I'm not sure I've ever listened to all of this album yet - not in stereo let alone in 5.1. I'm only quite familiar of Frequency, and a big fan of Strange Currencies. So most of this will be taken at face value.
What's The Frequency, Kenneth? Good, but not great. I would have liked this to fill the area more from all angles, and the vocal is too isolated in the mix for my liking.
Crush With Eyeliner Very good, although a little tame. I would have liked more all around coming at me, although the rears are used a lot. I like the lower vocal mix for the singing, with the spoken parts higher up.
King of Comedy Very good, but I have no idea how aggressive/tame this compares to the stereo mix. Fact attack: I read a joke Michael Stipe gave in an interview years ago, which years later I texted into BBC Radio 2 and it was read out. (He also raved about lapsang souchong tea in the same interview.)
I Don't Sleep, I Dream Good. Vocals sound a little too isolated again for me. Again, I wonder if this sounds more aggressive in stereo form.
Star 69 Good. Don't like the multiple vocal mix. A bit murky sounding, and I would have liked it less front focused as a whole. Not keen on the vocal mix at around 2:40 either.
Strange Currencies Good. Largely retains the feel of the original, except for the breakdown which has additional guitar, but I would have liked more in the rears. A bit murky sounding.
Tongue I should relisten as I wasn't paying much attention.
Bang and Blame Okay. Main guitar sat strongly in rear right doesn't work for me, it feels off balance and jarring, and lets down an otherwise good mix, although the shaker in rear left is a bit annoying too! Backing vocals in rears work nicely. The extra bit at the end is nice starting front and working to back although still too biased to rear right.
more to follow...
More to follow...
This album is a whole lot more listenable than I remember it being when I dipped into it.