This is a fun album. As with all of the Quadro-Surround DVD-A's, the surround is terrific. There is no doubt as you listen that sounds and vocals are coming from all around you. But the content, well, that's what it's all about and here's the deal on this disc:
The album starts off quietly, with Woody Guthrie's "This Land is My Land". The vocals are quite good with the harmonies coming from the rears. "Folsom Prism" follows in a similar mold, but then the pace is picked up a bit with "Square Dance" continues into "Sweet Home Alabama". I have to admit that I actually found myself smiling in the car listening to this track. Not because it wasn't good, but I was picturing a group of foreigners in a studio in Germany singing ".. songs about the Southland". It's a strange image, but this is actually a decent version of the song. Think "Pub Band"
As the album moves along the pace again moves up and then turns to all-out smokin' when you get to "New Orleans Boogie" and my favorite track (right now), "Chicago Breakdown". This tune really cranks!
To me tracks 7-12 make the album totally enjoyable. The group does a nice job on Jerry Lee Lewis's "High School Confidential", then the album ends with a very folk-ish mello take on John Denver's "Leaving on a Jet Plane", with the rear channels harmonies on this one sounding a bit strange.
The keyboard players on this disc are great, as is all of the musicmanship. The vocals do not sound overly of an accent, and if I didn't know these guys were from Germany I would not be able to place them by the vocals.
So if you're bummed about The Beatles and want to try some "real surround", and you like these songs and this type of music, this is a very worthwhile disc. Like I said, the uptempo rocking tracks got to me the most, and they are really good to turn up loud. This is another great release from Quadro-Surround. Could be my second favorite from them, right behind "Parsons- Thibaud - Transcontinental Voices"
You can hear stereo samples of most of their offerings, including this one, on their website here:
http://www.quadro-surround.de/english/music-samples.html