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

Recently acquired CD , The Very Best of Elvis Costello

Haven't listened to this in a while, so some more Stars.

The Shins - Oh, Inverted World

Got my copy today, why don't they make albums that sound this good any longer from a perspective of technicaly wonderful, no compression, just sinply listenable. Sounding very analogue even on cd.

Hi Maze,

What artist is this? 

Best regards,

Pat

Kings of Convenience - Quiet Is the New Loud

Pat, the band are Rare Earth the album Ma.

One of the few white bands signed to Motown in the sixties, check out Smilin faces and Hum along and dance, but all tracks wonderful.

Ifyou wanted to catagorise them you could call it rock/soul/funk but that is an over simplification.

Regards to Kevin-W for bringing it to my attention.

On CD:-

Amy Macdonald - Life in a Beautiful Light

Disc 1 of 2. 

Hi Maze,

Thank you.  I am not familiar with this band.  They sound interesting, and I will check them out.

Pat

at last a new Egg

After listening to disc 1, my initial view is that this Carmen is blessed by fantastic orchestral work, and an OKish but mixed vocal cast. Kozena is a true mezzo Carmen. She forgoes on the shtick of trying to sound like a gypsy on heat, but on the other hand also misses the last ounce of charisma required for the role. Her suitor, Jonas Kaufman, on the other hand is heard here in a role that suits his dark voice to a tee. Their voices are not an ideal match, his being obviously the more powerful one.

Genia Kühmeier, is new to me and sings a lovely Micaela. The toreador, Kostas Smoriginas, is gruff, slightly too small scale to match the swagger that Rattle so brilliantly draws from the orchestra. However... the sum is infinitely bigger than the parts, with Rattle providing a coherent, exciting orchestral framework and background. In terms of pacing, excitement, and building climaxes, he dances rings around every other performance I have heard, live and recorded.

I think it's a matter of letting go of preconceptions - will definitely listen to this performance often and  expect it will grow on me over time. 

Packaging: CDs in cardboard sleeves bound in a hardcover book, with synopsis and other information. No libretto - a link is provided to access that online.

Cheers,

EJ

Morgenstern Trio

Emanuel Wehse (Cello), Nina Reddig (Violin), Catherine Klipfel (Piano)

Ludwig van Beethoven: Trio for Piano and Strings no 5 in D major, Op. 70 no 1 "Ghost"

Johannes Brahms: Trio for Piano and Strings no 2 in C major, Op. 87 

Morgenstern Trio

Emanuel Wehse (Cello), Stefan Hempel (Violin), Catherine Klipfel (Piano)

Bedrich Smetana: Trio for Piano and Strings in G minor, Op. 15 

Dmitri Shostakovich: Trio for Piano and Strings no 1 in C minor, Op. 8

Leonard Bernstein: Trio for Violin, Cello and Piano

Pat

This is their first album, also worth checking out, esp for the side-long title track:

sadao watanabe: Orange Express

Chopin Piano Concerto No.2: Argerich/Rostropovich

re: Rostropovich's conducting

'Don't quit your day job' grade.

Martha clearly is a star here but she's not even giving out 100%.

Think I will join you with my favorite Hendrix album.

Larry