OK. I'm ready to vote.
@:
I absolutely HATE to vote 10 for stuff, because it seems that everything that comes out gets a '10' these days. We're all just so happy to get something "good" in surround that we fall all over ourselves gushing over a release. But again, here we go - IT'S A TEN!
First off, I can't remember where my musical head was back in '94 when this first came out. I know surround was dead at that point. The DTS CD had yet to rear it's head, DVD-A and SACD were years away, and the LaserDisc and AC-3 were the only pulse left from the quadraphonic era. (Of course, I had to upgrade my LD player for AC-3, but I digress....)
When "The Division Bell" came out, I bought the CD. I can't remember how many times I played it, but it quickly went into the shelves nestled next to my other PF CDs, and it stayed there for almost 20 years, rarely touched if ever since it's initial rides in the car. I don't know why I never grew to like it, more than likely I just did not give it a chance. The older you get, the less you are apt to take in new music. You want to hear the stuff you know, not the new stuff. That's why new releases from very established artists never have the legs of their initial efforts. We were all younger and we played those LPs to death. New stuff? Check it out and then put on the old stuff!
Needless to say, The Division Bell was never a go-to CD for me. That being said, when this release was announced, I did not feel compelled to get the box. "Another $100+ box of stuff just to get the surround", not again! However, I did go for the DVD, as it was priced right, and I figured the least I could do with it was scan it for the forum. I never liked the mix on the SACD of DSOTM, and I figured this would be the same type of mix. "Band approved" and all.
WRONG!
Holy crap. This mix is amazing, stunning, perfect, it's too easy to give accolades too. Sure, Andy Jackson stopped by the forum and I'm glad he did, and I'm not sucking up to him because, well, I don't have to
, but DAMN - this is one fine surround mix. From the first few moments of the first track there is no need to strain to hear the surround - it's there and it's all around you. When the power cuts in on "What Do You Want from Me", no matter how loud you're listening to at that moment, you reach to crank it up more.
For those who like DSOTM, WYWH and The Wall, but never got into the later Floyd LPs, you should seriously give this disc a try and you may find yourself like me - really liking this one. For some reason, the surround mix just brings this music out from it's shell and opens it up so the listener just accepts it and enjoys it. It's very hard to describe.
I don't want to start any arguments, but the 24/96 on the BluRay does seem a bit more refined than the DVD's 24/48, probably due to the DVD's encoding, but the DVD does not sound bad at all. The BluRay however lets it all out! Awesome.
So, because the mix is tremendous, and because it makes this album live again, and because it's so damn good, it's a 10. Sorry, but that's my vote. A TEN!
Great job by Andy and the band for getting this out. A great surprise release that literally came out of nowhere! Only problem is just like the proverbial Lay's Potato Chip, listening to this disc makes you want more! MORE!
