Your Reference Disc - Music Style

[Starmax]

I never claimed to be a hippie. I am the wrong generation for that. My older brother is a hippie. I grew up on '70s top 40, then punk and metal. Since then, my tastes have mellowed considerably, but remain eclectic in the extreme.
Nobody who has actually heard Celtic Woman could say "ewww". Two of the singers are in my top 10 list of female singers regardless of style, and the rest are in my top 20.

My bad. I assumed you were older 'cause of your familiarity with Woodstock. The only time I've been exposed to CW is on Public TV telethons, where they feature smarmy musicians like the Moody Blues and Yanni, even though I LIKE the Moody Blues. The Celtic Woman production comes across to me as sweet and processed. Calculated. Fake. Like a New Age version of the Lawrence Welk show. You don't feel that?

 

[Joe Schmoe]

The Celtic Woman production comes across to me as sweet and processed. Calculated. Fake. Like a New Age version of the Lawrence Welk show. You don't feel that?

There are a lot of "copycat" bands out there trying to cash in on the success of CW, and all of them strike me that way. CW themselves seem entirely genuine, however. If this particular collective did not exist, the women in it would have to find some other route to stardom, as they are simply too good not to be known.

 

[Starmax]

This is an example of just having different tastes...there's no right/wrong or good/bad. I know Celtic Woman are professionally and technically polished to perfection, and in their category, it doesn't get any better. It's hard for me to relate to tight, controlled productions like that. Michael Flatley's "Riverdance" and Cirque du Soleil's Beatles tribute "Love" are more examples of what I mean. I didn't like the Billy Joel tribute "Movin' Out" for the same reason, although I marveled the show's production values: the amazing ability of the performers and the incredible sound/acoustic quality. Even though I can appreciate that stuff, and recognize cheap knock-offs from the original, doesn't mean I enjoy it. In fact, I find most of it painful to sit through. I guess I'm a "free form, spontaneous, ragged at the edges, never played the same way twice, maybe something new and exciting will get created" kind of guy. The Grateful Dead shows were a good example of what I mean.

 

[Joe Schmoe]

You are right, we are opposites in that regard. I am much more of a polished, professional, high production values kind of guy. Alan Parsons, Steely Dan, Spyro Gyra et. al. are my kind of music. Even in my metal days, I preferred tight acts like Queensryche to loose ones like Motorhead.
On the other hand, I really didn't care for the Love soundtrack, because they took too many liberties with the classic Beatles songs.
(Oh, and I never liked the Grateful Dead at all, sorry.)

 

[Starmax]

You are right, we are opposites in that regard. I am much more of a polished, professional, high production values kind of guy. Alan Parsons, Steely Dan, Spyro Gyra et. al. are my kind of music. Even in my metal days, I preferred tight acts like Queensryche to loose ones like Motorhead.
On the other hand, I really didn't care for the Love soundtrack, because they took too many liberties with the classic Beatles songs.
(Oh, and I never liked the Grateful Dead at all, sorry.)

Ok, now my contradictions are kicking in. Alan Parsons, especially with his work on DSOTM, Steely Dan, Spyro Gyra (sort of), Herbie Hancock - and I could go on - are MY kind of music too. And even though they are all spit-polished to a high shine, I love 'em! I don't perceive their music as contrived and corporatized in the same way I do Celtic Woman, etc. Maybe one feels honest to me while the other doesn't...I don't know.

As far as the Love soundtrack, I thought the arrangements in some songs, were better than the originals. Like, "While My Guitar Gently Weeps" and "Eleanor Rigby." I didn't have a problem with the liberties taken with the arrangements, since they were all done by Sir George Martin (and son) who, of course, put them together to begin with. It was he, as much as JohnPaulGeorge&Ringo, who made the Beatles "The Beatles."

The Grateful Dead was an experience, one that had to be appreciated live. They never were able to capture that on a recording - even their best efforts failed. The ragged spontaneity I'm talking about was watching them do it on stage. When it was over, it was over.

 

[Joe Schmoe]

The day after I bought the first Celtic Woman DVD, I ran to buy the CD, all of the solo CDs, and tickets for a live concert near me a month later. I have gotten everything new from them since then (including all the stuff by Haley Westenra, their newest member.)
When my parents watched the DVD with me, they also became instant fanatics, and have seen them live 3 times (including once in Ireland!)
Several of their friends and mine have fallen in love with CW since then.
Forget whatever misrepresentation you were unfortunately exposed to on PBS, and watch one of their actual DVDs (on a good system, of course.) We may make a convert of you, yet.

 

[stratman]

Sex Farm Woman: Spinal Tap

 

[Starmax]

Sex Farm Woman: Spinal Tap

Great song. Great Group. Great send-up.

 

[Joe Schmoe]

Sex Farm Woman: Spinal Tap

A classic.

 

[Starmax]

I like the way Celtic Woman sings it

 

[Joe Schmoe]

I like the way Celtic Woman sings it

Waaa ha ha ha haa.

 

[Twexcom]

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"

I like Enya, Beethoven and Madonna too. Enya is my favourite out of those.

 

[avaserfi]

So I bought the Beatles Love DVD-A a while ago but have never really sat down and listened to it before, not like I am right now...It is an amazing disc, it has just shot right to the top of my list right next to my copy of Jazz in the Pawnshop! If anyone is looking for a great introduction to multichannel music this is where it is at.

This is definitely a more aggressive mix than some might enjoy though. It makes full use of the surround channels not just for ambiance but making them a full part of the music.

 

[Jey Jockey]

So I bought the Beatles Love DVD-A a while ago but have never really sat down and listened to it before, not like I am right now...It is an amazing disc, it has just shot right to the top of my list right next to my copy of Jazz in the Pawnshop! If anyone is looking for a great introduction to multichannel music this is where it is at.

This is definitely a more aggressive mix than some might enjoy though. It makes full use of the surround channels not just for ambiance but making them a full part of the music.

Agreed, the SQ on this disc is second to none, this is not the Beatles I ever heard before, a true masterpiece.

Some other awesome sounding/well recorded discs are:

Boz Scaggs- DVD concert, blusey/pop/jazz mix, Near HD video, wicked SQ

Dobbie Brothers-DVD concert "Live at Wolf Trap" near HD video, awesome sound

Steve Miller..."Fly like an Eagle" 30th anniversarry edition..DVD has DD 5.1 audio mix to die for, sounds like it was recorded last year.

Keb Mo'...anything by him is SQ excellent, if you like contemporary blues, this is for you. "Slowdown", "Keep it simple" and "Suitcase" are awesome.

Ray Charles "Genius loves company" on the Monster Music double disc. The DVD disc has High Rez 2 channel,DD and DTS 5.1 mixes that are reference material, period!

Jesse Cook, " Frontiers", Flamenco/Spanish style guitar...SQ excellent.

 

[masak_aer]

Someone in this forum introduced me to CW (it was a suggestion by somebody to buy for my now passed away cousin). I was hooked too. Enya was my first before CW.

 

[Starmax]

So I bought the Beatles Love DVD-A a while ago but have never really sat down and listened to it before, not like I am right now...It is an amazing disc, it has just shot right to the top of my list right next to my copy of Jazz in the Pawnshop! If anyone is looking for a great introduction to multichannel music this is where it is at.

This is definitely a more aggressive mix than some might enjoy though. It makes full use of the surround channels not just for ambiance but making them a full part of the music.

I agree, the Love DVD-A is incredible. And the audacious re-arrangements of the Beatles' classics were done by the only person on earth with the credentials to fool around with them, Sir George Martin (and son). I'm wondering what kind of person would not enjoy this type of aggressive mix...perhaps a musical "purist" would object to this inspired "tampering" and wouldn't like the full use of surround channels. They win the "Sourpuss of the Year" award in my book.

 

[jaxvon]

Ha,i knew when i first started reading this thread that one of the resident geezers would pick AJA,one of the best recordings on the planet.

Along with AJA i use Frank Zappa's Jazz from Hell,anything ever recorded in Frank's studio( The utility muffin research kitcken or UMIRK for short) is top flight recording but Jazz from hell really excells,it has all the elements to really give any system a serious work out.

There are others but when i audition at a dealers showroom these are the first two i take.

Aja is my reference recording too, and I'm not a geezer. It's just that freakin' good. And now I want to go have a listen...

 

[WayneC]

6 discs I like to use to demo speakers

Steve Vai - Fire Garden

Fiona Apple - Tidal

Sade - Lovers Rock

Rush - Moving Pictures

Tears For Fears - The Seeds Of Love

Steely Dan - Two Against Nature