Ear Candy: Most startling recordings.

Big Star - #1 Record/Radio City

Both of these are excellent records in their own right. They were packaged together on one CD, which I believe is still in print and constititutes, in my opinion, an embarrassment of riches. Weird, melodic, whimsical, poignant, and sonically beautiful, this record continues to delight and amaze me every time I play it. Although Big Star is often credited with founding power pop, I find that their catalog is impossible to categorize. Their third and final studio album, Sister Lovers, is also startling.

Soundtrack to Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon (try tracks 4 and 9). Amazing stuff.
John.

I just recently heard Trent Reznor's remix of Curve's 'Missing Link'. I am guessing some phase alterations were implemented because it sounds like there is a third and fourth speaker 15' to either side of you. The sound is not encompassing per se; there is a large spatial break between the simultaneously occurring sounds. Because of my musical tastes, I have heard some strange 'candy', but this one is the king. It's like someone is standing in front of you, talking, and at the same time, whispering in your ear (but from a far).

I should have come into this thread earlier. I have a nomination that (probably) few of you have even heard, but an absolute piece of art musically and recording wise.

The release was in 1976, by bassist Charlie Haden, who recorded eight duets with musicians whom he admired titled "Closeness Duets," on A&M Horizon.

The recordings feature Charlie Haden with Keith Jarrett, Ornette Coleman, Alice Coltrane and Paul Motian. The cut titled "OC" is stunning, and has an unbelievable piano and string bass portion that stuns me every time I listen to it. My copy is on LP, but I believe it is available on CD as well. The quality of the CD is an unknown to me.