Hello all!
Haven't posted in a while, but happy to see the "usual suspects" as well as some new posters contributing to this great thread...I hope everyone is safe and well.
Tonight, looking to listen to something on the more mellow side, I decided to revisit David Gray's "White Ladder" album (streamed from Tidal, then from my own CD ripped to my Bluesound Vault). While Gray's music can be lumped into the "Mom Rock/Pop" category, I always felt his song writing and musicality were way better than other performers (i.e. singers) of the genre. Listening to this album tonight, I couldn't help but feel that I was listening to something that should be considered as reference-quality material.
For whatever reason, I never realized how ell recorded this album is: the backgrounds are dead quiet, which really helps heighten the moody tone of the songs as well as allow Gray's vocals to be presented with some real air to them. The musical performance is excellent as well...piano being Gray's primary instrument, his playing shines here as well as multi-layered strings and percussion giving you a sense of how complex the music is, yet presented in such an easy, soothing way. But, most of all, many of the tracks on "White Ladder" have electronic components to them, primarily drum/beat machines. This is what surprised and captivated me the most...low, deep bass with real slam and snap to the timing. My 3.5's conveyed this with astonishing authority...bass that could be felt and heard, but never without a sense of musicality.
Again, I don't know exactly why this album, which I have always loved and have known well, sounded so different (in a very good way!) to me tonight. I chalk it up to finally having that second D240 MKII ARC amp in my system and running them bridged-mono...480 watts/channel is a lot of watts. But more importantly, I guess I'm just in a very comfortable place where the music just sounds so good coming out of my system, no matter what I select to play.
Anyway...if you haven't heard the album, I recommend giving it a listen. And if you have, I suggest listening to it again with an ear to its musicality and complexity. You may be pleasantly surprised to find a new reference-quality recording!
Thanks for reading and contributing to this forum...I truly learn so much from you all. Again, I hope you and yours are all staying safe and doing well...Take care!
Arvin
