Listening Now To This Stereo Blu Ray

[The Rang]

America - Holiday

The Mingus may be the best of this Quadio batch, but this one is probably most surprising.
The least interesting title when they were announced, but enjoyed it way more than expected.
Tin Man sounds different. Am I used to hearing a single version?

 

[The Rang]

Duran Duran - Danse Macabre

Didn’t hold high hopes for this. Wrong!
Great album, what a surprising treat.
The sound in 24/96 LPCM stereo is pretty good, no complaints.

 

[The Rang]

Frank Zappa - Waka/Jawaka

24/96 LPCM Stereo on Bluray from the Waka/Wazoo box set. Typically challenging (and really really good) and sounds great too.

 

[The Rang]

Frank Zappa - The Grand Wazoo

Also in 24/96 LPCM from the box set.
Even more interesting than W/J.
One of the all time great album covers IMO.

 

[The Rang]

XTC - The Big Express

Knew nothing from this album before now.
I find the sound and music a bit clattery (is that a real word?).
Like about half of it. The new 24/96 LPCM stereo mixes are OK. Some tracks are clean, others rather harsh.
Maybe future listens will grab me more.
(And, as is often the case with SW’s remix work, like the instrumentals).

 

[The Rang]

Richard Wright - Wet Dream

Apparently this album was basically ignored when released in ‘78.
Too bad, it’s good. Vaguely Floydian in places.
Sounds awesome in 24/96 LPCM stereo.

Much prefer the original Hipgnosis album cover (below) to this one….why change it?

 

[The Rang]

Steven Wilson - The Harmony Codex

This album seems to get mixed reviews, which I understand because about third of it is quite forgettable. But there is a lot to like and it’s certainly better than his previous album IMHO.

 

[4-earredwonder]

Sarah Vaughan with the Count Basie Orchestra SEND IN THE CLOWNS [Pablo Records/Victor Entertainment, Inc Japan/DVD~A STEREO] An absolutely amazing collaboration between two Jazz giants. Very rare Stereo DVD~Audio disc in absolutely stiunning sonics

https://www.discogs.com/release/19239925-Sarah-Vaughan-Count-Basie-Orchestra-Send-in-the-Clowns

 

[4-earredwonder]

Alan Parsons Project I ROBOT [Arista Records/Classic Records STEREO DVD~Audio remaster in 192/24 resolution] Until Alan finally releases I Robot on BD~A 5.1, this version will absolutely knock your socks off

https://www.discogs.com/release/2236291-The-Alan-Parsons-Project-I-Robot

 

[inspclouseau]

after a little more coffee....

 

[The Rang]

Soft Cell ~ Non-Stop Erotic Cabaret

Bought this on vinyl 42 years ago (!) and bet I played the whole album once or twice, which is a shame because there is a ton of great tunes here and always thought Marc Almond sounded good.
The 2 channel is only 24/48 but doubt that matters.

 

[inspclouseau]

Breakfast In America Mofi SACD version. Love this one too. Sure wish the Famous Last Words record would have been done in one of the hi res formats too. Another excellent one. Breakfast in America was the very first cd we purchased with our new cd player way back in the day. It was a Technics player.

 

[inspclouseau]

Alan Parsons Project I ROBOT [Arista Records/Classic Records STEREO DVD~Audio remaster in 192/24 resolution] Until Alan finally releases I Robot on BD~A 5.1, this version will absolutely knock your socks off

https://www.discogs.com/release/2236291-The-Alan-Parsons-Project-I-Robot

We have the Arista 24/96 DAD Classic version 'Master Tape Sound' Love it..........

 

[4-earredwonder]

We have the Arista 24/96 DAD Classic version 'Master Tape Sound' Love it..........

Alan Parsons 5.1 BD~A remix of I, ROBOT should be out sometime this year. Should sound sensational!

 

[The Rang]

Neil Young - Before and After

Stripped down and continuous. I liked it.
Turns out the 24/96 LPCM stereo and binaural sets are one and the same.

 

[The Rang]

Neil Young - Le Noise

This whole thing is so Neil Young.
Nothing but him and a noisy guitar. Love it.
Way better than I expected, like it more than the recent Before and After.
The 24/192 LPCM sound is full and clear.

 

[The Rang]

Barclay James Harvest - Once Again

Very much of the times (1970).
The remix sounds quite good in 24/96 stereo on this Bluray from the recent Esoteric box set.

 

[The Rang]

Loreena McKennitt - The Visit

Her music is good, if predictable at times, but the tracks with more world influences stand out.
The live recordings on CD are good, as are the interview portions though the way her slight “Irish” accent drifts in and out makes it seem like an affectation.

 

[The Rang]

Thin Lizzy -
Vagabonds of the Western World

This disc has Atmos and 5.1mixes, all of my listening done in 2.0.
Some good songs here (the title track especially). The sound is OK in places but overall you can definitely tell it’s from 1973.
The cymbals in particular can sound a little rough.

*Edit* Should mention, the bonus tracks are very good and sound better than the main album.
And the instrumentals are a major step up in sound IMO. I’m thinking they’re remixed (they’d have to be to remove the vocals, right?) vs a remaster on the 2 channel.

 

[The Rang]

Randy Newman - Good Old Boys

Don’t quite know what to think of Randy Newman. An acquired taste I suppose but I like this album.
The sound in 24/192 LPCM stereo is very good.