John Agnello is an American music producer and recording engineer who has worked with a multitude of recording artists. He has produced or co-produced dozens of albums. He also founded his own record label in the 2000s.
Background In the 1980s, John Agnello worked on albums including Uh-Huh by John Cougar Mellencamp, Rock in a Hard Place by Aerosmith, Warrior by Scandal, Stay Hungry by, Twisted Sister She's So Unusual by Cyndi Lauper, and No Brakes by John Waite.The Metal Archives - John Agnello, BiographyAudio Engineering Society - AES New York 2017 Presenter or Author, John Agnello
According to New York Makers magazine, the Brooklyn-based John Agnello "is a force to be reckoned with in the music world". He has worked with artists such as Kurt Vile, Sonic Youth, Dinosaur Jr., Bruce Springsteen, Bob Dylan, and Lauper.New York Makers, Mar 23, 2020 - FIERCE | John Agnello’s Passion for Recording Music In producing indie artists, Agnello is a veteran; according to Rolling Stone he is celebrated in that field.Rolling Stone, MAY 17, 2022 - MUSIC, Horsegirl Celebrate With Chicago Peers in New ‘Dirtbag Transformation’ Video The rising indie trio discuss their community, songwriting style, and working with indie vet John Agnello on their upcoming debut, Versions of Modern Performance
Agnello has been interviewed by J. Robbins of Tape Op which appeared in issue no. 14.Tape Op - INTERVIEWS, John Agnello: Producer of Jawbox & Varnaline among others BY J. ROBBINS He has also been interviewed by Justin Colletti of Sonic Scoop,Socnic Scoop, September 23rd, 2010 - John Agnello: Dinosaur Jr. & Sonic Youth Producer On New Indie Rock Sounds, Classic Techniques By Justin Colletti and Knut Schreiner for Tidal.Tidal, April 12, 2015 - In the Control Room: A Conversation with John Agnello Knut Schreiner sits down for a lengthy conversation with legendary producer John Agnello. by Knut Schreiner Audio engineer Brian Speaker cites Agnello as being his mentor. Agnello also has a close relationship with the Magic Shop studio.Sonic Scoop, November 30th, 2016 - A Chain of Mentorship: One Producer Traces Back His Chain of Audio Mentors 4 Generations
Career 1970s–1980s According to John Agnello's interview with Tape Op, he started working for Record Plant in 1979. He began as an assistant doing manual work, cleaning up after sessions. The same day he began his job, Kiss began recording Dynasty at the Record Plant; Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers were recording Damn the Torpedoes in the studio at the time.Tape Op - INTERVIEWS, John Agnello: Producer of Jawbox & Varnaline among others BY J. ROBBINS
1990s John Agnello engineered the Sweet Oblivion album for the Screaming Trees. According to Mark Lanegan, the group fell in love with Agnello. In spite of Lanegan being a horror to work with, Agnello took a liking to him. They attempted to make a follow up to the Sweet Oblivion but there were issues with Lanegan and Agnello's own problems as well as with the band who weren't getting along. This put a dampener on things. However, Lanegan had some partially done songs that were intended for his solo record. He played them for Agnello who told him that they were brilliant and that they could finish them in a week. He told Lanegan to come out to New York. He booked a studio for Lanegan and it was completed. According to Lanegan the finished item wasn't Trout Mask Replica or Starsailor, but it was close enough to how he thought that it would be.Record Collector, March 2021 No. 516 - Page 53 THE RC INTERVIEW, “I WAS A NIGHTMARE TO WORK WITH’, In between those albums, you finally released Whiskey For The Holy Ghost, which took the best part of four years. Didn’t you nearly discard it because you were so frustrated with the process?
Agnello worked on the Phaseshifter album for the band Redd Kross. It was the pop album "Pick of the Week" in the 23 October 1993 issue of Cash Box. Even though the magazine indicates that he was a co-producer along with the band, it appears that his role was being an engineer.Cash Box, October 23, 1993 - Page 11 POP ALBUMS, PICK OF THE WEEK, REDD KROSS: Phaseshifter (This Way Up/Mercury 518 167) Producer Redd Kross, John Agnello
Agnello produced the Pop Heiress album by Chainsaw Kittens which was released in 1994. According to Trouser Press it was the group's finest album. The album was reviewed in the June 20 - July 3, 1994 issue of Music Connection. The reviewer said that Agnello's production picked up from where the last disc's producer Butch Vig left off.Trouser Press - Chainsaw KittensMusic Connection, June 20 - July 3, 1994 - Page 35 DISC REVIEWS, Chainsaw Kittens, Pop Heiress
2000s Baryon Records Agnello worked with the band Fireworks Go Up! which was Dan Coutant, Dave Fateman, and Scott Truede. He produced the group's debut You're Welcome with the first release on his Baryon Records label, (Cat# BYN 001), signaling its launch.Live at the Falcon, November 12, 2022. Spoils System | Blue Museum | George Spafford 8pmDiscogs. Fireworks Go Up! – You're WelcomeThe Austin Chronicle, March 19, 2004 – SXSW Picks & Sleepers, Fireworks Go Up!, Midnight, Lounge The next album released on his label was Onyx Root by Michael Powers;Blind Racoon - Testimonials JOHN AGNELLO ~ BARYON RECORDS it was released on Baryon BYN 002AllMusic - Release: Onyx Root, Michael Powers and the album was produced by Steve Rosenthal.Acoustic Roots & Country Blues, 2004 - Michael Powers' Onyx Root by Frank Matheis Anders Parker's Tell It to the Dust album came out on Agnello's Baryon label (cat# BYN 003) in 2004.Tucson Weekly, July 21, 2005 - Tell It to the EarsHere's Anders Parker's gimmick: He seems incapable of making bad music By Stephen SeigelTreblezine, August 4, 2004 – Album Reviews Fireworks Go Up!: You're Welcome by Ernest SimpsonAllMusic - Release: Tell It to the Dust Tell It to the Dust In 2006 / 2007, Parker's self-titled album was released on Baryon BYN-006.Pop Matters, 26 November 2006 - ANDERS PARKER: ANDERS PARKER By Michael MetivierDiscogs - Anders Parker – Anders Parker
2010s Agnello worked with Kurt Vile on Vile's Smoke Ring for My Halo and it was released in 2011. They worked together again on Wakin on a Pretty Daze, an album.Premier Guitar, November 17, 2015 - Kurt Vile: Just Let It Flow By Bill Murphy
Agnello worked as mixer on the Manhattan album by Jeffrey Lewis & Los Bolts. Brian Speaker was the recording engineer.Mixdown Magazine - JEFFREY LEWIS ANNOUNCES NEW ALBUM Agnello was sought out by band Nothing for their album Dance on the Blacktop which was recorded at Dreamland Recording Studios near Woodstock, New York. It was released in 2018.Hare and Hounds, June 29, 2018 - New Show: NothingDrowned in Sound, 24/08/2018 - Nothing Dance on the Blacktop
Angello worked with the group Horsegirl on their album Versions of Modern Performance which was recorded at the Chicago institution Electrical Audio studio. The group were expecting to record the album at another studio and wanted to keep what they referred to as a "scrappy DIY sound" they had in mind. Angello was the perfect man for the job because he understood the rough sound they wanted to keep and having worked with some of Horsegirl's favorite artists gave him the understanding.Rolling Stone, MAY 17, 2022 - MUSIC, Horsegirl Celebrate With Chicago Peers in New ‘Dirtbag Transformation’ Video The rising indie trio discuss their community, songwriting style, and working with indie vet John Agnello on their upcoming debut, Versions of Modern Performance In February 2022, Duquette Johnston released his The Social Animals album which was produced by Agnello. It was actually completed in 2017, but Johnson held off on releasing it until he felt the time was right.The Big Takeover, 10 May 2022 - Interview: Duquette Johnston by Chip Midnight
References
External links Discogs - John Agnello