In a season of weeding out right now, to try to get down to physical copies of my definitive go-to versions of albums. Like, if I’m home and have access to surround in my listening room, is that the hands-down no brainer (as it is in many cases) or can I just be honest and say “no, it’s really not.” So subjective, and that’s the fun of it in my opinion... but anyway, it brought me back to this interesting (and fun, in a masochistic sorta way) thread. My latest conclusions?
BAD. Black Sabbath: Paranoid quad on the 2009 deluxe. I mean, a curiosity for a one-time listen, and who knows, maybe included just for the sake of it being such a rarity (like the Syd live show on the Floyd Early Years box - although they were at least very upfront about the reason for the horrible quality and inclusion)... but I can’t imagine ever reaching for it as a definitive listen. Hissy, sludgy... sounds 15 generations deep. Oof.
MEH. Beastie Boys: Hot Sauce Committee 5.1. While not “bad”, there’s nothing exciting about the mix and there’s just no power in it. The songs that should SLAM (OK, Too Many Rappers) just sound like easy listening versions of the stereo mix. And even the stereo mix on the Blu Ray is weaker than the version that streams from Qobuz. If I’m reaching for this album I wanna get my ass kicked, not have a polite acid-jazz romp.
MEH. I know this one is gonna get me flamed but that quad mix on the new Mott the Hoople from Vocalion? I love those guys (the label AND the band) so no shots at them but the stereo just SMOKES the quad. No comparison. The quad isn’t “bad” but I just don’t know why I’d ever reach for it.
WEIRD. M. Sasaji & L.A. Allstars: Afro Blue. The music on this is decent I’d say (not a huge fan of the vocalist on those few tunes), but because it was recorded live in a small club? There is actually a whole conversation going on in the rears between two nitwits at a table. I kept turning around thinking “WTF? Can that be on the RECORDING?” And it is. Completely bizarre and distracting. No thanks.
BAD. Black Sabbath: Paranoid quad on the 2009 deluxe. I mean, a curiosity for a one-time listen, and who knows, maybe included just for the sake of it being such a rarity (like the Syd live show on the Floyd Early Years box - although they were at least very upfront about the reason for the horrible quality and inclusion)... but I can’t imagine ever reaching for it as a definitive listen. Hissy, sludgy... sounds 15 generations deep. Oof.
MEH. Beastie Boys: Hot Sauce Committee 5.1. While not “bad”, there’s nothing exciting about the mix and there’s just no power in it. The songs that should SLAM (OK, Too Many Rappers) just sound like easy listening versions of the stereo mix. And even the stereo mix on the Blu Ray is weaker than the version that streams from Qobuz. If I’m reaching for this album I wanna get my ass kicked, not have a polite acid-jazz romp.
MEH. I know this one is gonna get me flamed but that quad mix on the new Mott the Hoople from Vocalion? I love those guys (the label AND the band) so no shots at them but the stereo just SMOKES the quad. No comparison. The quad isn’t “bad” but I just don’t know why I’d ever reach for it.
WEIRD. M. Sasaji & L.A. Allstars: Afro Blue. The music on this is decent I’d say (not a huge fan of the vocalist on those few tunes), but because it was recorded live in a small club? There is actually a whole conversation going on in the rears between two nitwits at a table. I kept turning around thinking “WTF? Can that be on the RECORDING?” And it is. Completely bizarre and distracting. No thanks.