As you might have noticed, I’m a big fan of home recording. I believe there is something to be said about having the freedom to create without the added pressure of the clock beating down on you every hour. Home recording gives you that freedom, and for a truly modest price tag (as little as $500). So as you might have guessed, major label talent have caught on to this trend and many of today’s top bands have opted to forgo the studio and record their latest masterpiece at home, with fantastic results I might add! I just wanted to point out a few of my favorite home-recorded albums and share them with you for inspiration…
Foo Fighters “There Is Nothing Left To Lose”
One of rock’s biggest bands in the last 14 years has been without a doubt the Foo Fighters. With 6 studio albums under their belts, Grammy awards, hilarious music videos, and countless sold out venues, these guys are at the top of their game.
But what many people don’t know is that Dave Grohl is a home recording guy himself and has opted a few times to do albums the “at home way”. After completing two hit albums already, the rock foursome (then trio) headed back to Alexandria, VA (Dave’s hometown) to set up shop in his basement. What resulted was 1999’s “There Is Nothing Left To Lose” and what Dave himself says “might be my favorite album we’ve ever done.” Take a listen for yourself!
“Generator”
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
Red Hot Chili Peppers “Blood Sugar Sex Magik”
Going back even a bit farther in time we have the Chili Peppers. These guys have made so many great albums it’s not even funny. But one of their biggest albums to date was 1991’s “Blood Sugar Sex Magik”. This album totally put these guys on the map.
Having started work on the album already and not getting anywhere with it, producer Rick Rubin, suggested the band set up shop in a house, away from the studio. They found an old (and supposedly haunted) mansion in LA, where the band hunkered down (and actually never left) for a month. The result was unique, challenging, and ground breaking…oh, and Grammy Award winning! Gotta love it.
“Give It Away”
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
Thrice “The Alchemy Index”
One of the more creative bands to emerge over the last decade has been California natives, Thrice. Blending aggressive guitars and vocals, with melody, solid arranging, and deep lyrics, Thrice has captured the attention of a lot of music lovers. In an interesting move from Island Records to the more “Indy” Vagrant Records the band decided to also move “out of the studio” and do an album at home, literally.
Talk about home recording, this album was recorded, produced, and mixed all at home by Thrice. Not only that, because of doing the album at home, their creativity hit new heights as they turned their “home sessions” into a 24 song set of 4 EPs. Major productivity and creativity born out of a home based studio. It doesn’t get much better than this!
“Burn The Fleet”
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
Will You Be Next?
There you have it. Proof that you can make a Grammy award winning and ground breaking album at home. And if you think that the reason these albums sound good is because they had “nice gear” you’d be wrong. It’s not about the gear. It’s never about the gear. You need a few quality pieces, yes. But the reason these albums sound good, are good, and have been critically acclaimed is because of only 3 things: good songs, played by talented musicians, with creative energy. That’s it. If you have a good song, talent, and a desire to create something amazing…you are well on your way to making great recordings. Gear is truly a non-issue in my humble opinion.
Now go make some music!
Comments
[...] is just ignorant snobbery. First of all, I’ve already written a post on 3 top major label bands who have recorded great albums (one of them Grammy award winning) at home. Check it out and listen for yourself. Second this myth shows blind belief in the root of Myth #1, [...]
owl city!!!! I don’t know if that counts, though, since it’s all electronic
[...] of melodic blues rock with a raw epic twist. I've written briefly about them before regarding their recent move to self recording at home rather than doing the big studio [...]
just got here by your newest foo fighters article and i’m totally in love with your site since i first found your number 1 rule.
just some things about Blood Sugar Sex Magik. i wouldn’t go as far as saying that this is a home recorded one in the sense of having to compromise on mainly every aspect of recording. there is a must-see documentary about the recording of bssm in this mansion called “Funky Monks” in which you can see that it may not look like a studio but definitley has the same quality. i mean it’s like they have all the studio equipment to choose from and i think they arent the cheapest. there is even a room packed with synthesizers. they have alot of rooms to choose to get the sound they want. in some shots you see definitely some kind of acoustic treatment. every instrument is seperated in it’s own room. plus rick rubin who maybe could make a billion selling record on a backseat of a car. and the ghosts of the beatles, bowie and co which all stayed in this building before.
i mean i’m a such a big fan of this record in it’s quite unusal sounds and recording ways so maybe that is the connection. doing the things. not just being in studio concentrating anything but the music. but if you’re looking on the equipment or setup there is a little more than just my 500 bucks studio with two decent mic, a computer and a poor sounding spare bedroom.
if so you could also say that led zep iv is kind of these recording with bonham being tracked in the stair hall.
a completely different thing. as i sad i’m totally in love with your site and the underlying ideas and principles. i must say i was stunned when i realized that things like “limit yourself” or “done is better than perfect” are not bound to the realm of recording but can be practical in a whole lot of other situations. thank you.
peter
Hey Peter, so glad you found the site and are enjoying!
I’ve seen that documentary on BSSM as well. Great stuff! I’m not talking about gear as much as I’m talking about not being in a traditional studio environment. Many artists are enjoying pulling out of the studio and into a comfortable home environment.
Definitely glad the Number One Rule is helping out. It’s so counter intuitive, but helpful!
Cheers.
Even LINKIN PARK, they recorded 2/3 of there album at mike shinoda’s home studio and recoded some vocals and mixed it at NRG Studios (LA).
(A Thousand Suns 2010)
Yeah, I’ve seen a tour of Shinoda’s home studio. Very cool place. LP has always been somewhat DIY in pro tools.
[...] ditch the traditional recording studio and make an album in their homes. A while back I highlighted three pro bands who recorded at home (including these guys), but today I want to highlight Dave Grohl, frontman and founder of the [...]