Countless Chicago bands move producer Joe DeCeault, but few, if any, intimidate and tongue-tie him like Steve Albini and his band, Shellac. The body of work he’s created with his Shellac, Big Black, and others – plus the albums he’s engineered for dozens of other bands – is absolutely astonishing.
It had been seven years since their last release but Shellac manages to bring the noise like few others in the world of rock. Their latest CD, Excellent Italian Greyhound, rocks it slow, fast, hard, and even – dare we say – pretty.

Chicago Public Radio’s Gabriel Spitzer spoke with Shellac’s Steve Albini and Todd Trainer last year about the album. But Gabriel began by asking about Shellac stage performances – and what makes them “tick” up there.