I agree 100% best sounding DVD,best mix by far too. The music is great too I think. I love that DVD-AUDIO. Heres my question? Kevin Gilbert I know died but I don't know how or of what? Does anyone know? The DVD is beautiful thats all I know. J.H.
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Toy Matinee DTS/DVD-A
The album Toy Matinee by the band Toy Matinee (their only album from 1990) is the best DVD-A/DTS audio disc I've heard. If anybody likes proggish rock (I say proggish, because it's more rock than prog) they should check this out. They had two low-chart appearances from the album, "Last Plane Out" and "The Ballad of Jenny Ledge" (the latter of which everyone thinks is Steely Dan).
The two main guys in the group were Kevin Gilbert and Patrick Leonard. Gilbert (who died in 1996 at the age of 29) was Sheryl Crow's boyfriend, and he took her along to his weekly jam session (the Tuesday Night Music Club) and that's how her debut album came about when all those guys at the jam session wrote all of her music for her. Patrick Leonard was in a group called Trillion in the 70s, and later produced most of Madonna's big hit albums.
Check out Toy Matinee!
SV
The two main guys in the group were Kevin Gilbert and Patrick Leonard. Gilbert (who died in 1996 at the age of 29) was Sheryl Crow's boyfriend, and he took her along to his weekly jam session (the Tuesday Night Music Club) and that's how her debut album came about when all those guys at the jam session wrote all of her music for her. Patrick Leonard was in a group called Trillion in the 70s, and later produced most of Madonna's big hit albums.
Check out Toy Matinee!
SV
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I didn't dig it... I gave it away to a HT buddy after listening to it a couple of times. Just wasn't my cup of tea. My HT buddy doesn't listen to it either. :-(
Great album! They really did have a unique sound, and I listen to this fairly often (though it does lose steam by the end). However, I have the the CD only, and it is so well engineered that it has become one of my reference discs for testing sound quality. The reason I hesitate to get the multi-channel is that I've been burned recently with multi-channel mixes of CDs with great recording quality. I found the mix on Peter Gabriel's "Up" SACD to be worse than the stereo CD, and I rarely listen to it. Same with REM's "Automatic for the People", but to a lesser extent. That said, there are some examples of great recordings that are taken to the next level in hi-rez (Porcupine Tree and Dark Side of the Moon for example).
Chris
Chris
Dont hesitate this is the best multi channel mix ever! Its the best DVD-AUDIO out there trust me. J.H.
Well I agree that it is a very fine album and unique in its self. It is a wonderful recording but I don't think it is THE BEST multichannel recording. I bought this about 2 1/2 years ago and it still sounds fresh today. I would say its's up there thogh.
There are conflicting reports as to what he died from. It was either drug related or accidental suicide.
You can read the story that made the newspapers here:
http://www.thedebster.com/gilbert/secrets.html
The guy who finished the mixing of Gilbert's "The Shaming of the True" album said that he was looking forward to doing the 5.1 mix of it, so I hope it comes true.
I've heard a LOT of DTS/5.1 discs, and the reason that I put the Toy Matinee one a little on top of most of them, is because it sounds like they were actually making an effort to utlize all the channels...the instrumentation was grouped in an interesting way, the panning was done in an interesting way.
A lot of the discs I've heard, the surrounds aren't discrete, L and R are duplicated, instruments are grouped together so you might as well just listen to the stereo mix...hope that makes sense.
Whoever mixed Toy Matinee had a good ear for where to direct the sounds. The dynamic range is great, the clarity is great...all in all it's my audio show-off disc.
And...if you're a Kevin Gilbert fan, check out his solo album Thud. (try to find the version that comes with the CD single attached with his version of Zep's "Kashmir"
Shaming of the True (his rock-opera about the music biz) is pretty darned good too. There is another CD called Kaviar that he was on, but it's almost a 180 from most of his music. It's really really dark, almost Goth rock.
Anyhoo...
SV
You can read the story that made the newspapers here:
http://www.thedebster.com/gilbert/secrets.html
The guy who finished the mixing of Gilbert's "The Shaming of the True" album said that he was looking forward to doing the 5.1 mix of it, so I hope it comes true.
I've heard a LOT of DTS/5.1 discs, and the reason that I put the Toy Matinee one a little on top of most of them, is because it sounds like they were actually making an effort to utlize all the channels...the instrumentation was grouped in an interesting way, the panning was done in an interesting way.
A lot of the discs I've heard, the surrounds aren't discrete, L and R are duplicated, instruments are grouped together so you might as well just listen to the stereo mix...hope that makes sense.
Whoever mixed Toy Matinee had a good ear for where to direct the sounds. The dynamic range is great, the clarity is great...all in all it's my audio show-off disc.
And...if you're a Kevin Gilbert fan, check out his solo album Thud. (try to find the version that comes with the CD single attached with his version of Zep's "Kashmir"
Shaming of the True (his rock-opera about the music biz) is pretty darned good too. There is another CD called Kaviar that he was on, but it's almost a 180 from most of his music. It's really really dark, almost Goth rock.
Anyhoo...
SV
Quote:
Quick hijack...sorry.
Chris,
You are the first I've heard from that hates the UP mix, especially compared to the stereo one. On my system, UP is the best hirez mch mix I own (and I own a boatload). I listen to it very often and it conveys PG's ideas perfectly. He wrote the album with 5.1 in mind. It is my perfect 10, with all the incredible mix of compression AND dynamics, often times in the same song. Sorry you don't like it.
| Originally Posted by ChrisDixon Great album! They really did have a unique sound, and I listen to this fairly often (though it does lose steam by the end). However, I have the the CD only, and it is so well engineered that it has become one of my reference discs for testing sound quality. The reason I hesitate to get the multi-channel is that I've been burned recently with multi-channel mixes of CDs with great recording quality. I found the mix on Peter Gabriel's "Up" SACD to be worse than the stereo CD, and I rarely listen to it. Same with REM's "Automatic for the People", but to a lesser extent. That said, there are some examples of great recordings that are taken to the next level in hi-rez (Porcupine Tree and Dark Side of the Moon for example). Chris |
Chris,
You are the first I've heard from that hates the UP mix, especially compared to the stereo one. On my system, UP is the best hirez mch mix I own (and I own a boatload). I listen to it very often and it conveys PG's ideas perfectly. He wrote the album with 5.1 in mind. It is my perfect 10, with all the incredible mix of compression AND dynamics, often times in the same song. Sorry you don't like it.
I wouldn't say that I hate it, just that some of my favorite moments on the CD just don't seem as natural on the SACD. There is an immediacy and intensity in Growing Up that doesn't work as well in the multi-channel mix. Also, the opening guitar theme of No Way Out is a bit fuzzier and less-defined. I also think the "ultra low" bass on Sky Blue is tighter on the CD. On the plus side, I do like the enveloping effect of the "wall of sound" moments like Signal to Noise.
Chris
Chris
Quote:
Rather than further hijack (my bad) I'll PM you. Interested in what your equipment is. Thx,
Ted
| Originally Posted by ChrisDixon I wouldn't say that I hate it, just that some of my favorite moments on the CD just don't seem as natural on the SACD. There is an immediacy and intensity in Growing Up that doesn't work as well in the multi-channel mix. Also, the opening guitar theme of No Way Out is a bit fuzzier and less-defined. I also think the "ultra low" bass on Sky Blue is tighter on the CD. On the plus side, I do like the enveloping effect of the "wall of sound" moments like Signal to Noise. Chris |
Ted
Quote:
SV,
Thanks for that! I bought this about 18 months ago and never listened to it. For a year and a half, I would pass it up EVERY time for something else. I don't know what I was thinking, but it seems that when I bought it, I listened to a track or two and didn't care for it. Well, I must have been in a ****** mood that day.
What a fantastic album. I'm utterly beside myself at how much I dig this disc.
And I tend to agree with J.H. in that this is one of the best mixes I've ever heard. Certainly the best I've heard of Elliot Scheiner's work.
A special disc indeed!
Thanks again you guys for the heads-up.
| Originally Posted by Spassvogel42 The album Toy Matinee by the band Toy Matinee (their only album from 1990) is the best DVD-A/DTS audio disc I've heard. SV |
Thanks for that! I bought this about 18 months ago and never listened to it. For a year and a half, I would pass it up EVERY time for something else. I don't know what I was thinking, but it seems that when I bought it, I listened to a track or two and didn't care for it. Well, I must have been in a ****** mood that day.
What a fantastic album. I'm utterly beside myself at how much I dig this disc.
And I tend to agree with J.H. in that this is one of the best mixes I've ever heard. Certainly the best I've heard of Elliot Scheiner's work.
A special disc indeed!
Thanks again you guys for the heads-up.
Quote:
The coroners report in that article is correct. Some of the details seem off (place where he was found, etc.) But I worked with him back them, and he is sorely missed... I actually got to listen to Toy Matinee with him in my car one night 
If he were still here, I think he would be sounding a lot like Porcupine Tree.. with a little more humor.
| Originally Posted by Spassvogel42 There are conflicting reports as to what he died from. It was either drug related or accidental suicide. You can read the story that made the newspapers here: http://www.thedebster.com/gilbert/secrets.html Anyhoo... SV |
If he were still here, I think he would be sounding a lot like Porcupine Tree.. with a little more humor.Since my last comments a few hours ago, I've listened to the disc again and looked around a bit.
I can't remember seeing an album on amazon that had a perfect five stars from as many as 44 reviewers.
I'm glad I finally "got" this. I'm sad Toy Matinee is no more.
I can't remember seeing an album on amazon that had a perfect five stars from as many as 44 reviewers.
I'm glad I finally "got" this. I'm sad Toy Matinee is no more.
There are some serious big-time fans of Kevin Gilbert out there. There's a 17 CD compilation that is traded among fans of unreleased and live material. In addition to Toy Matinee and his solo album Thud, his estate has released 4 discs: Thud: Live At The Troubadour, The Shaming of the True (a must-purchase, IMO), Kaviar Sessions (the dark rock I referred to previously) and a compilation of his late 80s/early 90s prog-band Giraffe.
If you can find it, there's also a Toy Matinee Live @ The Roxy floating around that actually features Sheryl Crow on keyboards and bg vocals.
If anyone wants more information, PM me off-board.
SV
If you can find it, there's also a Toy Matinee Live @ The Roxy floating around that actually features Sheryl Crow on keyboards and bg vocals.
If anyone wants more information, PM me off-board.
SV
I had never heard of this group, that album, Kevin Gilbert or of course how Kevin Gilbert died. I can't imagine people kill themselves that way but I hope that article I read wasn't implying Sheryl Crow is suspected by some of being involved. Were the comments about her just meaning he was disappointed in her sellout to make a mainstream big selling album he didn't like? Based on the incredible reviews, and my recent initiation into DVD-Audio, I am going to try to find the Toy Matinee DVD-A.
Chris
Chris
I have both the CD and the DVD-Audio versions of this disc. Without a doubt, as much as the surround mix is fun, the CD mix and quality blow the DVD-A away. If I remember correctly, Sound and Vision gave it the same review. If you can find the re-release of the CD version in the digipak, by all means buy it.
That's the one that I have (SE digipak). It's a real shame that they were able to make a CD sound this good in the early 90s, and they've only gone backwards since then. There's only the consumer to blame too because now it's all about sounding loud on a portable device.
Chris
Chris
Really, the 24/96 or 24/192 stereo layer on the DVD-A sounds worse than the redbook? Why? Compressed, noisy, what?
Quote:
I'd also recommend trying to get your hands on Giraffe doing pretty much all of "The Lamb Lies Down On Broadway" at Progfest '94. It's a two channel mix but is one of the best sounding live recordings I've ever heard, period.
| Originally Posted by Spassvogel42 And...if you're a Kevin Gilbert fan, check out his solo album Thud. (try to find the version that comes with the CD single attached with his version of Zep's "Kashmir" Shaming of the True (his rock-opera about the music biz) is pretty darned good too. There is another CD called Kaviar that he was on, but it's almost a 180 from most of his music. It's really really dark, almost Goth rock. |
Yup, there's a video floating around the net too. They even did the costume changes that Genesis (with Peter Gabriel as the lead singer) did at the time. It's crazy-good.
The Toy Matinee Special Edition (the digipack one referred to above) was produced in the last couple years, and was remastered with bonus tracks. It does sound great, but I still give the edge to the DTS because of the sonic perfection of the channel mix.
SV
The Toy Matinee Special Edition (the digipack one referred to above) was produced in the last couple years, and was remastered with bonus tracks. It does sound great, but I still give the edge to the DTS because of the sonic perfection of the channel mix.
SV
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