Cowboy Junkies - WHITES OF THE EARTH NOW!! [SACD]

[JonUrban]

Please post your thoughts and comments on this SACD release from Mobile Fidelity. :thumbsdow

[bmoura]

This one is a big surprise. While remastered to SACD Stereo and SACD Surround from vintage recording, the sonics are excellent in SACD Stereo.

The SACD Surround is created from a 2 track Ambisonic Mic master tape using an upmix algorithm. Here again, excellent results - save for an occasional element.

Highly recommended. I'd rate this one, and the Rickie Lee Jones SACD, as the sleepers of the year in Hi Rez Surround so far. Both much more interesting than expected !

The High Fidelity Review story on it is over at http://www.highfidelityreview.com/ne...umber=15437803

[stormchaser]

This is a very interesting, very atmospheric disc. I had not heard the original release before I picked this up. Sonics are fantastic and the typical Junkies low-key approach comes across with impressive clarity. The process by which the surround mix was created is noted above but the mix does not sound manipulated to me. Someone on another forum noted the one problem with this mix which involves the volume level in the rears. Simply put, they are loud and at times threaten to overwhelm the content coming from the fronts further away. This can be quickly resolved by turning down the rears to taste on the fly (if your receiver allows you this option). Still, I've been listening to this a lot and I am very impressed by the music and the quality of the sonics. A 9 for me.

[JonUrban]

FYI: <scan added to original post>

[bmoura]

This is a very interesting, very atmospheric disc. I had not heard the original release before I picked this up. Sonics are fantastic and the typical Junkies low-key approach comes across with impressive clarity. The process by which the surround mix was created is noted above but the mix does not sound manipulated to me. Someone on another forum noted the one problem with this mix which involves the volume level in the rears. Simply put, they are loud and at times threaten to overwhelm the content coming from the fronts further away. This can be quickly resolved by turning down the rears to taste on the fly (if your receiver allows you this option). Still, I've been listening to this a lot and I am very impressed by the music and the quality of the sonics. A 9 for me.

Agreed. Mobile Fidelity did an excellent job on this one. A must have Rock Surround Sound SACD.

[DennisMabry]

Agreed. Mobile Fidelity did an excellent job on this one. A must have Rock Surround Sound SACD.

Thanks for the recommendation! What a wonderful recording. This one's going to get a lot of play. Warm, personal, enveloping, dynamic, detailed and Bluesy. What more can I say? I love it!

Dennis

[Spencer1812]

Very Nice! Listened to it back to back, Just couldn't get enough first time thru. Folks may want to turn down thier sub's before the first listen.

[bugdaddy]

...Folks may want to turn down thier sub's before the first listen.

you got that right! this thing'll really make your walls shake. in fact, when i play this my wife complains her knick-knack shelf is gonna self-distruct . so when she's around, the only way i can listen to this at "appropriate" levels is with headphones (where it also sounds phenomenal).

[Cai Campbell]

What a great record! How did this thing elude me for 20+ years? Sure, I've heard the Cowboy Junkies before, but I never considered myself a fan. Until now. "Whites Off Earth Now!!" is an awesome album. I love the stripped-down, bluesy, ethereal feel. The guitars are brilliantly played and recorded. The vocals are moody and evocative, but unfortunately, sound congested and constrained, as if they were recorded in a bathroom or something. That's my only complaint. I wish the vocals sounded as open, airy and clear as the guitars.

I was prepared to hate the surround mix... everything I read smacked of pseudo-surround. I'm happy to have my expectations proved wrong. No, this isn't some big surround production. It's an intimate, enveloping, holistic surround presentation that fits the mood of the record perfectly. In no way does it sound fake or cheesy. It sounds very natural and acoustically accurate. I did not get the impression that the rear volume needed to be turned down.

[DennisMabry]

The vocals are moody and evocative, but unfortunately, sound congested and constrained, as if they were recorded in a bathroom or something.

The liner notes say the recording was made in a garage. They did test runs and liked the sound, so they ended up recording the whole session there.

I really like the sound and the mood. This disc takes a spin frequently around here.

[test4965]

I just got this gave it one spin.I like how this one was recorded.9 out of 10.

[JonUrban]

Nice write up on this one from Cai here. . . .

[LizardKing]

This is an interesting one..... So this is an up-mix & a surround sacd from Mobile Fidelity - did they do any others?

[cupboy]

Fortunately, not. I sold mine.

[bmoura]

This is an interesting one..... So this is an up-mix & a surround sacd from Mobile Fidelity - did they do any others?

This was the only one they did. Interestingly, since the 2 channel SACD track is Ambisonic encoded, music fans with Meridian processor/preamps can check out the album that way - as well as listening to the 5.1 SACD Surround track.
I'd recommend the SACD if you can find a copy.

[LizardKing]

A "Surround Series" of one then.... what a shame...

[bmoura]

A "Surround Series" of one then.... what a shame...

Actually the MoFi "Surround Series" also included several Surround Sound SACDs of Classical Recordings from Vox records.
They were well done.

[cupboy]

Is anything still in print from MoFi/MFSL that is surround or did they ban surround altogether there?

[fredblue]

Is anything still in print from MoFi/MFSL that is surround or did they ban surround altogether there?

i wonder why they chose to abandon surround altogether!?

too much of a niche, within the audiophile niche to make it worth their while..?

[bmoura]

Is anything still in print from MoFi/MFSL that is surround or did they ban surround altogether there?

Yes. There are 4 Classical Surround Sound SACDs on the Mobile Fidelity web site available for purchase.
See http://www.mofi.com/category_s/1827.htm