Joel

Born to groove

The mastering quality of all albums seems very good indeed, radically better than the original CD issues, and getting up there with the best vinyl copies I have come across. To my ears CD technology is finally coming of age. The sound is leaner and cleaner than original vinyl, though some may interpret as lacking a little of the warmth. The sound is certainly leaner and tighter than the three albums I already owned on DCC vinyl (which are also truly excellent and can be recommended).

If you only have the doors on the original CD masters, or don't even own them at all, then I'm sorry but you really need to spend 69 quid now. Also if your vinyl is the flimsy and generally naff sounding 70s budget red label Electra issues you will also definitely want to invest in this set, owners of original 60s vinyl or the DCC re-issues can probably stay contented with what they have. I had some DCC pressings though lacked three albums and the out takes, so I consider it money well spent.

Tony.

Haven't listented through everything, but here's what I got for the equivalent of your 40 pound sterling (all new items):

Donald Fagen The Nightfly: a German reissue on "audiophile" vinyl, bought it to replace my worn out Italian copy; it's certainly better.

Patti Smith Group, Easter on Simply Vinyl - ok, it's never been a great recording, but I strongly suspect a digittal master has been used. Great music, though.

Bob Dylan, The Times They Are A Changin' on Simply Vinyl - voice makes some funny phasing effects. Great music also.

John Coltrane: Stellar Regions, Ballads, The J.C. Quartet Plays... on Impulse! - listened only through Ballads, a real record to die for, and probably one of my top choices for a beginner in modern jazz.

Alice Coltrane, Journey in Satchinanda on Impulse! (unlistened)

Charles Mingus Plays Piano on Impulse! (unlistened)

Will return in two or three days to see what's left, these were the best I could find, really nothing much more left.

(sorry Vuk for the dreaded audiophile vinyl, but having found interesting records which I had missed on vinyl the first time around, or which are difficult to find in mint condition for a good price, I figured out I could give them a try - and yes, SV doesn't seem to be consistent)

Igor

It is completely outstanding on every level (particularly those on the richter scale).

I played it at home the other morning whilst Annie was drying her hair and she thought that there had been a bus crash outside.

Wow!

Perhaps Tony could offer a less seismic opinion?

Wagner, Gotterdammerung, Knappertsbusch - this is the recently issued live set from the 1951 Bayreuth Festival. The sound quality is extremely good for the period (but of course mono), and the performance is outstanding. It is slow in terms of timing, yet it doesn't sound slow when you listen to it. Astrid Varnay may well be the best Brunnhilde of the century (since I don't like Kirsten Flagstad).

Ross

Is the Wagner on vinyl or CD? What label? Where did you find it?

Astrid Varnay is my favourite Wagnerian soprano of all time.

Vuk.

It is a Testament issue - and for contractual reasons, it has never been issued before.

It is available both on CD and vinyl, though I'm not sure if the vinyl version is still available. I elected to buy it on CD because I have a suspicion that the vinyl version would be made from the same digital master (but I'd be happy to hear otherwise). It seems to be readily available in CD shops, but can also be ordered directly from Testament. Check out: http://www.testament.co.uk/catalogue/4175.html.

Ross

quote:

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It is a Testament

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Yes, you told me about that a while ago and I foolishly left inquiries in the hands of my local shop then forgot about it. I did recall you mentionning the vinyl option, so that's why I asked. You are right about it being a little pointless if it's from a digital master, though with a Meridian player...

quote:

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It seems to be readily available in CD shops

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I live in London, Ontario.

Vuk.

Glad to see you ejoying Thirteen Tales, Ross. It'll likely be on my 'best of 2000' list, if I ever get around to it. 'shame I'm such a heathen to have practically zero exposure to the 'other' music.

Rico - musichead

Until you fill that gap, you are forbidden from using the "musichead" tag (unless Sgt. Petrik falls for the apple strudel bribe yet again).

he knows nothing, nothing!!!

Vuk.

[This message was edited by Vuk Vuksanovic on MONDAY 04 December 2000 at 18:59.]

Jeff Buckley - Grace. Not one for the car, but Buckley's voice certainly is an instrument, and used like one.

Lloyd Cole - Love Story. Top stuff. there's an interesting retrospective on Lloyd Cole's work in HiFi+ Issue 5. This was on backorder for ages from absound after a friend insisted I buy it. Great listening for calm moments, not as upbeat as earlier commotions stuff.

Stevie Ray Vaughan - Live at Carnegie Hall. Ahhhhh, music with guitars! And man, this sounds warm, fuzzy, loads of presence. Great performance by a true guitar god. been meaning to buy this since I heard it at Real Music shortly after it was released.

Jimmy Page and The Black Crows - Live at the Greek. Rock on Jimmy Page. Jimmy proves that Neil Young ain't the only godfather of new genre by climbing up on stage with The Black Crows while Mr Plant was taking a breather. Not just one disk, but two, in true 1970's self-indulgent style. Good stuff. And guitars, too!

Led Zeppelin - II. Yes, I really have waited this long to score this classic.

The Clash - Sandanista.

U2 - All that you cannot leave behind. You've probably heard most about this already on the U2 thread. (Mous)Tash on X-FM called it 'dad rock', cheeky slapper!

Paul Oakenfeld - Travelling. So far, I think this is rubbish... by-the-numbers stuff, hugely disappointed, was expecting something along the lines of the Oakenfold CD another expat-kiwi former forum regular put me on to.

And on DVD:

Terminator 2 - the ultimate edition. Those in the UK will understand my smiling when reading such taglines as 'ultimate edition' - sounds a bit like those "the best, ever!, collection of..." but indeed, the director's cut of T2 is much better than the original release, with about 15 mins of very relevant footage cut back in from the editing suite floor, and really intensifies the storyline. " I have detailed files."

Bullitt - well of course! One of my favourite movies, and sits squarely on the shelf next to Ronin (for obvious reasons), although the sub-plots are kinda weak (also in common with Ronin). Seeing the theatrical trailer included on this disc made me laugh - if teasers we're so cheesy these days, they'd be struggling to get punters in the door. Oh for a timewarp back to 1968! Anyway, I must conclude this by destroying any pretentions of plotline interest with either of these discs: Great car-chases. There, I said it. ; )

Apocalypse Now - how can you not love this movie? The US does irony on film, with equal measures of Napalm and Wagner. Takes a while to get through at one sitting, kinda like a pie from Tricia's Pie Shop on Mt Victoria, Wellington, New Zealand. Make sure you've mowed the lawns first, or you might be tempted to use chemical defoliants instead after viewing.

Three Kings - this to me looked like total shit from the promotion, but when I saw it, realised it was very funny shit. I like it.

High Fidelity - would any self-respecting vinyl nutter not have a copy of this, given a movie player? I thought not.

Grosse Point Blank - my movie of the year, that year. When was that, anyway? Great soundtrack too. And if you happen to like Minnie Driver, well, you get some bonus points on top of what is a really funny movie. Me ? - I can leave her.

Leon (aka The Professional). So you're getting the idea that gunplay, action, and explosions go down well at Chez Rico? Well of course! I get all my art-house movies from Film Four anyways, as Bloclbuster in the UK has sod-all decent selection anyways. This 'International version' seems to run the story a little more on the lines as Natalie Portman's character as a Lolita... I don't think it works as well.

Bladerunner - the directors cut. Dekkard as a 'skin job'? I still don't reckon, but who cares - this is still miles better than the original release, and hasn't lost it's magic at all.

Loads more music, you'll all most likely already have most of these mostly back-catalogue records, or they've been written about, so here they are in stream-of-consiousness...
Miles Davis - Steamin' with the Miles Davis Quintet. & Miles Davis - Cookin' with the Miles Davis Quintet. great call Steve Ball for switchin' me on to these after Relaxin'.

Faith No More - Album of the year. Grunty.

Beth Orton - Central Reservation. At last! Well I like it as much as Trailer Park, so there!

Brian Eno - Apollo. 'Squelchy' blows another doob, watches miles of space footage, and sorts out some inspired music to entertain us. Forget the moon stuff (cool as it is), and chill out with this fantastic ambient album. Question: Should I get Music for Airports as well?

Eno, Brian & Byrne, David - My life in the bush of ghosts. This is one I just keep coming back to, after discovering it in 1983. Bought it the next day on vinyl. This CD release doesn't sound as delicious as the vinyl, but has the magic nonetheles. About 18 years ahead of it's time, I'd say. Rythmn tracks (largely percussion), with samples over the top. Approach with caution though, likely not everyone's cup of tea.

Stevie Wonder - Innervisions. Ha! Who needs to listen to Jamiroquai when you can listen to his most major influence (that's politely put, right?)? Digital remastering seems to work well... at least, this sounds much better than the tape I bought in desperation in a gas station in Tonapah NV back in 1989 and have thrashed since.

XFM - It's a cool, cool christmas. Bah humbug? 'seems that word isn't in the indie vocab. Trash yer xmas cd's from the mall outlet stores and slam this one into the machine while you're plied with egnogg at the outlaws place this xmas, and watch a family calm descend. Or not.

Joy Division - Heart and soul (box set). refer to the recent MOTW thread for Tony's expert review of this one.

Lee Morgan- The sidewinder. , Bill Evans - Everybody digs Bill Evans., Bill Evans Trio - Waltz for debby. , Cannonball Adderly - Know what I mean?. , Sonny Rollins - Volume 2. Still trawling through these slowly, no dud's amongst them IMHO, and well pleased at a fiver a-piece!

Santana - Caravanserai. Carlos gets on with more guitar work. Little bit fusion in there too. A bit more cerebral than Abraxas, IMHO. Yeah, ok, slag me off for this one too, along with the Stevie Wonder disc.

Nordenstam, Stina - And she closed her eyes. I think I wrote something about this in the Pop Quiz II thread - it's pretty infectious.

Tosca - Suzuki. This would have to be a strong contender amongst my ROTY list. More 'up-front', as it were, than The K&D Sessions. {at this point assume the voice from 'hey dad - I'm in Jail' by Was Not Was} - "I like it, I like it it's good!"

The Breeders - Pod. Reawwwwwwoiwwwww wowwww. I love guitars. Been meaning to buy this since being riveted by it at Jawed's so long ago.

Well, that's it for now from me.

Rico - musichead

CD's

Joy Division box set - Allready had all the albums on Vinyl, but a few bits and pieces on here I didn't have. Thanks to Tony L for posting about HMV's reduction on this or I would never have looked.

Miles Davis - Live Evil & Bitches Brew - Excellent. Only just getting into Miles, but thanks to two for £22 at HMV had to get these.

Cypress Hill - Live at the Fillmore, not been able to listen to yet.

Neil Young - Road Rock vol 1, not had a chance to play this one yet.

Vinyl

Johnny Cash - Live at San Quentin. Not the best quality recording, shame about the swearing being bleeped out, but still pretty good.

Marilyn Manson - Holywood. Never bought one of his records before, not had a chance to listen to yet, so a bit of an experiment this one.

Neil Young - Zuma. Only picked this up yesterday, and another one on the unplayed list.

Simon

Alex Lloyd - recommendation from this site, its ok but nothing to write home about. I think if i had listened to it completely before i would not have bought it.

Paul Kelly - best of - Kind of a Austrailian Dylan

Sodastream - Heard these guys a number of years agon on John peel, bought one of theirs. IF I can say the music is in a sort of Belle & Seb sort of way but much more basic and less helpless

Thievery corporation - Awsome - really do like this. I think they're on 4Ad will check out their other releases

Tarik