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Killing Joke anyone???

So I've always been a fan of theirs, but never bought anything by them.  I finally bought a few of their CDs a few weeks ago, among them, Hosannas.  Because of time constraints, I couldn't find the time to get to my main rig, until last night.   I had an idea what I would be in for on Hosannas based on what I heard in the car.  But no, I wasn't even close. I was so far off.  The amount of sound and dynamics and energy and literally visceral impact was something I hadn't experienced before from my main rig that I thought I had experienced with other CDs.  But clearly, not like this. My eyes and my ears were at odds with each other because the equipment I was looking at, I thought, was not capable of producing that type of enormity.   It was a giant wall of music that made me feel like I was at one of their concerts, only better.  I felt like I was punched in the face at the very opening of the first track.  I sat back and took the best beating of my life because it only got better.   What a recording.  I was left open-mouthed and dumbfounded.  I'd love to hear anyone's similar experience, regardless of artist.
shtinkydog
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jji666
541 posts
 
KJ is the best.  I saw them in 1989 and they blew the doors off the Cabaret Metro in Chicago.  Seminal, really important in the industrial dance/metal movement.

Anyone who sticks their audiophile nose up in the air about KJ doesn't know music history and doesn't love to rock.  They are actually very accomplished musicians; look them up.

They have many good albums, not just a few.  Try their first two, or anything after about 1995.  That is not to say what's in-between is not good, simply that they tried a bunch of different styles and were sort of Goth for a period.  
pete23
39 posts
 
I have some of their older stuff on cassette and vinyl for years.
I also have Hosannas on weird blue vinyl and it really sounds bad, just a ton of reverb and treble/gain cut. I figured it was intentional. Maybe the CD is better or I got a bad pressing but yeah, I’ve had a few people check it out and grungy would be the word. It looks really good though. But always nice to find something new. Be sure and check out the one they did with Grohl (Killing Joke 2003) as it has a few really good cuts. It reminded me of their earlier stuff and packed quite a punch.
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jji666
541 posts
 
Be sure and check out the one they did with Grohl (Killing Joke 2003)
Agreed. This is a great album.  
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jji666
541 posts
 
in a parallel universe hi-end audio stores would use killing joke or fugazi
Actually, in this universe.  When I bought my first pair of non-Best-Buy speakers, I went to Saturday Audio Exchange, which is a Chicago audio institution (and I love their staff, all great guys). I brought a homemade CD of the music that had been driving me most crazy on my current speakers - too sibilant mostly -- and that included the Pixies, classic era Billy Idol (whose recent albums are way better than you'd expect, btw), The Smiths, and Rage Against the Machine (Renegades of Funk, I believe).  Pretty sure I had KJ's The Wait on their as well.  

All their listening rooms were being used so they put me in their main demo-system area and I cranked up the Monitor Audio silvers I ultimately bought, and I had the whole store rocking.  People were sticking their heads out of the listening room looking at me disapprovingly, but most enjoyed it.  

Anyway, it just reminded me.  Sorry for the digression.
shtinkydog OP
701 posts
 
Did you get that, Psag???
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