I have a fairly long drive to and from work, so I do a lot of my music listening in my car. I am constantly rotating CDs to listen to depending on what I am interested in at the time. So, what's in your CD player (home or car) that we all might be interested in hearing? Maybe we can make this an ongoing thread with constant music updates for further exploration.

Some of my recent CDs on the playlist:


Built to Spill--Ancient Melodies of the Future (2004)

If you like good old fashioned guitar rock, which seems to be a dying art these days, this band from Idaho of all places kicks tail. Doug Martsch is a versatile and accomplished guitarist with clear influences coming from the Neil Young and Crazy Horse school of distorted feedback, filtered through the punk/indie prism of groups like Sonic Youth.(To give you some idea, they have a 17 minute long version of Cortez the Killer on their live album). But this is melodic crunching rock with a classic feel. Trimmed and Burning is that kind of heavy guitar anthem that you used to hear and sounds both modern and classic at the same time. In Your Mind is another great tune with strumming acoustic guitars mixed with heavy guitar licks. This band should be more well known. Love the title too--the music of today are the Ancient Melodies of the Future.


King Black Acid and the Starseed Transmission--Loves a Long Song (2000)

I love this album. Remember when you listened to an album from start to finish and ALL the songs were good--you just didn't download one tune from an album? This is great stuff from start to finish. Trippy, psychedelic, hypnotic power pop from this little known band from Portland, Oregon. This is psychedelic progressive pop, somewhat similar to England's Porcupine Tree. Again, its guitar oriented, with melodic catchy hooks that sound like you're hearing a classic pop tune, but the songs stretch out to 7,8,9 minute jams with swirling and gurgling synthesizers that percolate below the surface, and pretty soon you are only faintly aware you're listening to the same tune. Great husky lead vocals from singer.writer, and guitartist Daniel Riddle that have a yearning quality to them. Some of these tunes could have been alternative radio hits if marketed properly, like I've Heard You're Still Alive and Butterfly Bomber. Apparantly this band was well known for extended hypnotic trance inducing live shows in the Portland area. They also did about 8 songs for the movie soundtrack to The Mothman Prophecies, very haunting creepy sounding stuff. This is the kind of album that will have you playing it over and over once you hear it, I guarantee it.

REM--Monster (1994)

I recently got the remastered extended version of this classic album. Early REM fans may not like this, but I think this is their most interesting album. Heavy guitar that is distorted and trippy (see a theme here?) but melodic and rhythmic. REM took more chances with this album as they went away from the safety of jangly pop tunes like The One I Love. A whole slew of interesting, almost psychedelic tunes--What's the Frequency Kenneth, I Took Your Name, Crush with Eyeliner, Star 69; contrasted with more traditional REM tunes like the beautiful Strange Currencies and Bang and Blame. REM's heaviest record. It simply flat out rocks.

Cowboy Junkies--Open (2003?)

Keeping the theme somewhat consistent, another band that is influenced by both the grungemaster Neil Young and by the indie rock of Velvet Undergound/Sonic Youth, but in a laid back roots rock style. Beautiful female vocals that are almost languid at times by Margot Timmins, interspersed with the extended guitar distortions of brother Micheal make some songs seem dreamy and abstract, but other tunes are more straight ahead roots rock pop. The great tune on this album for me is Dragging Hooks, which is extended when they play live into a 15 minute or so hypnotic fuzz drenched jam. Definitely not a "dance to them band", but a sit down laid back group with solid songwriting and singing.

10 years the autumn effect
audioslave
citizen cope
nirvana in utero
disturbed 10000 fists

Good idea. More than once or twice recently I've thought about a "What's Hot With You This Week" wrt CDs. We used to have a "thread" like this years ago on a internal "forum" where I used to work. It was a great place to learn about new music.

1) King Crimson, "In the Court of the Crimson King" - made from original master tapes.
2) National Health, "The Complete National Health" - I forgot I had this. Only one song with Bruford. I just ordered another CD, "Missing Pieces", that supposedly has some more Bruford on it.
3) Larry Coryell, "Coryell" - IIRC it may be his first recording, it was done in 1969.
4) Gentle Giant, "Giant for a Day" - 35th anniversary remaster.

larry

Katatonia - "Discouraged Ones" - The group steps away from their death metal vocals and heads for the land of clean vocals. This albums can sound like a heavier version of The Cure

Banjo and Sullivan - "The Ultimate Collection 1972 - 1978" - This album was done for promotion of the Rob Zombie film "The Devil's Rejects". This album is supposedly the greatest hits by the band of the same name that was slaughtered in the movie. The album contains music country and bluegrass music written by Lew Templeton (Adam Banjo in the movie) and Jesse Dayton (Texas country and honkeytonk singer). The album has funny and ironic tunes. The cover of Lynyrd Skynyrd's Free Bird is absolutely amazing!

Leaves' Eyes - "Vinland Saga" - The 2nd album from Liv Kristin (ex Theatre of Tragedy) and her husband Alex Krull. Liv Kristine's entrancing voice takes you on a journey of the Vikings discovery of the New Found Land.

Nightingale - "Nightfall Overture" - This is a compilation of re-recorded versions of several songs from Nightingale's 10 years of recording. Dan Swano, the mastermind behind Nightingale, takes his great songs and makes them even better with some re-worked and better recorded versions. He even throws in new versions of 2 songs from his band Edge of Sanity. Also included is a new song in which Dan reminises about how he messed up his marriage due to his focusing on his muscial career.

Spirit Caravan - "Last Embrace" - Scott "Wino" Weinrich, known for his previous bands The Obsessed and Saint Vitus continues his work in the stoner rock genre. This album contains songs from 3 Spirit Caravan albums, inlcuding the songs from the out of print album Jug Fulla Sun. Outstanding stoner rock!

You guys still listen to music on CDs? That's soooo 90's.

;)

Seriously, though, I have an old Pentium II system with 3 large hard drives that contain my entire CD collection in .wav format and I have this for my truck:

http://www.kenwoodusa.com/products/ListProduct.aspx?k1=2&k2=5&k3=71&pr=2008

This way, I never have to choose...

PooperScooper, now your talking my kind of music ;) . I listened to everyone of those groups this week. Pat Methenys "The Way Up" is in my player right now and it may not come out for awhile. What a fantastic piece of music this is. One song, over 68 minutes long, and so moving to these ears of mine. Not for everyone, however, TWU is the latest in a long line of wonderful music from a musical genius.

Hmmm...
In the living room: The Buzzcocks - Singles Going Steady
In the car: The Blasters - Testament (Disc 1)
On the turntable: (my preferred music medium) - The Undertones - s/t

While I'm more into Home Theater instead of music these days, I bought the Wife a Creative Zen Vision this past week end loaded up more than 400 Cd's from my Media Library. While this was in progress, I took the opportunity to listen to:

Donald Fagen - The Night Fly
Cowboy Junkies - The Trinity Sessions
Deep Purple - Made in Japan
SuperTramp - Crime of the Century
Al Stewart - Year of the Cat
Jean-Luc Ponty - Cosmic Messenger
Simply Red - Picture Book
Tommy Bolin - Private Eyes
Traffic - The Low Spark of High Heeled Boys
Yes - Close to the Edge
Ten Years After - Stonehenge

Sounds just as great today as it did 25 years ago!!.

I have an hour drive home, right around the time of a lot of cds, so i listen to one every day in the car on my trip home.

Lately i have listened to:

Hey Mr. Producer (broadway stuff)
Elton Johns Greatest Hits
Alicia Keys Unplugged
Shania Twain - Come On Over
Madonna - The Immaculate Collection
A Frank Sinatra cd, his 80th birthday celebration

Acid Bath - When the Kite String Pops
Eminem - The Eminem Show
Ten Years After - A Space In Time
Frank Zappa - Broadway the Hard Way
Down - NOLA
Bloodhound Gang - Hooray For Boobies

(check links for mp3s if you're interested - I added links to Amazon where samples are available for all tracks)

Minus the Bear (http://www.minusthebear.com/) - Menos El Oso
Great Seattle band, tight, punchy rhythm, amazing guitars. Highly Refined Pirates (track samples (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00006NSFE/qid=1138390046/sr=2-2/ref=pd_bbs_b_2_2/103-1649539-9127821?s=music&v=glance&n=5174)) is a great album (with great song titles), but Menos El Oso is growing on me too.

Norah Jones - Come Away With Me
Everyone knows this one. Sounds great, and even better now that I switched around and re-tweaked my speakers. I love the details and staging of all the instruments.

Cat Power (http://www.matadorrecords.com/cat_power/) - You Are Free
Great, varied album with tracks ranging from a single piano, to aco guitars, to guitars/bass/drums. Her voice is hauntingly beautiful. I can't wait to get a hold of her new album, The Greatest (track samples (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000C0X3ZC/ref=pd_ts_m_12/103-1649539-9127821?s=music&v=glance&n=5174)), after hearing tracks from it on KEXP the past few weeks.

Nada Surf (http://www.barsuk.com/bands/nadasurf) - The Weight Is a Gift
Wow. Let Go (track samples (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000089CKH/ref=pd_sim_m_2/103-1649539-9127821?%5Fencoding=UTF8&v=glance&n=5174)) was a brilliant album, one of my favorites for that year (saw them in Seattle with Death Cab - amazing show), and this is a great follow-up album from last year. One of the best adult/indie 'pop' albums last year. At first it didn't grab me with the familiarity of Let Go, but it has grown on me a lot.

Bloc Party (http://www.blocparty.com/go.php?object=home) - Silent Alarm (track samples (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0007NFMDK/qid=1138389969/sr=2-1/ref=pd_bbs_b_2_1/103-1649539-9127821?s=music&v=glance&n=5174))
Not so much now, but this one was in my CD player in the car and at home half the time last year. Mostly great songs with tight rhythm and bass, catchy but not tiringly so.

After rearranging and tweaking my speakers, I've been going through some of my older favorites (last year and before) as well, rediscovering them so to speak -- GusGus (from '96), Morcheeba, Beastie Boys (Ill Comm), Shea Seger, Modest Mouse, The Stills, Bright Eyes, Interpol, Citizen Cope, Death Cab For Cutie (I need to give the new album some more spins), Everything But the Girl, The Microphones, Wilco, and a bunch of Japanese indie stuff that no one would know anyway.

KEXP (streaming at work) and KSCU (at home/in car), various Jazz/Bossa Nova CDs from my meager jazz collection, Jazz and Latin Jazz channels on Music Choice/Comcast.

The Cranberries boxed set. I'm all Progged out after the last couple of weeks and just wanted to listen to some great pop rock. Dolores O'Riordan is always a fun vocalist to listen to. Loads of great, catchy stuff. One of the more underrated popular bands of the last decade and a half (at least in America).

Granian - Live Sessions http://granian.com/music/livesessions/

Check out "Over Now"... powerful ! I think you can hear the whole song instead of just a snippet of it on http://www.purevolume.com/granian under the Live Sessions album selection.

His 2000 & 2004 cd's are absolutely amazing too.

Hmmm...
In the living room: The Buzzcocks - Singles Going Steady
In the car: The Blasters - Testament (Disc 1)
On the turntable: (my preferred music medium) - The Undertones - s/t
I don't (ever) hear many people mention The Undertones-- the last album I listened to was an Undertones collection.

CD player? All my cds are on a hard disk on a server in the house. Checking the playlist shows (most recent first)--

The Undertones-- The Best of the Undertones
Urge Overkill-- Saturation
John Coltrane-- Giant Steps
Todd Rundgren-- Something/Anything

I have heard of some of the old stuff, but almost none of the recent music mentioned here. I am listening to:

Diana Krall: The Girl in the Other Room
Neil Young: Greatest Hits
Diana Krall: All For You
Linda Ronstadt: Jardin Azul/Las Canciones Favoritas
Bob Dylan: Highway 61 Revisited
Bob Dylan: Blood on the Tracks

Chris

Last night:

Billy Sheehan, "Cosmic Troubadour" - his latest

U.K., "U.K." - a classic. Somewhere I have a cassette recording of a live radio broadcast of a U.K. concert that I attended (a friend did the recording) in summer of '78 that puts the studio versions to shame. I need to get it on disc.

larry

I love this thread, as I'm not familiar with many of the artists mentioned. I've been in the pop/rock mood this last week, listening to:

Michael Penn - Mr. Hollywood Jr., 1947
The Shins - Oh, Inverted World
David Gray - White Ladder
K.D. Lang - Ingenue

On my xbox 360 HDD. I'm listning to;
Metallica:ride the lighting
Metallica:... And justice for all
Metallica:master of puppets
Alice cooper: billon dollar babbies
Alice cooper: the eyes of alice cooper

And on my old creative nomad jukebox II 20gb player
I've got the family guy presents:steiwie griifen the untold story. (Seen the movie so many times I just listion to it.)
Most alice cooper and metallica albums


I shouldent admit this but I will I also have 3 songs sung by sylvester stallone that I listion to regularly. They are
Road to paradise (from paradise alley)
Drinkenstein (from rhinestone)
Stay out of my bedroom (also from rhinestone, but is a duo with dolly parton)

I shouldent admit this but I will I also have 3 songs sung by sylvester stallone that I listion to regularly. They are
Road to paradise (from paradise alley)
Drinkenstein (from rhinestone)
Stay out of my bedroom (also from rhinestone, but is a duo with dolly parton)


You're right, you shouldn't have admitted that and quit while you were ahead. If Sly Stallone can sing, then I'm a monkey's uncle.

You guys still listen to music on CDs? That's soooo 90's.

;)

Seriously, though, I have an old Pentium II system with 3 large hard drives that contain my entire CD collection in .wav format and I have this for my truck:

http://www.kenwoodusa.com/products/ListProduct.aspx?k1=2&k2=5&k3=71&pr=2008

This way, I never have to choose...
Curious, how do you have the computer hooked up to your stereo system? You don't listen to all that music at home through computer speakers do you? I can't imagine not listening to music through a dedicated stereo system with top notch speakers.

I don't know what you're all listening to but my latest stuff:

Coldplay XY
Madonna - Confessions (GREAT ALBUM IMO)
the new Rolling Stones
Metric - Live out Loud
Depeche Mode's latest

Curious, how do you have the computer hooked up to your stereo system? You don't listen to all that music at home through computer speakers do you? I can't imagine not listening to music through a dedicated stereo system with top notch speakers.
Server => Ethernet => Computer => Line Out => Stereo

I don't (ever) hear many people mention The Undertones-- the last album I listened to was an Undertones collection.
They got quite a bit of mention when John Peel died since Teenage Kicks was reputed to be his favorite song. I've heard it covered more and more over the past few years in multiple genres so despite the fact nobody ever seems to talk about them they aren't completely forgotten.

I'm pretty sure they reformed and were touring the States last year, I remember Dickie Barret would play Get Over You all the time on his radio show and I seem to remember them showing up for an interview.

They got quite a bit of mention when John Peel died since Teenage Kicks was reputed to be his favorite song. I've heard it covered more and more over the past few years in multiple genres so despite the fact nobody ever seems to talk about them they aren't completely forgotten.

I'm pretty sure they reformed and were touring the States last year, I remember Dickie Barret would play Get Over You all the time on his radio show and I seem to remember them showing up for an interview.
That would've been fun to see-- I didn't hear of any shows here in Chicago. A keyboard player I played with years ago had a goldfish named Feargal. She pronounced it feer-gul; I corrected her-- Feargal rhymes with gurgle.

Tearproof is now stuck in my head.

You guys with the overcompressed music servers and such are obviously not even in the slightest bit audiophiles. More and ultimate convienience certainly are the antithesis of true music appreciation in this day and age. Get rid of your Ipods and get yourself a real music system and find out what you're really missing in the music you're listening to - preferably analog (excepting the CD's and the deck). Some pretty good gear can be found for less than what you're paying for those "toys". Of course, if you don't know any better, I guess you're all satisfied enough. I guess that if you can at least hear that bass drum loud and kicking, that's all that really matters to you.

Curious, how do you have the computer hooked up to your stereo system? You don't listen to all that music at home through computer speakers do you? I can't imagine not listening to music through a dedicated stereo system with top notch speakers. Does a B&K PT5 pre/pro and reference 200.2 amp, Sonus Faber Concertos and a Velodyne DD-10 sub (w/room equalizer) qualify?

You're right, you shouldn't have admitted that and quit while you were ahead. If Sly Stallone can sing, then I'm a monkey's uncle. I guess we all have our own little guilty pleasures, now don't we?

You guys with the overcompressed music servers and such are obviously not even in the slightest bit audiophiles. More and ultimate convienience certainly are the antithesis of true music appreciation in this day and age. Get rid of your Ipods and get yourself a real music system and find out what you're really missing in the music you're listening to - preferably analog (excepting the CD's and the deck). Some pretty good gear can be found for less than what you're paying for those "toys". Of course, if you don't know any better, I guess you're all satisfied enough. I guess that if you can at least hear that bass drum loud and kicking, that's all that really matters to you.
I'm with you, but isn't it possible to rip raw PCM and output via S/PDIF to an external DAC? However, personally, I wouldn't want PC quality electronics, not to mention the RF/EMI near the data I'm trying to feed a DAC. :) The only advantage I see to the PC solution is not having to load/unload a CD. To me that's no big deal.

larry

You guys with the overcompressed music servers and such are obviously not even in the slightest bit audiophiles. More and ultimate convienience certainly are the antithesis of true music appreciation in this day and age. Get rid of your Ipods and get yourself a real music system and find out what you're really missing in the music you're listening to - preferably analog (excepting the CD's and the deck). Some pretty good gear can be found for less than what you're paying for those "toys". Of course, if you don't know any better, I guess you're all satisfied enough. I guess that if you can at least hear that bass drum loud and kicking, that's all that really matters to you.
:confused:
What makes you think that what's on my server is overcompressed? Or even compressed? There's not an ipod or the like in my house.

I had many hundreds of pieces of pristine vinyl that unfortunately perished in an apartment fire 15 years ago. And with the difficulty in purchasing vinyl, most has been replaced on cd. Ripping them to a server makes playing them anywhere in the house much easier-- I see no reason to muck about with moving disks in and out of players in different parts of the house.

Clutch Anything by them
Oz Noy Co-worker brought it into work this very A.M.

Well, I still prefer the warmth of analog over the cold mechanicalness of digital. Tubes are even better, but they're out of my reach. I guess I just like that feeling of getting better grade "old-fashioned" audio components and "rediscovering" my music collection all over again, especially in regards to detail.

preferably analog (excepting the CD's and the deck).

GASP! - Is that a nod to ultimate convenience? Because true audio files, still flip their vynl after 20 minutes....and sing warm songs of praise to align the molecular matrix of their shibatas.







As if perfect reproduction were a pre-requisite for enjoying music. Go turn your nose up somewhere else.

:confused:
What makes you think that what's on my server is overcompressed? Or even compressed? There's not an ipod or the like in my house.

I had many hundreds of pieces of pristine vinyl that unfortunately perished in an apartment fire 15 years ago. And with the difficulty in purchasing vinyl, most has been replaced on cd. Ripping them to a server makes playing them anywhere in the house much easier-- I see no reason to muck about with moving disks in and out of players in different parts of the house.

I'm sure that your way is a good way of keeping numerous albums compressed to a single location without all the clutter of cds but isn't there still some loss in sound quality when you do that. Also, you would never be able to compress SACDs this way. Even though SACD and DVD-Audio formats may be on the way out the sound quality is phenominal. I will take sound quality over volume any day. That's just my opinion.

Well, I still prefer the warmth of analog over the cold mechanicalness of digital. Tubes are even better, but they're out of my reach. I guess I just like that feeling of getting better grade "old-fashioned" audio components and "rediscovering" my music collection all over again, especially in regards to detail.
:) I fully agree. You have no idea how much I miss my turntable, tubes and horns-- and being married with child(ren) now, it'll be a long time before they're replaced. "I used to have that on vinyl," is commonly heard in my house.

GASP! - Is that a nod to ultimate convenience? Because true audio files, still flip their vynl after 20 minutes....and sing warm songs of praise to align the molecular matrix of their shibatas.







As if perfect reproduction were a pre-requisite for enjoying music. Go turn your nose up somewhere else. So's your old man. Hey, Ipods are cool and everything, and so are music servers. Anything that gets anyone to listen to music is great. But if I just want to sit back, turn the lights down and really enjoy music, I like the sound of the older style stuff. I don't think a true "snob" would own a Mini-Disc portable like I do. (And I've owned a CD jukebox in the past, too.) That stuff's fine for mobility purposes, but I'm just referring more to at home.

Also, it's well worth it to me to have to get up every twenty minutes or so to flip an album. It's a small price to pay. Just makes you appreciate the music more.

I'm sure that your way is a good way of keeping numerous albums compressed to a single location without all the clutter of cds but isn't there still some loss in sound quality when you do that. Also, you would never be able to compress SACDs this way. Even though SACD and DVD-Audio formats may be on the way out the sound quality is phenominal. I will take sound quality over volume any day. That's just my opinion.
While I was initially excited by the promise, lack of real support for SACD and DVD-A kept me from buying a player or material. Loss in sound quality? Imperceptible from cd-- bits are bits.

Foo Fighters - In your Honor - awesome double CD, one is electric. Led by David Grohl of Nirvana fame

My daughter is listening to "Avenge SevenFold", a somewhat interesting band with a vocalist that sounds like Steven Tyler of Aerosmith. They have a hyper active guitarist, and are played on KROK, the influential rock station in LA

Loss in sound quality? Imperceptible from cd-- bits are bits.


So a $50 Walmart special CD player will sound exactly the same as a $10,000 Meridian or other high end player?

I've got some swamp land in Florida you might be interested in--land is land.

Well, at least SACD's can usually be played in stereo, and I can play DVD-Audio's on my Panasonic recorder in stereo. They still sound pretty good. But I never really invested in any either, because I've been around long enough to know that they'd never really catch on. Especially with that old bugaboo - competing formats. That's also why I'm not gonna be dumb enough to shell out for HD-DVD when it's first available.

So a $50 Walmart special CD player will sound exactly the same as a $10,000 Meridian or other high end player?

I've got some swamp land in Florida you might be interested in--land is land.
I never said that. Nor do I shop at Walmart. And I used to own swamp land in Florida. ;)

But I guarantee that wav files played from my server will kill that $50 Walmart player or any ipod/similar.

So a $50 Walmart special CD player will sound exactly the same as a $10,000 Meridian or other high end player?

I've got some swamp land in Florida you might be interested in--land is land. I agree. There is definitely a point of diminishing returns in audio gear, where it's easy to get sucked into a "my deck cost THIS much" thing, But the example you use is a completely valid one.

Currently I am listening to the following CDs:

Nile - Annihilation of the Wicked
Kataklysm - Serenity In Fire
Cradle Of Filth - Midian
Arch Enemy - Doomsday Machine
Nevermore - This Godless Endeavor
Bach for Relaxation

So a $50 Walmart special CD player will sound exactly the same as a $10,000 Meridian or other high end player?

I've got some swamp land in Florida you might be interested in--land is land.
In that same vein, I was working in my unfinished media room a couple of weeks ago and hooked up my new speakers to an old receiver and my son's $19 radio shack dvd player. I popped in Miles Davis' Bags Groove and immediately thought that my new speakers were toast-- it was just the crappy dvd player. I brought an ethernet cable in and connected an old crappy thinkpad laptop with a cheap cable and played the same album from the server-- big, big difference.

Well, to be fair it WAS a Radio Shack. It might have sounded a little more acceptable if it were a Sony.

In that same vein, I was working in my unfinished media room a couple of weeks ago and hooked up my new speakers to an old receiver and my son's $19 radio shack dvd player. I popped in Miles Davis' Bags Groove and immediately thought that my new speakers were toast-- it was just the crappy dvd player. I brought an ethernet cable in and connected an old crappy thinkpad laptop with a cheap cable and played the same album from the server-- big, big difference.
So you've made my point for me. Bits are NOT just Bits. Otherwise, all digital equipment would sound exactly the same.

When I was buying the gear I have now, I was auditioning some Martin Logan's in the store, but I didn't have any of my own music on me. The salesman turned on music from a Yamaha server, and it was so bad I couldn't believe it. When I asked him why it sounded so bad (other than the fact that the M.L.'s are particularly revealing), all he could say was it was the compression. Mind you, it was so bad that something might have been wrong, but he seemed to understand that I was looking for much better and veered me appropiately. I thank God for that, because it was completely unacceptable to me for that price point.

So you've made my point for me. Bits are NOT just Bits. Otherwise, all digital equipment would sound exactly the same.
Point? I'm not arguing. :)

The bits are the bits-- the difference is in the D/A conversion, where the bits become something else. And with the limitation of the cd format, much has been lost already. Putting it on my server isn't going to appreciably lose anything more.

I admit the Sirius music channels I get with Dish don't sound that bad, and they do have a decent amount of detail. but they do just have a sort of "artificial" sound.

Animal Collective - Feels
Sigur Ros - Taak
Do Make Say Think - Winter Hymm Country Hymm Secret Hymm (absolutely phenomenal record)
Mogwai - Happy Songs For Happy People
Sufjan Stevens - Illinois
Hold Steady - Separation Sunday

I have a new option called pandora. You can find it at www.pandora.com also called the Music Genome Project. You can create stations based on artists you like and pandora shuffles through songs that are considewred similar, you get to tweak the selections by givinga thumbs up or down on songs if you choose to. It's a great little tool to use at work - a personal DJ doing a CD song shuffle in the background. Of course you can purchase the individual song from itunes or the CD from Amazon from the site.

While I was initially excited by the promise, lack of real support for SACD and DVD-A kept me from buying a player or material. Loss in sound quality? Imperceptible from cd-- bits are bits.

Except there are more bits on hi-rez audio. And the more bits, the closer the sample to the original analog sine curve, thus better, more accurate sound. I only paid $120 for my universal player and dearly love my SA-CD and DVD-A collection, sparse as it is. (But I love my vinyl & Rega turntable even more. :) )

I admit the Sirius music channels I get with Dish don't sound that bad, and they do have a decent amount of detail. but they do just have a sort of "artificial" sound.
Yep-- XM with D*, here. Sounds ok, but nothing to write home about. For casual background listening, With the antenna on my roof and WXRT broadcasting, I still prefer oldschool FM.

Except there are more bits on hi-rez audio. And the more bits, the closer the sample to the original analog sine curve, thus better, more accurate sound. I only paid $120 for my universal player and dearly love my SA-CD and DVD-A collection, sparse as it is. (But I love my vinyl & Rega turntable even more. :) )
Urp-- didn't mean to confuse SACD/DVD-A with CD-- I meant uncompressed rips of CDs to CDs.

Yep-- XM with D*, here. Sounds ok, but nothing to write home about. For casual background listening, With the antenna on my roof and WXRT broadcasting, I still prefer oldschool FM. I'm in Chicagoland, too. Are you old enough to remember Triad? It was the best radio program/station this area's ever had (and anyone else out there who remembers it will vouch for this, I'm certain). Nothing's ever even come close, even 'XRT back in it's earlier days.

I'm in Chicagoland, too. Are you old enough to remember Triad? It was the best radio program/station this area's ever had (and anyone else out there who remembers it will vouch for this, I'm certain). Nothing's ever even come close, even 'XRT back in it's earlier days.
Speaking of Chicago radio, I lived in Palatine (NW suburbs) from about 1972-1975 and listened to Larry Lujack on the AM dial? religiously. Thought he was hilarious. You must be around the same age as me so you must have grown up with Lujack also?

I'm in Chicagoland, too. Are you old enough to remember Triad? It was the best radio program/station this area's ever had (and anyone else out there who remembers it will vouch for this, I'm certain). Nothing's ever even come close, even 'XRT back in it's earlier days.

Speaking of Chicago radio, I lived in Palatine (NW suburbs) from about 1972-1975 and listened to Larry Lujack on the AM dial? religiously. Thought he was hilarious. You must be around the same age as me so you must have grown up with Lujack also?

Uncle Lar and Little Tommy on WLS. I even had the first Animal Stories album. I don't remember Triad. I listened mostly to am back in the 70s, so it was Larry Lujack and John Landecker until I started listening to The Loop in the late 70s. Musically, the 70s for me were a steady diet of Styx, Foreigner and Cheap Trick-- ahh-- junior high school. Then my parents split and my mother moved us to far northern Wisconsin-- culture shock and a dearth of anything resembling radio. :(

Fortunately, after college and getting transferred around the country, I finally had the opportunity five years ago to move back. :)

Ironically my HT audio system is better playing music than any 2 channel rig I've ever owned. I'm using all Cary Audio gear (Cinema 6, Cinema 5 and DVD-6). Even though it's solid state it sounds quite tube-like to me. Just incredible sounding, and HT sounds magic as well.

I actually wake up early now just to have time listening to music before the day starts (everyone wants to watch movies at night). Here's what I'm listening to at the moment:

"Miles Davis - The Cellar Door Sessions" - This is a full 6 disc box set of the complete 5 nights that spawned LIVE-EVIL (my all time favorite MD disc). It's really some of his trippiest most futuristic stuff with Keith Jarrett, John Mclaughlin, Mike Henderson, Miles, et all. Sure much of it sounds similar, but its so good I'd take another 10 discs worth.

Bach Unaccompanied Cello - Whipplesway. The unaccompanied Cello pieces always seemed like a bore compared to the violin, even though I've had good recordings of Cassals, Yo-Yo Ma etc. Whipplesway is just an incredible artist and actually brings these to live in a really thrilling way. One of the new classical artists I'm most excited about, and my favorite Cellist by a long shot.

Silvertide - "Ain't Coming Home". Blistering good ole fashioned rock n roll. Reminds me of a harder rocking Jet. Really good stuff.

Skinny Puppy - "The Greater Wrong of the Right". Finally a return to form of the great Canadian industrial band. I haven't even gotten around to the DVD yet, but it's some of their best stuff since 91's "Last Rights". Slicker and dancier than classics like "Vivisect IV" but still a return to form.

Uncle Lar and Little Tommy on WLS. I even had the first Animal Stories album. I don't remember Triad. I listened mostly to am back in the 70s, so it was Larry Lujack and John Landecker until I started listening to The Loop in the late 70s. Musically, the 70s for me were a steady diet of Styx, Foreigner and Cheap Trick-- ahh-- junior high school. Then my parents split and my mother moved us to far northern Wisconsin-- culture shock and a dearth of anything resembling radio. :(

Fortunately, after college and getting transferred around the country, I finally had the opportunity five years ago to move back. :)Yikes - my dad was always trying to get me to move up to northwest Wisconsin before he passed away a few short years ago. Chetek - Barron County, to be exact. Great place if all you wanted to do was fish and drink. And freeze. And dig yourself out from under snow. It was a great place to vacation to, but......you know the rest.

Curious, how do you have the computer hooked up to your stereo system? You don't listen to all that music at home through computer speakers do you? I can't imagine not listening to music through a dedicated stereo system with top notch speakers.
I noted how others have their systems hooked up, but in my case, I have a digital audio output on my system and it runs into my receiver that way. The computer is located in a closet on the other side of the wall my system is on and the cable runs through down through one floor and back up through the other to the receiver. I have an S-Video output on my ATI All-in-Wonder video card so I can view the screen output on my TV. The card included an RF remote control so I can control the system from the comfort of my chair.

as i type this, am listening to renaissance 'past orbits of dust' from 'illusion' - next up is steve hillage '1 solar music suite' from 'fish rising' and after that some schike fuhrs frohling.

in the home theater i've recently heard pf 'meddle' in dts audio, miles davis 'kind of blue' in dts and because i love concert dvds, watched king crimson 'eyes wide open' disc 2 and david gilmour 'live in concert' last nite.

Curious, how do you have the computer hooked up to your stereo system? You don't listen to all that music at home through computer speakers do you? I can't imagine not listening to music through a dedicated stereo system with top notch speakers.

i have a rather good "mid fi" system in the office that serves double duty. it consists of a direct drive tuntable with a mc cartridge, yamaha integrated amp, marantz se cd playerand norman labs speakers (70s cabinets w/ 2 10s and 2 tweeters). the album and cd collections reside in the office as well. this was laid out as a 2 channel room, it is acoustically treated and am happy with it. both lossless and lossy signals are fed from the box to it.

as i type this, am listening to renaissance 'past orbits of dust' from 'illusion' - next up is steve hillage '1 solar music suite' from 'fish rising' and after that some schike fuhrs frohling.

in the home theater i've recently heard pf 'meddle' in dts audio, miles davis 'kind of blue' in dts and because i love concert dvds, watched king crimson 'eyes wide open' disc 2 and david gilmour 'live in concert' last nite.Got "Fish Rising", Double "Live" and "L" on vinyl, also. Damn things are in storage. The guy really knows how to jam, don't he? The live album especially is just full of great guitar work.

I noticed in the original post you said you like "distorted" and "trippy". The first album that comes to mind when hearing those words is "Loveless" by My Bloody Valentine, which also happens to be the greatest album ever recorded. Do yourself a favor and check it out if you haven't already.

I noticed in the original post you said you like "distorted" and "trippy". The first album that comes to mind when hearing those words is "Loveless" by My Bloody Valentine, which also happens to be the greatest album ever recorded. Do yourself a favor and check it out if you haven't already.
Yep, have that one. I wouldn't call it the best ever, but its a good and influential album.

Gentle Giant, "Interview" - 35th anniversary CD. This is the best recording of the 4 or so other 35th remasters I have.
National Health, "Missing Pieces" - I think I like this better than the compilation discs.
Toy Matinee, "Toy Matinee" - excellent one-shot CD from 1990. I never get tired of listening to it.
Roxy Music, "Avalon" - SACD (I'm 2-ch only) Bryan Ferry is just too cool. :)


larry

Whats in my cd player?

1. Best of Chris Botti
2. Best of Fourplay
3. Acoustic Alchemy "Against the Grain"
4. Braxton Brothers "Rollin"
5. Beatles "Sgt. Pepper"

Gentle Giant, "Interview" - 35th anniversary CD. This is the best recording of the 4 or so other 35th remasters I have.
National Health, "Missing Pieces" - I think I like this better than the compilation discs.
Toy Matinee, "Toy Matinee" - excellent one-shot CD from 1990. I never get tired of listening to it.
Roxy Music, "Avalon" - SACD (I'm 2-ch only) Bryan Ferry is just too cool. :)


larry "Manifesto" isn't too bad of an album either. If you want to hear something good by their guitarist Phil Manzanera and his band 801, get "Listen Now". Sounds a bit like R.M., especially the rhythm section, but less quirky and less suave. Listened to that one a few days back - one of my faves.

Whats in my cd player?

1. Best of Chris Botti
2. Best of Fourplay
3. Acoustic Alchemy "Against the Grain"
4. Braxton Brothers "Rollin"
5. Beatles "Sgt. Pepper" As far as Acoustic Alchemy, I prefer "Red Dust & Spanish Lace" or "Natural Elements" (but they've never made an album that wasn't excellent, that's for sure).

Eagles - Hotel California in DTS
Pink Floyd - Meddle (esp. Echoes)
Shakira - Vol 2
Metalica - Black album
Tangerine Dream - Live in Aiken Germany (I think)

Currently:

The Flower Kings--Space Revolver (2000)

(I Am the Sun--listen to that thundering majestic organ in Part II; Rumble Fish Twist--absolutely delectable, searing guitars, soaring majestic synths, tight muscular drumming). Yes and Genesis fans--what are you waiting for? You call yourself progressive rock fans and you don't have any Flower Kings?

Neil Young--Festival Crazy Horse and Phoenix Festival

These are radio recordings from NY and Crazy Horse's 1996 Year of the Horse tour. These are the absolute rawest, loudest, most powerful live recordings I have of the venerable NY and the Horse. Distortion, feedback drenched, pounding heavy guitar rock by one of the true gods, weaving in and around the thickthud, heavy, muddy muscular bass chords of Billy Talbot. From the opening blasts of the classic Hey Hey My My(Into the Black) to the roaring guitar solos in songs like Hurricane, it is so intense and loud that it sounds like the speakers on stage are crackling and about to explode--I'm not kidding. The recording from this Phoenix Festival is the heaviest most palpable bass I have ever heard on a live recording--I have to back it down for fear my speakers may go. This is the Horse at its most intense and rawest.
For anyone who thinks Neil sits around and plays pleasant little acoustic ditties, and is just some old codger just playing out the string, I have news for you---I saw this tour live in 1996 (and I just saw the Horse in 2004 also) and NY and Crazy Horse live will kick the crap out of any hard rock/punk rock wanna be pretenders out there, and these recordings are proof. For the closest official release that sounds like this, check out 1991's Weld double live album or 1996's Year of the Horse, great raw intensity on both, but these untweaked live radio recordings are pure Horse heaven.

Porcupine Tree--Coma Divine

Another fantastic sounding live album from around 1996, now expanded and reissued with more tracks. Great overview of PT up through the 1995 album Signify, prior to the more prog pop sounding Stupid Dream and Lightbulb Sun albums. Extremely vivid and well recorded with a nice heavy drum sound and the fantastic guitar playing of Stephen Wilson. You get the entire Sky Moves Sideways and a closing Radioactive Toy before an already knowing Italian audience. Pink Floyd, Rush and Dream Theater fans, you call yourself fans of progressive rock guitar and you don't have any Porcupine Tree? What are you waiting for?

Shpongle" tales of the inexspressable" , Raja Ram and Simon Possford ,great mix with lots of sonic layering.

Blackmoore's Night "ghost of a rose" Richie Blacmoore, of Deep Purple doing the minstrel sound.He's a very talented writer and musician . His wife writes and sing the words also.

B-Tribe " spiritual spiritual" (HDCD) Flamenco Guitar,Ambient Synthesizer, and Moody wordless vocals.

Auga De Maioi "Milladoir" Spanish musicians from Nothern Spain doing some Spanish folk, and what sounds like Gypsy music.

Altan " harvest storm" Nothing more to say,just great Irish, Scott and Celtic.

Enthneogenic " dialogue of the speakers" much like Shpongle's works.

Blackmoore's Night "ghost of a rose" Richie Blacmoore, of Deep Purple doing the minstrel sound.He's a very talented writer and musician . His wife writes and sing the words also.


And his wife, Candace Night, is one very hot babe. Blackmore's no dummy.

Lately:

Nine Inch Nails With Teeth
The Faint Wet from Birth
The Killers
Damien Rice O
Green Day American Idiot
Beastie Boys Greatest
Snow Patrol Final Straw
Jay Z The Black Album
Pink Floyd Momentary Lapse and Animals

Most recently:

Rusted Root--Live
Dire Straits--Brothers in Arms (20 Anniversary dual disc release)
Moody Blues--the first seven albums on the remastered CD editions
Cream--RAH concerts from 2005 (DVD edition)

A few artists that will NEVER be in any of my CD players:

Fantasia Burrino
Whitney Houston
The Beatles
Toby Keith
Clay Aiken
Slipknot
Celine Dion
Bob Marley
Shania "Twang"
Big and Rich
Backstreet Boys
Eminem

Ones in regularly:

Lifehouse
Seether
Matchbox 20
Frank Sinatra
Vivaldi
Jewel
Tantric
POD
Evanescence

A few artists that will NEVER be in any of my CD players:


The Beatles




The Beatles? You mean THE Beatles? (wiping eyes in incredulity)

Yep. Never have understood the popularity of them...unless you were a 13-year old girl, screaming and crying your head off, back when they were young. Of course, I never understood that either, now that I think about it.

Cattle call! ;)

I've got my flame-proof suit on now.

I've had friends that couldn't stand the Beatles. I guess there are more than a couple around. I don't mind hearing them once in a great while myself. I especially like Lennon's early solo stuff.

Yep. Never have understood the popularity of them...unless you were a 13-year old girl, screaming and crying your head off, back when they were young. Of course, I never understood that either, now that I think about it.


Dude, the Beatles ran away from that themselves. They stopped touring because they wanted to make serious music. If you think "I Wanna Hold Your Hand" is The Beatles, you've missed out on some great music. Rubber Soul, The White Album, Abbey Road, there's some incredible stuff on there, and it definitely ain't 13 year old girl music.

Anyway, stuff I've been listening to lately...

Sia , Zero Seven's Simple Things, the Garden State soundtrack, Aimee Mann's Lost in Space, and old favorites like Bruce Springsteen's Darkness on the Edge of Town, Blues Traveler's Four, The Jellyfish, Roger Waters Pros and Cons of Hitch Hiking, Yes, that sort of stuff.

Dude, the Beatles ran away from that themselves. They stopped touring because they wanted to make serious music. If you think "I Wanna Hold Your Hand" is The Beatles, you've missed out on some great music. Rubber Soul, The White Album, Abbey Road, there's some incredible stuff on there, and it definitely ain't 13 year old girl music.Let's not forget Revolver, their real turning point album.

Dude, the Beatles ran away from that themselves. They stopped touring because they wanted to make serious music. If you think "I Wanna Hold Your Hand" is The Beatles, you've missed out on some great music. Rubber Soul, The White Album, Abbey Road, there's some incredible stuff on there, and it definitely ain't 13 year old girl music.

Uuuuuhhhh..."dude"? :confused:

"I Wanna Hold Your Hand" WASN'T done by The Beatles??? They're the only band I know of that completely sold out BEFORE they even started, as evidenced in your comment about "serious" music.
That later stuff never appealed to me...maybe because I never had "it" in me to "appreciate" that music, whatever "it" it is that is your "it" of choice, recreational or other.

"Peace" to you and your "groovy" self, "doooood". :D

Yep. Never have understood the popularity of them...unless you were a 13-year old girl, screaming and crying your head off, back when they were young. Of course, I never understood that either, now that I think about it.

Cattle call! ;)

I've got my flame-proof suit on now.
Yea, I can't think of any reasons why they would be popular other than the fact that they revolutionized popular music and culture; other than the fact that they wrote dozens and dozens of classic pop songs that will, much like Beethovens symphonies, be played and covered for centuries; other than the fact that but for the Beatles, the artists you said you did listen to (other than Sinatra and Vivaldi) would not have existed (by the way, Sinatra himself covered Something by Harrison and said it was the greatest love song ever written--would you take Frank's word?); other than the fact that Yesterday is the most played and covered song in the history of music; other than the fact that Rubber Soul, Revolver, and Sgt Pepper are considered by many to be in the top 5, if not THE greatest albums ever made, and apparantly you are not familiar with their music after their first 4 albums; other than the fact that the Beatles, unlike any group before or since made geometric advances, progressions and innovations with each album, so that considering their recorded history only spans about 8 years the artistic development is almost mind boggling in such a short time span; and other than the fact that if you say--most influential rock/pop artists in the last half of the 20th Century, the order is probably a battle between Dylan and Beatles for the top spot, I can't fathom why they'd be so popular.

If you call yourself a lover of rock/popular music over the last 50 years and you don't at least have Rubber Soul, Revolver, Sgt Pepper, and Abbey Road in frequent playing rotation in your collection, I not only feel sorry for what you are truly missing out on, but quite frankly, it casts doubt on the credibility of your entire music collection. Virtually any credible musician in the last 50 years would place the Beatles as an influence, from punk to metal and everything in between. Their shadow is so large, I am actually doing an injustice to it by even trying to describe it.

Uuuuuhhhh..."dude"? :confused:

"I Wanna Hold Your Hand" WASN'T done by The Beatles??? They're the only band I know of that completely sold out BEFORE they even started, as evidenced in your comment about "serious" music.
That later stuff never appealed to me...maybe because I never had "it" in me to "appreciate" that music, whatever "it" it is that is your "it" of choice, recreational or other.

"Peace" to you and your "groovy" self, "doooood". :D
These comments reveal a serious lack of depth in your music knowledge. First, how could the Beatles have "sold out" before they even started? Do you even understand what the musical landscape was like in 1962 before they hit? Do you even fathom how truly revolutionary and DIFFERENT this music was in 1963? You are reacting to them in retrospect with the benefit of hindsight. Of course because they set the standard for the classic rock pop song, to you 40 years later it sounds contrived and marketed. Do you even begin to understand that these guys were in essence a garage band toiling for years in the late 50s and early 60s? Do you truly understand how dangerous and different the Beatles sounded to a generation that had been listening to stuff like Teen Angel, Spanish Harlem and Bobby Vinton songs?

And to characterize their later music as requiring drugs to understand or "get" it is so trite and stereotypical that it quite frankly makes you sound downright dopey. I really expected more of you.

Gentle Giant: The Missing Piece - 35th anniversary remaster
Triumvirat : Spartacus

Roxy Music marathon

Roxy Music
Stranded
Country Music
Viva
Manifesto

I knew Wetton player with Roxy Music but I didn't know Eddie Jobson did. He replaced Eno after the first album for at least the next 2 albums.

Also, this was new to me, maybe it will be for some others too. www.bandtoband.com. Family trees of bands. Pretty cool.

larry

Captain Beyond -First Album
Bob James-Best hits
Three Days Grace
Thornley
Gary Moore -All Messed Up
Rammstein-Dance Hits
Enigma-Erotic Dreams
Vaughn Williams Symponies
Missouri Breaks -soundtrack

I don't think that addressing someone as "dude" is appropriate for anyone over the age of 15 in any public environment. In fact, it's downright disrespectful to someone you don't know well. The only people I know personally that use that word in writing use drugs. It's an isolated remark in response to terminology and the stigma of it.

I also don't think that it's inane to have an opinion that differs from 90% of the general public. It's my right to choose what I like and what I don't, regardless of what everyone else thinks or has been" trained" to think. If I felt the need to adhere to what everyone else tells me to think/say/do, I'd become a Nazi.

For those of you that think I just hate everything popular, I DO like American Idol, yet hate Survivor. I absolutely love House, yet don't care for Scrubs. I still watch reruns of Friends, yet never thought Senfeld was that funny. I like My Name is Earl, yet find The Office simply OK. I didn't like The 40-Year Old Virgin either, but I thought Correll's portrayal of the newcaster in Liar, Liar was one of the funniest things I've ever seen.

Squonk, you have repeatedly debated with me, which I enjoy, citing your favorite movies and music, which also happen to be the ones most adored by the general public and with the most accolades from so-called "experts". Is there anything that is popular or acclaimed that you DON'T like? You obviously have a sharp mind and a keen sense of humor, as evidenced in your posts. This is why it amazes me that you are so apt to conform, along with so quick to belittle independent thought or flare up over anything not in praise of the already over-rated and over-hyped.

To say that artists wouldn't have existed if it weren't for The Beatles is ridiculous. Who influenced them? Someone had to. Why doesn't that person or persons get any or all the credit? Would music have never evolved at all if it weren't for them? What about all the music before them? What about all the fantastic poetry and music that was wriiten before their songs? For musicians or anyone to continually give credit to them and only to them is insulting every artist, writer, or composer that existed in the history of the world, pre-Beatles.

Saying that The Beatles influenced you is about as typical as sports figures that say, "We just gave 110%. Give credit to the other team, they're really good." What they really WANT to say is, "We just flat out came out and kicked their butts because they really suck." The former is politically correct and gets you popularity points, and it's also the same boring spew over and over that has become so standard that it's unbelievable. Say the latter, and even though it's true, you get chastized and inundated with bad press.

I have great respect for persons that are willng to stand before the mob of popular thought and throw down the gauntlet, knowing full well that they will be flamed (in some cases, literally) for it. Without those persons, there could be no Civil Rights, no America (as we know it), no space travel, no science, no freedoms that we take for granted on a daily basis. When we live in a world with less than 1% genetic difference between us, it's with great hope that I see those brave enough to take that "road less traveled" (apologies to Frost) and break from the shackles of conventional thinking without thought of personal gain or praise.

I have thoroughly studied and listened to the music of The Beatles, and simply did not enjoy it for a number of reasons. That should not mean my opinion should be discredited or incapable of having any intrinsic value whatsoever. In fact, I received an award for a writing I did on them many years ago, in regard to much of what I stated here.

While I don't expect to change anyone's mind on this issue, I would hope that one could open their mind up to different possibilities or ways of thought enough to appreciate diverse interests and opinion. Does the fact that it's not popular discredit a tenet? Last time I checked, the world was round and not the center of the universe, though it wasn't popular at the time. A person's opinion should be an ever-flowing river of experiences, constantly changing as time marches on, not some static shell that ramains stoic in it's rigidity.

Whatever anyone's toughts on this or any other matter are good things, one way or another. All I ask is that they be YOUR OWN thoughts, not those of pedants and zealots.

With much respect,
spyder

I don't think that addressing someone as "dude" is appropriate for anyone over the age of 15 in any public environment. In fact, it's downright disrespectful to someone you don't know well. The only people I know personally that use that word in writing use drugs. It's an isolated remark in response to terminology and the stigma of it.
No offense, but I take it you don't do much business in California, eh? I'm heading to San Jose on business in a couple of weeks-- maybe I'll keep a tally of how many times the word 'dude' is used in the course of meetings. Although, I'm sure it'll be less than when I'm in SoCal. :)

I don't think that addressing someone as "dude" is appropriate for anyone over the age of 15 in any public environment. In fact, it's downright disrespectful to someone you don't know well. The only people I know personally that use that word in writing use drugs. It's an isolated remark in response to terminology and the stigma of it.

I also don't think that it's inane to have an opinion that differs from 90% of the general public. It's my right to choose what I like and what I don't, regardless of what everyone else thinks or has been" trained" to think. If I felt the need to adhere to what everyone else tells me to think/say/do, I'd become a Nazi.

For those of you that think I just hate everything popular, I DO like American Idol, yet hate Survivor. I absolutely love House, yet don't care for Scrubs. I still watch reruns of Friends, yet never thought Senfeld was that funny. I like My Name is Earl, yet find The Office simply OK. I didn't like The 40-Year Old Virgin either, but I thought Correll's portrayal of the newcaster in Liar, Liar was one of the funniest things I've ever seen.

Squonk, you have repeatedly debated with me, which I enjoy, citing your favorite movies and music, which also happen to be the ones most adored by the general public and with the most accolades from so-called "experts". Is there anything that is popular or acclaimed that you DON'T like? You obviously have a sharp mind and a keen sense of humor, as evidenced in your posts. This is why it amazes me that you are so apt to conform, along with so quick to belittle independent thought or flare up over anything not in praise of the already over-rated and over-hyped.

To say that artists wouldn't have existed if it weren't for The Beatles is ridiculous. Who influenced them? Someone had to. Why doesn't that person or persons get any or all the credit? Would music have never evolved at all if it weren't for them? What about all the music before them? What about all the fantastic poetry and music that was wriiten before their songs? For musicians or anyone to continually give credit to them and only to them is insulting every artist, writer, or composer that existed in the history of the world, pre-Beatles.

Saying that The Beatles influenced you is about as typical as sports figures that say, "We just gave 110%. Give credit to the other team, they're really good." What they really WANT to say is, "We just flat out came out and kicked their butts because they really suck." The former is politically correct and gets you popularity points, and it's also the same boring spew over and over that has become so standard that it's unbelievable. Say the latter, and even though it's true, you get chastized and inundated with bad press.

I have great respect for persons that are willng to stand before the mob of popular thought and throw down the gauntlet, knowing full well that they will be flamed (in some cases, literally) for it. Without those persons, there could be no Civil Rights, no America (as we know it), no space travel, no science, no freedoms that we take for granted on a daily basis. When we live in a world with less than 1% genetic difference between us, it's with great hope that I see those brave enough to take that "road less traveled" (apologies to Frost) and break from the shackles of conventional thinking without thought of personal gain or praise.

I have thoroughly studied and listened to the music of The Beatles, and simply did not enjoy it for a number of reasons. That should not mean my opinion should be discredited or incapable of having any intrinsic value whatsoever. In fact, I received an award for a writing I did on them many years ago, in regard to much of what I stated here.

While I don't expect to change anyone's mind on this issue, I would hope that one could open their mind up to different possibilities or ways of thought enough to appreciate diverse interests and opinion. Does the fact that it's not popular discredit a tenet? Last time I checked, the world was round and not the center of the universe, though it wasn't popular at the time. A person's opinion should be an ever-flowing river of experiences, constantly changing as time marches on, not some static shell that ramains stoic in it's rigidity.

Whatever anyone's toughts on this or any other matter are good things, one way or another. All I ask is that they be YOUR OWN thoughts, not those of pedants and zealots.

With much respect,
spyder
That was a nice long speech, but I really didn't hear any articulation on why you don't like the Beatles other than--they were popular so I won't like them. That is downright strange. I mean, you are almost going out of your way NOT to listen to or like them. You say you have listened to ALL their music and studied and wrote about them? I would be very curious to see what you wrote.

I really have to chuckle at your chararcterization that I, of all people, only like "popular" things. Most of my music tastes, if you read my posts at all, range from standard classic rock (since I am in my mid 40s) to very on the fringe borderline stuff. When I talk music with most of my neighbors and tell them what I am listening to, I usually draw blank looks. I still go to alot of concerts, recently I have seen groups like Built to Spill, Porcupine Tree, Stereolab that lets just say don't spend much time in the top 40. I go to festivals like NEARfest and most of my friends think I am absolutely nuts. For them, going to see the Eagles is really pushing the envelope. I am one of the most anti-conformist people around, so that's why your comments tickle me. With regard to movies, I argued AGAINST a movie like Breakfast Club being called a great movie simply because a lot of people liked it, which is exactly the opposite of your above comments. I like directors like Kubrick and Lynch, who make sometimes very unpopular and controversial movies, specifically BECAUSE they don't pander to the lowest common denominator. Do you think Eyes Wide Shut and Lost Highway were "popular" movies? They both did not do well at the box office, and I love both those movies. You didn't, which WAS the popular thing to say about those movies, where most critics even missed the boat. And your apparant lack of understanding of those movies, and thus your kneejerk criticisms of them, was the POPULAR thing to do and say.

Back to the Beatles, you are certainly free to dislike them if you want, I could care less. But you really haven't said why yet, other than you seem to be desire to be seen as some kind of daring anarchist. But to say things like, "I can't understand why they were popular", and to imply that thier later music requires drugs to appreciate it, really does reveal a fundamental lack of understanding of their huge influence and value in modern culture and popular music. There are some things that are so overwhelmingly popular and successful because they are just that good--it transcends the ordinary flavor of the week and is virtually universally acknowledged as truly special---the Beatles fall into that category. To lump the Beatles in with a list like Celine Dion and the Backstreet Boys, well, its just silly. I don't know how old you are--if I had to guess I would say mid 30s, I may be wrong, but to say that the Beatles "sold out" is ludicrous. They created the paradigm before it existed. To act like the sat down one day and mapped out how they were going to all of the sudden write hugely successful catchy melodic pop hooks, as if it were like tying your shoelaces, is so fundamentally a mischaracterization of their career that it boggles the mind how anyone who says that could have won an award writing about the Beatles.

What you are mistaking for popularity is recognition of obvious talent. Even the most jaded cynics would have to acknowledge the overwhelming talent and uniqueness of the Beatles collectively and individually. Its been 40 years and we still have not seen anything like it. I just can't imagine being a rock/pop music lover and not understanding and appreciating just how unbelievable that talent was and still is (listen to those early albums even now--they still sound fresh and vital). Its like stating that Shakespeare was overrated and declaring that you will never read or watch a play or movie that is based on Shakespeare, simply because he was popular. Boggles the mind.

---------------------------
BTW, I meant to mention this in my previous post--the Abbey Road album itself contains the basic guitar licks that became the template for classic and hard rock guitar playing for the next 10 years. A whole generation of musicians grew up trying to copy the guitar playing on that album.

Gentle Giant: The Missing Piece - 35th anniversary remaster
Triumvirat : Spartacus

Roxy Music marathon

Roxy Music
Stranded
Country Music
Viva
Manifesto

I knew Wetton player with Roxy Music but I didn't know Eddie Jobson did. He replaced Eno after the first album for at least the next 2 albums.

Also, this was new to me, maybe it will be for some others too. www.bandtoband.com. Family trees of bands. Pretty cool.

larry
That's where Wetton met Jobson, and how they ended up hooking up to create UK. I haven't heard from Jobson in years, I wonder what the heck he is doing.

Also, this was new to me, maybe it will be for some others too. www.bandtoband.com. Family trees of bands. Pretty cool.

larry

thanks for the link. it's great for me to have all the canterbury bands listed in one place!

James Blunts album "back to bedlam" is one of the best albums over here in the uk at the moment.

That's where Wetton met Jobson, and how they ended up hooking up to create UK. I haven't heard from Jobson in years, I wonder what the heck he is doing. www.eddiejobson.com Ya gotta love the internet! :)

larry

The Essential Journey - 2 CD set.

www.eddiejobson.com Ya gotta love the internet! :)

larry
I could have guessed film music. I have a few of his solo albums, Zinc and Theme of Secrets, the latter being very new ageish but as I remember had some interesting instrumental pieces.

BTW, I just picked up the DVD Old Grey Whistle Test, Vol 2, which has a Roxy Music track (Do the Strand I think) and it is really interesting to watch, very out there. Jobson is on synths and Phil Manzanera has the spaciest funkiest looking glasses you've ever seen. These Old Grey Whistle Test DVDs are really fascinating archives of 70s and early 80s era rock. Highly recommended by us "popular music" types.

CDs I'm currently listening to:

Beatles--Rubber Soul
Beatles--Revolver
Beatles--Sgt Pepper
Beatles--White Album
Beatles--Abbey Road
Beatles--1962-66 (red album)
Beatles--1966-70 (blue album)

;)

BTW, consider this--Help!, Rubber Soul and Revolver were released within 1 year of each other; Rubber Soul, Revolver and Sgt Pepper were released within a year and half of each other. Now look at the track listings for those albums--classic after classic after classic. Most bands would kill to have 2 of these songs in a lifetime.

Squonk,

I credit you with being brilliant at debate. As stated, I think you are plenty sharp and I do enjoy your posts, for the most part. I don't necessarily think you ONLY like popular things, but I wonder why you take such offense at other's opinions of them. I certainly don't find your apparent love of Kubrick offensive, but I, or anyone else should be free to disagree. Since I do have respect for you and your opinions, among others, I make every attempt to read all posts with an open mind. Would it be too much to ask for you to do the same with others?

Just because someone has supposed talent, doesn't mean that everyone MUST adore them. Terrell Owens is undoubtedly the best receiver in the NFL today...how many like the guy or care for his game? Kobe Bryant has been elevated to superstar status, but I don't consider him to be either likeable or untouchable, nor do I admire his style of play.

Since you have elevated The Beatles to GOD status, it would be impossible to continue this any further. I will simply state that I respect your right to idolize them, and ask that you respect mine to have idols of a different nature.

No hard feelings?

Squonk,

I credit you with being brilliant at debate. As stated, I think you are plenty sharp and I do enjoy your posts, for the most part. I don't necessarily think you ONLY like popular things, but I wonder why you take such offense at other's opinions of them. I certainly don't find your apparent love of Kubrick offensive, but I, or anyone else should be free to disagree. Since I do have respect for you and your opinions, among others, I make every attempt to read all posts with an open mind. Would it be too much to ask for you to do the same with others?

Just because someone has supposed talent, doesn't mean that everyone MUST adore them. Terrell Owens is undoubtedly the best receiver in the NFL today...how many like the guy or care for his game? Kobe Bryant has been elevated to superstar status, but I don't consider him to be either likeable or untouchable, nor do I admire his style of play.

Since you have elevated The Beatles to GOD status, it would be impossible to continue this any further. I will simply state that I respect your right to idolize them, and ask that you respect mine to have idols of a different nature.

No hard feelings?
I don't take offense at people posting their opinions, but if someone says things I expect them to back them up. You certainly expected somebody to react by sticking the most acclaimed rock group of all time in a list of CDs you would NEVER listen to, side by side with such dreck as Celine Dion, Toby Kieth and the Backstreet Boys. You obviously did that for a reason and wanted to get a reaction, and you wanted to portray yourself as "anti-popular".
Some of you other statements were so over the top that I truly question whether you really believe them yourself, or are just going for a reaction. My guess is the truth lies somewhere inbetween.

In any event, as long as you acknowledge that the Beatles were gods in terms of their unparalleled influence on the history of music, you are free not to worship them. Just be prepared to answer for your sins in the afterlife.

I could have guessed film music. I have a few of his solo albums, Zinc and Theme of Secrets, the latter being very new ageish but as I remember had some interesting instrumental pieces.

BTW, I just picked up the DVD Old Grey Whistle Test, Vol 2, which has a Roxy Music track (Do the Strand I think) and it is really interesting to watch, very out there. Jobson is on synths and Phil Manzanera has the spaciest funkiest looking glasses you've ever seen. These Old Grey Whistle Test DVDs are really fascinating archives of 70s and early 80s era rock. Highly recommended by us "popular music" types.I have a Musikladen DVD with 6 Roxy Music songs from the German show. Eno is with them so it must be pretty early on. "Do the Strand" is on this one too. T-Rex tracks are on the DVD too.

larry

Edit: one of the songs does have Wetton on bass but it's not Jobson on keyboards - the guy has curly hair.

war of the worlds album by jeff wayne.

If I don't go to church, does that mean I will burn in hell?

I could have guessed film music. I have a few of his solo albums, Zinc and Theme of Secrets, the latter being very new ageish but as I remember had some interesting instrumental pieces.

BTW, I just picked up the DVD Old Grey Whistle Test, Vol 2, which has a Roxy Music track (Do the Strand I think) and it is really interesting to watch, very out there. Jobson is on synths and Phil Manzanera has the spaciest funkiest looking glasses you've ever seen. These Old Grey Whistle Test DVDs are really fascinating archives of 70s and early 80s era rock. Highly recommended by us "popular music" types. Wow. You're the first person I ever knew other than myself who actually has the "Zinc" album. Was lucky to see E.J. and his acrylic violin once with Tull on the "A" tour. Eighth row - nice flashback - although Tull themselves were better when I saw them at NWU on their "Songs from the Wood" (Bursting Out) tour, when they were much more still the "old" Tull.

I have Zinc on vinyl, too. Been years since I listened to it (no turntable). When squonk mentioned it I put it on my "need to get CD list". I had forgot all about it.

larry

edit: Scratch that. Cheapest one used on Amazon is $80. :( I'm not that big of a fan...

I have thoroughly studied and listened to the music of The Beatles, and simply did not enjoy it for a number of reasons. Fine - to each his own.

But to dismiss them as music for 13 year old girls is condescending to the Nth degree.

Squonk: nice selection in your cd player. I consider Lennon/McCartney the 2 most brilliant songwriters of their time... I am a big Beatle fan as shown by my member name but do listen to other music when I get a chance as shown in my previous "what's in your cd" post.. :D

Sasha- Involver
Underworld- A Hundred Days Off
Dandy Warhols- Odditorium
Sasha- Airdrawndagger (<----amazing)

I've been stuck on Beck - Sea Changes lately. He forgoes the "wacky" stuff from his previous efforts and created a brilliant but thoroughly depressing piece of work.

Cary

I've been liistening to Frank McCourt - Teacher Man, a book on 9CDs. Incredible.
For my daughter, the newest Hilary Duff.
For my son, Queen's Greatest Hits.

If I don't go to church, does that mean I will burn in hell?
I guess that's a chance you'll have to take. Why not cover all the bases, just in case?

I've been liistening to Frank McCourt - Teacher Man, a book on 9CDs. Incredible.
For my daughter, the newest Hilary Duff.
For my son, Queen's Greatest Hits. For me, Hilary Duff - and I don't mean the CD.

I guess that's a chance you'll have to take. Why not cover all the bases, just in case? OK, mom.

OK, mom.
And don't run around with a stick in your hand. You could poke your eye out.

Roxy Music - "For Your Pleasure"
Roxy Music - "Siren"
Concrete Blonde - "Bloodletting"
Concrete Blonde - "Mexican Moon"
Be-Bop Deluxe - "Axe Victim"
Patrick Moraz - "<insert glyph here>"

larry

Pat Travers-20th century masters
AC/DC-Powrage
Metallica-Master of Puppets
Anthrax-Among the Living
Montrose-self titled

The whole Beatles thing is evidence of how historically challenged most people of every country and every decade are. As pointed out, The Beatles created the modern rock band almost single handedly. Before them, artists seldom wrote their own material, they just performed stuff written for them in a fairly industrial process, and they mostly did what they were told by producers.

I'm not knocking the Brill Building era, since some amazing tunes were written by those professional song writers, some of whom moved into the new era as musicians themselves. But The Beatles created the standard of rock bands writing their own material, both for good and bad. A lot of people have come after them who weren't that good at it, but it also vastly increased the range of popular music when each group began creating their own content. And, as also pointed out but it needs to be emphasized, though "I Wanna Hold Your Hand" is clearly light pop by modern standards it was seriously radical at the time.

If you did a poll among all the pop/rock musicians that you like, and ask them who were the most influential rock/pop bands of all time, I'm sure that The Beatles would come out at or near the top of almost every one of them, and it would also be the case for artists from other genres. The musicians are generally more aware of their historical influences than the people who listen to them. I've heard enough comments from musicians of every era to know that this is highly likely to be the case. You hear their tunes being used in mashups and rap music today, and you still hear bands using sounds and techniques that The Beatles popularized. How many other bands who started in the 50s get that treatment today? Who else in the 60s was doing a song where they basically screaming "Why don't we do it in the road?" They were so far ahead of everyone else it's not even funny.

They are also among the best selling AND most critically acclaimed bands of all time, which says something. If they were loved by critics but no one else, or sold like crazy but were considered fluff by serious musicians and critics, then you could claim it was just wanker music or just sellout fluff. But when they are both very high selling and considered among the top bands by serious musicians and considered probably the or one of the most influential bands in history by musicians and musicocolgists, then you have to give them the credit due. If you search the web for 'most influential artist' type of lists, you'll find that even folks who have Nirvana or Dr. Dre in their lists will often list The Beatles, with the next oldest band on the list being 4 decades later. That says something.

http://www.digitaldreamdoor.com/pages/best_sold_albums.html

They have 8 albums in that list above. A quick addition by me, possibly slightly off, indicates about 90 million albums sold just on that list, which only includes their biggest selling albums. So one would assume they sold well over 100 million albums. Oops, actually according to Wikipedia:

By October 1972, the Beatles’ worldwide sales total stood at 545 million units, a world record (Billboard 84, October 21, 1972).

EMI claims a billion sales by now worldwide, though that's been challenged according to Wikipedia. But even if it's a mere 700 or 800 million albums, and that they continue to sell very well today shows how relevant and popular they remain.

Here is a list of stats from Wikipedia, just for the US:

Most no. 1 singles in the Billboard Hot 100 charts (20 no.1s).
Most no. 1 albums in the Billboard Top 200 albums charts (19 no.1 albums).
Most weeks at no. 1 in the Billboard albums chart (132 weeks at no. 1).
Group with most weeks in the Billboard albums chart (2,184 weeks, second only to Frank Sinatra with 2,211 weeks).
Group with most weeks in the Billboard Hot 100 chart (609 weeks).
Group with most weeks at no. 1 in the Billboard Hot 100 chart (59 weeks at no. 1).
Most songs inside the Billboard Hot 100 at the same time (14 songs on April 11, 1964).
Most songs inside the Billboard Top 40 at the same time (7 songs on April 11 and 25, 1964).
Most songs in the Billboard Top 10 at the same time (5 songs on April 4, 1964).
Most songs in the Billboard Top 5 at the same time (5 songs on April 4, 1964).
Most chart entries in the Billboard Hot 100 within a calendar year (30 charted songs in 1964)
The only group to replace themselves at no. 1 in the Billboard Hot 100 twice (March 21 and April 4, 1964). It would be forty years later when Usher would tie the record.
Most complete ever domination of the Billboard Hot 100 singles and albums chart by occupying the first 5 positions in the Hot 100 as well as the first two in the albums chart simultaneously (April 4, 1964).
Most consecutive no. 1 albums in the Billboard albums chart (8 consecutive no. 1 albums from 1965 to 1968).
Most consecutive top 5 albums in the Billboard albums chart (16 consecutive top 5 albums from 1965 to 1977).
Group with the longest span of no. 1 albums in the Billboard albums chart (36 years and 51 weeks, 1964 to 2001).
Group with most consecutive no. 1 hits in the Billboard Hot 100 (6 consecutive no. 1 hits, record shared with the Bee Gees).
Most no. 1 albums in the Billboard albums chart in a calendar year (3 no. 1 albums in 1964, repeated in 1965 and 1966).
Most no. 1 singles in the Billboard Hot 100 in a calendar year (6 no. 1 singles in 1964)
The only act to have held the no. 1 and no. 2 position in the Billboard albums chart for 9 straight weeks on two separate occasions (March 2 to April 27 and August 29 to October 24, 1964).
Most top 3 albums in the Billboard albums chart (27 top 3 albums).
Most transatlantic no. 1 hit singles (12 songs reached no. 1 in both the U.S. and Britain).
Group with most consecutive top 5 hits in the Billboard Hot 100 chart (17 consecutive top 5 hits from 1964 to 1969).
Group with most consecutive top 10 hits in the Billboard Hot 100 chart (24 consecutive top 10 hits from 1964 to 1976).
Group with most consecutive top 20 hits in the Billboard Hot 100 chart (27 consecutive top 20 hits from 1964 to 1976).
On April 4, 1964, the Beatles occupied the first 5 positions in the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart, the top 2 in the Billboard albums chart, the no. 1 position in the British singles chart, the first two positions in the British albums chart and the no. 1 position in the British EP chart, making this the most complete ever domination of the British and American charts in history.
Most no. 1 singles in the Cash Box Top 100 charts (22 no.1s).
Most no. 1 albums in the Cash Box albums charts (15 no.1 albums).
Most weeks at no. 1 in the Cash Box albums chart (127 weeks at no. 1).
Group with most weeks in the Cash Box albums chart (722 weeks up to 1974).
Group with most weeks in the Cash Box singles chart (601 weeks up to 1986).
Group with most weeks in the Record World albums chart (849 weeks up to 1982).
Group with most weeks in the Record World singles chart (520 weeks up to 1980).
Most no. 1 singles in the Record World Top 100 charts (23 no.1s).
Most no. 1 albums in the Record World albums charts (17 no.1 albums).
Most weeks at no. 1 in the Record World albums chart (123 weeks at no. 1).

BTW, I would like to make it clear that I'm not some 'lost in the fuzzy past' type old timer here. I love modern pop/rock and listen to it all the time, despite being 42. I love System of a Down and Tool and My Chemical Romance and other popular stuff today, and loved the whole grunge era and whatnot. But I appreciate the best of most eras and genres, and The Beatles, next to Elvis, did the most to create an entire genre of music and an entire style that is still emulated today.

Now you guys are gonna laugh at this, but dont forget the Beach Boys too when you are talking about the Beatles and developing rock and certain sounds.

Yes, the Beatles were the best ever, but Brian Wilson and the Beach Boys were putting out music and harmonics way way advanced for their era, and when they came out with Pet Sounds, even the Beatles were blown away by that album, and for awhile they had a rivalry to see who could make the best albums, albums that were solid from start to finish, not just albums with a couple of good songs.

I think the past and present can be appreciated. I am 57 years old, yet i like a ton of the modern music from Hoobastank to Emenem to Nelly to Christine Aquilera to Black Eyed Peas (love Fergies humps and bumps there!) etc. However, i still can always listen to the Beatles or Beach Boys and love them too. I recently saw Paul McCartney on tour in Miami, and he was spectacular. And dont forget, he wrote a ton of the songs that were credited to John Lennon and him by himself, but thats meaningless, its the great talent they all had that still sounds good today.

The whole Beatles thing is evidence of how historically challenged most people of every country and every decade are. As pointed out, The Beatles created the modern rock band almost single handedly. Before them, artists seldom wrote their own material, they just performed stuff written by them in a fairly industrial process, and they mostly did what they were told by producers.

I'm not knocking the Brill Building era, since some amazing tunes were written by those professional song writers, some of whom moved into the new era as musicians themselves. But The Beatles created the standard of rock bands writing their own material, both for good and bad. A lot of people have come after them who weren't that good at it, but it also vastly increased the range of popular music when each group began creating their own content. And, as also pointed out but it needs to be emphasized, though "I Wanna Hold Your Hand" is clearly light pop by modern standards it was seriously radical at the time.

If you did a poll among all the pop/rock musicians that you like, and ask them who were the most influential rock/pop bands of all time, I'm sure that The Beatles would come out at or near the top of almost every one of them, and it would also be the case for artists from other genres. The musicians are generally more aware of their historical influences than the people who listen to them. I've heard enough comments from musicians of every era to know that this is highly likely to be the case. You hear their tunes being used in mashups and rap music today, and you still hear bands using sounds and techniques that The Beatles popularized. How many other bands who started in the 50s get that treatment today? Who else in the 60s was doing a song where they basically screaming "Why don't we do it in the road?" They were so far ahead of everyone else it's not even funny.

They are also among the best selling AND most critically acclaimed bands of all time, which says something. If they were loved by critics but no one else, or sold like crazy but were considered fluff by serious musicians and critics, then you could claim it was just wanker music or just sellout fluff. But when they are both very high selling and considered among the top bands by serious musicians and considered probably the or one of the most influential bands in history by musicians and musicocolgists, then you have to give them the credit due. If you search the web for 'most influential artist' type of lists, you'll find that even folks who have Nirvana or Dr. Dre in their lists will often list The Beatles, with the next oldest band on the list being 4 decades later. That says something.

http://www.digitaldreamdoor.com/pages/best_sold_albums.html

They have 8 albums in that list above. A quick addition by me, possibly slightly off, indicates about 90 million albums sold just on that list, which only includes their biggest selling albums. So one would assume they sold well over 100 million albums. Oops, actually according to Wikipedia:



EMI claims a billion sales by now worldwide, though that's been challenged according to Wikipedia. But even if it's a mere 700 or 800 million albums, and that they continue to sell very well today shows how relevant and popular they remain.

Here is a list of stats from Wikipedia, just for the US:

Most no. 1 singles in the Billboard Hot 100 charts (20 no.1s).
Most no. 1 albums in the Billboard Top 200 albums charts (19 no.1 albums).
Most weeks at no. 1 in the Billboard albums chart (132 weeks at no. 1).
Group with most weeks in the Billboard albums chart (2,184 weeks, second only to Frank Sinatra with 2,211 weeks).
Group with most weeks in the Billboard Hot 100 chart (609 weeks).
Group with most weeks at no. 1 in the Billboard Hot 100 chart (59 weeks at no. 1).
Most songs inside the Billboard Hot 100 at the same time (14 songs on April 11, 1964).
Most songs inside the Billboard Top 40 at the same time (7 songs on April 11 and 25, 1964).
Most songs in the Billboard Top 10 at the same time (5 songs on April 4, 1964).
Most songs in the Billboard Top 5 at the same time (5 songs on April 4, 1964).
Most chart entries in the Billboard Hot 100 within a calendar year (30 charted songs in 1964)
The only group to replace themselves at no. 1 in the Billboard Hot 100 twice (March 21 and April 4, 1964). It would be forty years later when Usher would tie the record.
Most complete ever domination of the Billboard Hot 100 singles and albums chart by occupying the first 5 positions in the Hot 100 as well as the first two in the albums chart simultaneously (April 4, 1964).
Most consecutive no. 1 albums in the Billboard albums chart (8 consecutive no. 1 albums from 1965 to 1968).
Most consecutive top 5 albums in the Billboard albums chart (16 consecutive top 5 albums from 1965 to 1977).
Group with the longest span of no. 1 albums in the Billboard albums chart (36 years and 51 weeks, 1964 to 2001).
Group with most consecutive no. 1 hits in the Billboard Hot 100 (6 consecutive no. 1 hits, record shared with the Bee Gees).
Most no. 1 albums in the Billboard albums chart in a calendar year (3 no. 1 albums in 1964, repeated in 1965 and 1966).
Most no. 1 singles in the Billboard Hot 100 in a calendar year (6 no. 1 singles in 1964)
The only act to have held the no. 1 and no. 2 position in the Billboard albums chart for 9 straight weeks on two separate occasions (March 2 to April 27 and August 29 to October 24, 1964).
Most top 3 albums in the Billboard albums chart (27 top 3 albums).
Most transatlantic no. 1 hit singles (12 songs reached no. 1 in both the U.S. and Britain).
Group with most consecutive top 5 hits in the Billboard Hot 100 chart (17 consecutive top 5 hits from 1964 to 1969).
Group with most consecutive top 10 hits in the Billboard Hot 100 chart (24 consecutive top 10 hits from 1964 to 1976).
Group with most consecutive top 20 hits in the Billboard Hot 100 chart (27 consecutive top 20 hits from 1964 to 1976).
On April 4, 1964, the Beatles occupied the first 5 positions in the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart, the top 2 in the Billboard albums chart, the no. 1 position in the British singles chart, the first two positions in the British albums chart and the no. 1 position in the British EP chart, making this the most complete ever domination of the British and American charts in history.
Most no. 1 singles in the Cash Box Top 100 charts (22 no.1s).
Most no. 1 albums in the Cash Box albums charts (15 no.1 albums).
Most weeks at no. 1 in the Cash Box albums chart (127 weeks at no. 1).
Group with most weeks in the Cash Box albums chart (722 weeks up to 1974).
Group with most weeks in the Cash Box singles chart (601 weeks up to 1986).
Group with most weeks in the Record World albums chart (849 weeks up to 1982).
Group with most weeks in the Record World singles chart (520 weeks up to 1980).
Most no. 1 singles in the Record World Top 100 charts (23 no.1s).
Most no. 1 albums in the Record World albums charts (17 no.1 albums).
Most weeks at no. 1 in the Record World albums chart (123 weeks at no. 1).
You and I are on the same page on this Dean, but the problem in convincing someone who is absolutely determined, no matter what the evidence, no matter how good the quality, no matter how influential among a myriad of critics and artists, that they won't like something that is "popular" is that the exercise is virtually fruitless. Someone who says they will NEVER listen to the Beatles is making more of a fashion statement than expressing a musical opinion--the idea is to be seen as going against the grain and being avant garde, a rebel. The sad thing is, by taking such an extreme position, that person simply misses out on some of the best music of the 20th century. I can't imagine NOT listening to it from time to time--for many it is a soundtrack for our lives.
You are right though that for someone to take that extreme of a position, there has to be a lack of historical understanding of the musicology of the Beatles. Some of that may be due to age, but it is incumbent on the younger to understand and appreciate what came before them. Even the most jaded cynics about popular rock music and many seminal punk artists acknowledge the influence of their incredible artistry. Part of that is timing and luck. The Beatles came of age by happenstance in a time of incredible social change and upheaval, and at a time of a whole new freedom in writing and creating music. I can't think of any other single band that had such a profound effect and influence on social culture. You didn't even mention the fact that until Sinatra, and then the Beatles, people did not think in terms of 'albums' being a unified work as a whole--they were just a collection of singles. Heck until the Beatles came along, people did not buy albums, they bought singles.

You make a good point about popularity and critical acclaim. Record sales without critical acclaim can simply mean you were the flavor of the day, a passing trend. Critical acclaim, influence among artists spanning generations, with record sales spanning generations represent a level not many can attain.

In terms of elevating pop music truly to an art form, with influences on social culture, literature, art, politics, I would go beyond your statement and place The Beatles and Bob Dylan as the most influential musical artists of the last half century, even well above Elvis. While you have to give Elvis credit for taking black rhythm and blues and anglosizing it for white America, and of course in the process influencing the Beatles themselves, in terms of songcraft, writing and musical progression, I would argue that Elvis takes a back seat to them.

The best of the Talking Heads

Rush R30

Now you guys are gonna laugh at this, but dont forget the Beach Boys too when you are talking about the Beatles and developing rock and certain sounds.

Yes, the Beatles were the best ever, but Brian Wilson and the Beach Boys were putting out music and harmonics way way advanced for their era, and when they came out with Pet Sounds, even the Beatles were blown away by that album, and for awhile they had a rivalry to see who could make the best albums, albums that were solid from start to finish, not just albums with a couple of good songs.

I think the past and present can be appreciated. I am 57 years old, yet i like a ton of the modern music from Hoobastank to Emenem to Nelly to Christine Aquilera to Black Eyed Peas (love Fergies humps and bumps there!) etc. However, i still can always listen to the Beatles or Beach Boys and love them too. I recently saw Paul McCartney on tour in Miami, and he was spectacular. And dont forget, he wrote a ton of the songs that were credited to John Lennon and him by himself, but thats meaningless, its the great talent they all had that still sounds good today.
I'm not laughing. Pet Sounds and Smile are truly seminal works that any lover of pop/rock music should listen to and understand. You can't overstate their influence. Rubber Soul and Revolver opened up Brian Wilson's eyes to the possibilities beyond surfer/girl songs, and he came up with Pet Sounds. McCartney readily acknowledges that album as an influence then in coming up with Sgt Pepper. I just saw Brian Wilson in concert last fall and you only then truly appreciate what great pop songs this guy composed when you hear them live, one after another. There is certain music that simply becomes classic and timeless, and there is no shame in liking it simply because it is "popular"--it became that way because it is that good.

Of course, James Brown, in terms of the amount of music influenced in later generations, was an enormous figure as well. All throughout the black music spectrum, and in much of the more rock/pop genre, you hear him referenced time and again as a core influence. He really brought da funk into popular music in a big way. I personally think it's a shame that the funk influence has been lost today. It's there in some tangential ways, but there's no one out there that I know of that's really doing hard core funk or funk/rock. There's no Sly today really, at least that I'm aware of though my awareness is a little limited these days due to being so cranked down into my work.

Of course, James Brown, in terms of the amount of music influenced in later generations, was an enormous figure as well. All throughout the black music spectrum, and in much of the more rock/pop genre, you hear him referenced time and again as a core influence. He really brought da funk into popular music in a big way. I personally think it's a shame that the funk influence has been lost today. It's there in some tangential ways, but there's no one out there that I know of that's really doing hard core funk or funk/rock. There's no Sly today really, at least that I'm aware of though my awareness is a little limited these days due to being so cranked down into my work.
check out the Robert Randolph Family Band. I don't know if its truly funk, but its more "oldschool"--he's a slide metal guitarist and he's great. He's on that Crossroads concert DVD.

Dean - I think the closest anyone comes to that would be Prince (don't go by his "hits"- you'd have to listen to his whole albums). I can think of some popular artists that were influenced by those guys, but nobody else I would even call pure "funk", especially hard core. Also, it should be pointed out that when you asked "How many other bands who started out in the 50's get that treatment today?", that the Beatles themselves would not hesitate to give certain artists from then, such as Chuck Berry, Buddy Holly, The Everly Brothers, Little Richard, Elvis. etc. etc. that kind of credit, as they wouldn't probably have hit it so big at the start the way they did if it weren't for them and there huge influence on them. They did develop completely (especially later with the help of George Martin) that sound, style and songwriting quality that influenced everyone like you say, but they owe their start totally to those guys, and they're the first to admit it. So I think any musician who would give The Beatles the credit they so deserve, would have to give those prior artists almost the same amount of kudos. I only bring this up because I was around for the beginning of Rock & Roll (born in '55, but my parents and 5-1/2 year older sister inundated me with the stuff), and I just wanted to make sure everyone was aware of that. I just want people that might be too young (like those who think all music started with Nirvana, period), or even their parents too young, to know more about Rock's roots.

Dean - I think the closest anyone comes to that would be Prince (don't go by his "hits"- you'd have to listen to his whole albums). I can think of some popular artists that were influenced by those guys, but nobody else I would even call pure "funk", especially hard core. Also, it should be pointed out that when you asked "How many other bands who started out in the 50's get that treatment today?", that the Beatles themselves would not hesitate to give certain artists from then, such as Chuck Berry, Buddy Holly, The Everly Brothers, Little Richard, Elvis. etc. etc. that kind of credit, as they wouldn't probably have hit it so big at the start the way they did if it weren't for them and there huge influence on them.
No one is denying that the Beatles too had influences, of course everyone does. Chuck Berry was a huge influence. The Beatles, unlike Berry, progressed beyond the 3 minute pop love song, and thus far surpassed their influences. But going back to the original post which started this all, can you imagine dismissing all of Chuck Berry's output simply because his most famous songs were all simply pop love songs about sweet sixteen girls and the joy of listening and dancing to music?
Can you imagine anyone saying--I will NEVER listen to Chuck Berry?

I think a lot of people don't even know they are listening to him, whether it's one of his songs or someone who is so influenced by him - which would have to be every rock and roll band if you were honest. I was just trying to point out that the roots of modern pop/rock didn't actually start with the Beatles, they just refined it to it's highest artistic peak. I totally agree that they are the greatest, most important and influential rock group in history.

As far as someone saying they "hate" the Beatles, I wouldn't get so bent out of shape about it or take it as an insult or blasphemy or anything personal. I love them, but I know plenty of people who just do not care to ever hear them. Some of them are just sick of hearing the songs. I've just learned not to put on any of their music when they're around. I don't waste my energy trying to turn people around. I used to - when I was younger. I guess I've mellowed out and just figure to each his own. If I really wanted to rag on any type of music, you wouldn't be able to shut me up (think Gangsta Rap). I conserve my energy for more important arguments. Music is a highly personal thing, and everybody can dig whatever they want. As long as I'm not forced to listen to anything I hate (like rap, opera or popular country), then I'm alright.

As far as someone saying they "hate" the Beatles, I wouldn't get so bent out of shape about it or take it as an insult or blasphemy or anything personal. I love them, but I know plenty of people who just do not care to ever hear them. Some of them are just sick of hearing the songs. I've just learned not to put on any of their music when they're around. I don't waste my energy trying to turn people around. I used to - when I was younger. I guess I've mellowed out and just figure to each his own. If I really wanted to rag on any type of music, you wouldn't be able to shut me up (think Gangsta Rap). I conserve my energy for more important arguments. Music is a highly personal thing, and everybody can dig whatever they want. As long as I'm not forced to listen to anything I hate (like rap, opera or popular country), then I'm alright.
I could care less whether someone listens to the Beatles or not. The comment that got me and Roddy posting was the one which implied that all the Beatles did and were known for was writing girly love songs for screaming teen girls. That demonstrated a complete lack of understanding of their place and influence in music history. If he had just said, The Beatles were incredibly talented and influential, but I've heard those songs so much I don't listen to them much, it would've been a much more palatable comment.

Ah, he was just baitin' ya - consider the source and ignore it.

(Yawns, rubs eyes in disbelfief)

Wow. Talk about beating a dead horse...
;) ;) ;)

I think a lot of people don't even know they are listening to him, whether it's one of his songs or someone who is so influenced by him - which would have to be every rock and roll band if you were honest. I was just trying to point out that the roots of modern pop/rock didn't actually start with the Beatles, they just refined it to it's highest artistic peak. I totally agree that they are the greatest, most important and influential rock group in history.


Skunk Baxter said that almost every guitarist has to pass through the 'Chunk Berry Portal' in order to get to their own style. He created the rock and roll guitarist style pretty much. If you listen to (say) thrasher type metal today, what it is but Chuck Berry two note (1st-n-5th), palm-muted chords just speeded up to meth levels. When I was learning guitar I learned Chunk Berry's stuff and we played JBG most every night.

But, Chuck Berry's influence actually flowed more down the Rolling Stones/Hendrix stream than The Beatles stream, it seems to me, as did the delta/Chicago blues influence. Certainly Buddy Holly was a massive influence on the musicians who came after him, and folks like Carl Perkins or Little Richard or Fats Domino, but The Beatles and Elvis are the ones who really became the rock/pop juggernauts.

One thing that really made the Beatles what they were musically, it seems to me, is that you had John rooted in the blues and Paul rooted in more melodic music. The combination really often made for songs that had lots of harmonic and melodic complexity while remaining very rock oriented. I think that this combination was 'rediscovered' in the grunge era, where many bands understood that mixing really aggressive rock with quieter and more melodic parts makes for much more interesting and more emotionally charged music. There's a lot of that going on today as well.

Back to the thread topic, I have been listening to:



REM--Best of Collection

This collects tracks from 1988 to 2003, and is filled with gems including The Great Beyond from the Man on the Moon movie, a fantastic tune not previously available on a REM CD; All the Way to Reno and Imitation of Life, two of my favorite REM songs from the very Brian Wilsonesque CD Reveal, plus all the usual hits, and a second disc of live versions, rarities and b-sides.

Sonic Youth--Goo (1990)

This was my first exposure to this punk/indie band, heavily influenced by Velvet Underground of course. This album laid out their sonic noise experimentations into more streamlined rock song format, and was the album they toured on when I saw them open for Neil Young on his Ragged Glory tour. Driving melodic rock filtered through distortion drenched soundscapes.

Stereolab--Mars Audiac Quintet (1994)

Probably my favorite album of this very quirky avant garde prog/post punk pop band. A band that incorporates moog synths, farfisa organs, driving electric guitar, horns and leftist mostly French lyrics sung by the beautiful voice of Latitia Sadier and complementary backup vocals by the late Mary Hansen--what more could you ask for? A keen ear for simple pop melodies that manage to sound retro and futuristic at the same time. The driving beat of the first two songs get this album rolling--Three Dee Melodie and Wow and Flutter, Ping Pong is also very repsresentative of their style. This is a truly unique band that sounds like no other and defies categorization, but I think should be required listening for anyone interested in alternative pop. This is their most accessible album and still sounds fresh and new 10 years after its release.

Actually, if I were recommending an album of theirs to someone who has never heard them, I'd probably recommend Refried Ectoplasm--Switched on Vol 2, which collects their best tracks from roughly the early 90s, with the characteristic hard driving guitar and droning organs, and outstanding tunes such as Mountain, Revox, the anthemic French Disko (La Resistance!) and John Cage Bubblegum among many. What a band---think Velvet Underground crossed with Burt Bacharach, Esquival and stereo demonstration records of the 60s, and you only begin to get some idea.

Not a cd, but still musical and fits into the direction the thread has taken-- Yellow Submarine. My son kept asking me to play 'Hey Bulldog.'

Not a cd, but still musical and fits into the direction the thread has taken-- Yellow Submarine. My son kept asking me to play 'Hey Bulldog.'Isn't that available on CD? Some of my favorite, lesser played Beatles tunes there for sure. ("It's All Too Much" - "You're tooooo muchaa - we are deaaaaaaaedddd!".)

Isn't that available on CD? Some of my favorite, lesser played Beatles tunes there for sure. ("It's All Too Much" - "You're tooooo muchaa - we are deaaaaaaaedddd!".)
Yep, there's some good songs on it, but as a full Beatles album, it's one of their lesser albums. The dvd has a very nice 5.1 mix, which also has some older songs, including Nowhere Man and Eleanor Rigby.

Dean - If you wanted to go even further down the line, you could probably throw in The Animals and The Yardbirds in there with the Stones and Hendrix, although one might argue that they're all more influenced by straight blues artists - but then again, Berry wouldn't exist if it weren't for those guys. Neither would Rock & Roll, for that matter. I mentioned The Everly Brothers because The Beatles themselves have mentioned them as far as a huge influence on their early harmonizing. As far as vocal harmony, I think the natural order of artistic development in rock for that would probably be the Doo-Wop bands, The E. Bros., The Beatles, The Beach Boys, The Hollies and then C, S, & N, with the B. B.'s probably being the greatest, although not necessarily the most influential - I'd probably give that nod to the Beatles. As much as I hate to admit it, I'd have to give American country music some influence there, too - although that came from traditional music - I dont' know what that bastardized stuff that's popular now would fall under - Country/Pop/Rock I guess.

Yep, there's some good songs on it, but as a full Beatles album, it's one of their lesser albums. The dvd has a very nice 5.1 mix, which also has some older songs, including Nowhere Man and Eleanor Rigby. The thing about "Hey Bulldog" that's funny is it was basically a filler song that Lennon made up on the spot - but look what a great song it still is! They couldn't write a bad song if their life depended on it (although for artistic songwriting's sake, and compared to most of the stuff he wrote up till his last album, let's just say it was a good thing that he wasn't able to produce anymore than he did - he'd probably be doing elevator music, easy listening or children's songs by now! And please all you people that love "Double Fantasy", don't get upset, but that album was basically a product of him just laying around, taking care of his son and smoking weed all day. Not BAD music, by any means, but completely devoid of the "edge" that made the guy what he was his whole career.)

I'd have to give American country music some influence there, too - although that came from traditional music - I dont' know what that bastardized stuff that's popular now would fall under - Country/Pop/Rock I guess.


Call it Corporate Country. The slickly produced and carefully choreographed dreck that now passes for country on the radio is more fabricated and assembled fluff than any arena rock of the 70s was. That's why I like "alt-country", stuff like The Jayhawks, Wilco, Neko Case, Steve Earle, Lucinda Williams, The Sadies, Joe Henry, etc. The funny thing is that 98% of those cowboy hat wearing singers have never touched foot on a ranch or ever ridden a horse. Most of them are from the suburbs of Dallas or Atlanta.

I saw someone who fit that catagory just last night - on Austin City Limits - her name was Tift Merritt, and boy, is she hot! A very "handsome" girl if I do say so. Blonde and a lot there to grab onto. And, oh yeah- not a half-bad act either.

That's funny what you say because I think back to Eddie Rabbitt, who's real name was Eddie Rabinowitz, a nice Jewish boy from who knows where.

Aqualung - Stange & Beautiful
Babyshambles - Down in Albion
Gogol Bordelo - Gypsy Punks: Underdog World Strike
The Dresden Dolls - The Dresden Dolls
The Redwalls - De Nova
Vienna Teng - Waking Hour

Always some Jimmy Buffett too

Rolling Stones: A Bigger Bang (... where did this come from!!!! A good new Stones album /gasp)

U2: How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb


Those two are on perminent rotation at the moment.

- Rick

I saw someone who fit that catagory just last night - on Austin City Limits - her name was Tift Merritt, and boy, is she hot! A very "handsome" girl if I do say so. Blonde and a lot there to grab onto. And, oh yeah- not a half-bad act either.
Yes, I have heard of her and seen her, and took an immediate interest before even hearing a note. I'll have to make sure to Tivo that show--we got a different episode of ACL than that last night. Another recent alt country favorite of mine is an Australian--Kasey Chambers. What a voice and looks.

-----------
I don't see an episode with Tift Merrit listed anywhere on my local PBS schedule or the ACL website?? Are you sure you saw her on a ACL show? Who was the other artist that played?

Rolling Stones: A Bigger Bang (... where did this come from!!!! A good new Stones album /gasp)

U2: How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb


Those two are on perminent rotation at the moment.

- Rick
you have kind of a theme going there--you may want to throw in Prism--Armageddon; Europe--The Final Countdown; Jefferson Airplane--Crown of Creation.....

The thing about "Hey Bulldog" that's funny is it was basically a filler song that Lennon made up on the spot - but look what a great song it still is! They couldn't write a bad song if their life depended on it (although for artistic songwriting's sake, and compared to most of the stuff he wrote up till his last album, let's just say it was a good thing that he wasn't able to produce anymore than he did - he'd probably be doing elevator music, easy listening or children's songs by now! And please all you people that love "Double Fantasy", don't get upset, but that album was basically a product of him just laying around, taking care of his son and smoking weed all day. Not BAD music, by any means, but completely devoid of the "edge" that made the guy what he was his whole career.)
I bought "Double Fantasy" the week before he died and felt ripped off-- it was basically only half a John Lennon album ("give me something that's not cold, c'mon, c'mon"), and not a very good one at that. Then he was shot, and I felt guilty about not really liking it, and so I played it about a hundred times over the next month, skipping over the Yoko songs.

skipping over the Yoko songs.


Listen sometime to Rock Lobster by the B-52s. That incoherent weird cackling and screaming you hear by the females in that song was "inspired" by some Yoko Ono album they heard which is all just screaming and gutteral yells, according to Kate (red haired gal), according to an interview I once saw. Hilarious.

Listen sometime to Rock Lobster by the B-52s. That incoherent weird cackling and screaming you hear by the females in that song was "inspired" by some Yoko Ono album they heard which is all just screaming and gutteral yells, according to Kate (red haired gal), according to an interview I once saw. Hilarious.
Oh yeah-- I remember when they were on SNL back in 78 or 79, doing Rock Lobster, and I thought, 'what the heck is this?' Now, my son says the same thing when the B-52s are played in the house.

Aqualung - Stange & Beautiful


The stuff I've heard of theirs on the radio is quite good.

Yes, I have heard of her and seen her, and took an immediate interest before even hearing a note. I'll have to make sure to Tivo that show--we got a different episode of ACL than that last night. Another recent alt country favorite of mine is an Australian--Kasey Chambers. What a voice and looks.

-----------
I don't see an episode with Tift Merrit listed anywhere on my local PBS schedule or the ACL website?? Are you sure you saw her on a ACL show? Who was the other artist that played?Peter Wolf. I'm pretty sure it was ACL - it could've been Soundstage (but there's no way to check now). It was on the main PBS-HD channel, not our regular local digital simulcast. (This was OTA.) I would say she needed a little polishing, but that was part of her charm. She had a couple of awkward moments where she was trying to be Janis Joplin, but with enough feedback, she should improve.

Oh yeah-- I remember when they were on SNL back in 78 or 79, doing Rock Lobster, and I thought, 'what the heck is this?' Now, my son says the same thing when the B-52s are played in the house.I've got those performances on my Panny DVD/DVR. I've got to get everything archived off of there one of these days (if I can just stay off this damn computer long enough). They also did "Dance This Mess Around". ("Why don't you dance with me? - I'm NOT no limburger!") One of the most underrated New Wave bands, along with Devo. (Get yourself a good system that can handle a LOT of bass, and put on and crank up "New Traditionalists"!)

Listen sometime to Rock Lobster by the B-52s. That incoherent weird cackling and screaming you hear by the females in that song was "inspired" by some Yoko Ono album they heard which is all just screaming and gutteral yells, according to Kate (red haired gal), according to an interview I once saw. Hilarious.The only thing I ever even remotely liked by Yoko was the B side of "Cold Turkey" - it's called "Don't Worry Kyoko (Mummy's Only Looking for a Hand in the Snow)" It's hilarious - classic. It could very well be on that album you mentioned, because that's a good description. It's just The Plastic Ono Band jamming and her doing pretty much what you mention - but there are actually some lyrics - well, a couple anyway - mainly "Don't worry, don't worry. don't worry, don't worry" - you get the picture.

The beatles

On & On - Jack Johnson
Life in Slow Motion - David Gray

Recently both of theses CDs have been getting frequent play.

Concrete Blonde: "Free"
Concrete Blonde: "Walking in London"
Stomu Yamashta: "Go"
King Crimson: "Islands"
King Crimson: "Three of a Perfect Pair"
King Crimson: "Earthbound"

I'm about 2/3 of the way through the book "In the Court of King Crimson". Great read! If you are a fan of King Crimson and want to know its history is decent detail, try to snag a copy. I got lucky and Amazon made a new copy appear while I had a bid on Ebay - luckily I got sniped. :)

larry

While I single handedly keep the thread alive. :) Still on a King Crimson kick

King Crimson: "Discipline"
David Cross: "Exiles" - Post KC music, very good, Fripp plays guitar some, and Wetton sings on a couple songs.
Talking Heads: "Fear of Music" - Fripp plays guitar on a couple songs. Talking heads are great in the own right too.
Talking Heads: "More Songs About Buildings and Food"
Talking Heads: "77"
Talking Heads: "Remain in Light" Adrian Belew appears
Larry Coryell: "Tricycles" - nothing to do with KC, but great trio and fabulous recording

The Talking Heads discs were all Dual-Discs. I was impressed, the 2ch 96/24 PCM tracks sounded great.

larry

Wasn't "Go" with Steve Winwood, too? Speaking of Fripp, do you have any of his stuff with Andy Summers? I can remember hearing some and thinking it was excellent, but I never got around to buying any.

A great song by Larry Coryell and Philip Catherine - "Transvested Express". Man, I've GOT to get my albums out of storage!

How about the classic ECM John Abercrombie, Jan Hammer & Jack DeJohnette track - "Timeless"? Is that "Tricycles" CD the one with Abercrombie where they redo that song?

Disturbed - Ten Thousand Fists and The Sickness

Concrete Blonde: "Free"
Concrete Blonde: "Walking in London"
Stomu Yamashta: "Go"
King Crimson: "Islands"
King Crimson: "Three of a Perfect Pair"
King Crimson: "Earthbound"

I'm about 2/3 of the way through the book "In the Court of King Crimson". Great read! If you are a fan of King Crimson and want to know its history is decent detail, try to snag a copy. I got lucky and Amazon made a new copy appear while I had a bid on Ebay - luckily I got sniped. :)

larry
You mentioned Go by Yamashita and Winwood--I have that album; have you ever seen a CD release of that album? I haven't listened to that in awhile but I remember it was nice atmospheric, spacey music.

BTW, I am going to see Robert Fripp live in a few weeks in a little club that holds less than 100 people--he's doing a solo guitar tour. Look for a listing in a big city near you.

Some old, some new...

Maria Tayler - 11:11

The Black Heart Prosession - Amore Del Tropico

M83 - Before the Dawn Heals Us

Mari Kodama - Beethoven Piano Sonatas

Peter Gabriel - Up


I need more than a 5 disc changer in the theater room.

What happens when a thread reads, "What do you have on your ipod?" ^_^;

You mentioned Go by Yamashita and Winwood--I have that album; have you ever seen a CD release of that album? I haven't listened to that in awhile but I remember it was nice atmospheric, spacey music.

BTW, I am going to see Robert Fripp live in a few weeks in a little club that holds less than 100 people--he's doing a solo guitar tour. Look for a listing in a big city near you.This is the CD I just got and listened to. Somebody not too long ago mentioned it was available and I finally got around to buying it. Original studio cuts and live concert tracks. http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0008FHP46/ref=pd_bbs_null_1/102-7394366-4271303?s=dvd&v=glance&n=130

Thanks for the tip on Fripp touring. Last night I was listening to B'boom and the live versions (dual trio lineup) of The Talking Drum and Larks Tongue in Aspic II. What a great live recording and f'ing awesome renditions of these two songs that, I hate to say, surpass the mid 70's versions.

larry

Some old, some new...

Maria Tayler - 11:11

The Black Heart Prosession - Amore Del Tropico

M83 - Before the Dawn Heals Us

Mari Kodama - Beethoven Piano Sonatas

Peter Gabriel - Up


I need more than a 5 disc changer in the theater room.

What happens when a thread reads, "What do you have on your ipod?" ^_^;I pull out "Up" occasionally. Amazing that he can still put out stuff that great after all these years, huh? If you want to spend the money, I hear that the latest Sony 400 disc DVD/SACD/CD ES player is supposed to sound pretty good with CD's. I've been considering getting one myself. I kind of miss the convenience of my 300 disc Pioneer that I sold awhile back (even though it didn't sound all that great - that's why I sold it).

Speaking of guys who can still put out good stuff after all these years, I thought Bowie's "Reality" was a pleasant surprise.

This is the CD I just got and listened to. Somebody not too long ago mentioned it was available and I finally got around to buying it. Original studio cuts and live concert tracks. http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0008FHP46/ref=pd_bbs_null_1/102-7394366-4271303?s=dvd&v=glance&n=130

Thanks for the tip on Fripp touring. Last night I was listening to B'boom and the live versions (dual trio lineup) of The Talking Drum and Larks Tongue in Aspic II. What a great live recording and f'ing awesome renditions of these two songs that, I hate to say, surpass the mid 70's versions.

larry
Dang, I'm going to have to get that, even at that price. I had the live album on vinyl bought back in the late 70s.

I have the vinyl too. It was good to hear it again. I haven't listened to the live stuff yet.

larry

I just got some new CDs by joining BMG, but one that stands out is Brazilian Girls (http://www.braziliangirls.info/)' self-titled album. Great bass and vocals, a cool chill/jazz/trip-hop/reggae/dance hall vibe, with songs in English, Spanish, French, German, and a song called "Pussy" (minus the cat) with a catchy chorus. Sample the songs here (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0006M4UB2/qid=1141166887/sr=2-1/ref=pd_bbs_b_2_1/103-1649539-9127821?s=music&v=glance&n=5174).

I'm also enjoying the Broken Flowers soundtrack (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0009XT914/ref=pd_bxgy_text_b/103-1649539-9127821?%5Fencoding=UTF8), which I got mainly for a few songs plus the Ethiopian jazz tracks. But I might have to break down and get the whole Mulata Astatqe (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00000DDMB/ref=wl_it_dp/103-1649539-9127821?%5Fencoding=UTF8&colid=CST2WGIQ4WP9&coliid=IC96N7OI2OSA&v=glance&n=5174) album.

Bill Bruford - Gradually Going Tornado
Utopis - Utopia
Todd Rundgren - A Wizard, A True Star
Captain Beyond - Dawn Explosion (oof-fa ... )
The Who - Tommy (SACD)
Larry Coryell - Spaces Revisited
Various - Neon Meate Dream of a Octafish: A tribute to Captain Beefheart and the Magic Band
Nine Inch Nails - The Fragile

larry

fruup - future legends/seven secrets
david gilmour - on an island
animal logic - s/t
ray manzarek - the whole thing started with rock & roll now it's out of control
donald fagen - nightfly
miles davis - kind of blue (dts)

Katatonia - Last Fair Deal Gone Down
Nashville Pussy - Get Some
Monster Magnet - Monolithic Baby!
Johnny Cash - American IV: The Man Comes Around
In Flames - Come Clarity
Nightingale - Nightfall Overture
Stream of Passion - Embrace the Storm

On the way home from work I played the cd of The Aristocrats movie, I had tears running down my face from laughing so hard. :D

Sex Pistols-- Never Mind the Bollocks
The Clash-- The Clash (first album)
English Beat-- Special Beat Service

David Gilmour - On an Island
Prince - 3121
Avenge SevenFold - City of Evil ( Think a young Aerosmith with Randy Rhodes on guitar).

Nuggets--Original Artifacts from the First Psychedelic Age 1965-1968

The Doors Box Set (killer live versions and rarities)

Iggy and the Stooges--Fun House

Sugar--Copper Blue great heavy but melodic power pop/post punk--where punk should have stayed (close to the garage rock roots) instead of veering away toward hardcore sludge

Jefferson Airplane- After Bathing at Baxters
Ministry-Twitch
Dan Hicks and his Hot Licks- Striking it Rich
Sublime- 40 oz of Freedom
U2- Vertigo (concert DVD, DTS soundtrack)
New Order- 5/11 (concert DVD, DTS soundtrack)
The Jam- Setting Sons
Gang of Four- Entertainment
Mahavishnu Orchestra- Inner Mounting Flame
Rancid- Life Wont Wait

That's the weekend so far. :D

Beck - Sea Change (SACD)
The Rolling Stones - Sympathy for the Devil Remix (SACD)

Chrisl

Morphine - Like Swimming
Yes - Tales from Topographic Oceans
ELP - Tarkus
Marilyn Manson - Antichrist Superstar

larry

Cardigans - Super Extra Gravity
Depeche Mode - Playing The Angel
Hooverphonic - No More Sweet Music Disc 1
INXS - Switch
Nada Surf - The Weight Is A Gift

Ra - Duality

I can not stop listening to this CD - some of the best rock in a decade.

Jefferson Airplane- After Bathing at Baxters
Ministry-Twitch
Dan Hicks and his Hot Licks- Striking it Rich
Sublime- 40 oz of Freedom
U2- Vertigo (concert DVD, DTS soundtrack)
New Order- 5/11 (concert DVD, DTS soundtrack)
The Jam- Setting Sons
Gang of Four- Entertainment
Mahavishnu Orchestra- Inner Mounting Flame
Rancid- Life Wont Wait

That's the weekend so far. :D

Very nice. Some seminal stuff with Entertainment and Twitch. Love Mahavishnu Orchestra as well.

I am listening mostly to the New Pornographers' "Twin Cinema" and Sufjan Stevens' "Illinois"

Eagles - Hell Freezes Over XRCD (Awesome CD)
Eric Clapton - Unplugged
U2 - Greatest Hits
Def Leppard - Greatest Hits
Miranda Lambert - Not sure of title
Johnny Cash - Folsom Live
Allison Krauss and Union Station - DVD (Nice)
Eagles Farewell I Tour - DVD (This DVD is so good, I have watched parts of it probably 10 times in the last month)

On deck:
Johnny Cash - San Quenton Live
Beastie Boys - Ill
Lynyrd Skynyrd - Greatest

I just got the "These Are The Vistas" by The Bad Plus, a "jazz fusion" trio, and I can tell this will be one of my new favorites. They do great jazz with drums, an aco bass, and a piano, including cool cover songs (like Nirvana's "Smells Like Teen Spirit" on this album). Music clips HERE (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000087N0V/sr=8-2/qid=1143741004/ref=pd_bbs_2/103-1649539-9127821?%5Fencoding=UTF8). Very cool jazz, even if you don't consider yourself a big fan of jazz - kind of along the lines of DJ Shadow tracks performed by a 3-piece band.

E
Allison Krauss and Union Station - DVD (Nice)



One of the AVS "Demo Tree" demo discs has an Allison Krauss live track in DTS. Very cool stuff, first I've heard of her material. I'll have to pick up something by her. Diana Krall is starting to grow on me (didn't like her voice that much at first, compared to Norah Jones), but I liked Krauss's voice right off the bat.

One of the AVS "Demo Tree" demo discs has an Allison Krauss live track in DTS. Very cool stuff, first I've heard of her material. I'll have to pick up something by her. Diana Krall is starting to grow on me (didn't like her voice that much at first, compared to Norah Jones), but I liked Krauss's voice right off the bat.

I do listen to alot of Country music, but I hadn't really listened to Allison much. I heard on here about how good the DVD was, so I picked it up. The PQ/SQ is awesome and it is definately a re-watchable DVD.

Union Station has got to be the most professional, perfectionistic popular group I've ever seen. They truly make me proud to be an American. At least they're closer to what is real, traditional country/folk/bluegrass music than those slick, over-produced, can't tell one from the other Top40 bands that are erroneously labeled "country". At least the American music industry has gotten one thing right (in recent years) by honoring them with so many deserving awards.

beautiful people - if the 60s were the 90s
allman bros - beginnings
audioslave - s/t
bob marley - catch a fire
duane allman - anthology
jaco pastorius - s/t
billy cobham - crosswinds

duane allman - anthology


i forgot how haunting duane is on 'loan me a dime'....i'll need to revisit this track more often.

Tori Amos - The Beekeeper
Big Country - The Seer, The Crossing, and Steeltown (newly bought)
In Flames - Come Clarity
Pantera - Reinventing The Steel (giving it one more shot till it's outta here)

ELP - Tarkus (again) picked up the Rhino remaster
Steve Hackett (et. al.) - Watcher of the Skies, Genesis Revisited : Forgot I had this CD. Excellent!
Patrick Moraz - Human Interface
Alice Cooper - Easy Action
Hatfield and the North - s/t

larry

The ELP Rhino releases are remastered? Where did you find it? (I think I vaguely do remember seeing remastered versions very briefly quite a few years back.)

The ELP Rhino releases are remastered? Where did you find it? (I think I vaguely do remember seeing remastered versions very briefly quite a few years back.)Amazon. http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0000033P0/qid=1144154412/sr=1-1/ref=sr_1_1/102-7394366-4271303?s=music&v=glance&n=5174


larry

It has been a good day of new CD releases. I have been listening to these all morning.....

Lacuna Coil - Karmacode
Queensryche - Operation: Mindcrime II
Katatonia - The Great Cold Distance

Flyleaf

Coheed and Cambria=In Keeping Secrets of Silent Earth: 3

Disturbed=10,000 fists

It has been a good day of new CD releases. I have been listening to these all morning.....

Lacuna Coil - Karmacode
Queensryche - Operation: Mindcrime II
Katatonia - The Great Cold Distance

I bought Mindcrime 2 as well and am very disappointed. It's a dull, poor excuse for a sequel to a classic IMO.

I bought Mindcrime 2 as well and am very disappointed. It's a dull, poor excuse for a sequel to a classic IMO.

Yeah. There is maybe one or two highlights on it, but honestly it could not hold a candle to the original. They really need Chris DeGarmo back.

I do listen to alot of Country music, but I hadn't really listened to Allison [Krauss] much. I heard on here about how good the DVD was, so I picked it up. The PQ/SQ is awesome and it is definately a re-watchable DVD.

I taped that concert from, I believe, NDNet last year in 1080i HD. It's superb; in fact it is the reference "show-off" material I plug into my D-VHS deck when I'm demo-ing my HDTV system for friends - razor sharp, brilliant colors, and the DD5.1 soundtrack of course. I play this one all the time.

That's probably why the DVD looks so good - it's downrezzed from an HD master.

Okay, guys... I guess I'll quit spamming the board, step off my "professional pedestal", and reveal the character underneath my business suit. :p


Between The Buried And Me- Alaska After playing and analyzing the guitar for over 15 years, I must say that the kid who plays lead in this extremely heavy band is one of the best guitarists I've ever heard. I hate to be dramatic, but it's true! The beautiful jazzy breakdowns are well-worth sitting through all of the brutal grind noise. If you're at all a fan of metal music, I highly suggest giving these guys a listen @ www.betweentheburiedandme.com.

Peter Cincotti- S/T This guy never gets old. He's got a real 'Sinatra-esque' sound. He's not the most original artist in the world, but he definitely gets much credit for musicianship and replay value of his songs. www.petercincotti.com

Johnny Cash- Live at Folsom Prison YES. I did listen to Johnny Cash before Joaquin ruined half of his songs in the otherwise GREAT movie, Walk The Line. The man wasn't the best guitarist, nor was he the best vocalist, but damn he was a sincere songwriter/performer! 'Nuff said!

Living Sacrifice- The Hammering Process IMO, this is one of the most underrated metal albums of all time from a band hailing from Little Rock, AR, lending part of its line-up to Evanescence.

Guns 'N Roses- Appetite for Destruction Yep... I've broken at least three belts playing air guitar to this album. How can one not like Guns 'N Roses? (last statement NOT applicable to the strangely reincarnated version with Buckethead trying to take Slash's place. While Buckethead is an incredible guitarist, there just isn't any way to replace Slash. At all. Never.)

The Highwaymen- S/T This is one album I couldn't live without. Willie, Johnny, and Waylon on the same album? Count me in. If I had a CD player on my motorcycle, this would be the soundtrack to every mile I put on that bad boy!

That's what's currently in my disc changer, but I can generally listen to anything as long as it has substance. My main prerequisite for CD's is that the artists mean what they say, and the sincerity is uncompromised. That includes the Beatles. ;-)

Steve Hackett - "Voyage of the Acolyte" It would be nice to have this one remastered.
Steve Hackett - "Darktown"
Caravan - "In the Land of Grey and Pink" (remaster)
Caravan - "If I Could do it All Over Again, I'd do it All Over You" (remaster)
Colosseum - "Valentyne Suite"
Gong - "Angels Egg (Radio Gnome Invisible Pt II)"
Larry Coryell - "The Restful Mind"

This week ELP "Birth of a Band - Live at the Isle of Wight" dual disc comes out. ELPs first real live show.

From Amazon: "This DualDisc™ contains the full-length film from the festival on one side, and the full companion audio recording on the other.

Tracklisting:
1. Pictures at an Exhibition
2. Take a Pebble
3. Rondo
4. Nutrocker "

larry

Karsh Kale's new album: Broken English
I'm a big fan, solid album, though I still think his first is by far his best.

Bombay Dub Orchestra

Explosions in the Sky: How Strange, Innocence

DJ Krush: Reload: the Remix Collection [IMPORT]

U.N.K.L.E.: Edit Music for a Film: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack Reconstruction [IMPORT]

Cat Power: The Greatest

The Odyssey, a three disk compilation containing nine epic tracks put out by the Dutch magazine Colossus and France's Musea label. It features tracks by C.A.P (Italy) , Nathan Mahl (Canda), Minimum Vital (France), Nexus (Argentina) and a decent American band with the initials GH. That, I Think We're all Bozos On This Bus by Firesign Theater (awesome driving non-music), and all of 10cc's albums prior to Godley and Creme leaving the band.

Oh, and James Brown: Foundations Of Funk 1964-1969 has been getting heavy rotation on my car recently.

The past week or so:

Nada Surf (newest and last albums)

Tom Waits - Real Gone

The Bad Plus - These Are the Vistas

Clap Your Hands Say Yeah

Cat Power - The Greatest

ELP - Tarkus (again) picked up the Rhino remaster
Steve Hackett (et. al.) - Watcher of the Skies, Genesis Revisited : Forgot I had this CD. Excellent!
Patrick Moraz - Human Interface
Alice Cooper - Easy Action
Hatfield and the North - s/t

larryHey, Larry - I was down in the Loop the other day and found some great deals. Got the remastered Tarkus, Night after Night (U.K.), and The 21st Century Guide to King Crimson. Listened to them in that order. Tarkus was stunning! Night After Night was excellent. But when I got to the Crimson boxed set, I almost died. They are absolutely the WORST sounding CD's I think I have ever heard in my life! They're supposed to be digitally remastered, but the guy that did it must have had **** in his ears or something. I'm really wondering if I got ahold of some kind of bad bootleg maybe, but everything about the packaging and the labels seem legit. I was somewhat disappointed too, that a couple of the great masterpieces were edited. I only got it because I've got most of the best albums on LP, and don't have any on CD. Plus it has a lot of otherwise unattainable live stuff. I know that a lot of remastered stuff was done with the volume levels way too high, but this is even beyond that. It's just a jumble of half-muffled bass and scratchy treble. It's literally painful to listen to. I've got two other CDP's I can hook up to try it on, but I'm really not expecting much, if any improvement. Even a good equalizer couldn't fix it. It's SO bad that it just CAN'T be right. I guess Fripp had a lot to do with the compilation of this set, but I just find it hard to believe that he would let something this terrible sounding get released. And I KNOW it's not me, because NOTHING I have sounds anywhere NEAR this awful. Anyway, I'm gonna burn it and then try to sell it or something. Hopefully I can get enough back to buy some of the single, remastered CD's, but I'm just afraid that they might sound like that, too. All I know is that my albums sound 1000 times better (even being as worn as they are). I should just get my turntable fixed and stick with them, but I still need to get "Red" (I know, I know - so sue me - I just never got around to buying it for some reason back then - probably put it off because that was the one, other than the first, that got the most airplay, at least in my area).

Ben Harper- Both Sides of the Gun
Album of the year so far. great stuff.

Ramm,
Except for some of the Discipline Global Mobile releases of live (older) concerts, the 21st Century Guide is about the only thing I don't have. Some of the "official bootleg" concerts recordings in this series don't sound that great. The best live recording I can think of is from a concert in Japan recorded from the mix board. I forget the name, THRAK or THRAK ATTACK maybe. It's from the mid 80's dual trio (called something like that) lineup and sounds very good. All the 30 year anniversary discs sound very good, even some of the older ones.

larry

jean luc ponty - imaginary voyage
lenny white - venusian summer
vertu - s/t
bill bruford - feels good to me
chris squire - fish out of water
trapeze - medusa

Evergrey - Monday Morning Apocalypse
The Gathering - Accessories
Dimmu Borgir - Death Cult Armageddon

Muddy Waters - Folk Singer (SACD-SL)

Chris

1. Pat Benatar
2. Ozzy Osbourne
3. Daft Punk

All of them are greatest hits CD's...

sea level - s/t
tribal tech - reality check
solution - cordon bleu
liquid tension experiment - s/t
edwin mccain - misguided roses
freddie king - woman across the river

Grace by Jeff Buckley. I can't stop listening to Hallelujah since I saw Lord of War.

sea level - s/t
tribal tech - reality check
solution - cordon bleu
liquid tension experiment - s/t
edwin mccain - misguided roses
freddie king - woman across the riverI would love to at least get Sea Level's first album if it's available.

I would love to at least get Sea Level's first album if it's available.

it appears as if it's oop :mad:

I just picked up the Mark Knopfler/Emmylou Harris CD "All the Road Running." Great CD. Knopfler was inspired by the last cell phone calls being made from the WTC and the airplanes on 9/11. The result was the last cut "If This Is Good-Bye". If this song doesn't choke you up, then take your pulse because you ain't alive.

Skip

Clap Your Hands Say Yeah (still)

I also listened to Neil Young's new album streaming off his http://www.myspace.com/neilyoung page - great stuff. I'll definitely be picking it up when it comes out. I've never been a huge fan, but I want to show my support for the album with my $. I think it hit #3 for pre-orders on Amazon (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000FI9OSG/sr=8-1/qid=1146384197/ref=pd_bbs_1/103-3674048-1703068?%5Fencoding=UTF8). May 8th is the big day! The last track, America The Beautiful, is a great way to end the album, and the whole album has that huge choir behind him. It's a very touching and inspiring album, to say the least.

crawfish boil last weekend....... aeii ! :D

songs from the motherland:

bryan lee - crawfish lady
clifton chenier - frenching the blues
clifton chenier - bugaloosa boogie
clifton chenier - live at grant street - lafayette - 4.81 (bootleg)
dr. john - gris gris
le lousiana blues - various
tab benoit - wetlands
zydeco flames - smoking at the plant
mamou - s/t
boozoo chavis - zydeco trail ride

crawfish boil last weekend....... aeii ! :D

bryan lee - crawfish lady
clifton chenier - frenching the blues
clifton chenier - bugaloosa boogie
clifton chenier - live at grant street - lafayette - 4.81 (bootleg)
dr. john - gris gris
le lousiana blues - various
tab benoit - wetlands
zydeco flames - smoking at the plant


Sounds tasty! :D I haven't listened to Zydeco for ages and have never had a recording of this genre, always live bands. Can you (or others) recommend some good bands/ compilations?


Past weekend, no particuliar order:

Jim Carrol Band - Catholic boy (once saw this front and center in the "Religous Music" section in a mall music store :eek: :D : I had to crawl out of the store as I was laughing so hard.)
Black Box - Dreamland
B-52's - B-52's
New Order - Low-life
Style Council - Confessions of a Pop Group
Frankie Goes to Hollywood - Welcome to the Pleasuredome
X - Under the Big Black Sun
Information Society - Hack


Saturday Night, Concert DVD's:

Placebo - Soulmates Never Die, DTS 5.1
Depeche Mode - One night in Paris, DD 5.1
Siouxie and the Banshees - Seven Year Itch, DTS 5.1

Black Sabbaths, Heaven and Hell with dio.
Rush, Moving pictures
War of the worlds
The best of Kansas
The Beatles,Please please me
80s mixed hits cd
Always more rush on standby. Regards Grassy

Vince Guaraldi - "The Charlie Brown Suite & Other Favorites"
The Beatles - "Revolver"

Chris

Sounds tasty! :D I haven't listened to Zydeco for ages and have never had a recording of this genre, always live bands. Can you (or others) recommend some good bands/ compilations?


these appear as if they would whet your appetite (there are 3 vols. available). am familiar with most the artists on these comps. and recommend those folks highly.

http://allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:lauh6ja771q0

hth!

Sounds tasty! :D I haven't listened to Zydeco for ages and have never had a recording of this genre, always live bands. Can you (or others) recommend some good bands/ compilations?


Past weekend, no particuliar order:

Jim Carrol Band - Catholic boy (once saw this front and center in the "Religous Music" section in a mall music store :eek: :D : I had to crawl out of the store as I was laughing so hard.)
Black Box - Dreamland
B-52's - B-52's
New Order - Low-life
Style Council - Confessions of a Pop Group
Frankie Goes to Hollywood - Welcome to the Pleasuredome
X - Under the Big Black Sun
Information Society - Hack


Saturday Night, Concert DVD's:

Placebo - Soulmates Never Die, DTS 5.1
Depeche Mode - One night in Paris, DD 5.1
Siouxie and the Banshees - Seven Year Itch, DTS 5.1 "All The People Who Have Died" - haven't heard that in ages - one of my all-time favorite songs. (And when in the heck are they ever gonna remaster those first three B-52 CD's, anyway?)

Black Sabbaths, Heaven and Hell with dio.
Rush, Moving pictures
War of the worlds
The best of Kansas
The Beatles,Please please me
80s mixed hits cd
Always more rush on standby. Regards GrassyHeaven and Hell - what a great, underrated hard rock album. Probably the best thing Dio ever did (yep, even better than early Rainbow, at least as a whole album goes - although "Rainbow Rising" is pretty darned good, too ).

Vince Guaraldi - "The Charlie Brown Suite & Other Favorites"
The Beatles - "Revolver"

ChrisAny time I wanna feel good I just put on one of Guaraldi's "Peanuts" soundtracks or his Greatest Hits CD. Love that catchy, percussive piano jazz. If I want something heavier I usually go with Tyner.

the jelly jam - s/t
wolfmother - s/t
toto - IV
801 - live
brand x - manifest destiny
guy clarke - live in london

Thanks for the link Citizen A, I've actually seen Queen Ida, was a fun concert in a bar setting. :D That was back in the days when I was within crawling distance from bars to home. :eek: :D


This past weekend:

Blur - The Great escape
The Presidents of the United States of America - self titled first album
Romeo Void - Warm in your Coat
Television - Marquee Moon
Violent Femmes - New Times
Police - Outlandos D'Amour
Return to Forever - Romantic Warrior
Ani Difranco - Trust (concert DVD, DD5.1)
Oingo Boingo - Farewell (concert DVD, DD5.1)

Over the weekend.

Mighty Sam McClain- Amazing and all his cd's sound awsome.

Give it up to love (XRCD JVC)
Sledghammer soul& down home blues (my fav)

The Police

lyle lovett -Live in Texas
Pontiac

Rush- Any cd.
Also R30 DVD

I haven't got any new discs in a couple weeks or so, but I'm still listening. Recently:

Roxy Music - 1st 4 CDs
Triumvirat - "Illusion on a Double Dimple" and "Spartacus"
David Bowie - Outside
Savoy Brown - Outside Looking In
Billy Cobham - Crosswinds
B52's - s/t
Cake - Motorcade of Generosity
Talking Heads - More Songs About Buildings and Food (dualdisc)
Pink Floyd - Atom Heart Mother
David Gilmour - On an Island
Toy Matinee - s/t


larry

"Been....how much fun it's been....how much fun it's been...."

For some reason it seems The Police are on people's minds - the last stuff I listened to also was their complete boxed set. If you guys are really into them, check it out for all the non-album track B-sides. Some of them are actually as good as or better than some of their album stuff.

Shinedown - Leave a Whisper
Keith Urban - Be Here
INXS - Switch

Currently enjoying Sasha and Digweed's "Renaissance" 10th aniv. remastered edition.

I listened to "10,000 Days", the new Tool CD last night. It's Tool, no mistaking. :) Actually the stereoscopic lenses on the CD case and "3D artwork" are worth the $10 alone.

larry

Remaster of Talking Heads "Speaking in Tongues." Absolutely amazing sonic clarity, even in my car. Can't wait to hear the flip side DVD-A in 5.1 (waiting for the HT to be done next week with new speakers and audio equipment). The engineering was done, in part, by Jerry Harrison rather than someone without a direct connection to the original music, and it shows.

I'll now spring for "Remain in Light," "Fear of Music," "Little Creatures" and "Naked." I can live without the other albums so am not opting for The Brick (which is the box containing all of the reissues).

I listened to "10,000 Days", the new Tool CD last night. It's Tool, no mistaking. :) Actually the stereoscopic lenses on the CD case and "3D artwork" are worth the $10 alone.

larry

Larry, I started another thread on the Tool CD since there seem to be so many prog rockers on the board. Like Lateralus, this one takes some getting used to. But already I prefer it to Lateralus. Excellent stuff, and yeah, the coolest CD case in the history of CD cases.

In a totally different direction I'm loving "Hotel Costes Vol 3". I've always been interested in chill out/lounge as an idea, but have never heard any of it that was more than a dull novelty. Hotel Costes series is everything I always thought the genre could be. Gorgeous, genius, incredible, classy, elegant, trippy - absolutely addicting.

Hotel Costes is actually a top hotel in Paris where people like the Stones, Madonna, Sting, Bruce Willis, Arnold and many top celebrities go to party down. The DJ for the actual Hotel Costes is the one that mixes up this series. And it's an absolute revelation. Plus the best news is that there are another 9 discs in the series to pick up. I'll be all over them (though getting them used on Amazon looks like the way to go).

Larry, I started another thread on the Tool CD since there seem to be so many prog rockers on the board. I missed that one completely....

larry

Here's some discs I've been spinning a lot this week:

The Charlatans: Simpatico
Pearl Jam: Pearl Jam
Elvis Presley: 2nd To None
Snow Patrol: Eyes Open
The Vines: Vision Valley

here is whats in my changer at the moment:

Jeff Beck - Blow by blow SACD, a classic
Dane Cook - Retaliation CD, very funny comedy
NIN - Pretty Hate Machine CD, old school industrial
KORN - See you on the other side (the deluxe cd artwork is amazing), i like this cd alot, very industrial sounds
Bad Religion - The empire strikes first CD, real punk rock with Greg Gaffin again

here is whats in my changer at the moment:

Jeff Beck - Blow by blow SACD, a classic
Dane Cook - Retaliation CD, very funny comedy
NIN - Pretty Hate Machine CD, old school industrial
KORN - See you on the other side (the deluxe cd artwork is amazing), i like this cd alot, very industrial sounds
Bad Religion - The empire strikes first CD, real punk rock with Greg Gaffin again
Blow by Blow is a great sounding SACD. I have that Dane Cook CD also - Mr. Enunciation. :) However, I laugh even harder at a Dave Attell CD I have (forgot the name) - the guy is a friggin' riot. :)

larry

Pixies - Greatest
Music Monks by Seeed - totally great german reggae/hip hop group actually spelled with 3 e's.
Nora Jones - wife left in my car :)
Talking Heads DVD-A's
Vivaldi - four seasons

O.K., so I am not on the same wave-link that most on this board seem to be. But on the off chance that a few may care, I will include a selection or two from a different genre or two other than from the usual prog rock/grunge preferred here.

Jesse Cook, "Nomad"
Jesse Cook, "Live: Montreal"
Maria Zemantuaski, "Under the Lemon Tree"
Maria Zemantauski, "Seeing Red"
Jessi Colter, "Out Of The Ashes"

Cook and Zemantuaski are wonderful artists in a backwater of musical style - flamenco/nuevo-flamenco with some terrific classical guitar and fusion thrown in for variety.

Colter has resurfaced after years of mostly rearing her child, Scooter Jennings, with Wayon Jennings. Upon Waylon's death she has come back with a bang showing she has a lot in common with all those old blues artists that just got better with the patina of age in their voices. Country music with a cello can't be all wrong!

Disturbed - 10,000 Fists (Yeah I have wide tastes)
The movie soundtrack from Spirit - (I have always loved Bryan Adams)
The movie Soundtrack from Chicago - (The best movie soundtrack of all time IMHO)
Godsmack - The other Side EP (Great acoustical disc)

Gnarls Barkley

Steeleye Span - Original Masters

Devo - Q: Are We Not Men? A: We Are Devo / Devo Live

Brian Eno - Here Come the Warm Jets
Larry Coryell - Offering
Larry Coryell - Tricycles
Larry Coryell, Tom Coster, Steve Smith - Cause and Effect
Morhpine - Good


larry

Larry,

I'm also a Larry Coryell fan. I have Tricycles and think it's guite good. How do the other two compare?

Prince - 3121. Easily his most consistently spiritual album to date. Scores of direct references from Holy Scripture. Prince had always had a frustrating mix of the sacred and the profane, but on his latest album, it's almost all sacred with no profane (he even comically stops short of an obvious profanity, saying instead: "uh-oh!").

Larry,

I'm also a Larry Coryell fan. I have Tricycles and think it's guite good. How do the other two compare? I really like Tricycles and it's extemely well recorded to boot. "Offering" is a much earlier work. The style is more "of that period" and the recording is so-so. I have another early recording which I like better but forget the name. "Cause and Effect" is very good and is well recorded, more "harder" than Tricycles and the other musicians are standouts in there own right. "Spaces Revisted" is also very good as is the SACD "The Coryells". And there's the 11th House stuff and some early Return to Forever...

larry

I have had the Red Hot Chili Peppers new double CD "Stadium Arcadium" at home in the high end system, in the car, and in the headset while working out ever since it was realeased, and still can't hear it enough. Not real 'new' sounding from their old style, but so much more polished and better quality it is amazing. They spent the time between CD's practicing their music and it has paid off. Great CD. Excellent engineering and wonderful soundstage.

Also listening a LOT to Neil Young's "Living with War". The music is excellent and the lyrics.....well, I suppose it depends upon your politics. YMMV.

I really like Tricycles and it's extemely well recorded to boot. "Offering" is a much earlier work. The style is more "of that period" and the recording is so-so. I have another early recording which I like better but forget the name. "Cause and Effect" is very good and is well recorded, more "harder" than Tricycles and the other musicians are standouts in there own right. "Spaces Revisted" is also very good as is the SACD "The Coryells". And there's the 11th House stuff and some early Return to Forever...

larryI don't know if it's available, but "Splendid" by Coryell and Philip Catherine is a real good one, also.

Cake - Comfort Eagle
Captain Beefheart - Safe as Milk
Frank Zappa - Roxy and Elsewhere
Buggles - Age of Plastic
Gentle Giant - Aquiring the Taste
John Schofield - Still Warm
Crack the Sky - s/t

larry

New Order - Republic
Sundays - Reading, Writing, Arithmetic
REM - Murmur, Monster, Out of Time, AFTP
Kenny Burrell - Midnight Blue
Sonny Rollins - Saxophone Colossus
Pat Metheny - Travels, Speaking of Now, PMG
Stereolab - Dots and Loops, ETK
Pixies - Doolittle
Television - Television