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

EJ, regarding many reviewers, I am with you all the way on this.  If you listen to the opinion of every review you will miss out often but it really depends what you want as a listener.  If the reviewer matches your personality then of course you will connect with the outcome.

I read reviews just in the hope to learn something new and I don't necessarily care what someone's 'opinion' is though but one can learn much if one is discerning and can read between the lines.

In this case, (thanks to your heads up), I am purchasing this as well.  Had I only read the review, I would have, like you, also been a little miffed and purchased this anyway as well.  Here are a couple clues that I would have been so inclined to do so:

1) "...this one by Sirkka-Liisa Kaakinen-Pilch is unquestionably the slowest, most tediously eccentric rendering I’ve ever heard."

  - this statement alone was my most important clue that I share little musically with this reviewer and so it is likely to be a great find for me.  I ask myself what does it prove to have 10 similar recordings based all on tempo?

2) I have no issue if someone compares times as it is somewhat informative but this is only one aspect of musical outcome.  I may be different on this but it seems so common these days to judge Artistic Quality on tempo alone with the guaranteed result always being - fast (or fastest) is the best and slow (or slower) is bad.  In this case 4 out of 10 is obviously an insult and seems contrived.  I would tend to think that the fastest race horse in the lot might deserve the lower result for lack of artistry?

This is really a consequence of an unthinking world.  These same people likely have opinions that follow popular notions and political correctness because it is the easier position to take.  You don't have to know enough about any subject to appear as an expert by riding on the coat tails of mass opinion.  If many people say so then it must be right?  Lemmings basically.

3) "For completists only."

Guilty!  Thank you Mr. Reviewer but even here I disagree with your point.  It is rather arrogant to assume that this recording could not work for someone, somewhere who would likely only buy one version of this work and be satisfied for life.  Again, despite his best efforts to dissuade me, the reader, I now look forward to owning and listening to this recording.

I think we all, as humans, can be guilty of jumping on band wagons and following the crowd.  It is funny how a certain person, if they have a little bit of influence, can lead many through the mud and down a ridiculous path and then these followers start to make claims about the greatness of a certain recording or artist or conducted etc.  It is all just an illusion.  

It is not wrong to learn from someone else (find out the reasons why something is special to someone else) but in the end one should find out and decide what is right for you in the end to be true to yourself.

Budd and Eno on vinyl:

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart:  Daria van den Bercken (piano)

Sonata in F major K332/300k

Sonata in E-Flat major K282 (189g)

Fantasie in c minor K396 (385f)

Sonata in A major K3331

Eine Kleine Gigue in G major K574

From: Sonata in F major K280 - Adagio

Music is a sure fire way to kick start my morning.

On vinyl...

On CD:-

Frank Zappa - Sheik Yerbouti

Swiss soprano and harpist Arianna Savall pairs with Norwegian folksinger, Hardanger fiddle player, and mandolinist Petter Udland Johansen on Hirundo Maris (Sea Swallow).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TekHTBJbyTo

Earlier today - a very good version

Earlier today - a decent but not special version

Nice choice, I've always enjoyed this when in the mood. 

Right now listening to this. It's recorded on a telephone and is free, so not great sound quality - but it gives you a good impression of the quality of the concert...

Magnifiicent 6-LP box set from Mosaic Records:

Amen to that Joe. I have the same g/f copy. Superb in every way.

Have you heard Joe's recent album 'Analog Man'? Dunno if he gets the irony, but the recording/mastering quality is utter shite. I got rid of it.

John.

Moloko: Do you like my tight sweater?

Blast from the past. It's been 20 years already. :0

Speaking of which John could you perhaps point me towards a site that analyses mastering quality / compression levels and so on? This would be of interest to see how remasters for example compare to the original releases.

Steve

+1 John. I had high hopes for 'Analog Man'. These were soon dashed on listening to the first track. 

I have all the Joe Walsh LPs from the '70s and early '80s. They're all first presses and sound awesome.  I think 'The Smoker You Get.....' just shades it for me as his best. 

Superb 2 CD rip.

Capital Letters: Vinyard

The second side has some crucial grooves including "Baggawolf", " Old, Old Owl" and "Africa Bound".

 For less than a tenner on some site asociated with a river in South America.

Richard

Sitting in the garden in the sun listening to some classic Black Uhuru

From Bandcamp a good drive

Just newly downloaded from Qobuz, 1st run...

Tedeschi Trucks Band "Live, Everybody's Talkin' "

Such a great band playing a wonderful blend of southern rock, blues, and gospel and big band music. This live recording is a very good one too. Highly recommended!

Fancied a change of vibe so......

...and man was he good!

Sadly missed,

Richard