I would like to see Neil's next solo album be produced by someone interesting.....like Daniel Lanois.

I had a similar excitement about Dave Fridmann producing Dizzy Heights, but I only moderately like that album. The ways in which he stretched Neil (Divebomber, White Lies) I appreciate much more than enjoy.

But I’d be curious to see him work with Lanois, or Flood, or even another artist producing like St Vincent or Bon Iver. Most of all, I’d like to see him move away from the “family band” situation...he’s been entrenched in that ever since Intriguer.

What about Jay Joyce who produced Tim's brilliant Say It Is So and Feeding The God's?

What about someone complitely new, someone around/or under his 30s, someone who is into these days modern production, who is in the peak of his game now, not 10, 20 or 30 years ago... like M. Froom was on his peak in days of first three albums, and Youth od TA?

..Most of all, I’d like to see him move away from the “family band” situation...he’s been entrenched in that ever since Intriguer.

I agree 100 percent. I wish I would have discovered Neil long before the "family band" thing.

My knowledge of producers is too sparse to add to the suggestions here (I'm checking them out, though, thanks for your contributions!)  but... 

slowpogo posted:

Most of all, I’d like to see him move away from the “family band” situation...

... I'm afraid I also agree with this. It seems a bit "narrative over music" in terms of priorities. 

Re the family band aspect:  but I do think that Pajama Club album is very good.  In my own list, I put it up there with the best that Neil has recorded.  Golden Child is quite haunting and different.  Neil's wife adds a great element with her great singing voice.  And she was in a band before so great experience and skill on bass.  His sons are just as talented as anyone he could call upon to join him.  So the more I think about it, I have no problem with the family thing as long it creates great albums like Pajama Club.

It’s not about talent level or familial relations. I just feel his output has started to feel weirdly homogenous post-Intriguer, even as sonically diverse as his albums might sound.

I know he’s worked with a few new collaborators too, like Dave Fridmann and Victoria Kelly. But otherwise his core musicians have been more or less the same, and not in a “band” way like Crowded House. It’s just starting to really bore me, like “Them again? Eh...”

I think new collaborators all around could yield something really interesting (even if that means a Fleetwood Mac album). I’m excited by the idea of an indie artist/producer like St. Vincent and a new band. I’m really, really not excited by yet another iteration of Liam/Elroy/Sharon and some Old Guard producer like Tchad Blake.

Maybe even just Neil on guitar with Daniel producing.  Then a guy like Daniel adding layers after.  He did that with Bob Dylan and it worked out well.  

Or opposite of that....one thing Neil absolutely has to do...and should do it soon while relatively young....is put out a harder edged album.  Tap into those wild solos he does live.  So maybe seek out a producer that has produced harder rockin acts.   I think it would blow people away and send Neil on a totally different path.  His slow, quite requisite, song creating should be shelved for a bit now.   

exquisite...I meant to say...lol 

I speak for myself, of course, but the issue to me is usually more about the quality of the songs. I really liked the sound that Fridmann brought to Dizzy Heights but the album just didn't have enough good songs. The same is also true of Out of Silence and Lightsleeper: the production was fine, the songs were lacking.

Has someone been reading this forum (again)?

"neilfinnofficial
Repost: @neilandliamfinn
Hey do you like family bands? Neither do we but don’t worry, since we started microdosing we’ve transcended the trad family band pitfalls. Meet Me In The Air video premiers next week on our YouTube channel."