What CD are you listening to right now?

[Ovation]

Just ordered it.

[PewterTA]

I concur!!! I have multiple copies of Carmina, both CD & Vinyl rips and none sound as good as this version.

I told Bill that I might have only heard one version that was slightly better, I don't know if people remember, but one of the "newer" StarWars movies, the commerical they released for it used Carmina and the sound that would come through my HT was unbelieveable...I'm wondering if they took this release and used it in a Hi-Res format...because this CD is VERY VERY good!

I definitely had one of my most favorite nights at my house in the last couple years having Bill over. Because my system is finally getting a musicality to it that is on par with the BEST we've heard so.... that defintiely put a BIG smile on my face. All this with my weakest link, the B&W 604s3s!!! So now I know my weak link needs to get replaced now!

[Chris D]

Really? Better than the Tilson Thomas version that is posted above?

[wkhanna]

Really? Better than the Tilson Thomas version that is posted above?

I have not heard it other than over the radio.
I will be ordering it soon, however.
The Cleveland SO is one of the best in the USA.
Sony, in general does not do too bad a job of engineering, but it depends on who exactly is at the control board.
The recording is from 1974.
It has a 'Recommended' rating at ArkivMusic.

link to ArkivMusic MTT recording


The Jochum performance is more traditional in its presentation and contrary to what I said previously, may be considered the more ‘definitive’, or at least ‘traditional’ of recordings.
Recorded in 1967.
Also, receiving the 'Recomended' Rating at ArckivMusic.

link to ArkivMusic Jochum recording

[JeremyG]

TesseracT: One.

Very cool, but hard to put in a genre. It's got kind of a progressive, post-metal type sound. Good production, and doesn't seem too compressed both in sound and using LEQ.

Jeremy

[JeremyG]

Animals as Leaders: Weightless

Sounds like what you would get if you threw fusion, jazz, and metal into a blender. With no vocals. The musicianship is very good. Another decently produced record.

Jeremy

[gimpy]

Just finished listening to "Patricia Barber Modern Cool". Am now listening to "Cowboy Junkies, The Trinity Session". Both albums over my headphones as the wife is watching a movie on tv

[wkhanna]

Just finished listening to "Patricia Barber Modern Cool

All Patricia's work is brilliant, IMO and the sound quality quite extraordinary. :T

[wkhanna]

For True - Trombone Shorty



A recent purchase, ‘For True’, is the first music I have heard in ages that actually has me excited. Troy Andrews, aka Trombone Shorty, a 26 year old native of the 6th Ward (New Orleans) is garnering well deserved attention. He had secured a position in Lenny Kravitz’s tour band in 2005, and Lenny new a good thing when he heard it. Acting as mentor, Lenny has helped tack TS on good course. Earning the respect of, and working with venerated musicians such as Jeff Beck, Kid Rock, Ledisi, Warren Haynes, Ivan and Cyril Neville, he impresses all with his natural born talent that lead him to begin playing horn at age three.

His fresh style refutes trite categorization, blending elements of Latin, New Orleans street jazz, funk, Rap, Motown, et al.

I was fortunate to catch his emotional performance of the National Anthem at the New York Giants' NFC Wild Card Playoff Game vs. the Atlanta Falcons on January 8. It is the only fully instrumental rendition of the work I can ever remember being played at a NFL game. Part of the thrill was how the fans responded by filling the stadium with their voices.

The sound quality of his albums is above average by today’s standards. Despite mild compression, alterations in mixing technique from song to song adds to the interest and variation. This helps greatly to fend off monotony and fatigue, even at elevated sound levels. And when you have TB spinning, it is difficult to resist bumping up the ‘loud’ knob.

I recommend you get this album, and also his previous release, ‘Backatown’.

[Ovation]

Just wrapping up Mendelssohn's Piano Trios 1 and 2 on MCH SACD. Julia Fischer on violin, Jonathan Gilad on piano and Daniel Muller-Schott on cello. Pentatone SACD.

[Travis]

Rush

Hemispheres

[Travis]

Rush

A long trime Rush Fan.

[Ovation]

Elgar's Symphony No. 3 (as finished by Anthony Payne)--NAXOS DVD-A MCH

One of my earliest classical DVD-As and one I play fairly often.

[Ovation]

Popular Classics for Spanish Guitar--Julian Bream (RCA Living Stereo SACD).

Quite nice in the background as I do my marking. My students are probably benefiting a little bit from my better mood.

[Ovation]

Pletnev Plays Schumann (MCH SACD). Still marking.

[Ovation]

I think the first time this work left an impression on me was 1982 when it was used in Arnie Schwarzenegger’s movie “Conan the Barbarian”. This was actually a decent flick for its genre, and consider the fact that James Earl Jones lent his great Shakespearean skills to its production along with one of my other favorites, the Japanese actor Mako (his supporting role with Steve McQueen in the ‘the Sand Pebbles’ is one the most overlooked performances in motion picture history, IMHO). Back on topic, this work, specifically the first and closing pieces, ‘Fortune’, are now so over sampled as to be cliché’. Possibly more so than even Beethoven’s famous lick from the Fifth Symphony. Surprisingly maybe to some, there exists rather interesting and worthwhile work between the overworked end caps here.

Part opera, part choral work, part bombastic orchestral arrangement, the origin for Carl Orff’s most famous labor is taken from poetry transcripts of a rather obscure sect of 11th, 12th & 13th century monks who took great pleasure in the satirical mocking of the RCC’s clergy for their flagrant pursuit of pleasures of the flesh, embezzlement of tithe, and overall epicurean life style.

I have this work on a Deutsche Grammophon LP I bought used years ago when I first returned to vinyl. It unfortunately is in very poor condition. Thus, while recently completing an order from Amazon for a few SeeDee’s I have been longing after, I added a copy of Leonard Slatkin’s interpretation while guiding the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra. I dropped this in the CA 640 v2 for the 1st time last night.

You may not be aware of the work Dan (aka PewterTA) has been performing on my system, but some significant changes were brought to my RB-1090 power amp recently. Since that time, I have only had a few hours to do some uninterrupted listening.

This is the first orchestral music I have played since the upgrade. Now since this was a new SeeDee, I have no real true benchmark. Regardless, the performance was stunning. Brass was clean and clear. More so than I ever remember. Massed strings had shimmering texture that I don not recall hearing at home. The hall seemed very open and large, as would be required for a work of this dramatic magnitude.

I’m now anxious to play some other classical from my digital library that I am V familiar with. Hopefully the improvement will be shared with all of it.

AFA this disc, some say it is a bit green with little emotion. I found it quite pleasing, modern all most, with excellent sound quality and dynamics. I plan on purchasing the DG label of Eugen Jochum conducting. He is guided as it were during the preparation for the recording by the composer himself. I will report back when I have a chance to compare the two.

Just arrived a few days ago. While I enjoy this piece very much and I look forward to this rendition, it's not quite "background music for grading" material. Will be cuing it up as soon as I have the time to devote to a proper listening session.

[wkhanna]

Tony Bennett - Unplugged



Say something derogatory about Anthony, go ahead, try.

While the likes of Sinatra and others of their generation were doing covers of trite pop tunes in 70’s & 80’s in an attempt to stay in the limelight and generate $ for their labels who were putting enormous pressure on them, Tony said no thanks. He just created his own label and kept his repertoire true to his roots of the great standards.

It took guts to stand up to the music company moguls, and for years he was ‘off the charts’, and not in a good way. See what happens when you swim up stream when everyone else sells out for the easy ride. Doesn’t hurt when you are blessed with natural talent that eclipses pure genius. Still, he remains as humble as an abused puppy.

[wkhanna]

Just arrived a few days ago. While I enjoy this piece very much and I look forward to this rendition, it's not quite "background music for grading" material. Will be cuing it up as soon as I have the time to devote to a proper listening session.

I anxiously await your verdict, given your familiarity with this work.

[bigburner]

Say something derogatory about Anthony, go ahead, try.

While the likes of Sinatra and others of their generation were doing covers of trite pop tunes in 70’s & 80’s in an attempt to stay in the limelight and generate $ for their labels who were putting enormous pressure on them, Tony said no thanks. He just created his own label and kept his repertoire true to his roots of the great standards.

It took guts to stand up to the music company moguls, and for years he was ‘off the charts’, and not in a good way. See what happens when you swim up stream when everyone else sells out for the easy ride. Doesn’t hurt when you are blessed with natural talent that eclipses pure genius. Still, he remains as humble as an abused puppy.

Great post Bill.

Nigel.

[bigburner]

Ryan Adams - "Ashes & Fire" (2011)

This album comes close to being my favourite new release of 2011. I like every song. I’ve enjoyed Ryan Adams' work for a few years now but this is my favourite CD. In recent years he has played a lot with rock band The Cardinals but this album is a distinct departure from that style of music. It’s almost as if the enfant terrible has grown up. I'm sure a contributing factor influencing his new musical direction is his affliction with Ménière's disease – a disorder of the inner ear that affects hearing and balance. Adams had to take a two year break from music and undergo therapy to overcome the anxiety that was preventing him from getting back on stage. Ménière's is therefore not the best disorder to have if you happen to be a musician. Fortunately good music may have come out of bad luck in this case.

Nigel.

[madmac]

Say something derogatory about Anthony, go ahead, try.

While the likes of Sinatra and others of their generation were doing covers of trite pop tunes in 70’s & 80’s in an attempt to stay in the limelight and generate $ for their labels who were putting enormous pressure on them, Tony said no thanks. He just created his own label and kept his repertoire true to his roots of the great standards.

It took guts to stand up to the music company moguls, and for years he was ‘off the charts’, and not in a good way. See what happens when you swim up stream when everyone else sells out for the easy ride. Doesn’t hurt when you are blessed with natural talent that eclipses pure genius. Still, he remains as humble as an abused puppy.

I'm not gonna' say anything bad about this dude!!. I have this video and his talent becomes clearly evident when he turns off all the mics and fills that room with the sound of his powerful voice!!. Unbelievable!!! :E

[wkhanna]

John Lee Hooker - Healer



Sometimes when great artists are in the twilight of their careers, some producer gets the idea to gather a few popular musicians to sit in with the legend in order sell to a more active consumer and doesn’t really give much care to the repertoire or engineering. IOW, it’s an opportunity to make a quick buck off the back of the legend.

I do not feel this is the case with respect to this album, though J L Hooker aficionados may not feel his true talent showcased as it should be. The engineering is decent, and with contributions from Carlos Santana, Bonnie Raitt, Robert Cray, Los Lobos, George Thorogood & Charlie Musselwhite……….How bad could this be?

Nigel, I think you would really enjoy this one if you don’t already have it. :W

[wkhanna]

Patricia Barber – Cafe Blue



Sorry, I just do not know any other way to get my point across.

This is simply the best fuc*ing album.

Why can't they all be recorded with this level of engineering? It makes digital attractive to even a vinyl curmudgeon like me. The talent of the musicians here is at the same level. As soon as it is ended, I want to hear every single note again. Every time I play it.

[bigburner]

Nigel, I think you would really enjoy this one if you don’t already have it. :W

Ordered!

[wkhanna]

Ordered!

Well, I am on the hot seat now. I hope my recommendation fulfills its promise.

Oh! And happy belated B-day, too!

[madmac]

Sorry, I just do not know any other way to get my point across.

This is simply the best fuc*ing album.

Why can't they all be recorded with this level of engineering? It makes digital attractive to even a vinyl curmudgeon like me. The talent of the musicians here is at the same level. As soon as it is ended, I want to hear every single note again. Every time I play it.

Wow!! Patricia Barber in HDCD. That must sound fabulous!! :E . Try her other album "Nightclub". That one is simply a beautiful recording.

[madmac]

Quick question.....How are you folks putting album pictures into this forum?. When I click on "insert image", all I get is a request to add some text?.

[Ovation]

Currently spinning a Chandos recording of Elgar's First Symphony (Richard Hickox and the BBC National Orchestra of Wales) on SACD MCH. I'm really enjoying making my way through my classical SACDs of late--I've been comparing my PS3 with my Cambridge DVD99 for SACD playback and the PS3 has grown on me. Ease of use, higher sampling rate when converting to PCM (at 176.4 vs 88.2 khz, though I find no audible difference--I'm just noting the fact) and album/track info on screen (I use a small computer monitor for OSD for players and the AVR).

I recently acquired the DVD99 (a store demo with full warranty at a "used" price) to get DVD-A via HDMI. As it also does SACD, I initially planned to use it for both formats. It works very well with DVD-A. SACD playback, however, has been a bit quirky--one of my MCH discs (Weather Report's Mysterious Traveller) would not play in MCH on the DVD99 (works fine with the PS3, which is what got me using it for SACD). Also, there is a faint, but clearly audible "tick" sound between tracks on SACDs that is not present with DVD-A. A bit of internet hunting reveals the "tick" is a known flaw in the DVD99 and its Oppo close cousin (980H), so it's not going away. If I'd paid full price for the unit, I'd send it back. However, I really only need it for DVD-A as my PS3 does so well with SACD, so I'll live with it (good to have a spare SACD HDMI capability anyway, should my PS3 have trouble). Plus it's region-free for DVDs and I have a few of those.

Sorry about the technical digression. Back to the music.

Just before the Elgar, I had Dave Brubeck's Private Brubeck Remembers SACD MCH (Telarc) in the background while marking. A very nice disc (especially with a nice single malt on a snowy evening).

[bigburner]

Say something derogatory about Anthony, go ahead, try.

Anthony's second wife Sandra Grant claims he was so heavily addicted to cocaine that he used to smuggle it through airports under his toupee.

Will that do?

That didn't stop me ordering his MTV Unplugged DVD at the same time as the John Lee Hooker CD.

Nigel.

[bigburner]

Say something derogatory about Anthony, go ahead, try.

And then there's this heinous effort:

Tony Sings the Great Hits of Today!

According to Wikipedia it was done under pressure from his record company for more marketable material. It featured misguided attempts at Beatles and other current songs and a ludicrous psychedelic art cover. By all accounts, this album was the nadir of Bennett's recording career.

Bennett later said that, "I started planning the record by listening to as many current hits as I could stand. I mean some of the songs made me physically nauseous." Clive Davis, head of Columbia Records, reported that Bennett literally vomited before the first recording session for the album.

I've learnt quite a lot about Tony Bennett thanks to you Bill. I can't wait for the DVD to arrive.

Nigel.

[wkhanna]

Anthony's second wife Sandra Grant claims he was so heavily addicted to cocaine that he used to smuggle it through airports under his toupee.

Will that do?

Unlike Frank, who had it delivered to his room by his 'employers'. :W

That didn't stop me ordering his MTV Unplugged DVD at the same time as the John Lee Hooker CD.

Nigel.

It may not be best CD of Tony's, but it's as good a place as any to start. I truly hope you enjoy it. :T

[wkhanna]

Bennett later said that, "I started planning the record by listening to as many current hits as I could stand. I mean some of the songs made me physically nauseous." Clive Davis, head of Columbia Records, reported that Bennett literally vomited before the first recording session for the album.

Hence, his motovation to start his own lable.

[wkhanna]

Just before the Elgar, I had Dave Brubeck's Private Brubeck Remembers SACD MCH (Telarc) in the background while marking. A very nice disc (especially with a nice single malt on a snowy evening).

Longer ago than I care to contemplate, when I first joined this forum, I had posted about the ‘Time Out’ SeeDee I was listening to. You replied and recommended this album. I purchased it immediately and it has become one of my favorites for quiet, introspective late evenings alone with one of my special Ports or Single Malts. I am grateful to you each time it is played.

[Ovation]

:T Glad to be of service. Slainte.

(I've set aside some time for the Carmina Burana on Monday where I can focus on it seriously--will let you know what I think)

[wkhanna]

Do dheagh shlàinte.:^x

[Hdale85]

Matisyahu





[youtube]WRmBChQjZPs[/youtube]

[wkhanna]

This is a Mapleshade SeeDee, so the production engineering is ‘par excellence’.

Pure, raw & simple blues as it should be. Acoustic guitar, acoustic bass & mouth harp with just the perfect subtle raspy quality of Ben Andrews’ vocals.

Highly recommended.

[kpodolski]

Ahhh, Sunday morning.

Nothing is better than Bruckner on a Sunday morn'.......

[Johnloudb]

I really like Bruckner, I really like his 9th and his 8th symphony is also really good - the second movement of his 8th is one of my all time favorite pieces of music. I like most of his stuff ... Mass No. 3, 4th symphony ...

This recording is a good one: Synphony No. 8 Gunter Wand, Berlin Philharmonic -

http://www.amazon.com/Bruckner-Symphony-No-8-Anton/dp/B00005Q66Y

[wettou]

Matisyahu

Great musician :T

[kpodolski]

[wkhanna]

A Review of 'Time of the Templars' from ArkiMusic.

[kpodolski]

Steve Roach "Early Man". This was a limited editon release with a very cool CD case made of slate. Hand made and limited to 1000 units.

If you like ambient, this is hard core....

[wkhanna]

"Hard Core"....... I get it..... :rofl:

That is about the most unique jewel case I have ever seen.

Steve’s work is the benchmark for ‘meditative’ / New Age IMHO.

I also enjoy some of the work I have from Jorge Reyes.

[kpodolski]

A moment of silence for Montserrat Figueras who succumed to cancer late last year. A truly beautiful voice.

The music world is a lesser place without her...