Best Sounding CD Ever?

Posted: Tue Jul 08, 2003 8:09 pm

Quote:

Originally posted by Alécio Costa - Brazil:
I´m afraid the pancake squeezing starts happening with SACD´s and DVD-A´s also.

About crapy high end mastering, I prefer the ones I do with $1000 plug-ins. lol

I like Steve Vai´s "Passion and Warfare", Firegarden", Satriani´s Extremist, Toto´s Kingdom of Desire, Yes´s 90125, Fragile, Big Generator, Rush´s Counterparts, Power Windows, Hold your fire and so and so..

lol :p:

Alecio,
I see you have an ear similar to mine. I would have named those cd's also.

Posted: Wed Jul 09, 2003 12:33 am

Undertow by tool was a fantastic sounding record, but just a little synthetic. In their case, it suits them well.
Fiona apple's Tidal was great.
Paul simon's graceland.
Throwing copper by live
Tom petty, full moon fever
Blue rodeo lost together
Pat methany letter from home(a touch brittle though)
Santana Spirits dancing in the flesh.
Slayer god hates us all
Chilies Blood sugar sex magic

Posted: Wed Jul 09, 2003 11:26 pm

OK. How about some GREAT sounding "classical" acoustic recordings?

Los Angeles Guitar Quartet - "LAGQ" and "Air & Ground"

John Williams (no, not the composer) - "The Guitarist"

These three definitely set the bar for classical guitar recording. I've searched for technical info regarding the John Williams album, but can't find anything. If anyone knows of anything, let me know.

Posted: Thu Jul 10, 2003 9:06 am

I wanted to clarify my comment about tool sounding synthetic, as another member pointed out to me that this could be taken a couple of ways.

In no way at all was I making a point at the engineer of the record. Primo job engineering!!
I simply didn't think that the bands sound is natural. That doesn't mean that the studio is faking their sound. I have seen tool live, and it does sound just like the record. I like them very much and they influence my music.

To me, if you are going to look at the best sounding album, I think it's simply a matter of preference. Most of the time I would rather listen to tool, but I think the graceland album sounds better.

Just my opinion! Thanks for listening. Very Happy

Posted: Thu Jul 10, 2003 12:12 pm

Joni Mitchell "Hijera"
Robbie Robertson "1st Solo"
Pat Metheny "American Garage"
Beach Boys "Pet Sounds" Stereo remix/box set

Posted: Thu Jul 10, 2003 1:02 pm

Steve,
I'm supirsed you listed "God Hates Us All" by Slayer. That record sounds like garbage to me. Try a/bing it with "South of Heaven" and tell me what you think. I think GHUA sounds very musched like a finalizer was put on every channel and then the mix bus was hit too hard. It also sounds very closed to me, where as South of Heaven, or even Reign In Blood sounds much more open, on the top end AND bottom end.

Posted: Thu Jul 10, 2003 9:37 pm

Hi Cary! thanks for the support!
Nice friday!

Posted: Thu Jul 10, 2003 10:24 pm

E-cue, I'm not a huge slayer fan, and I'm not accustomed to "their sound". To me it is one of the best recordings I've heard in that genre esp. the drums. I did however forget pantera, they have some good sounding stuff!
I will get the records you suggested, and let you know what I think.

Cheers.

Posted: Fri Jul 11, 2003 2:37 am

Start with "South Of Heaven"... One of the reasons Rick Rubin still gets respect from me after all these years. The darkness on that record is hard to get with the same amount of clarity.

Posted: Fri Jul 11, 2003 6:26 am

I don't know if I'm doing this right, posting my vote as a reply...

...but I have to tune in to Alécios and Carys list. Wink

recorded 1970 with a clear, punchy sound. though the bass is very prominent on this record (which, in this case is a positive thing) the overall sound is razorsharp.

Rush has always managed to produce good sounding albums, especially on the drums. Can it be that Neil Peart is in control of his drums? Wink

Another album that made a great impact when I heard it the first time (and still does) is "I Robot" by Alan Parsons Project.

Great Site this is...Learn alot :tu:

Posted: Tue Jul 15, 2003 9:11 pm

i agree with the new deftones album sounding very nice.

it's compressed as hell but it doesn't make it sound bad. I love the room sound on "anniversary.." :p

Posted: Wed Jul 16, 2003 2:59 pm

rush's more recent album "vapor trails" was mastered to death, in my opinion. it's pretty obvious when looking at in a wave editor - tons of big cliping.

There is a more recetnt album by Placebo that many rave about.

Of course there is Pink Floyd's Dark Side of the Moon.

A new Chick Corea album "Rendezvous in New York" - this was actually recorded using the newer DSD technology and the disc is a hybrid (SACD/CD) I'm really interesting in this, as converting down to PCM from this high quality is like using 32-bit/352.8mHz or something crazy like that. I've not yet heard the SACD version as I don't have the player, but my friend is wearing in his B&W monitors so it may be soon. I can't wait for this technology to take over and get down in price.

Of course, by the time it does get down, Blue-Ray will probably be popular, and perhaps the 3D-holographic storage units as well - who knows for sure!?

Posted: Wed Jul 16, 2003 9:21 pm

not sure about the mastering,, But The Chilli Peppers (blood sugar sex magic) has got to be the best mixing job I have ever heard. Everything just sounded IN place the whole album.

Posted: Thu Jul 17, 2003 5:17 am

Here here Neb! I also have to give a hats off to the producer for BSSM too, the album is a masterpiece.
I heard a rumor that this was tracked and mixed in a house somewhere......Guess I'll have to find the cd cover and look.

Posted: Thu Jul 17, 2003 10:29 am

I read it was a haunted mansion in the Hollywood Hills. yeah and they used sm57 on kick and vocals

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