10 sonically best rock recordings ?

Roger Waters "Amused To Death"

Souporhero, Albini (over-)mikes drum kits with alot of Neumanns and constantly searches for a powerful room reverb. But too much of the dynamics of "Rid of Me" are mechanical, as if the instruments had only a few volume levels that they moved between (almost a parody of grunge-song dynamics: soft-loud-soft-very loud 2X); then, there are the thin and annoyingly harsh guitar sounds throughout; an un-natural final equalization, esp. upper bass (same story with Nirvana's "In Utero"); and a "sadistic" treatment of P.J. Harvey's voice. Albini's personality (he is a cynic with a penchant for black humor and misogny--read Courtney Love on this) interfered with P.J.'s performance. Yet that album has some of her best songs ("Rid of Me" "Rub'Til It Bleeds" "Hook" "Yuri-G" "Dry") and her best band. But the demos for "Rid of Me" make me wonder what would have happened if Albini had not been the producer. Albini's best production (he himself knows it) was on an obscure album by a Kentucky math-rock band Slint, "Spiderland": same drum sound, under-mixed almost indecipherable vocals, but very direct and immediate electric guitars, superb instrument placement and much more complex dynamics than "Rid of Me."

Here is a continuation of my previous list: ten (10) more rock recordings that have excellent to superb sonics. They may be difficult to find, since they are vinyl, "independent" (small recording companies) recordings from the 1980s ownwards. All of the pressings I refer to are non-audiophile, commericial pressings. I have given the catalogue numbers to help with the search. A few "special awards" will be given out. However, I do not give out the award for the overall best rock recording just yet.
LIST TWO
1. Chavez, "Gone Glimmering" (Matador, Ole 133). Winner of the most powerful rock recording. Turn up your volume approximately two minutes through the song "Laugh Track" and prepare yourself for the first brutal climax of this powerful and sublime rollercoaster of a recording. The follow-up recording "Ride the Fader" (Matador, Ole 200) is also very desirable.
2. Let's Active, "Big Plans for Everyone" (IRS MIRE 1011). Of the hundreds of recordings that Mitch Easter produced, this is his masterpiece of self-production with very direct electric guitars and drums.
3. Game Theory, "Lolita Nation" (Enigma/Rational Records STB 73280). The full-length 2 album set is recommended above the single album condensed version that was later released. "Lolita Nation" is the "Godfather III" of Game Theory's career: a post-modern citation of their previous recordings with hyper-real "musique concrete" cutting. Between the sound splices there is some extremely well-recorded Big Star influenced rock. Produced by Mitch Easter.
4. Sonic Youth, "Dirty" (Geffen 424 485-1). This is the biggest and best sounding Sonic Youth recording with engineering and mixing by Butch Vig. Before they went out of business MFSL should have remastered these tapes rather than "Goo." Vinyl pressings of the original master tapes have recently been re-released, and that is the pressing I am recommending. They are a little noisier than the original, but are new.
5. Comsat Angels, "Waiting for a Miracle" (Polydor Super 2383578). Winner of the best bass guitar sound. The entrance of the bass (Fender fretless) in "Independence Day" is a good subwoofer test. All three of the Comsat Angels' Polydor albums (incl. "Sleep No More", and "Fiction") as well as the Dutch compilation "Enz" are very highly recommended. Look for British Polydor Super or Dutch Polydor copies.
6. Big Star, "Big Star's 3rd/Sister Lovers" (PVC 8933). I would also recommend Big Star's "#1 Record" if I could find a better pressing than the Ace Records Direct Metal Master from Digital Tapes (ACE WIK 53), which is a little veiled and bright.
7. Pixies, "Doolittle" (4AD/Elektra 9 60856-1) Here is the birth of Nirvana's "Nevermind" and countless other alternative bands. I prefer this recording to the Steve Albini produced "Surfer Rosa" (very bad focus and EQ) although the latter has the best Pixie's songs on it. Steve Albini will have his revenge in the very next entry.
8. Slint, "Spiderland" (Touch and Go Records, lp #64). Winner of the best sounding indie rock album. This recording is the best single Steve Albini recording: the dynamics, the drums, and especially the guitars are jaw-dropping on the songs "Nosferatu Man" and "Good Morning, Captain." On the back cover of the CD it says: "This recording is meant to be listened to on vinyl"--a warning that applies to all of Albini's work.
9. Cocteau Twins, "Head Over Heals" (4AD 313). Winner of the biggest sound stage award. If the sonic space of this recording does not stretch out well past the walls of your listening room from the very first second, then you should check to see if there is not something seriously wrong with your system. Also: if there are not shivers down your spine from the song "In Our Angelhood" or "Glass Candle Grenade" onwards then you should go to a medical lab and check to see if your bone marrow is still healthy.
10. dB's "Stands for Decibels" (Albion/Line ALLP 4.00009J). I had some reservations about putting this recording on this list. All of the CD copies (with no exception) and most of the vinyl copies of this recording are atrocious and do not do justice to the quality of the master tapes. The above pressing by Albion/Line is the only one I can recommend, and even then you will have a slightly bright recording (in part due to instrumentaion and miking). However, at least the miniscule studio details of this masterpiece will be in focus, and there will be none of the extremely irritating degradations of the CDs.
That is it for now. I know these recommendations may appear obscure in comparison to the Pink Floyd, Who and other classic rock recordings that appear in some of the lists that appear above. Nevertheless, they are well worth seeking out.
Also, it is strange that there not many posts on this thread. Is audiogon dominated by equipment freaks and classical music listeners?

Slawney unfortunately most here are not alternative rock listeners, some comments on your selections as they pertain to CD versions, my vinyl/Linn Lp12 days ended in 1991 but I had some of those in vinyl.

First the Big Star Cds are real let down, bright lean recordings, I had the #1 record/radio city CD but had to sell it because of poor recording quality, unfortunate.

Cocteau Twins and 4AD label in general had great vinyl, but CDs are hit and miss, for album "Head over Heels" opening track "mama was moth" has huge soundstage and explosive bass percussions, and "angelhood" rocks like no other CT track. Best sound for CT in CD line is "victorialand"
worst is "bluebell knoll" especially first 3 tracks. One of the best vinyl records I had was 4AD artist This Mortal Coil's 1st album, CD is nowhere near the same sound quality unfortunately, but still good.

I received a CDR of Metallica "The Black Album" This CDR BLOWS away the already great Elektra CD.Pure analog was the source for the CDR of course.Maybe the producer of the CDR could add more??