Years ago as a dealer I would tell people to bring their favorite cd's so they can tell what they are hearing, then I would show them mine.I heard so much good stuff I'd never heard before, and I wanted it all. I made a list as I heard it and went to Audiogon or ebay to get it,I was averaging as many as 100 to 200 cd's a month. Many were hard to get and I've paid as much or more than $50 for a CD on top of having a substantial collection of MFSL and Audiophile masters.
One of my all time emotion favorites for statement systems is Leonard Cohen's Hallelujah, that will grab you in a way that will have you crying like a baby. For sheer raw dynamics that builds from soft to hardcore guitars going into a progressively harder drum increase that is mind blowing in a monster system. The dynamics show separation and sound stage even though drums, guitar, and vocals are all out at a 100% full tilt. This might sound crazy, but Men at work is recorded very well and they have a few songs that are incredibly detailed. The band Icehouse has a harder to find CD called Masterfiles, it's mastered recordings, I paid $20.00 for it used but I use songs on it for demo. I also used their Great Southern Land, truly great dynamics.
One of my all time emotion favorites for statement systems is Leonard Cohen's Hallelujah, that will grab you in a way that will have you crying like a baby. For sheer raw dynamics that builds from soft to hardcore guitars going into a progressively harder drum increase that is mind blowing in a monster system. The dynamics show separation and sound stage even though drums, guitar, and vocals are all out at a 100% full tilt. This might sound crazy, but Men at work is recorded very well and they have a few songs that are incredibly detailed. The band Icehouse has a harder to find CD called Masterfiles, it's mastered recordings, I paid $20.00 for it used but I use songs on it for demo. I also used their Great Southern Land, truly great dynamics.