I'm responding to this topic (late) because it raises issues i'm interested in, but for what it's worth:
Someone mentioned the drummer of Jesus Lizard, Mac McNielly. Absolutely amazing drummer. I saw Jesus Lizard a coupla times in Glasgow and watching and listening to that band and that drummer was an intense experience, and yes the guy just puts out that sound you hear on the records on his own, live. They were one of the best bands on the planet, ever. To me that sound is the breath of life itself. Angry, passionate, totally dynamic, one of my favourite bands.
Thank god Steve recorded them and I can now close my eyes and imagine Mac's limbs flailing at the kit without the interfering colouration of whichever compressor was fashionable at the time. Great musicians and great music need no "fairy dust". "Fairy dust" is something which disappears up people's nostrils shortly before they attempt to "repair" poorly recorded sounds by playing with their toys. Sorry, but I cannot believe that anyone who believes in the integrity of recorded sound wouldn't rally round Steve's comments, especially in the current situation where good musicianship is clearly being suffocated by ersatz sound production, and where it seems increasingly more imperative that those with sonic influence try to let the music breathe, and preserve the natural qualities of live music. If you're recording in midi pop hell, it's already too late, roof it...and if you're working with bad players, why not try to harness the sound without imprinting the characteristics of various pieces of equipment upon it...
As regards the work ethic of engineering music, I offer this: while some jobs are pure engineering and of course one is never an "artist", occasionally an element of "craftsmanship" is called for...like being given a bunch of slightly damaged paintings and being asked to fill a few cracks, let the intended/original colour through and frame them...or if the painting looks best without a frame, hanging lopsided and faded, leave it alone!
To be fair, Steve was asked for his opinions on compression in this thread (as if that wasn't sonically clear already) and he gave them, clearly he states that there's no rule, but that compression isn't a pre-requisite and doesn't necessarily make things sound "better" - it's my understanding that over-compression and over-use of compression is the issue, & there's no point in attacking those views as though they were directed at yourself unless you know you're crushing sounds intentionally and considering yourself to be an "artist" for doing so. Writing music is art, presenting a sonic impression of a band/artist is at most a craft, and always a technical endeavor.
It's an opinion, a politic almost, an idea about hearing musicians and what they're really playing, I guess capturing that isn't as important when you aren't recording a drummer as incredible as Mac McNielly was and a band as great-sounding and mind-blowing live as Jesus Lizard were.
People like that go to Electrical, or a studio with a similar philosophy. People who want it loud on the radio get it crushed elsewhere. Each to their own.