Fagen, Donald - MORPH THE CAT [DVD-A] 2006

[Jens]

I agree with radiodaddy and splinter7:
Some people at the record company have been sleeping. It seems like they've prepared a CD version, a DVD-Audio version and late in the process decided to have a two-disc version (I was going to say Dual Disc but then realized that would add to the confusion) but mixed up the artwork for the different editions.

[Nova]

This mix is tight ! with plenty of BASS . I cant get the DTS mix on my 563A themenue only shows Advanced Resolution 5.1 and the stereo mix ? am I missing some setting on the Pioneer ??

[JonUrban]

This one takes time. The first few listens, I enjoyed the mix but was not that impressed with all of the tunes. However, at this point, I love the frickin' disc. Even the songs I thought were boring now shine. This one is a 10 all the way, but you have to give it time.

[cupboy]

What's stereo?

One too many channels if you ask those guys over on SH

[bugdaddy]

This mix is tight ! with plenty of BASS . I cant get the DTS mix on my 563A themenue only shows Advanced Resolution 5.1 and the stereo mix ? am I missing some setting on the Pioneer ??

If i recall, you can go into "initial settings" on the 563 and change the the dvd-audio option to dvd-video which will get you the non-hi-rez surround options (DD and DTS); but you can't see all three surround choices at once. that's how my pio dv45a works, and i think the 563 (and 578) have the same menus. i guess the theory is that when you have the dvd-audio option, why bother choosing either of the others. btw, agree with your assessment on the mix - - i't's another scheiner beauty.

[Nova]

Thanks Barry your right as long as I see the High Res option I should be "happy" I like the fact that you can really crank up this disk and it holds together so well!

[omega4]

I scored this an 8, but that was on the basis of one quick and then one complete listen, and I like what I hear but not yet as good as Nightfly to me. It may grow on me more, and I note Jon's comment about that. Great mix though as you would expect.

The most important thing for me is that this is how DVD-A discs should be released. One disc for the car and one for home. It completely overshadows Dualdisc because you know the Red Book side will play on any CD player. I bought this for £12.99 from www.play.com - the single CD is £8.95, so the £4.04 premium is an absolute bargain. WELL DONE WARNERS!!

[IDJIT DRAGON]

This one takes time. The first few listens, I enjoyed the mix but was not that impressed with all of the tunes. However, at this point, I love the frickin' disc. Even the songs I thought were boring now shine. This one is a 10 all the way, but you have to give it time.

Agreed, the MCh mix is exemplary, great bass - still a little uncertain about the songs in the middle but the bookends are great.

PS I love the vibra (xylo?)phone run in the rears on Brite Nightgown - gives me goosebumps

A 9 from me

Cheers

Martin

[JonUrban]

I am still enjoying this album. However, I was thinking. If it were not from an artist that I really liked, would I have given it a chance? Frankly, on the first two passes, I was not that impressed. Even though I saw him live where he did 3 tunes from this disc, I still was not thinking that this would be a "classic".

However, after "learning" the tunes (in your brain), you get to appreciate them and start to really like them and admire the song construction and musicmanship.

That being said, "How hard should we have to work to like new music"? This may be a topic for another thread, but it seems to me that albums like this will be dismissed by many who do not take the time to "learn" them. Seems like these days, people don't take the time to get into anything new. "The Eagles Greatest Hits" is a lot safer listen!

[Guy Robinson]

In my experience the best music over time is that which takes longer for you to "learn.". Music which becomes immediately likable often becomes older faster.

[dr. simple]

In my experience the best music over time is that which takes longer for you to "learn.". Music which becomes immediately likable often becomes older faster.

I agree. And that being said, I think this disc will last the test of time.

The fidelity of this disc is not even debatable. The mix is typical Elliott Scheiner - not that "typical" is a bad thing - but his are often the same: bass, drums, keyboards and lead vocals in front; ear candy (i.e., background vocals, rhythm guitars, horns, extra keyboards) in the back. Very discreet and very pure.

As far as the content goes, I wonder how Fagen keeps writing gem after gem in the same style. It's more of the same, yet different. I gave it a 10.

[Chris Gerhard]

Is this the DVD-A? Makes no mention of DVD-A.

http://www.buy.com/retail/product.as...245321&loc=109

Chris

[sbernstein]

Is this the DVD-A? Makes no mention of DVD-A.

http://www.buy.com/retail/product.as...245321&loc=109

Chris

Yes.

[JonUrban]

Sure looks like it to me, Chris.

[Chris Gerhard]

Wow, I love this disc already after only one listen. I know this guy takes a long time to make music that sounds really similar to what he did the last time, but somehow he makes it work. I will have to get Kamakiriad as my next DVD-A purchase. A 9 here.

Chris

[Nova]

Chris
If you like Morph your gonna love Kamakiriad ! the sound is mint and the songs are a bit quicker to remember. Morph has not left my player in weeks !
Paul

[neil wilkes]

Really nice mix, great sound, but for me not as good as Kamakiriad was.
There seems to be a definite coffee thing going on too - all sorts of references to coffee, coffee shops (Latte, Starbucks etc) throughout - great as caffeine is one of my favourite drugs. In fact, I'd be useless without it.

You can pick the Scheiner mix almost as soon as you start off in the title track, especialy the horns in the rear speakers.
I suspect this one is a grower too - so my initial 7 may well need revision later - or a new post amending my thoughts.
Very nice record, beautifully recorded, beautifully mixed.

[Guy Robinson]

I suspect this one is a grower too - so my initial 7 may well need revision later - or a new post amending my thoughts.

It took me a few listens to get into it. Definately grows on you.

[MIDIQ]

I forgot i had this one. I listened to it a couple of times when i first bought it, then put it away and forgot about it. I wasn't overly impressed with the music the first couple of listenings, but it did sound better to me this time. I wanted to wait til i had heard it a few times before i voted because a lot of the reviews here said it would grow on you. Well it did grow a little on me, but not a lot. The surround mixes are great, but the songs just didn't grow that much on me. Good but not great. I vote 8.

[nightenrock]

In the midst of my first listening right now. Will wait to vote after hearing that it takes a little getting used to. Steely Dan/Becker/Fagen have always been nice to listen to, but never my favorite. This follows suit and is nice to listen to so far. As has been said earlier, I feel as though I've heard these before. The presentation, mix, sonics and musicianship do seem to be right on taget though. Can't get much better in those dept's IMHO.

[timbre4]

Love this DVD-A! Have been spinning it almost every day, sometimes more than once. The stereo CD was played into iTunes and running on that as well.

Has anybody else experienced this issue in Play All mode; it gets to the last track (Morph The Cat - Reprise) and stops? The right graphic is on the screen but the authoring might have stopped at this point....?

I'm giving it a 10 because it's great songs, great mix in the BEST format and I'm excited to have a new almost Steely Dan album AND new DVD-A title that wows friends.... :

[Guy Robinson]

Love this DVD-A! Have been spinning it almost every day, sometimes more than once. The stereo CD was played into iTunes and running on that as well.

Has anybody else experienced this issue in Play All mode; it gets to the last track (Morph The Cat - Reprise) and stops? The right graphic is on the screen but the authoring might have stopped at this point....?

I'm giving it a 10 because it's great songs, great mix in the BEST format and I'm excited to have a new almost Steely Dan album AND new DVD-A title that wows friends.... :

No problem here. It is a great disc.

[nightenrock]

Wasn't sure about it when purchasing it and even after first listen, but took the advice of giving it a chance and I'm now finding myself humming and signing these tunes in my head all through the day. The songs and the mix are both excellent and the packaging (a Cd and a DVD-A) can't be beat. A very solid 10+ on this.

[Felix E. Martinez]

This one takes time. The first few listens, I enjoyed the mix but was not that impressed with all of the tunes. However, at this point, I love the frickin' disc. Even the songs I thought were boring now shine. This one is a 10 all the way, but you have to give it time.

Same thing happened to me, although it took about 2 1/2 listens to realize I may actually like this one even more than Nightfly. Great grooves, and melodies and harmonies that reveal themselves more clearly on multiple listens. This one sneaks up on ya.

Is it me, or does "Brite Nitegown" seem tailor-made for Prince? Great swingin' groove on that one with on-the-money, syncopated vocals.

Very nice 5.1 mix - a little on the bright side, compared to the stereo mix, but otherwise on par with the rest of ES's hi-res 5.1 Steely Dan/Fagen mixes.

[JonUrban]

It's weird how these tunes get into your head. I had a phase a few weeks ago where I had to keep playing "Great Pagoda" and "Mona" over and over. These two tunes I did not appreciate on the first few listens.