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Best song for immediate impact when presenting or testing?

I, as most of you, have my regular tunes that I play or listen to when trying out a new system or playing music for friends. My current starter is 'Feels like Rain' by Aaron Neville. It engages me immediately because I love it so, but it is also very well recorded and has a bass voice doing backup which in the right system has a real visceral impact.

I was at an Audio shop recently, listening to my standards, and wanted to show the sales consultant a piece that he might not have heard. I played 'Golden Rust' off the Miles Gurtu album. After about 30 seconds, he pulled out his device and added the song to his favorites. I asked why did he add so quickly, and he said that the opening electronica had a three dimensional stereophonic quality that made a remarkable impression right off the bat. I paraphrase lightly; that was his comment.

What pieces do you play of any genre that have an immediate impact, especially for people listening to a good system for the first time?
128x128cmjones
douglas_schroeder
3,281 posts
 
Current demo list is 739 selections.

steve_zettel
39 posts
 
F.K.A Twigs, self-titled EP, side 2
Janelle Monae, Dirty Computer, side 1 LP 1
Marion Hill, Act One (expanded 2 LP set), side C
Goldfrapp, Silver Eye, the whole damn thing
Noisia, Split The Atom, title track
G.O.L. The Sensation Of Tone, Angelica In Delerium
Bassnectar, Reflective Part 1 and 2, side 1
The Dazz Band, Let It Whip
Commodores, self-titled, Brick House

That should do it for starters. . . 

Steve
audioman58's avatar
audioman58
4,185 posts
 
Sleep walk ,is a classic , for hard rock peace in Mississippi -Jimi H
Led Zep - communication Breakdown , or Jeff Becks Classic -
because we ended as lovers
racedoc
80 posts
 
Hhmmm...

if I really want to test the quality of a sound system in respect
of spatiality and impact to new listeners my choices are:

Roger Waters - The ballad of Bill Hubbard (Amused to death)
=> the more on the left side the radio speaker is, the better the sound system
Malia - Don´t explain (Black orchid)
=> the vibraphon is behind (!!!) the listener
Eurythmics - I love you like a ball and chain (Be yourself tonight)
=> close to the end of the song the voices are marching around you
Fever Ray - Keep the streets empty for me (Fever ray)
=> the intro sound dots are moving from down left to higher right
Yello - Takla makan (Touch Yello)
=> the soundscape of a virtual movie plot can make people stunned

brianlucey's avatar
brianlucey
161 posts
 
Best to have a minimum of 3 ref tracks for your listening tests.  I use 12.  You are not looking for a target song, but a fence collection.  You want to hear the edges.

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