Just finished my first listen - here's the detes;
DVD codecs;
24/48 LPCM Stereo
DTS 5.1 (24/48 @ 1508 kbps)
Dolby AC-3 5.1
The extras are "making of", interviews, Ian Anderson reciting all the lyrics on the album in various settings - silly yet entertaining, and a PDF of multilingual lyric translations. Also lyrics progress with the songs - they appear, disappear and reappear as required - all presented against the backdrop of a very thick and lovely red brick.
I don't mean to damn this with faint praise, but, it's close...but no cigar. First off - an excellent recording - warm, rich tones in which all of the instruments have tremendous presence. As a sequel to TAAB, this owes more to the character and story of Gerald Bostock and less to the music of the original. There are a few similar themes or motifs but nothing that enters self plagiary or parody. The 5.1 mix by Steven Wilson is excellent as expected and I have no issue with this being "only" DTS - I'll leave that criticism to others - it is what it is. The playing is quite good - unfortunately the songs are just verses strung together in search of a chorus that never materializes. I will say that this makes me look forward to the upcoming original TAAB in 5.1. If you're a Tull fan or completest or even just a fan of surround (mixing not codecs) - this is still worth the time. It met my expectations which were not too high to begin with. I'd give the music a 6, performance an 8 and the mix a 10.
DVD codecs;
24/48 LPCM Stereo
DTS 5.1 (24/48 @ 1508 kbps)
Dolby AC-3 5.1
The extras are "making of", interviews, Ian Anderson reciting all the lyrics on the album in various settings - silly yet entertaining, and a PDF of multilingual lyric translations. Also lyrics progress with the songs - they appear, disappear and reappear as required - all presented against the backdrop of a very thick and lovely red brick.
I don't mean to damn this with faint praise, but, it's close...but no cigar. First off - an excellent recording - warm, rich tones in which all of the instruments have tremendous presence. As a sequel to TAAB, this owes more to the character and story of Gerald Bostock and less to the music of the original. There are a few similar themes or motifs but nothing that enters self plagiary or parody. The 5.1 mix by Steven Wilson is excellent as expected and I have no issue with this being "only" DTS - I'll leave that criticism to others - it is what it is. The playing is quite good - unfortunately the songs are just verses strung together in search of a chorus that never materializes. I will say that this makes me look forward to the upcoming original TAAB in 5.1. If you're a Tull fan or completest or even just a fan of surround (mixing not codecs) - this is still worth the time. It met my expectations which were not too high to begin with. I'd give the music a 6, performance an 8 and the mix a 10.
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