Hall of Justice (studio)
Seattle recording studio From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Hall of Justice is a recording studio in the Ballard neighborhood of Seattle, Washington. The triangular-shaped building, which has changed ownership and purpose throughout its century-old history, has functioned as a studio for rock bands since the 1970s. The windowless, unassuming space has been home to the recordings of albums by seminal indie rock bands, including Nirvana, Soundgarden, Death Cab for Cutie, Fleet Foxes, the Decemberists, Sleater-Kinney, Built to Spill, Modest Mouse, and more.
 The building pictured in 2017. | |
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| Address | 4230 Leary Way NW |
|---|---|
| Location | Seattle, Washington |
| Opened | 1976 (as Triangle) 1986 (as Reciprocal) 1991 (as Word of Mouth) 1993 (as John & Stu's) 2000 (as Hall of Justice) |
Originally a produce stand, the building was first opened as a studio under the name Triangle Recording between 1976 and 1986. Later, the studio first became popularly known as a partial birthplace of grunge, with countless early acts of the genre utilizing the space, then widely known as Reciprocal Recording (1986–91). After several years as John & Stu's, the studio has more or less been operated by musician and producer Chris Walla under its current name since 2000.
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Early history
The complex first opened as a produce stand in 1911. It served as a retail location for most of the twentieth century, and was vacant by the 1970s.[1] Jack Weaver purchased the space and named it Triangle Recording in 1976, recording a series of 7"s by bands like Pell Mell and the Blackouts.[2]
Chris Hanzsek and Jack Endino moved into the space in June 1986, renaming the studio Reciprocal Recording. The studio became famously responsible for all but inventing the grunge movement; Soundgarden and Nirvana recorded early demos at the studio, with the latter completing its debut album Bleach (1989) at Reciprocal.[3] Hanzsek left the space in 1991,[4] while engineer Rich Hinklin continued on, renaming the complex Word of Mouth. In 1993, the space was renamed again to John & Stu's,[5] named after producers John Goodmanson and Stuart Hallerman.[6] Goodmanson, Hallerman, and Phil Ek utilized the space to track dozens of bands, including Sleater-Kinney, Harvey Danger, Built to Spill, and Modest Mouse.
Recent years
In 2000, in partnership with Barsuk Records, musician and producer Chris Walla began overseeing the space.[7] Walla began working as a producer with Nada Surf, Hot Hot Heat, and the Decemberists,[8] as well as with his main project Death Cab for Cutie, with whom he recorded Transatlanticism (2003). Death Cab took over the lease in 2004 and used the studio as a practice space for four years. In 2010, Robin Pecknold of Fleet Foxes took over the complex, reverting it to it former name Reciprocal.[9] A writer for Spin described the space in a 2011 cover story: "The windowless exterior was once painted brown, but the color has faded and flecked off. Cracked shingles curl up off the roof, and inside the studio, tattered walls and well-worn carpeting give it all the charm of an abandoned church basement."[10]
Walla returned to the studio in 2011,[5] and oversaw an extensive renovation of the space.[11] Walla has continued to record bands in the space, including Lo Moon,[12] the Paper Kites,[13] and Ratboys.[14]
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