@blindjim - the very notion of a "list" of recommended albums is bound to evoke reactions from "what, that again!" to "why didn't they include X?"
Your question about researching the story behind the record is an interesting one- I discover music all kinds of ways, from reading and research, to recommendations, to record "surfing" (i.e., finding a singer or musician on one album and then researching that artist's discography). Some of the albums on that particular list are familiar to me. The one from the list I mentioned above was actually the subject of a fairly detailed article I published: [url]http://thevinylpress.com/congos-heart-congos/[/url]. It is a very worthwhile record musically.
I'm usually put-off by "audiophile" records because the characterization, to me, usually means great sonics and less interesting music.
I don't read any of the hi-fi mags anymore. As I recall, What Hi-Fi is a British mag that does fairly straightforward reviews of gear with "pros" and "cons"--and an emphasis on equipment available in the UK.
Your question about researching the story behind the record is an interesting one- I discover music all kinds of ways, from reading and research, to recommendations, to record "surfing" (i.e., finding a singer or musician on one album and then researching that artist's discography). Some of the albums on that particular list are familiar to me. The one from the list I mentioned above was actually the subject of a fairly detailed article I published: [url]http://thevinylpress.com/congos-heart-congos/[/url]. It is a very worthwhile record musically.
I'm usually put-off by "audiophile" records because the characterization, to me, usually means great sonics and less interesting music.
I don't read any of the hi-fi mags anymore. As I recall, What Hi-Fi is a British mag that does fairly straightforward reviews of gear with "pros" and "cons"--and an emphasis on equipment available in the UK.