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

Enjoying new insights into this lovely album this evening.

MDS posted:

Borders Nick posted:

Jeff Anderson posted:

Ray LaMontagne "Ouroboros"

released today, first listen

Also giving this a run via Tidal.  Quite psychedelic 

What's the reproduction quality like? His previous album, Supernova, was bl**dy awful compared to his earlier albums.

Mike 

Only played a few tracks - didn't sound great SQ-wise compared to his earlier albums.  Haven't actually listened to Supernova.  Will give it a few more runs though without a doubt

Borders Nick posted:

MDS posted:

Borders Nick posted:

Jeff Anderson posted:

Ray LaMontagne "Ouroboros"

released today, first listen

Also giving this a run via Tidal.  Quite psychedelic 

What's the reproduction quality like? His previous album, Supernova, was bl**dy awful compared to his earlier albums.

Mike 

Only played a few tracks - didn't sound great SQ-wise compared to his earlier albums.  Haven't actually listened to Supernova.  Will give it a few more runs though without a doubt

Thanks, Nick. Sounds like it could be more of the same. Ray L's move to the Sony label has not been a good one in my view.

MDS posted:

Borders Nick posted:

Jeff Anderson posted:

Ray LaMontagne "Ouroboros"

released today, first listen

Also giving this a run via Tidal.  Quite psychedelic 

What's the reproduction quality like? His previous album, Supernova, was bl**dy awful compared to his earlier albums.

Mike 

Hi Mike, I will not comment on sound.  There are more then enough self-proclaimed golden ears here who may be able to answer that for you.

 From a first listen at low volume the music will again take some time to "learn".  I appreciate Ray has no intention of falling into a narrow approach, but the listener needs to be willing to hang on and try to find the key to what he is doing.  I enjoy the challenge.  So, for me, this will need some more listens before I can comment on the music and style this time around (again).  I have learned to love Supernova, I need to work on this one and see where it takes me.

My approach is if I find an artist I like, I will follow their journey and they are responsible for their own choices on sound quality and music content.  I will not presume to know better than the artist how he chooses to represent himself.  I have found these journeys to be one of the most enjoyable parts of my life.  I am on-board with Ray.  Sorry that doesn't answer your question but since it was linked to my original post I assumed you wished me to reply.  You state your opinion about Supernova above, I do not agree with it.

Enjoy whatever you choose to listen to.  We share some similar tastes at times.  We approach it differently.  Some of my favorite music is stuff that has been declared unlistenable here,  Be forewarned when I post.

regards, Jeff A

Tempted once again back to this one on Tidal.  Tried both of his studio albums that are available on Tidal - but they don't do it for me (production seems way to polished) - this one still sounds fantastic tho (might even have to buy it - shock horror )

Earlier over dinner - lovely album - great groove.  Well worth checking out if you haven't already.   CD rip.

Jeff Anderson posted:

MDS posted:

Borders Nick posted:

Jeff Anderson posted:

Ray LaMontagne "Ouroboros"

released today, first listen

Also giving this a run via Tidal.  Quite psychedelic 

What's the reproduction quality like? His previous album, Supernova, was bl**dy awful compared to his earlier albums.

Mike 

Hi Mike, I will not comment on sound.  There are more then enough self-proclaimed golden ears here who may be able to answer that for you.

 From a first listen at low volume the music will again take some time to "learn".  I appreciate Ray has no intention of falling into a narrow approach, but the listener needs to be willing to hang on and try to find the key to what he is doing.  I enjoy the challenge.  So, for me, this will need some more listens before I can comment on the music and style this time around (again).  I have learned to love Supernova, I need to work on this one and see where it takes me.

My approach is if I find an artist I like, I will follow their journey and they are responsible for their own choices on sound quality and music content.  I will not presume to know better than the artist how he chooses to represent himself.  I have found these journeys to be one of the most enjoyable parts of my life.  I am on-board with Ray.  Sorry that doesn't answer your question but since it was linked to my original post I assumed you wished me to reply.  You state your opinion about Supernova above, I do not agree with it.

Enjoy whatever you choose to listen to.  We share some similar tastes at times.  We approach it differently.  Some of my favorite music is stuff that has been declared unlistenable here,  Be forewarned when I post.

regards, Jeff A

Indeed Jeff, it is very different style to his earlier albums, with a much more complex mixture of sounds and will take time to appreciate.

Something more soothing now.

On of the best releases for me in '15 was Monstre by Courtney Swain. Fabulous songwriting and musicianship by the Bent Knee lead singer. Wonderful dynamics, even sounds great on FLAC.

https://courtneyswain.bandcamp.com/album/monstre

Jeff Anderson posted:

MDS posted:

Borders Nick posted:

Jeff Anderson posted:

Ray LaMontagne "Ouroboros"

released today, first listen

Also giving this a run via Tidal.  Quite psychedelic 

What's the reproduction quality like? His previous album, Supernova, was bl**dy awful compared to his earlier albums.

Mike 

Hi Mike, I will not comment on sound.  There are more then enough self-proclaimed golden ears here who may be able to answer that for you.

 From a first listen at low volume the music will again take some time to "learn".  I appreciate Ray has no intention of falling into a narrow approach, but the listener needs to be willing to hang on and try to find the key to what he is doing.  I enjoy the challenge.  So, for me, this will need some more listens before I can comment on the music and style this time around (again).  I have learned to love Supernova, I need to work on this one and see where it takes me.

My approach is if I find an artist I like, I will follow their journey and they are responsible for their own choices on sound quality and music content.  I will not presume to know better than the artist how he chooses to represent himself.  I have found these journeys to be one of the most enjoyable parts of my life.  I am on-board with Ray.  Sorry that doesn't answer your question but since it was linked to my original post I assumed you wished me to reply.  You state your opinion about Supernova above, I do not agree with it.

Enjoy whatever you choose to listen to.  We share some similar tastes at times.  We approach it differently.  Some of my favorite music is stuff that has been declared unlistenable here,  Be forewarned when I post.

regards, Jeff A

Hi Jeff.  I certainly don't mind artists experimenting with new styles etc, and have enjoyed a few e.g. Melody Gardot's very different album Currency of Man.  And I've tried Supernova a few times and wanted to like it but the reproduction is just so flat and compressed that for me it gets in the way of listening to the music. Maybe if I listened to it with earphones from an iPhone or something I would see past this but my system shows up crap recordings for what the are.  It's a real pity as the other albums of Ray L I have: Till The Sun Turns Black; God Willin' & The Creek Don't Rise; and Trouble are wonderful in both quality of the music and the care in reproduction.  I just think his new record company is doing his talent a real disservice by neglecting the reproduction quality.  

Mike   

Played less around here after Tharaud's Ravel had arrived.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DUxbre-0dpw

 

Maybe if I listened to it with earphones from an iPhone or something I would see past this but my system shows up crap recordings for what the are.

Mike   

If you are comfortable with that perspective no reason for me to argue with you.

Enjoy your system.

Jeff A

Bob Scaggs "A Fool To Care"

MDS posted:

Borders Nick posted:

MDS posted:

Borders Nick posted:

Jeff Anderson posted:

Ray LaMontagne "Ouroboros"

released today, first listen

Also giving this a run via Tidal.  Quite psychedelic 

What's the reproduction quality like? His previous album, Supernova, was bl**dy awful compared to his earlier albums.

Mike 

Only played a few tracks - didn't sound great SQ-wise compared to his earlier albums.  Haven't actually listened to Supernova.  Will give it a few more runs though without a doubt

Thanks, Nick. Sounds like it could be more of the same. Ray L's move to the Sony label has not been a good one in my view.

All of Ray's albums have been released on RCA, which is a Sony Music label.  Admittedly his earlier ones were licensed to the likes of Echo or 14th Floor for the UK, but they were Sony for the rest of the world, so in effect he has always been a Sony Music artist.

 

re: Ray LaMontagne

 

All of Ray's albums have been released on RCA, which is a Sony Music label.  Admittedly his earlier ones were licensed to the likes of Echo or 14th Floor for the UK, but they were Sony for the rest of the world, so in effect he has always been a Sony Music artist.

With downloads as opposed to physical media, it is harder to access information readily available on album covers and lesser so on cd booklets.

Ray's first three albums were produced by Ethan Johns and EJ also played many instruments on those recordings.  I saw Ray live three times during this period and did not enjoy him live.  His musical career is relatively short and as of the time I last saw him live, circa 2005, he was nowhere near a polished performer.  Very shy and introverted on stage then.  The "sound" then was as much Ethan Johns as RL.

Not sure who produced the Pariahs record but I believe Ray has been producer or co-producer on his more recent releases.

Jeff A

James Taylor "Before This World", thanks for the artist prompt AndyL

David Bowie "Tonight"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h3fNWwFwhyA

Jeff Anderson posted:

 

re: Ray LaMontagne

 

All of Ray's albums have been released on RCA, which is a Sony Music label.  Admittedly his earlier ones were licensed to the likes of Echo or 14th Floor for the UK, but they were Sony for the rest of the world, so in effect he has always been a Sony Music artist.

With downloads as opposed to physical media, it is harder to access information readily available on album covers and lesser so on cd booklets.

Ray's first three albums were produced by Ethan Johns and EJ also played many instruments on those recordings.  I saw Ray live three times during this period and did not enjoy him live.  His musical career is relatively short and as of the time I last saw him live, circa 2005, he was nowhere near a polished performer.  Very shy and introverted on stage then.  The "sound" then was as much Ethan Johns as RL.

Not sure who produced the Pariahs record but I believe Ray has been producer or co-producer on his more recent releases.

Jeff A

Yes, I do think choice of producers is the more likely cause for not liking how an album sounds and that Ethan Johns was very much a key component of Ray's 'sound'.  As far as I know the Pariahs album was self-produced while Supernova was produced by Dan Auerbach (The Black Keys) and the latest by Jim James (of My Morning Jacket). 

Paul Simon's eponymous solo debut from 1972 remastered on vinyl from 2013.

The Best Of Carly Simon. On original vinyl from 1975. Pretty much everything I care to hear from Ms. Simon contained on one album. "You're So Vain" is among the best pop/rock singles of 70's.

Rush. Moving Pictures. On original vinyl from 1981. My goodness but the band was in a magical creative zone for this album! Side 1 is one I'd nominate for the ultimate album side, and I'm not sure Tom Sawyer is the best or even second-best track on it. The SQ is superb - best of any of my Rush LPs - tight and fast with just the right impact on percussion. All that and it may have the most accurately portrayed cover shot in rock history.

Quad 33 posted:

WZ should have been better known and lauded in his lifetime for writing some of the funniest rock lyrics of all time alongside some great music.

+1. Among my favorite American singer/songwriters, beyond which I'd add that Warren always brought impassioned vocals to his quirky, yet at times heartfelt lyrics. He'd be 69-years-old today and no doubt would have had a lot of fuel left in the tank.