES METAL is not exactly news. been done before.

i've heard he's a dick too. but, really who isn't in the music business? certainly the folks who write chunklet are. albino recorded some low records and they never had anything bad to say about him.

the zao record does sound good though...

random fact: i saw him do stand up and he was actually really funny

My friend's metal band (shameless plug: http://www.myspace.com/thehidden ) recorded both their EP and full length with Albini in his studio and said he's wonderful to work with.

[Edited on Jun 08, 2006 6:59PM]

I was going to say almost the exact same thing. Complete with the plug

Steve Albini records a band! Wait, this is news? Steve Albini records everyone who will pay him. He's a recording engineer actually, not a producer, and prefers to go unlisted on album credits.
He's already recorded metal with Neurosis and High on Fire too, so I can't see what's the big deal.

And Zao still sucks, regardless of how awesome his production is.

If you've got the money honey, he's got the time. My opinion of him only goes as far as some of the stellar pieces of music he has been attached to. I've never personally met him. Gossip is a valid as Dubya's presidency.

They are my favorite local band. Underrated, especially live, in my opinion. And I love how Kevin Grant truly believes in what he's doing. That man is dedicated, and it shows in his performance.

The good folks from Zao once crashed on my floor (my roommates idea) a couple years ago and fucking kept me awake with the horrid sound of snoring. I spent a good hour pelting them with peanuts and random objects. They never got the message of course. Good times. Glad to see they're making more noise for themselves now, though.

one of my old bands supported Big Black a very long time ago when they toured Australia and he did seem a bit of a wanker but his tour diary that he wrote, which was printed in Forced Exposure (i think) was fucking hilarious,and pretty much on the money.

if he's an asshole
and the guys in Zao got along great with him
wouldn't that mean their assholes too?

i know streaming sucks but the songs sound great!

Steve Albini would record Limp Bizkit if they paid him.

And the drums would sound huge!

I don't think he is an asshole and for what chestnutmonkey said i just can say that some friends of mine some years ago had a band that Steve Albini liked very much and he came all way down to Italy to record them for free,just 'cause he liked them.
Now if this means being an asshole that does it only for the money with any band.......ok

I think he's just an asshole to the music press, and those people are mostly scum/idiots anyway.