What are you listening to and WHY might anyone be interested? (Vol. XIII)
Posted by: Richard Dane on 01 January 2017
2017 has arrived today, so time to start this thread afresh.
Last year's thread can be found here;
The White Buffalo.
I have listened to this album a few times now and am impressed.
Avalon is a great track a very catchy tune.
On vinyl.
Sonny Rollings Trio & Horace Silver Quintet.
Great jazz and also good sound quality.
The Civil Wars - Barton Hollow. Had this in the 'to try' list for months, but until now had only played a couple of individual tracks from the album, and despite those showing much promise, only just got round to playing the whole thing. Perfect for a grotty weather Sunday, very nice.
Keith Jarrett trio - At the Blue Note
Listening to CD1: Friday night, first set which starts with a wonderful 18 minute version of 'In your own sweet way'.
The perfect Sunday afternoon - Glass of Laphroaig in hand and a few hours of music time. Starting with this...
Ian Dury & The Blockheads - The Very Best Of
Another compilation. Enjoying this whilst browsing the 'Show us your LP12' thread on the Scottish forum...
Andy Fairweather Low - The Low Rider
Sunday afternoon chilling with Anderson .Paak - Malibu via Tidal.
Over the last month or so I've become quite disappointed over the sound I'm getting from my LP12 and, although there's no particular reason, I suspect it's the cartridge not performing as it should. Last time Peter was here swapping the motor over we played this just to check it was working as it should. So I've just used Lyra SPT followed by a dry tickle on the AT637 and I'm playing this record again. I can't really recall what it was like before, but it now sounds a bit 'thick', maybe over-produced. I'd almost say it sounds like it was recorded in an aircraft hangar. Maybe it's not such a great record for critical listening.
TK421 posted:Sunday afternoon chilling with Anderson .Paak - Malibu via Tidal.
I'm trying to decide whether he is over dressed or under dressed...
My boy has joined me on the sofa (hinting for his last walk of the day...) and we're listening to this classic album. There was an interesting article in a recent HFN covering the recording of this album so it's good to listen again with that article in mind.
Rickie Lee Jones - Rickie Lee Jones
That PF album (above) is a lousy mix. This sounds so much better! Michelle Shocked, 'Short Sharp Shocked'.
(2007)
Simon Posford doing what he does best, making great sounding, innovative and interesting electronic music.
Finishing this afternoon's musical extravaganza with this
Elbow - Build A Rocket Boys !
Possibly my favourite KOL album. Haven't played this since becoming a Naim convert, and now that I have, I'm well reminded why that happened.
Tragically died at the age of forty-one, Ralph Rainger (1901-1942) was in his time one of Americas most admired and respected composers. A giant contributor to the Hollywood musical of the 30s, whose timeless hits include Easy Living, I Wished on the Moon, If I Should Lose You and Academy Award winner Thanks for the Memory.
The music he wrote will endure forever, but today his name is hardly recognized. For some inexplicable reason, you seldom find Rainger linked with contemporaries Harold Arlen, Irving Berlin, George Gershwin, Jimmy McHugh, Jerome kern, Cole Porter, Richard Rodgers or Harry Warren, yet his best melodies were certainly equal in calibre to those iconic figures.
This was recorded on a Sony Pro Walkman and beautifully captures the intimacy of the setting, complete with the accompanying crickets (not Buddy Hollly's).
I just had to squeeze one more in -
Elbow - The Seldom Seen Kid
Bill Evans - On a monday evening
Nat King Cole - Love is the thing
From allmusic.com:
Nat King Cole's collaborations with Gordon Jenkins rank among the finest from either artist or arranger. Cole's first stereophonic long player, 1957's Love Is the Thing remains the epitome of the pair's undeniable compatibility, and it topped the album charts for eight weeks. The opener "When I Fall in Love" is considered by many to be nothing short of definitive; the restrained orchestration perfectly adapts to the singer's verdant vocals. Similarly, "Stardust" sparkles as a flawless musical alliance is formed with Cole's warm and inviting narrative weaving over Jenkins' intimate score. Simply stated, both songs are unmitigated masterworks -- and we're only two cuts into the dozen-song LP. Another key to the project's success is Jenkins ability to reign in just enough instrumentation to support Cole's uniformly restrained leads. Examples abound throughout, with "Stay as Sweet as You Are," "At Last," and the rural sophistication of "When Sunny Gets Blue." The heartfelt "Love Letters" and even the comparatively light "Ain't Misbehavin'" incorporate a sonic synergy as the airy string section glides between Cole's line by line phrasing. Also worth mentioning is the Jenkins original "I Thought About Marie," as it sits comfortably beside some of the most time-honored tunes in 20th century popular music. [Some reissues add three bonus tracks.]
Liam Gallagher - As You Were.
Tidalising this right now, and it's the best our kid has sounded since very early Oasis days ................. an excellent album. 
