Recordings that Shields Worked On
Contributions: playing, engineering, mixing, and/or production
The tracks on which Shields is credited as engineer, mixer, and/or producer are often very unique. For any fan of MBV, his work with Primal Scream, Dinosaur Jr., and the Beat Up are all certainly worth a listen. While Primal Scream and Dinosaur are relatively well-known indie acts, American duo Joy Zipper's second album is easily one of the best projects he worked on. IMHO these are the albums absolutely worth owning: Primal Scream's XTRMNTR and Evil Heat, The Beatings's Black Rays Defence, and Joy Zipper's American Whip, plus the two J Masicis albums (Hand It Over as Dinosaur Jr., and More Light as J Mascis and the Fog)
Although other surprises can be found here, it is more a mixed bag when he solely played on a track or two, but had no role in the final prouct. His contributions on guitar or another instrument might not be noteworthy - much less identifiable - although that tells us nothing about the project’s inherent value. Additionally, the emphasis and promotion they place on Shields's participation tells us little abuut the size of his contribution or it's value.
Although this list is very compressive and has been vetted over many years, you may come across some recordings from a ‘Kevin Shields’ from between 2005 and 2010. You may not see it listed here because it was actually by another musician, Eva Aguila, using his name as a pseudonym. If you go to Discogs.com and look up Kevin Shields (2), you’ll see her identified as ‘Eva Aguila’ and you can see all her work – a couple projects included Thurston Moore, making it that much more confusing. I did listen to a few of her recordings. After much thought about how to describe her music, I settled on the phrase ‘unambiguously boring and lifeless.’ It’s various types of electronic and analog 'noise' for want of a better phrase. She and her collaborators may have taken some pleasure in making it, but that doesn't mean I should waste my time listening to it. It is really best left to its own devices.
How Do You Do It? Single – The Impossibles (UK)
Tracks 2, 3, and 4 produced by
the Impossibles and Kevin Shields
Fontana, 1990
Contains a cover of Dinosaur Jr.’s ‘Tar Pit.’
3396 – Undark
‘sulphur & zugzwang guitars,’ tracks not specified.
Em:t Records 3396, 1996
Shields, like others, simply created pieces of music in his own studio, which he gave over to Russell Mills to use as he saw fit. This record was later retitled Strange Familiar.
Pearl + Umbra – Undark: guitar samples
Bella Union Ltd., BELLACD13, 1999
For many possible reasons, Shields is not credited on this album, but Russell Mills mentioned that Shields, Thurston Moore, and Mike Fearon all contributed music used on ‘Causes Causes Causes’ (each working in their own studios, completely indendently.) It is unknown what other songs his music may have been used on.
‘I Don’t Think So’ – Dinosaur Jr.: vocals
Without a Sound, Reprise, 1994
‘I Don’t Think’ & ‘Never Bought It’– Dinosaur Jr.:
Shields did backgroun vocals on both tracks.
Butcher also contributed vocals to 'I Don't Think.' ‘Some other stuff recorded at MBV studio
with Kevin Shields.'
Hand It Over, Reprise, 1996
‘Beyond the Pale’ – Experimental Audio Research: 'treated guitar loop’
Beyond the Pale, Big Cat ABB96CD, 1996
The Köner Experiment –
Experimental Audio Research: guitar (Treated)
Mille Plateaux 36, 1997
Shields has played with Sonic Boom’s experimental collective in the studio and in live settings, but rumors have circulated that none of his playing has actually ended up on this release. Ultimately, I simply don't know if those rumors are valid.
‘Message Personnel’ – Dot Allison:
guitar
Afterglow, Arista, 1999
No Flies on Frank EP – O’Neill
mixed by Damian O’Neill and Kevin Shields
Artefact ART16, 1999
‘Rapper’s Relight’ –
DJ Spooky That Subliminal Kid:
guitar
Subliminal Minded – THE E.P.,
Outpost Recordings, 1999
More Light – J Mascis + The Fog
​
Liner notes: ‘Kevin Shields brought Andrew Wilkinson to twiddle the knobs while they were here. This was a period of about 7 weeks where Kevin was producing, playing some guitar, percussion, and singing.
Ultimatum Music, 2000
I got this on vinyl recently and 'Where'd You Go' blew my mind. I've no doubt Kevin made this song 'pop,' as the quote below indicates his involvement. Shields takes an already great song to another level. Essential.
Freakscene.net says Shields added guitar to ‘All The Girls,’ and ‘Does the Kiss Fit,’ along with tambourine to 'Where'd You Go?' Mascis would tell the Washington Post that Shields was one of the only people whose opinion he actually trusted or cared about and that he helped ‘get different guitar sounds and bass sounds, and played a little bit.' Beyond those three tracks, we don'tknow exactly what he did.
‘Accelerator’ – guitar and mixing
I discuss this song at length in the book and what it represented to Bobby Gillespie and Andrew Innes. The studio versions and live versions are another high point for Shields time away from MBV.
'Shoot Speed Kill Light’:
produced by Kevin Shields & Tim Holmes
XTRMNTR, Creation, 2000.
'When the Kingdom Comes' –
Primal Scream:
guitar credit reads:
'feedback sonically speaking’
ACCLRTR single, Creation, 2000
‘Perish’ and ‘Want More Need Less’ – Curve: guitar
Gift, Hip-O, 2001.
‘Freedom of Speech Won’t Feed My Children’
– The Manic Street Preachers:
guitar, uncredited
Know Your Enemy, Virgin, 2001
Bad Feeling single – The Beatings (UK)
all tracks mixed and produced by Kevin Shields
Fantastic Plastic, 2002
This excellent single has two worthwhile B sides on the CD single that don’t appear on the album. This 7-inch single gives you great fidelity, with some of the more extreme frequencies coming to the fore. I’m a very big fan of this album, and this single is certainly worth owning for the B-sides even if you buy the proper album.
Evil Heat - Primal Scream:
'Deep Hit of Morning Sun,' 'Autobahn 66,' 'Detroit,' 'The Lord is My Shotgun,' 'City,' and 'Skull X' Produced by Kevin Shields, engineered by Mads Bjerke
Creation, 2002
All Recordings by Andrew Innes with Breyden Lynch and Jaz Kooner
I personally think this is an amazing sounding album, and Track 6. and 9, mentioned by their titles above, are totally distinct. Except for 'Miss Lucifer,' Shields worked on the best tracks.
‘Accelerator (Live)’ and
‘Shoot Speed / Kill Light (Live)’
– Primal Scream: guitar
AUTOBAHN 66 CD Single, Columbia, 2002
‘City’ – Primal Scream:
‘skunk guitar’ and production, engineer: Raj Daf
Evil Heat, Sony, 2002
An earlier iteration of this song, ‘Sick City,’ first appeared on David Holmes’s 1999 albu Bow Down to the Exit Sign.
‘Incite a Riot’ & ‘Slip Your Skin’ (with vocals by Gillespie) can also be found on the same album. These could serve as great substitutes for any of the redundant songs like the two version of 'Swastika Eyes' or the dreadful out of place 'Keep Your Dream'' on the bloated XTRMNTR.
PRML SCRM Live in Japan – Primal Scream:
guitar on all tracks,
mixed by Kevin Shields and Mads Bjerke
Sony, 2003
‘Some Velvet Morning' – Primal Scream: Mixed by Andrew Innes, Kevin Shields, and Jagz Kooner
Some Velvet Morning single, Sony, 2003.
Note: this single is different from the album version on Evil Heat, which did not involve Shields.
J Mascis: The John Peel Sessions:
Tracks 1–5, Mixed and Engineered by Kevin Shields.
Strange Fruit, 2003. CD only.
American Whip – Joy Zipper:
mixing on tracks 2, 4, 7, and 8 and additional production on track 10
Mercury Records Limited, 2004
Shields, along with Guy Fixsen, David Holmes, and Hugo Nicholson pitched in on this utterly unique album. More than anything it speaks to Vinny and Tabitha being seen as peers. As unique and essential to me as Sister or Isn't Anything. The same could be said of their eponymous first album, about which the reviewer at i-D Magazine wrote, 'Imagine Kim and Thurston of Sonic Youth reciting Pet Sounds to each other as pillow talk.' I bring it up as they have been woefully overlooked, in part due to their record label going under, delaying this second album, and ruining their momentum to quickly reach a large audience.
I Killed My Best Friend – Le Volume Courbe
Shields cowrote tracks 6, 8, and 12
Mixed track 4 with C. Marionneau;
Additional mixing on tracks 6, 7, 8 and 9
Hot John’s Records, 2005.
Black Rays Defence – The Beat Up
all tracks produced and mixed by Kevin Shields
Fantastic Plastic, 2005
Shields produced additional B-sides from these session and it's just too bad they didn't get the attention they deserved. Album cuts and B-sides like 'Heartbreak,' 'Mean What You Say,' 'Leaving Town,' and 'The Flame,' are every bit as good as the singles like 'Bad Feeling,' 'Alright,' and 'Messed Up'. Unfortunately, the band broke up after this album.
Zidane: A 21st Century Portrait –
Kevin Shields: Noise Consultant
Directed by Douglas Gordon & Phillipe Parreno
Katapult Films, 2006
Shields mixed the crowd noise.
‘Freight Train’ / ‘The House’ –
Le Volume Courbe:
mixed by Brendan Lynch,
Andrew Innes, and Kevin Shields
Freight Train 7-inch, Trouble Records Dude, 2007
‘I Love the Living You’ – Le Volume Courbe:
Kevin Shields — guitar, melodica, glass
The Psychedelic Sounds of the Sonic
Cathedral: A Tribute to Roky Erickson,
Sonic Cathedral, 2008.
‘In Over Our Head’ – Gemma Hayes: Guitar
The Hollow of Morning,
Second Mountain Records, 2008
According to at least one source, they recorded
additional songs that remain unreleased.
‘7 & 3 is the Striker’s Name’ and
‘She Speaks’ – Paul Weller: guitar
Wake Up the Nation, 2010.
Screamadelica – Primal Scream:
Remastered by Primal Scream and Kevin Shields
Sony, 2011
On the inside of the booklet it says the remastering was done by John Davis at Metropolis and it was merely 'approved by Kevin Shields.' I'd expect nothing less than from that
phony Gillespie.
Theodaurus Rex EP – Le Volume Courbe
A2: gutar, melodica, glass harmonica.
B1 mixed by Shields
Pickpocket Records, FREE001 (10”), 2011
‘Orion’ – FLat7: Guitar
Sweet Glow of Silence
Sony Records International, 2012
This album is the creation of Mitsuo Tate, who
played with the Cocteau Twins in their live incarnation.
The album has significant contributions from Robin Guthrie,
which may be how Shields came to play on it.
'2013' – Primal Scream: Guitar
More Light, Sony, 2013
This picture sleeve was for a promo single
I Wish Dee Dee Ramone Was Here with Me –
Le Volume Courbe:
Shields played on tracks
2, 5, and 9 and helped mix tracks 3, 6, and 8
Pickpocket Records, FREE003, 2011
‘The Weight of History’ b/w ‘Only Once Away My Son’ – Brian Eno with Kevin Shields:
Shields contribution is unspecified
The Weight of History,
Opal Recordings, 2018
As discussed in the book, Shields found Eno's setup liberating and was encouraged that technology could be made to better serve his ends.
‘Follow You, Follow Me’ – West Hinder Installation
Co-produced by Brian Reitzell and Kevin Shields.
An instrumental version of this Genesis song was created to accompany Elizabeth Price’s 2012 video installation, West Hinder, based on a real event in 2002 in which a boat load of cars in transit fell into the sea. The witty video imaginess them becoming sentient. She was won the Turner Prize in 2014.
‘Last Summer’ – Brian Reitzell: organ
Auto Music, Smalltown Supersound, 2014
This unique album is definitely worth owning. There are references to obscure movie soundtracks and composers. 1973's The Spirit of the Beehive is a typical influence worth following up on, as is composer Toru Takemitsu. It is no accident he has written elegant and diverse soundtrack music, among other things.
First Compilation: These compilations need to be resequenced. Right now they are really a list of some of the best tracks that Kevin Shields contributed, along with a few by the other members of the band, and a few MBV Rarities.
1. ‘If They Move, Kill ’Em (Kevin Shields mix)’ – Primal Scream (from 1998) (Not XTRMNTR Version)
2.'The Lord is My Shotgun' - Primal Scream
3. ‘Mainstream Hate School’ – Wounded Knees
4. 'Where'd You Go' - J Mascis and the Fog
5. ‘Magic Nights (My Bloody Valentine Remix)’ – Pastels
6. ‘We Have All The Time in The World’ – My Bloody Valentine
7. 'Detroit' - Primal Scream
8. ‘Instrumental No. 2’ – My Bloody Valentine
9. ‘Autumn Sweater (Remixed By Kevin Shields)’ – Yo La Tengo
10. ‘Tunnel (Electro-Convulsive Mix by Kevin Shields)’ – God
11. 'In the Never Ending search for Suitable Enemy' – Joy Zipper
12. ‘Cycle (My Bloody Valentine Remix)’ – The Pastels
13. ‘Coming Up Roses (Kevin Shields Remix)’ – Curve
14. ‘Moonman Bop’ – Clear Spot (drums by Colm Ó Cíosóig)
15. ‘Rising Sign (My Bloody Valentine Remix)’ – Hurricane #1
16. ‘Accelerator’ – Primal Scream
17. ‘Goodbye’ – Kevin Shields
18. ‘Outro’ – Kevin Shields
Second Compilation
​
1. ‘Bad Feeling’ – The Beat-Up
2. ‘Old Young (Remembering)’ – soundtrack for Édouard Lock’s La La La Humans Steps
dance troupe show 2.
3. ‘Map Ref 41°N 93°W’ – My Bloody Valentine‘
4. ‘Heartbreak' - The Beat Up
5. ‘Kevin Song' (aka ‘Just Like Us’) – My Bloody Valentine (bootleg only)
6. ‘Tar Pit’ – The Impossibles
7. 'Messed Up - The Beat-Up
8. ‘Accelerator (Live)’ – Primal Scream (from PRML SCRM Live in Japan)
9. ‘To Here Knows When (Live from Fuji Rock Festival ’08)’ – My Bloody Valentine
10. ‘Take Me through This Life (Remixed by Kevin Shields)’ – The Frank and Walters
11. 'Never Bought It' - Dinosaur Jr.
12. ‘John Brown (Triumphal March)’ – Snowpony (bass by Debbie Googe)
13. ‘Casino Kisschase’ – Collapsed Lung (vocals by Bilinda Butcher)
14. 'I Want Candy (Kevin Shields Mix)’ – Bow Wow Wow
15. ‘Psycho’s Blues’ – Clear Spot (drums by Colm Ó Cíosóig)
16. 'Sinc (Kevin Shields Mix) - Mercedes
17. ‘City Girl’ – Kevin Shields
18. 'On the Lowdown' - Hope Sandoval & the Warm Inventions
19. ‘Incidental Peace’ – Skylab meets My Bloody Valentine