What are you listening to and WHY might anyone be interested? (Vol. X)

I just got it today and it's had 3 repeat spins... It has some interesting engineering tricks in it too.

Green Day. Nimrod. On HDCD from 1997. When the SN2's HP-out starts to get dull, I just slap in something like this on HDCD and WHAM. Problem solved.

Fast tempoed and unassuming. His notes are simply breathing. Unusually lively and perky with clear and crisp note delivery.  Variations in dynamic contrast and a slight manipulation of tempo here and there create very special world of his own. His notes are not precise as other ( this was recorded in '49 so he must have been well into his 70s ) pianists but they do not detract from the overall shading of moods he creates. Not as muscular as others and has more compact and demure disposition. He almost falls apart at the tail end but gains a qiuck recovery. But sure beats many boring rendition of Chopins out there in terms of sheer emotional impact and moving power.

Samson François is another unique French piano player well suited for *my kind of* Chopin. ( emphasis on cannons rather than flowers. )

Very intimate and personal. Spontaneous and  taking on more of a free form approach. Not too dissimilar to Kempff but sounds a bit more obvious for dramatic effects. There are frankness and honesty that Francois brings to his Chopin programs which is dear. Comparatively his is more forced and masculine.

Meat Loaf. Bat Out Of Hell. On HDCD from 2001. I also have a vinyl and regular CD copy of this LP. The HDCD sounds best, but all formats have a narrow, shallow sound quality to them. Still, the music and vocals are outstanding and full of energy.

Previously was this soundtrack to film coming out next week, KTF

Excellent start of the day

Not a very happy John Martyn, but some stygian bass :-

I have a few of their albums & enjoy playing them from time to time. Probably only one per listening session, though.

Same artist different composer

Andrew Bird "things are really great here, sort of"

Rodney Crowell "Tarpaper Sky"

I think 2014 has been a great year for new releases and this is one of them.  If you are not country-phobic try to hear it at least once.

U2, Boy, I used to love this,  and these, when it first came out, listening to Songs of Innocence has triggered a journey of rediscovery

Harry Allen is such a good Tenor player, and this album works really well; a good balance of jazz and Brazilian styles.

Keith Urban "Greatest Hits - 18 Kids"

Robert SCHUMANN (1810-1856) Drei Fantasiestücke, Op. 73 
Johannes BRAHMS (1833-1897) Cello Sonata No.1 in E minor, Op.38 
Claude DEBUSSY (1862-1918) Cello Sonata in D minor 
Dmitri SHOSTAKOVICH (1906–1975) Cello Sonata Op.40 

Sol Gabetta (cello), Hélène Grimaud (piano)
rec. June 2012, Alfried Krupp Saal, Philharmonie, Essen, Germany

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