"Another Side of Bob Dylan" Sounding Better Than Ever
Bob Dylan cracks himself up performing some of these songs. Producer Tom Wilson must have gotten it, but recording engineers Roy Halee and Fred Catero might have been ready to stop the tape. After all, this was staid, but still pre-corporate Columbia Records. It was “straight” and at that point Halee was more experienced recording Percy Faith than Bob.
Cluster & Eno: Eno Seeks Country Krautrock Comfort
Brian Eno's early influences include John Cage, Steve Reich and other minimalists. He was more art than rocker. In 1971 when he joined forces with Bryan Ferry's Roxy Music he was more a knob twiddler than a musician.
Is "The Soft Parade" Too Soft?
The fourth Doors album was not particularly well-received when first issued in 1969, though it still managed to reach the Top Ten and "Touch Me" was a hit single. The inclusion of horns and strings was for many a deal breaker, but what really made more pull back was the sense of a less than fully integrated ensemble appearing to come apart at the seams.
How Low Can You Go? Pro-Ject's $299 Essential Turntable
Pro-Ject's $299 Essential costs 25% less than the recently reviewed Carbon. So what don't you get for your minus $100?
What Does Stylus Wear Look Like?
When it seemed as if my Lyra Titani had at least 1000 hours on it I figured it was time for a re-tip. I took a USB digital microscope image and posted it on this site. I thought it showed some wear but before sending the cartridge back to Lyra, I sent it to my friend Wally, who produced much better and more definitive images using an optical set-up.
Mastering Engineer Jon Astley on The Who 14 LP Box Set Coming From MCA
UMG/MCA recently announced a new 14 LP The Who studio recordings box set featuring 11 titles (Tommy and Quadrophenia were double LPs). The set includes all original artwork, posters, inserts and "more." The set was mastered by "... Jon Astley and Miles Showell at Close to the Edge and Metropolis Studios." Close to the Edge is an all digital facility that does high resolution digital and SACD mastering, while Metropolis is a highly regarded, veteran UK cutting facility.
Have We Opened a Digital Can of Worms?
Have we opened a digital can of worms recommending using a USB microscope to set SRA (Stylus Rake Angle)? One website claims that the recommendation "takes us back to the dark ages" of turntable set up. Lyra's Jonathan Carr sent me an email telling me of an exchange with a Kleos owner that has created major issues.
When In New Orleans, It's Euclid Records!
I'm in New Orleans this weekend at the Annual National Cardigan Welsh Corgi Board Meeting. No, I don't show dogs but my wife does and she's on the board so like a good hubby I tagged along.
Sade's 80's Aural Aphrodisiac
When Diamond Life burst onto the scene in 1984/1985 it provided a calm oasis. This was not post-punk or techno-pop. This was an album of lush and lovely music with smooth jazz moods and world beat underpinnings. Superficially cool, the Latin tempos trapped in the grooves simmered with a passion just waiting to explode.
Beatles Vinyl Remastered, Finally Coming, Shipping Mid-November
After a delay of a few years, due to the meticulousness of all involved, The Beatles catalog will finally be reissued in the format in which it's meant to be heard and has always sounded best: vinyl.
When Jazz Giants Roamed The Earth!
Imagine a hard bop jam session featuring three tenor sax greats: Johnny Griffin, Hank Mobley and John Coltrane. Add Lee Morgan on trumpet and propel them with the rhythm section of Wynton Kelly on piano, Paul Chambers on bas and Art Blakey on drums.
Minus K's David Platus Takes the Stand On Behalf of His "Negative Stiffness" Isolation Technology
While effective isolation from both air and ground borne vibrational energy is important throughout the audio playback chain, it is essential for vinyl playback. It can be built into a turntable in the form of spring or "O" ring suspensions but current thinking downplays that in favor of separate isolation stands rather than incorporating it into the turntable itself.
No, Your Midrange Driver Is Not Blown! That's What's Left of Bob's Voice
Does it matter that the rattle and phlegm in Bob Dylan's voice makes it sound as if your midrange driver has blown? No. Hell no. In fact, despite the ragged vocals and 50 years since his debut, this is Dylan's best album in quite some time.
The Surprising Audreal LP-2 Phono Preamplifier
Back in 2005 I reviewed what was then the $1500 Jasmine LP-2 MM/MC phono preamplier. It was a two box unit with an umbilical between the power supply and the signal path circuitry. The 70dB gain MC input was commendably quiet and the unit sounded pretty good but I couldn't justify the performance for the price.
Music Hall MMF-7.1 Turntable With Cartridge Plus Set-Up Tools and Vinyl From Music Direct Sweepstakes
Register to win a Music Hall MMF-7.1 Turntable With Cartridge Plus Set-Up Tools and Vinyl From Music Direct (MSRP $1,700) we are giving away.
Source AnalogPlanet
