Love the 80’s music scene. It’s all just so indulgent. Brings back so many memories.
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Someone say 80s? 
Ok, I know only some tracks on the GH album classify for the time period, but…it’s Kansas.
DIRAC does not do this album well, but the HD6XX sure does. I can finally make out the basslines!
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A few years ago, I was in Sydney and they performed Carmen at the Opera House there. It was for an Epilepsy Congress, so the room was full of neurologists. At the end after a brutal killing scene, I said to the guy sitting next to me:
“They killed her, the bastards!”
He didn’t know whether to laugh or if I was being serious. I am still chuckling thinking of that night.
Thursday is Mahler’s 8th at Disney Hall, we are going! And Saturday, my wife sings with her Chorale at Disney. Crazy week.
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Been listening to the new self-titled Rammstein album in FLAC on my phone. I’ve also been listening to a lot of Korn, P-MODEL/Susumu Hirasawa, The Prodigy, and Venetian Snares. Pretty excited for some more metal that’s coming out this year.
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Is Metal music or just ear torture instruments banned by the Geneva convention?
Could be both but I doubt they’re banned by the Geneva Convention lol. There’s a new Tool album, and a new Korn album coming out later this year. Pretty stoked.
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I can’t help but think we’re being punked on that new Tool album release, but I’ll be grabbing it in every format possible if it happens. I know they’ve never been one for blatant cash-grabs, but it’d be really nice if they repressed Aenima and did a first pressing of 10000 Days in conjunction with the new album. Heck, I’d even buy a box set if they made one.
I think you should give some Progressive Metal a shot. Here’s some of the stuff that I think is a little easier to digest for those who aren’t as seasoned in the genre:
- Opeth - Sorceress
- Dream Theater - Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence (or their new album, Distance Over Time)
- Mastodon - Crack the Skye (phenomenal album all about astral projection)
If at least one of those tickles your fancy and manages to change your mind about at least one area of metal, I’d be all smiles.
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I grew up when young kids in England were Led Zeppelin and Richie Blackmore was tearing his guitar with Deep Purple, to name a few bands (I was so young then!). I also appreciate Nine Inch Nails (courtesy of my kids). But I don’t consider modern metal music as a priority for me. Especially, I don’t see the point of paying fortunes in stereo equipment to listen to them.
No, you spend a fortune in stereo equipment to listen to Mahler’s 6th at a satisfactory volume level. A mere side benefit is that you can enjoy other music.
Including, perhaps Blue Oyster Cult, early Who, and Jimi Hendrix.
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I guess it’s a “different strokes for different folks” sort of deal. Guys like Dream Theater make some really complex arrangements, which would be a departure from the “it’s all noise” concept I think you currently hold. Well-designed systems have no issue pulling out those sorts of details and they don’t require fortunes to put together.
Some people spend the same “fortunes” trying to extract everything they can out of a Joni Mitchell album, fwiw. I choose to find enjoyment in getting the same detail retrieval out of metal records. The beauty of this hobby is it can be whatever you make of it.
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Yep. Classical truly is the basis for a decent metal system or quality for most genres. Metal is not usually too demanding due to the massive gain and inherent distortion. However, the song structures and dynamics are more like classical than anything else.
In my experience, painful sibalance is the greatest risk for metal with fair to poor equipment. Bass is rarely an issue except for with hip-hop and dance cross-over metal. Technical arists as as Dream Theater (@neo_styles), as well as symphonic metal (to include Yngwie Malmsteen, Nightwish, etc.) have literally identical reproduction requirements as classical.
I recommend Captain Beefheart, the first four Swans albums, early Sonic Youth, My Bloody Valentine “Loveless”, The Beatle’s “Revolution #9”, and Lou Reed’s “Metal Machine Music” for ear torture. None of them are “Metal” per se, but provide plenty of discomfort if you are into that sort of thing.
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While you guys agree or not about high end equipment to listen to Korn, Dream Theater or Mahler, I’m going to suggest Zoolook (1984). Is one of my favorite albums and IMO the best Jean Michel Jarre work. If you don’t have the time for the whole album ( about 37min) just give a chance to the first two themes, almost 20 min of amazing details for your nice equipment.
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Frank, the Blimp! The Blimp!
I have many fine Beefheart memories etched into what remains of my grey matter. And the Spotlight Kid is such a nice album cover. It may be ear torture to some, but it’s really good ear torture.
For me, ear torture is early Yoko Ono. Don’t Worry Kyoto.
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Hey, y’all. I am not too much into classical music listening. I do love it and play it but it is not my first preference.
I like Jorge Drexler, Joaquin Sabina, Eliane Elias, Caetano Veloso, and also YES, King Crimson, Peter Gabriel etc.
But Yes does not sound very good nowadays with new equipment. I don’t think their 70s recordings are that good.
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Back in the day some of my friends that listened to YES also liked The Soft Machine. Their albums have held up well.
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I have been in a Simon and Garfunkel mood this week.
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I am a big fan of this…especially a lot of Simons solo work later on…specifically his Graceland album… it brings a lot of memories of my Grandma, and childhood ( my mom listened to this album a lot).
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The sound of silence is, for some reason ,a recurrent song for me . It bring a lot of memories that, different from @TylersEclectic, I have no way to explain why are those memories and that song connected…could be a mood thing???
Love the lyric and the melody.
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No sound of silence, here. I’m shouting Songs from the Big Chair this morning…
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