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.