Your Reference Disc - Music Style

[avaserfi]

I was wondering what everyones reference disc(s) is/are and why when it comes to music. I see all these best recorded albums etc but that doesn't mean its the one you sit down with and listen to a new set of speakers with. This includes SACD, CDs and DVD-A along with whatever I have left out.

Currently I have been using the Dark Side of the Moon SACD

 

[jake5717]

Steve Tyrell - A new standard on CD. I havent heard it on SACD but I bet it sounds great.

 

[j_garcia]

Patricia Barber - Cafe Blue SACD (2ch)

Fiona Apple - Tidal redbook CD

For multi-channel, DSotM is always a favorite, but I use Porcupine Tree's DVD-As also as each of them are well done Stupid Dream, In Absentia, Deadwing and the forth coming Fear of a Blank Planet. Linkin Park Reanimation DVD-A is cool too.

 

[davidtwotrees]

Al Green's Greatest Hits DVDA. (so tired of being alone)
Steely Dan Gaucho SACD (Babylon Sisters)
D.Fagan's Morph the Cat DVDA (title trac)
Zero 7's The Garden Redbook (you're my flame)
Sia Furler's Color the small one, Redbook. (the Bully)

 

[j_garcia]

Many say this is one of the best, so I expected to be blown away by Steely Dan Gaucho and I wasn't. It is very good, but not among the best I've heard. I just bought it because I like the album

 

[Joe Schmoe]

I enjoy listening to a wide variety of music, but to me New Age has the best sound and recording quality. If I had to choose a single reference CD it would either be Seven Veils by Robert Rich or Book of Roses by Andreas Vollenweider.

 

[alexsound]

Gratitude from Earth, Wind and Fire. It was recorded back in 1975, but DAMN
it still (the 1st 8 tracks recorded live) sounds AMAZING. I realize that there
was probably some serious "tweakinig" done to the recording before it was
made into a final master, but, to this day, it has some of the best sounding live recordings I have ever heard. And from 1975 !!!

 

[j_garcia]

You may want to check out Jazz at the Pawnshop then. That thing is an absolutely amazing live recording too. I want the SACD but it is $50! Even the redbook CD approaches the sound quality of some of my SACDs.

 

[obscbyclouds]

Jazz
Miles Davis- Kind of Blue SACD
John McLaughlin, Al Di Meola, Paco De Lucia-Friday Night in San Francisco SACD (2 CH)

Rock
Pink Floyd- DSOTM SACD
Porcupine Tree - Deadwing DVD-A
The Eagles - Hotel California DVD-A
Opeth- Ghost Reveries CD (Metal)
Allman Brothers - Live at Fimore East SACD

Classical
Bach- Brandenburg Concerto AIX Records DVD-A
Dvorak- New World Symphony RCA Living Stereo SACD

 

[Sheep]

It's hard for me to find decently recorded music that I like. The new Fall Of Troy album "Manipulator" is pretty good, as well as Fear Before The March Of Flames "The Always Open Mouth".

I don't really see a point in testing a system with music your not going to listen to in the end.

SheepStar

 

[Joe Schmoe]

It's hard for me to find decently recorded music that I like. The new Fall Of Troy album "Manipulator" is pretty good, as well as Fear Before The March Of Flames "The Always Open Mouth".

I don't really see a point in testing a system with music your not going to listen to in the end.

SheepStar

There are a huge number of bands that I have not heard, but have heard of because I read a lot of music magazines. I can honestly say that I have never seen even a passing reference to either of those. They must be really, really obscure.

 

[Sheep]

There are a huge number of bands that I have not heard, but have heard of because I read a lot of music magazines. I can honestly say that I have never seen even a passing reference to either of those. They must be really, really obscure.

Allow me to shed some light.

http://www.myspace.com/thefalloftroy

http://www.myspace.com/marchofflames

SheepStar

 

[avaserfi]

Allow me to shed some light.

http://www.myspace.com/thefalloftroy

http://www.myspace.com/marchofflames

SheepStar

I am surprised I actually like the bands, I was expecting softer rock if anything. Not my favorite but I could sit down for a good listen. Currently my favorite band is Lamb of God but I have been worried to sit down with them on my real system because I don't want to find out their music is horribly mastered since it wouldn't be a huge surprise eventually Ill get the balls though. For anyone who couldn't tell my avatar is mudvayne but I only like their first few discs not the latest as much.

 

[Sheep]

I am surprised I actually like the bands, I was expecting softer rock if anything. Not my favorite but I could sit down for a good listen. Currently my favorite band is Lamb of God but I have been worried to sit down with them on my real system because I don't want to find out their music is horribly mastered since it wouldn't be a huge surprise eventually Ill get the balls though. For anyone who couldn't tell my avatar is mudvayne but I only like their first few discs not the latest as much.

My friend, you don't know Sheep.

This one should go on your list of favs.

http://www.myspace.com/thebloodbrothersband

SheepStar

 

[davidtwotrees]

Dr. Chesky

I had a friend over the other day who is a musician and is thinking of building a system. In my earlier thread I had forgotten to list Dr. Chesky's Fabulous, Absurd, and Insane Musical 5.1 Surround Show as a reference disc. Whenever I want to showcase and educate a visitor to the wonder and power of surround sound, I use this disc first. The Blast Off which is a surround recording of a live space shuttle launch is just amazing! Thunderous. The recording of a thunderstorm as it rolls in and out is as good as being there. And finally, the recording of the human heartbeat, first at 50hrz, then 40hrz, then 30hrz, then 20 hrz will show just what an LFE provides. There are almost 40 little titles, some better than others, but the three I listed above are worth the price of the disc. I have it on DVDA, but I think it is on sacd as well.

The Chesky brothers are amazing. Here is a good interview with Chesky

 

[Geno]

My favorites, in no particular order:

Steely Dan: Gaucho (DVD-A
Dire Straits: Brothers in Arms (DVD-A)
King Crimson: Discipline (LP)
Joni Mitchell: Blue (180-gram vinyl)
Donald Fagan: The Nightfly, Kamakiriad (DVD-A),
k.d. Lang: Ingenue (CD)
Mark Knopfler: Sailing to Philadelphia & Shangri-La (DVD-A)
Laurence Jubal: Guitar Noir (DVD-A)

 

[Seth=L]

Fiona Apple - Tidal redbook CD

I know you mention this title a lot, and while I like it and find many parts of it to be great it is a victim of the "loudness war". It audibly clips when her voice peaks in a few parts of the album, sorry can't cite any at this time.

 

[stratman]

Steely Dan - AJA
GAUCHO

Donald Fagen- KAMAKIRIAD
NIGHTFLY

Good reference material once you know some of it's weakness. IMO, AJA has an edge over GAUCHO (miniscule), but these guys really fussed over AJA. Morph The Cat suffers from compressionitis, which I find odd knowing Fagen's obsessive/compulsive misgivings about his material. Another that comes to mind is Gato Barbieri's CALIENTE (A&M records) extremely well recorded and produced.

 

[Ryan8886]

For 5.1, the following:

Peter Gabriel- "Growing Up Tour" DVD
Seal- "One Night To Remember" DVD
Queen- "Live at Wimbley Stadium" DVD
Fleetwood Mac- "Live From Boston" DVD

For 2.1, the following:

George Winston- "December" CD
Pink Floyd- various selections from "The Wall" CD
Enigma- "Return To Innocence" CD

 

[annunaki]

I only listen to music in 2.1

My usuals are:

Tool "Lateralus"

Tool "Undertow"

Dire Straits "Brothers in Arms"

Rage Agaist the Machine (Self Titled)

Alice in Chains "Unplugged"

Madonna "Immaculate Collection"

Enya "Watermark"

Beethoven "Symphony No. 9"