What are your favorite sounding albums (note: I’m not talking about sound quality)

Oh man when the drums come in around 6:10
Wet pants

 

Then they come close to rock or post rock with this. Such talented musicians.

 

This acoustic version of walk on the wild side is bangin. Are there 2 bassists? An upright and a bass guitar? And the guitar solo is so gorgeous and smooth, never really heard playing like that before I just want it to go on and on.

 

The fact that there is someone else who actually listens to Mono here makes me happy. Hymn to the Immortal Wind is one of my favorite post rock albums of all time. Steve Albini's version as well as Bob Weston's Anniversary Edition are incredible. Unfortunately for my ears, I always end up listening to Mono's albums way too loud. Definitely a band that's best heard on speakers since they really have this kind of atmospheric sound that feels best when you can sense it with your whole body.

Other than that, an album that I just like the sound of lately is Katie Pruitt's Expectations. Amazing vocals and pretty damn good songs.

 

Hum - Inlet

I love the reserved kind of of guitar sound on this album. Totally controlled and subdued distorted guitar full of detail. Can’t say I’ve heard much like it. Musically I’ve gotten a bit bored of it though. As an album it’s kind of one long song but without enough changes.

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_lciBZkp_Nl-g3PJcPkAhF_75DWy_xSuE0

 

Neil Young - On the Beach

The entire Ditch Trilogy is an absolute banger and I love all involved; however, On the Beach remains the king in my mind. The whole vibe and sound of the record is steadily morose and stoned the f**k out. There is not a skip on this album for me. I can put it on and forget it, let it loop forever idgaf. It's great. I don't know if it is my favorite Neil Young record but it is the most consistent in its tone and it'll follow me to the grave.

 

Electric Wizard - Witchcult Today

As fall comes into full swing, I sit and reflect on my favorite albums for the season. The fuzz and recurring thematic riffs that fill this record from start to finish conjure up bong-toting Lovecraftian creatures thirsty for blood and rising from hazy candlelight. The flashing ultraviolet Argento glow casting shadows on pumpkins, dead leafs sifting down slowly from the sky. The sonic palette is bright red and brown and yellow. The album expands on the Wizard's self-referential universe in laid-back reverence. It is bound together in a consistent theme and tone and marries the season well. A fantastic record for the fall-time. Highly recommend.

 

So, the theme is albums that you enjoy that also sound interesting but not recommended for testing equipment.

I immediately thought of a lot of live recordings that didnt sound as clear but had better performances compared to studio version. And may include some interesting sounds (miking setup, venue, etc) to also fit theme of thread. So, live albums I tried not to use since that was obvious. Covers or alternate takes like acoustic versions were also ignored.

Instruments here sound pretty rich and warm but Willie’s voice sounds compressed/harsh and also a little echoey. First album to come to mind meeting criteria because its an all time fav, top 10.:



Allmusic review/description: https://www.allmusic.com/album/red-headed-stranger-mw0000650551

Edit: I think there are 2CD re-issues. May have different masterings so need to look into. Generally, if I order online Ill take the time to research which release is the one-to-get first. I think I bought this one at Borders location long ago without consideration so.

Album is a story about an old heartbroken cowboy told by song with a theme and beginning and end. Sounds like hearing tell of a local legend at an old saloon, and Willie’s heartfelt singing sounds convincing as if it was his experience.

 

I'm a sucker for buried hooks, dystopian dancescapes and ruined love. If you don't have a subwoofer, don't even bother with Andy Stott.

 

Yes, Andy Stott's is a unique sound, and his music does make for grim but disturbingly compelling listening.

Andy Stott, We Stay Together (full EP)
I'm a fan of the We Stay Together EP, which at 38 minutes is almost close enough to count as an album and include in this thread. A favorite track is the relentless Cherry Eye.


Gas, Königsforst (full album)
Along similarly dystopian lines are the albums by Gas, which could equally be posted in the Music you'd describe as "haunting" thread. Repetitive to the point of monotony for most people - and for me, if I'm not in the mood, which is nearly all the time - it nonetheless can have a hypnotic, immersive quality, as with Gas's other albums. Königsforst 5 is a good starting point, if "good" is the right word?


Amon Tobin, Supermodified (full album)
Lively, more exciting, and more menacing in a sci-fi-soundtrack kind of way is Amon Tobin's Supermodified. It's a solid, cohesive album with only a couple of weaker tracks, and the best of them really are great fun, and perfect for subwoofers. "Four Ton Mantis" is a good starting point. For some reason it's not on YouTube, so here's "Golfer Vs Boxer" instead; it likewise has a creepy, insect-like vibe (in spite of the track's title). Amon Tobin's certainly got a distinctive sound, as well, not just on this album. His track "Sordid" (on a separate release) is perfect for when you need to let off steam (or play music too loud). Keep with it, it builds and builds and builds.

 

Didn’t see full album or playlist with a quick search on mobile. My favorite song off the album, but its one that builds up so patience.:



Always sounded a little strange to me, like missing some depth to the instruments. Still great sounding but not show off audio stuff. Allmusic review/description says it was recorded in an “acoustic setting.”

 

So I have a question... and this is really about my setup, but it's also about MMW. I love MMW. I've loved MMW for more than 20 years. Holy crap. But part of getting a better system has meant that I like listening to them more critically, and my system is breaking up on a bunch of MMW recordings that I just love.

So, for background, I'm on Tidal->Schiit Modius->Emotiva A-100->Sennheiser HD6xx / KEF Q150s. All nice gear, but certainly lo-fi.

Let's take a track like Me2, and the version of it that's the first track on 20. Seems like a good recording; starts off lovely, detail in the cymbals and organ; I can hear the attack of keypresses in ways I couldn't on any prior system. Loving it. Loving it. But eventually, as they always do, MMW starts really screaming. Let's pick a point like 5:35 into the song. It's just getting grungy on my 6xx's - the instruments are trying to talk over each other and it sounds like my phones are giving up. What's going on here - source material / master? DAC? Amp? Headphones? I've never really tried to do system optimization before, but now that I can hear how lovely my system sounds on a lot of material (and material even within the same song!) it's like I can't help but get obsessed with the parts that aren't as good. What the heck do I do?

I want to love MMW as much as I always did. But since their stuff is so challenging for my system (and I imagine anyone's system) it just makes me hear deficiencies. Not fair.

Thanks!

-Johnny

 

This is my favorite track from Lifestyles of the Laptop Café, the one and only album from duo The Other People Place before one of it's members passed away. This is a real sleeper album, didn't get much press in 2001 when it was released, but was reissued by Warp in 2017. One of my favorite electronic albums just to put on any time for an engaged or passive listen.

This album has a very lo-fi, monocentric, "just roll the tape" raw kind of sound. It's actually quite quiet and intimate, the textures have a lacey feeling to them, it's trancey and ambient... hypnotic. The rhythms are accessible and slightly irregular, and the use of electronics doesn't feel as masturbatory as a lot of contemporary EDM.

The album does have some implicit themes. Loneliness, solitude, explorations of self. It's one of the few electronic records where I feel the voice of the artist comes through in a distinctive way. Doesn't sound like other records. I empathize with its makers. Not often does music give a fresh sense of insight and restraint with such playfulness and humor at the same time.

I do recommend listening from start to finish. It's a bit lean in terms of the tone of the recording, but on a warm system it's incredibly tight and colorful. It's a recording that surprisingly scales.