HiRez Poll XTC - Oranges and Lemons [BluRay Audio]

[fthesoundguy]

Glad you saved your 10 vote then...

Just getting started listening to it and holy moly, you're going to be right.

 

[Scottie-boy]

This is simply another masterpiece from SW. If my measuring stick is "Must Have" this qualifies as a 10. It may not be my favorite of every XTC 5.1 I have - but, it, like the others is a 10. Awesome.

 

[fetchmybeer]

Imagine my surprise to see this as the lowest rated XTC mix!

I absolutely love this album, and I love this mix.

First things first, it is most certainly the most 80s sounding of the XTC output. For that reason alone, it may bias some ratings out of the gate. It is also an enormously busy and dense record, even by XTC standards. I doubt that there is a more difficult mix to craft in their catalog.

Garden of Earthly Delights is a perfect example. There are about a zillion things going on in this song, but you have absolutely no hope of comprehending them all in a stereo mix. None. This surround mix has me hearing things I haven't heard before, and hearing things I had heard with much more clarity. This song is the most obvious example, but examples abound all over this album.

The backing vocals are in the rear throughout the album and are perfect that way. They really do deserve their own spot because they are stunning at times.

Mayor Of Simpleton is probably the most straightforward song on the album and it still sounds enveloping and full. Even "simpleton" XTC is not so simple...

As always, there are a number of extras that come with it that are icing on the cake. SW's stereo mix is very good, with that little touch of added clarity that you expect. Just a phenomenal job on the surround mix though for what I imagine was a very challenging project.

Easy 10.

 

[dr. simple]

I just started listening to the instrumental versions of these songs and songs from the other XTC blu-rays and it’s such a cool, fresh perspective. I was thinking about what @JonUrban said on the Teaser And The Firecat thread, and while I do the same thing - listen once to the 5.1 mix in awe and possibly never pull it out again - every once in a while I decide to explore some of the other non-surround goodies and I’m pleasantly surprised.

 

[bookofsaturdays]

An absolute 10 all day long. Wasn't familiar with any XTC before this series and I have been blown away by every single one of them.
Beautiful warm sound on this one and the songs are fantastic. In a perfect world I could do without "Pink Thing" but even then there are things to like about that one. Fidelity is amazing and the mixes are nothing less than what we've come to expect from Mr. Wilson.

Highlights for me are "King for a Day", "The Loving", "Poor Skeleton Steps Out", "Scarecrow People", "Cynical Days", "Across This Antheap", "Hold Me My Daddy", and "Chalkhills and Children".
This is finally back in stock after being out of print, get this!!

 

[Matt Wilson]

So this is the lowest-rated XTC Wilson disc here... Well, it sounds damn good to me - and it's always been an excellent album too.

9

 

[Willie Wilson]

Picked this up for $30 on Amazon and was so happy to find it. I remember listening to the promo cassette when it first came out and being floored by the songwriting and production. The drawback was the limitations of stereo to bring out everything in the mix. SW did a great job of revitalizing this album and opening up its inherent potential. Hearing things now (percussion, horns, vocals) throughout that were previously diminished or hidden.

Production is still a bit bright/hot at loud volume, but it’s worth the ride to experience this gem in 5.1 as it should be heard. In regard to other comments about it being too long and artists filling time on CDs because the format allowed for it, to me that all comes down to the artist’s gift for songwriting and the listener’s love for the artist. Overall, I loved the extended timeframes as it gave me more of what I came for in the first place.

The writing and playing is excellent and is a showcase for what could be done 35 years ago in the midst of MTV, hair metal and low-quality pop music. This disc will find its way to my blu-ray player over and over and I will happily spend an hour each time soaking it in.

Packaging is great thanks to the super-cool front cover, extensive liner notes and the easy to remove and replace disc holder insert. The bonus tracks are indicative of what I would want every time from every release - demos, instrumentals, radio IDs and promos and videos. Bonus indeed!

I voted 9 without hesitation, shaving a point because if it was a perfect 10, the production would not be as bright/hot as it is. Despite that, I think it’s fair to call this album an exemplary surround experience.

 

[H.A.L.]

Picked this up for $30 on Amazon and was so happy to find it. I remember listening to the promo cassette when it first came out and being floored by the songwriting and production. The drawback was the limitations of stereo to bring out everything in the mix. SW did a great job of revitalizing this album and opening up its inherent potential. Hearing things now (percussion, horns, vocals) throughout that were previously diminished or hidden.

Production is still a bit bright/hot at loud volume, but it’s worth the ride to experience this gem in 5.1 as it should be heard. In regard to other comments about it being too long and artists filling time on CDs because the format allowed for it, to me that all comes down to the artist’s gift for songwriting and the listener’s love for the artist. Overall, I loved the extended timeframes as it gave me more of what I came for in the first place.

The writing and playing is excellent and is a showcase for what could be done 35 years ago in the midst of MTV, hair metal and low-quality pop music. This disc will find its way to my blu-ray player over and over and I will happily spend an hour each time soaking it in.

Packaging is great thanks to the super-cool front cover, extensive liner notes and the easy to remove and replace disc holder insert. The bonus tracks are indicative of what I would want every time from every release - demos, instrumentals, radio IDs and promos and videos. Bonus indeed!

I voted 9 without hesitation, shaving a point because if it was a perfect 10, the production would not be as bright/hot as it is. Despite that, I think it’s fair to call this album an exemplary surround experience.

Good review!

 

[Willie Wilson]

Good review!

Thank you.

 

[SomethingAnything]

In regard to other comments about it being too long and artists filling time on CDs because the format allowed for it, to me that all comes down to the artist’s gift for songwriting and the listener’s love for the artist. Overall, I loved the extended timeframes as it gave me more of what I came for in the first place.

Well put. I agree.