Smart Studios was a

recording studio A recording studio is a specialized facility for Sound recording and reproduction, recording and Audio mixing, mixing of instrumental or vocal musical performances, spoken words, and other sounds. They range in size from a small in-home proje ...

located in

Madison, Wisconsin Madison is the List of capitals in the United States, capital city of the U.S. state of Wisconsin. It is the List of municipalities in Wisconsin by population, second-most populous city in the state, with a population of 269,840 at the 2020 Uni ...

. It was set up in 1983 by

Butch Vig Bryan David "Butch" Vig (born August 2, 1955) is an American musician, record producer, and songwriter who is the drummer and co-producer of the rock band Garbage. Producer of the diamond selling Nirvana album ''Nevermind'' (1991), Vig also pro ...

and Steve Marker to produce local bands. The studio produced bands such as Killdozer,

The Smashing Pumpkins The Smashing Pumpkins (also simply known as Smashing Pumpkins) are an American alternative rock band formed in Chicago in 1988 by frontman and guitarist Billy Corgan, guitarist James Iha, bassist D'arcy Wretzky and drummer Jimmy Chamberlin. The ...

, L7, Tad,

Nirvana Nirvana, in the Indian religions (Jainism, Hinduism, Buddhism, and Sikhism), is the concept of an individual's passions being extinguished as the ultimate state of salvation, release, or liberation from suffering ('' duḥkha'') and from the ...

Hawthorne Heights Hawthorne Heights is an American rock band formed in Dayton, Ohio in 2001. Originally called A Day in the Life, their lineup currently consists of JT Woodruff (lead vocals, rhythm guitar), Matt Ridenour (bass, backing vocals) and Mark McMillon ...

, and

Fall Out Boy Fall Out Boy is an American Rock music, rock band formed in Wilmette, Illinois, a suburb of Chicago, in 2001. The band consists of lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist Patrick Stump, bassist Pete Wentz, lead guitarist Joe Trohman, and drummer A ...

. After initial production and remix successes, the building became the focus of operations for Vig and Marker's own band,

Garbage Garbage, trash (American English), rubbish (British English), or refuse is waste material that is discarded by humans, usually due to a perceived lack of utility. The term generally does not encompass bodily waste products, purely liquid or ...

, who released their debut album in 1995.

History

The studio survived various mishaps, including flooding, and a

backhoe A backhoe is a type of excavating equipment, or excavator, consisting of a digging bucket on the end of a two-part articulated arm. It is typically mounted on the back of a tractor or loader (equipment), front loader, the latter forming a "backh ...

crashing through the walls of the downstairs studio in 2003. On May 1, 2010, the studio closed its doors because of financial difficulties. In September 2013, producer and musician Brian Liston re-opened the former Smart Studios facility as Clutch Sound. In 2012, the Wisconsin Historical Museum assembled an exhibit on the studio, ''Smart Sounds, Alt Music, Mad Scenes''. Filmmaker Wendy Schneider made a documentary on Smart Studios, '' The Smart Studios Story'' (2016), in which she interviewed artists, record producers, and engineers who worked in the facility.

Works

Recorded / Mixed albums

* Gary Sohmers' Windjammer: ''Dinosaur Rock'' – 1983 * Killdozer: '' Intellectuals are the Shoeshine Boys of the Ruling Elite'' – 1984 * The Mess: "It's All Wyrd" – 1984 *Juvenile Truth: ''no enemy'' * Killdozer: '' Snake Boy'' – 1985 * The Mess: "Untitled" – 1985 * The Crucifucks: ''

Wisconsin Wisconsin ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Great Lakes region, Great Lakes region of the Upper Midwest of the United States. It borders Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake Michigan to the east, Michig ...

'' – 1986 * The Rousers: '' In Without Knocking '' – 1986 * Snowcake: ''Strangled/SceneZine EP'' – 1987 * Killdozer: ''Little Baby Buntin – 1988 * Tar Babies: ''Honey Bubble'' – 1988–1989 *

Laughing Hyenas Laughing Hyenas was an American post-hardcore band from Ann Arbor, Michigan, that existed from 1985 to 1995, fronted by Negative Approach vocalist John Brannon. According to AllMusic, "At first, the band specialized in dirges overlaid with th ...

: '' You Can't Pray a Lie'' – 1989 * Die Kreuzen: ''Gone Away EP'' – 1989 * Killdozer: '' Twelve Point Buck'' – 1989 *

: ''

Nevermind ''Nevermind'' is the second studio album by the American rock band Nirvana (band), Nirvana, released on September 24, 1991, by DGC Records. It was Nirvana's first release on a Record label#Major versus independent record labels, major label an ...

'' – 1990 ("

Polly Polly is a given name, most often feminine, which originated as a variant of Molly (name), Molly (a diminutive of Mary (name), Mary). Polly may also be a short form of names such as Polina (given name), Polina, Polona (given name), Polona, Pauline ...

") *

King Snake Roost King Snake Roost (also known as KSR) were an Australian noise rock band. King Snake Roost formed in 1985 in Adelaide and in 1987 the band moved to Sydney. The band broke up in 1990 after a two-month tour of the US. In Australia and the USA the ...

: '' Ground Into the Dirt'' – 1990 *

: '' Life of Crime'' – 1990 * Rebel Waltz: ''The Last One To Die Is a Rotten Egg'' – 1990 * The Other Kids: ''Living in the Mirror'' (1985), ''Happy Home'' (1986), ''Grin'' (1990) *

: ''

Gish ''Gish'' is the debut studio album by the American alternative rock band the Smashing Pumpkins, released on May 28, 1991, by Caroline Records. The album was produced by Butch Vig and frontman Billy Corgan, with the latter describing ''Gish'' as ...

'' – 1990–1991 * Die Kreuzen: ''

Cement A cement is a binder, a chemical substance used for construction that sets, hardens, and adheres to other materials to bind them together. Cement is seldom used on its own, but rather to bind sand and gravel ( aggregate) together. Cement mi ...

'' – 1991 * TAD: '' 8-Way Santa'' – 1991 * The Young Fresh Fellows: '' Electric Bird Digest'' – 1991 * Mike DeFoy: ''Sky Pilot (Volume 1)'' – 1992 * The Wizenhiemers: '' We Play For Beer'' – 1992 * L7: '' Bricks Are Heavy'' – 1991–1992 * The Rockin' Bones '' Second Chance To Dance'' – 1991–1992 * Walt Mink: '' Miss Happiness'' – 1992 * Chainsaw Kittens: '' Flipped Out in Singapore'' – 1992 *

Paw A paw is the soft foot-like part of a mammal, generally a quadruped, that has claws. Common characteristics The paw is characterised by thin, pigmented, keratinised, hairless epidermis covering subcutaneous collagenous and adipose tissue, whi ...

: ''

Dragline A dragline excavator is a heavy-duty excavator used in civil engineering and surface mining. It was invented in 1904, and presented an immediate challenge to the steam shovel and its diesel and electric powered descendant, the power shovel. ...

'' – 1992 *

: '' Incesticide'' − 1992 ("Dive") * Freedy Johnston: '' This Perfect World'' – 1994 * Everclear: ''

Sparkle and Fade ''Sparkle and Fade'' is the second album by Everclear, released in 1995. It was their first album to be released exclusively on Capitol Records; their previous effort, '' World of Noise'', was re-released on Capitol after its introduction throu ...

'' – 1994 *

Poster Children Poster Children is an American indie rock band formed at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign in 1987.Junior Citizen'' – 1994 * Soul Asylum: ''

Let Your Dim Light Shine ''Let Your Dim Light Shine'' is the seventh studio album by American rock band Soul Asylum, released June 6, 1995, on Columbia Records. Critically, it suffered in comparison to its predecessor, '' Grave Dancers Union'', the band's breakout releas ...

'' – 1994–1995 *

: ''

'' – 1994–1995 * Sexepil: '' Sugar for the Soul'' – 1995 *

Archers of Loaf Archers of Loaf is an American indie rock band originally formed in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, in 1991. The group toured extensively and released four studio albums, one compilation, numerous singles and EPs, and a live album which was release ...

: '' All the Nations Airports'' – 1996 * Walt Mink: ''

Colossus Colossus, Colossos, or the plural Colossi or Colossuses, may refer to: Statues * Any exceptionally large statue; colossal statues, are generally taken to mean a statue at least twice life-size ** List of tallest statues ** :Colossal statues * ...

'' – 1996 * Scott Fields: '' Five Frozen Eggs'' – 1997 *Festive Skeletons: World of Difference (1997) *Fred Pepper: ''On the Inside, Another World Away'' -1997 *

: '' Version 2.0'' – 1997-98 * Rainer Maria: '' Look Now Look Again'' – 1998 *

The Promise Ring The Promise Ring was an American rock band from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, that is recognized as part of the second wave of emo. Among various other EPs and singles, the band released four studio albums during their initial run: '' 30° Every ...

: '' Boys + Girls EP'' – 1998 * Citizen King: '' Mobile Estates'' – 1999 * Rainer Maria: '' A Better Version of Me'' – 1999 *

: ''

Beautiful Garbage ''Beautiful Garbage'' (stylized as ''beautifulgarbage'') is the third studio album by American Rock music, rock band Garbage (band), Garbage. It was released on October 1, 2001, by Mushroom Records worldwide, with the North American release by I ...

'' – 2000-2001 * Rainer Maria: '' Ears Ring EP'' – 2002 * Rainer Maria: '' Long Knives Drawn'' – 2003 *

: '' Take This to Your Grave'' – 2003 * The Lovehammers: ''Murder on My Mind'' – 2003 * Split Habit: ''Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is'' – 2003 *

: '' Bleed Like Me'' – 2003-2004 * As Tall as Lions: '' Lafcadio'' – 2004 *

: '' The Silence in Black and White'' – 2004 *

Death Cab for Cutie Death Cab for Cutie (commonly abbreviated to DCFC or Death Cab) is an American rock music, rock band formed in Bellingham, Washington, in 1997. Death Cab for Cutie's music has been classified as indie rock, indie pop, and alternative rock. The ...

: '' Plans'' – 2005 * Various Artists: '' Under the Radar Vol. 1'' – 2006 * Sparklehorse: '' Dreamt for Light Years in the Belly of a Mountain'' – 2006 * Spitalfield: Better than Knowing Where You Are – 2006 *

Jimmy Eat World Jimmy Eat World is an American Rock music, rock band formed in Mesa, Arizona, in 1993. The band is composed of lead vocalist and lead guitarist Jim Adkins, rhythm guitarist and backing vocalist Tom Linton, bassist Rick Burch, and drummer Zach ...

: '' Chase This Light'' – 2006-2007 *

Tegan and Sara Tegan and Sara () are a Canadian indie pop duo formed in 1998 in Calgary, Alberta. The band is led by identical twin sisters, Tegan Rain Quin and Sara Keirsten Quin (born September 19, 1980). Both musicians are songwriters and multi-instrumentali ...

: '' The Con'' – 2007 * Hotel Lights: '' Firecracker People'' – 2007 * The Leftovers: ''On the Move'' – 2007 *

Charlemagne Charlemagne ( ; 2 April 748 – 28 January 814) was List of Frankish kings, King of the Franks from 768, List of kings of the Lombards, King of the Lombards from 774, and Holy Roman Emperor, Emperor of what is now known as the Carolingian ...

: ''We Can Build An Island'' – 2007 *

: '' Narrow Stairs'' – 2007 * The GUTS: ''Let It Go'' – 2008

Producers and engineers

(founder, producer and engineer) * Steve Marker (founder, producer and engineer) * Mike Zirkel (studio manager, producer, engineer) *

Chris Walla Christopher Ryan Walla (born November 2, 1975) is an American musician, record producer, and film music composer, best known for being a former guitarist and songwriter for the band Death Cab for Cutie. Musical career Early bands While at B ...

(producer, engineer) *

Sean O'Keefe Sean Charles O'Keefe (born January 27, 1956) is a university professor at Syracuse University Maxwell School, former chairman of Airbus Group, Inc., former Secretary of the Navy, former Administrator of NASA, and former chancellor of Louisiana ...

(producer, engineer) *Brandon Mason (producer, engineer) * Al Weatherhead (producer, engineer) * Beau Sorenson (producer, engineer) *Justin Perkins (producer, engineer) * Duke Erikson (producer and engineer) * Doug Olson (producer, engineer) * Tim Curtis (technical engineer)

References

External links

''The Smart Studios Story'' documentary websiteClutch Sound website
{{Authority control Companies based in Madison, Wisconsin Music of Wisconsin 1983 establishments in Wisconsin 2010 disestablishments in Wisconsin Recording studios in the United States