List or discuss your favorite music

Here's a few of my favorites: Pat Metheny - standouts are "First Circle" (wonderful sense of composition and performance aesthetic, but only average sound quality) and "Secret Story" (widely eclectic mix of styles, very detailed production). Liquid Tension Experiment - "Vol. 1" & "Vol. 2" - Progressive rock isn't dead...it just snuck behind Metal, choke-slammed it and stole it's wallet when it wasn't looking. Seriously, though, some of the most brilliant keyboard work from Jordan Rudess, loud, fast and cool compositions. Manic drum work from Mark Portnoy...best double bass work I've ever heard. Anyone who was into early Genesis, Gentle Giant, ELP or King Crimson (and then got into Metallica, Blue Murder or Queensryche) has gotta hear these two instrumental discs. Diana Krall - "When I Look in Your Eyes" - wonderful, understated and elegant - quiet cool of Nat "King" Cole, gorgeous voice, immaculate, detailed production. Keith Jarrett - "Hourglass/Staircase" - I'm not sure of the whole title, but originally a double record album. Solo studio piano, more contemplative than similar live work (i.e., Koln Concert) of same period. Incredible piano timbre...I think I read once it was Manfred Eicher's personal rosewood Steinway on this record. Van Der Graff Generator - "Pawn Hearts" - '70's progressive without the "fairy dust, alien-world" lyrics. Instead, you have the very dark ruminations of bandleader/singer/guitarist Peter Hammill seemingly slowly going insane. You want angst? You want desperation? You want driven existentialist rants? NIN seems childish and obvious by comparison. Vladimir Ashkenazy - "Complete Chopin Etudes" - There may be cleaner recordings of the Etudes, but one of my personal faves. Tilson Thomas conducting Rachmaninov 2nd Piano Concerto - more romantic than Marvin Gaye or Luther Vandross. And good recent recording, decent production aesthetic. Bill Bruford's Earthworks - "Earthworks" - their first release. In which Bill proves you can jam in 15/16 and still stay in a nice hotel. Seriously, though, wonderful blend of electronic percussion, acoustic percussion, traditional jazz small ensemble and way cool modern composition. Lyle Mays - "Lyle Mays" - I think Mays is good candidate to pick up the mantle of our dearly missed Bill Evans. Very sensitive used of electronic keyboard orchestration, great tunes. King Crimson - "Discipline" and "Beat" - hard to describe...the harder-edged incarnation of the '80s of this long-lived band. "Larks' Tongues in Aspic", "Red" and "USA" are also watershed releases from Crimso. Barber's Adagio - I have a recent release which contains every authorized version of this wonderful work (for string ensemble, pipe organ, choir) as well as more innovative versions...every one is a gem. I have hundreds more I could list...but this post is too long as it is. Sorry about that.

Timwat, Man! What a music lover! I will have to re read this a few times to take it all in. I have Pat Metheny, Genesis, Gentle giant, King Crimson, Nat King Cole, Diana Krall, and some of Keith Jerrett (If only Jerrett wouldn't HUM along with his playing!) As for Bill Evans, I MUST be among his biggest fans. As for the remainder, I will have to look into some of this material and discover what I have been missing. But as stated in King Crimson's "Discipline," "The more I look at it, the more I like it!"

To elaborate: I mentioned, these new CD's, that i enjoyed, and couldn't but to notice, exeptional sonic quality about them. The same way, i was somewhat disapointed,(about the sound) about another great compilation of work; "Sacred Treasures II" choral masterworks from the sistine chapel. And questioned "need" for "absolutely" neutral sound from your "gear". Of course, the choral recorded in a "live" chapel, will result in somewhat "forward" sound "comming at you". I prefer listening, classical and jazz, on the LP records.However, i find myself enjoying CD's, more often. Lately!

As my posting says, "why you love them. Sonic excellence, musical and emotional content, or maybe just fun and memories." And, you answered, that lately, is was more often on CD. I guess that is the sonic excellence that I ask to be reported on. I only wish I had your luck, it simply does not work out that way on my system, and believe me I have tried everything. Anyway, this posting is about music, we already have over 100 postings on the format discussion, and I for one am pleased to be reading about all this interesting music!

Albertporter - here's a few more: Thomas Dolby - "The Flat Earth" - We know him from the novelty hit "Blinded Me with Science", but in that whole new wave mileu he was actually a good idiosyncratic composer. This, his second release, demonstrates that. Very good songs, very good production (even for the '80s!) And one of the first prominent uses of piezoelectric pickups on an electric bass to capture a very acoustic, liquid bass guitar timbre. Christopher Parkening - "Simple Gifts" - Arguably, one of the three best classical guitarists alive (IMHO, the others are Paco De Lucia, John Williams, Segovia passed away right?) Any of his solo work like the referenced title is stunning. Indigo Girls - "Swamp Ophelia" - some revealing close-mike guitar work. If you're into hearing fret articulation and string buzz, this one sometimes sounds like you're 12 inches away from the pick. Could use a little more ambience, but they never called me to their recording sessions :) Kiri Te Kanawa - "Ave Maria" - the REAL diva. Was the soprano at Princess Diana's wedding, (don't hold that against her) this collection of sacred songs (Bach, Mozart, Handel, Gounod, et. al.) is magnificent. Remember that old joke, "I listened to Black Sabbath at 78RPM and saw God"? Well, crank your system to full volume with this and you really will. Robert Fripp - "Pie Jesu" & "A Blessing of Tears" - Two of his Soundscapes (Frippertronics updated for the new millenium) releases, very emotive and poignant - composed upon the death of his mother. The cold, intellectual brainiac tin man of King Crimson gets a heart, and gives us musical insight into it all. P.M. Dawn - "Jesus Wept" - Fascinating hip-hop record. NOT your typical '89 Integra foisting 40hz at 120 DB on you at a Main Street stoplight. Intelligent, thoughtful ponderings on life and all that, provocative use of sampling. Very tasty...and I'm not a Run DMC kinda guy by any stretch. Joe Jackson - "Body and Soul" - From 1984, possibly his greatest opus, even considering his current foray into symphonic composition. Recorded in a big, reverberent Masonic Lodge normally used by Vanguard Studios for classical recordings. Two Neumann M-50 mikes were used 15 ft. away from the full band (horn section included) in this stone-and-wood room for an amazing, explosive mix. You won't be sorry with this one. Pat Metheny's "Imaginary Day" (if you don't already have) isn't his strongest compositional work, but some very surprising and interesting timbre and orchestration. I've found this catches some weaker loudspeakers with their pants down with regard to full range, full timbre integrity. As a novelty item, if you can find an old live release by an Italian prog rock group called Area, you'll have a chance to hear their lead singer (now deceased) demonstrate his ability to sing two notes at the same time! Speaking of singing, I know what you mean about Jarrett. But I detect more histronics in his live work than in the studio..."My Song" is brilliant and he keeps his trap shut, and he's pretty reserved on "Standards Live" as well. Finally, Deutsche Gramaphone has an old digital release of Emil Gilels performing Beethoven's Moonlight and Pathetique sonatas which is breathtaking, IMHO. I could go on for days. These discussion groups advocate talking about what you know. I don't know much about audiophile equipment (that's why I'm here to learn) but I've spent more money on vinyl and CD's (well, and keyboard instruments) than I care to think about, and am finally getting some real gear to listen to it all.