What are you listening to and WHY might anyone be interested? (Vol. XII)
Posted by: Richard Dane on 01 January 2016
2016 has arrived today, so time to start this thread afresh.
Last year's thread (and links to previous years) can be found here;
MDS posted:
A while since I've played this classic Tull album. For many years I was rather frustrated in not being able to find a CD version with tolerable reproduction quality. Even the 25th Anniversary version "remastered at 20 Bit using the Prism Sound Noise Shaping System" was disappointingly flat and lifeless. Fortunately this 40th anniversary version remastered by Steven Wilson has redeemed things.
Is the 40th really that much better than the earlier releases Mike, if so I might just go and find a copy...
John Fogerty. Revival. On CD from 2007. I haven't kept up with JF's solo career since the "Centerfield" LP. This has Fogerty's signature swamp-rock guitar tone, but often with a lighter, poppier feel. Still not without protest songs, this time for a US war in Iraq. Great listen, immediately likable, and makes me want to explore more of his solo stuff.
spurrier sucks posted:I hope this link works. I think you gents can appreciate the talent even if it's not really your type of music.
Thanks SS for posting that video. An absolute pleasure to listen to. Must check out this Stapleton guy on Tidal.
Stevee_S posted:MDS posted:
A while since I've played this classic Tull album. For many years I was rather frustrated in not being able to find a CD version with tolerable reproduction quality. Even the 25th Anniversary version "remastered at 20 Bit using the Prism Sound Noise Shaping System" was disappointingly flat and lifeless. Fortunately this 40th anniversary version remastered by Steven Wilson has redeemed things.
Is the 40th really that much better than the earlier releases Mike, if so I might just go and find a copy...
I have to say that I'm always rather concerned by remasters of classic albums, especially those we've grown up with. This is not just because of the 'loudness wars', but because any remaster involves a change to the mix and for those we've grown up with it's rather like messing with our DNA. Even subtle mix changes can change what we're used to and I find it difficult to accept. Of course, it's probably just me and others may be quite OK with this!
Streaming | WAV | Download from Bandcamp
(2007)
Originally recorded in '07 this 100 minute double album now back in print as a digital download on Bandcamp, lovely emotion filled guitar work varying between ambient and darkwave with electronic undertones
Lazy Saturday breakfast tunes...lovely.
G
I just love this. Probably the sexiest singer ever, with a superb backing band with the likes of Barney Kessel on guitar, and a fabulous 50's - 60's recording.
Clive B posted:Stevee_S posted:MDS posted:
A while since I've played this classic Tull album. For many years I was rather frustrated in not being able to find a CD version with tolerable reproduction quality. Even the 25th Anniversary version "remastered at 20 Bit using the Prism Sound Noise Shaping System" was disappointingly flat and lifeless. Fortunately this 40th anniversary version remastered by Steven Wilson has redeemed things.
Is the 40th really that much better than the earlier releases Mike, if so I might just go and find a copy...
I have to say that I'm always rather concerned by remasters of classic albums, especially those we've grown up with. This is not just because of the 'loudness wars', but because any remaster involves a change to the mix and for those we've grown up with it's rather like messing with our DNA. Even subtle mix changes can change what we're used to and I find it difficult to accept. Of course, it's probably just me and others may be quite OK with this!
I agree with your concerns Clive that's why I was asking, sometimes and rarely a remaster does give an older album a bit of a lift and avoids the loudness and compression war issues. In the past few years I've been re-purchasing old original CDs as their SQ and DR are so much better. A look here seems to show Aqualung as being well remastered but the data does not cover any changes that may have been made in the mix.
Stevee_S posted:Clive B posted:Stevee_S posted:MDS posted:
A while since I've played this classic Tull album. For many years I was rather frustrated in not being able to find a CD version with tolerable reproduction quality. Even the 25th Anniversary version "remastered at 20 Bit using the Prism Sound Noise Shaping System" was disappointingly flat and lifeless. Fortunately this 40th anniversary version remastered by Steven Wilson has redeemed things.
Is the 40th really that much better than the earlier releases Mike, if so I might just go and find a copy...
I have to say that I'm always rather concerned by remasters of classic albums, especially those we've grown up with. This is not just because of the 'loudness wars', but because any remaster involves a change to the mix and for those we've grown up with it's rather like messing with our DNA. Even subtle mix changes can change what we're used to and I find it difficult to accept. Of course, it's probably just me and others may be quite OK with this!
I agree with your concerns Clive that's why I was asking, sometimes and rarely a remaster does give an older album a bit of a lift and avoids the loudness and compression war issues. In the past few years I've been re-purchasing old original CDs as their SQ and DR are so much better. A look here seems to show Aqualung as being well remastered but the data does not cover any changes that may have been made in the mix.
I guess you'll have to take the plunge and share with us your impartial assessment. Personally, I've been a bit disappointed with the SW remasters of Yes's 'Close to the Edge' and 'Relayer', principally for the reasons set out above. Both those albums are ingrained in my memory and it comes as a shock when I hear something which SW has brought to the fore which, in all previous editions, had been more suppressed. Proceed with caution!
Still can look back on a pleasant concert of these guys earlier this year, or end of last year (can't t remember the exact timing).
Clive B posted:Stevee_S posted:Clive B posted:Stevee_S posted:MDS posted:
A while since I've played this classic Tull album. For many years I was rather frustrated in not being able to find a CD version with tolerable reproduction quality. Even the 25th Anniversary version "remastered at 20 Bit using the Prism Sound Noise Shaping System" was disappointingly flat and lifeless. Fortunately this 40th anniversary version remastered by Steven Wilson has redeemed things.
Is the 40th really that much better than the earlier releases Mike, if so I might just go and find a copy...
I have to say that I'm always rather concerned by remasters of classic albums, especially those we've grown up with. This is not just because of the 'loudness wars', but because any remaster involves a change to the mix and for those we've grown up with it's rather like messing with our DNA. Even subtle mix changes can change what we're used to and I find it difficult to accept. Of course, it's probably just me and others may be quite OK with this!
I agree with your concerns Clive that's why I was asking, sometimes and rarely a remaster does give an older album a bit of a lift and avoids the loudness and compression war issues. In the past few years I've been re-purchasing old original CDs as their SQ and DR are so much better. A look here seems to show Aqualung as being well remastered but the data does not cover any changes that may have been made in the mix.
I guess you'll have to take the plunge and share with us your impartial assessment. Personally, I've been a bit disappointed with the SW remasters of Yes's 'Close to the Edge' and 'Relayer', principally for the reasons set out above. Both those albums are ingrained in my memory and it comes as a shock when I hear something which SW has brought to the fore which, in all previous editions, had been more suppressed. Proceed with caution!
Not even sure I'll take the plunge Clive I'm happy and used to my original and 25th Anniversary CDs that seems to stand up well (on the loudness wars site at least) but if I spot a cheapie 40th Anniversary in my travels then I'll nab it.
Listening to this again, on quiet, a Saturday morning, it's actually very good from a musical and not just a sonics perspective, with wonderful vibraphone, which brings the MJQ to mind.
1971 - In the beginning God created vinyl ... And God said "This is perfection in itself, but I bet your butt that men will find a way of messing it up" 
Some jazz this morning.
This to blow the "cobwebs" off the speakers...
Just started listening to this electronic loop fest.
Nice guitar bassed instrumental rock from Bandcamp ....
An all vinyl morning so far:
On vinyl. Cleaned on the Okki Nokki and now sounding better than ever before on my rebuilt LP12.
This on CD..
