Since we we were just talking about Jon Brion, I thought I'd bring up Fiona Apple's Extraordinary Machine. She recorded the album with Brion at the producing helm, finishing in 2003. Now, at that point, either her record label or Apple herself decided that they were unhappy with the finished product -- it's not exactly clear who made the final call. Fast forward to 2005, when the album is released officially with new production by Mike Elizondo, best known for his hip-hop production ("In Da Club", "The Real Slim Shady"). Now, here's the cool part: the Brion-produced version leaked to the internet in 2004. So eager listeners got two different versions to investigate. Which is better? Initially, my instinctive reaction was to assume that Jon Brion's version was better. But as I have really dug in, I'm not sure that's always the case. There are many arrangements full of strings and amazing instrumentation (as Brion tends to do) that far surpass the official release. And there is one horrific attempt at a club single on the official release, from a song not on the Brion version. That all being said, there are some moments were Elizondo's heavier production sound suits the mood of the songs. In the end, I think both are worthwhile. Both have moments better than the other version. But I really wish I could hear Jon Brion's version in a fully mixed and mastered sound. Alas.Fiona Apple - Extraordinary Machine (from the Jon Brion Extraordinary Machine)
Fiona Apple - Not About Love (from the Jon Brion Extraordinary Machine)
Fiona Apple - Not About Love (from Extraordinary Machine)
The background to the two versions of the album were actually a little more complicated than it initially appeared. Read more here.