What's been the Best cd / album you have discovered this year 2016?

Finkfan posted:

James Vincent McMorrow is another find for me this year. An Irish singer/songwriter. Great album to chill out to. 

Must agree, brilliant album..

 JVMc was on the JH show about 3 years ago and sounded pretty good but perhaps a little unrefined. He was on again a couple of weeks ago and sounded much more accomplished albeit still in need of a good wash.

Ray

Christina Pluhar, L’Arpeggiata - Los Pajaros Perdidos (The South American Project).

Latin American folk music meets baroque. (I think). Beautiful music with some stunning vocals.

Another find for me, and I'm not really into Jazz, but a superb album....

Great album Wenger

Pcd posted:

Paul Simon. Graceland superb

Really? How did you avoid discovering that until this year!?

Just wonderful IMO, but then it's been part of the musical backdrop of my life since I was about ten.

Pcd posted:

Dave, since I bought a NDX last year and upgraded my system earlier this
year I have bought more CDs and listened to and enjoying a greater variety
of music than ever.

It's still hard to imagine that you were not already familiar with it, though. Perhaps you're young.....

Pcd posted:

Dave, since I bought a NDX last year and upgraded my system earlier this
year I have bought more CDs and listened to and enjoying a greater variety
of music than ever.

With an NDX, why buy a Graceland CD,   why not the 25th anniversary remaster download???  

Mike, did you think the 25th remastering effort was a good one? I had a look online for opinions and reactions seemed mixed.

In my opinion a big YES.   The sound is so much better & has more detail, is more natural sounding & easier to pick out the individual musicians & voices.     I have to own up to being a brit who is more ex-pat South African & much of the album brings back the feeling of my time there pre & post apartheid,  maybe a bit of protea tinted glass's   

Dave***t posted:

Mike, did you think the 25th remastering effort was a good one? I had a look online for opinions and reactions seemed mixed.

I thought the remaster OK, not blown me away but definitely recommend 'Rythm of The Saints' remaster. The extra tracks are really worthwhile I thought.

Bruce

Bruce Woodhouse posted:

I thought the remaster OK, not blown me away but definitely recommend 'Rythm of The Saints' remaster. The extra tracks are really worthwhile I thought.

Not disagreeing Bruce, maybe its my affinity with SA that makes Graceland better for me,  but that said for me all Paul Simon material is good.   What Graceland remaster do you have,  mine is 24-bit 17 tracks & 1:08 hrs,   the CD version is 14 tracks.  OK the extra 3 tracks are unreleased versions of other tracks & the last track is 9 minutes "The Story of Graceland as told by Paul Simon" is not exactly music.     

Mike-B posted:

Bruce Woodhouse posted:

I thought the remaster OK, not blown me away but definitely recommend 'Rythm of The Saints' remaster. The extra tracks are really worthwhile I thought.

Not disagreeing Bruce, maybe its my affinity with SA that makes Graceland better for me,  but that said for me all Paul Simon material is good.   What Graceland remaster do you have,  mine is 24-bit 17 tracks & 1:08 hrs,   the CD version is 14 tracks.  OK the extra 3 tracks are unreleased versions of other tracks & the last track is 9 minutes "The Story of Graceland as told by Paul Simon" is not exactly music.     

Anniversary LP is even better Mike It's an album I grew up - first heard it when it came out (still living in Poland) - so I know it inside out.

With Reference to Paul Simon,  does anyone like the music of Harper Simon, Paul sons son?

Should have said Paul Simon son..

Haim Ronen posted:

A 2014 collaborative album by pianist Emil Viklický and bassist George Mraz. Both musicians are from the Czech Republic and their music is inspired by melodies and folk tunes from the home country.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D2noP-F4dLo

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aAs480RRBT0

 

There is a U tube video I watched "Autumn Leaves" with John Faddis (t) & Emil Viklicky (p) in Czechoslovakia - I think both their solos are great - do not think it is available on CD or any other format 

Margo Price - Midwest Farmers Daughter

Mike-B posted:

Pcd posted:

Dave, since I bought a NDX last year and upgraded my system earlier this
year I have bought more CDs and listened to and enjoying a greater variety
of music than ever.

With an NDX, why buy a Graceland CD,   why not the 25th anniversary remaster download???  

To tell you the truth never thought of downloading but as I can't get on with computers so I'll stick with ripping CDs.

Pcd posted:

To tell you the truth never thought of downloading but as I can't get on with computers so I'll stick with ripping CDs.

Don't understand that,  NDX & your NAS can do so much more - you have a sports car & are using it for shopping trips.  You seem to be OK reading & posting on the forum with a computer & ripping CD's (??) requires some form of limited computer work.     You might try dipping your toe in the pond,  its remarkably easy.       

Pcd posted:

Mike, my NAS and CD ripping was all set up by my dealer I just click the
mouse but when it comes to anything apart from the basics I am totally lost
always have been.

Is there a very simple way to download ??

HD Tracks, Naim Label or LINN Label make sure you install a special download programme on your computer. As soon as you complete a transaction to buy an album on their website, the download then becomes availablel via the pre-installed programme.

Once the files are on your computer, it is as simple as moving them from one folder (your PC / MAC) to another folder (your NAS - typically a DOWNLOAD folder is used).

Pcd posted:

Mike, my NAS and CD ripping was all set up by my dealer I just click the mouse but when it comes to anything apart from the basics I am totally lost always have been.    Is there a very simple way to download ??

OK, I understand.    As Adam posted,   the various www download vendors have easy to use programs & I would add Qobuz & HighResAudio (especially)   I advise you have someone help you with this, I have done this for a buddy & it only took about an hour & most of that was watching him playing.  You seem to be able to play OK on this forum, so you are not that far away. 

Adam Zielinski posted:

Mike-B posted:

Bruce Woodhouse posted:

I thought the remaster OK, not blown me away but definitely recommend 'Rythm of The Saints' remaster. The extra tracks are really worthwhile I thought.

Not disagreeing Bruce, maybe its my affinity with SA that makes Graceland better for me,  but that said for me all Paul Simon material is good.   What Graceland remaster do you have,  mine is 24-bit 17 tracks & 1:08 hrs,   the CD version is 14 tracks.  OK the extra 3 tracks are unreleased versions of other tracks & the last track is 9 minutes "The Story of Graceland as told by Paul Simon" is not exactly music.     

Anniversary LP is even better Mike It's an album I grew up - first heard it when it came out (still living in Poland) - so I know it inside out.

25th Anniversary Deluxe Edition, High Res from Quboz. 17 tracks. 24bit 96khz. 

I think my slight reservation was about sound rather than content. Maybe the original is just too well recorded to really get a big lift from the remaster.

'Stranger to Stranger' has failed to really engage me this year. Bit patchy 

Graceland was the first album I heard through a serious HiFi. My mate's Dad had Linn Isobariks. Not sure but suspect the rest was Linn too. I remember it just shaking the room. I was hooked!