The 'Record Sounds Great but the Music Sucks' Thread

[jazdoc]

You hear them over and over and over again at audio shows and audio dealerships. We all own at least a few of 'em. So 'fess up . It's the official The Record Sounds Great but the Music Sucks Thread'.

I'll start off with some low hanging fruit...Both of these artists have great voices but their choices of material and arrangements are not commensurate with their talent:

Patricia Barber...does it really matter what record?
Diana Krall...see above

At the risk of being branded a hi fi heretic I'll toss in this chestnut:

Ray Brown "Soular Energy". I"m a big Ray Brown fan and yes, the bass is well recorded, but the performances are uninspiring at best.

 

[docvale]

I don't think that Barber and Krall suck in terms of artistic quality, despite I agree that going to an audio show makes you hating them...

Personally, I hate "Coal Train".

 

[audioarcher]

I don't care for Barber but I do like Krall. Music is so personal. I think music reviews are about worthless. Without hearing it yourself it's impossible to know if it's something that you connect with. I bought some Patricia Barber based on reputation and I didn't care for it. I wouldn't say the music is bad it just didn't do anything for me.

 

[NorthStar]

---Gary, you have the access to delete your own posts if you wish.

1. Click [Edit Post]
2. Click [Delete]
3. Scroll down a bit, then click the blue circle (Delete Message)
4. Click [Delete Post]

Voila! :b

 

[Bill Hart]

You hear them over and over and over again at audio shows and audio dealerships. We all own at least a few of 'em. So 'fess up . It's the official The Record Sounds Great but the Music Sucks Thread'.

I'll start off with some low hanging fruit...Both of these artists have great voices but their choices of material and arrangements are not commensurate with their talent:

Patricia Barber...does it really matter what record?
Diana Krall...see above

At the risk of being branded a hi fi heretic I'll toss in this chestnut:

Ray Brown "Soular Energy". I"m a big Ray Brown fan and yes, the bass is well recorded, but the performances are uninspiring at best.

Doc, I think you have to separate the records that are overplayed as 'demo' material (a/k/a 'Records to Die From' courtesy of a column in an old HiFi+ issue) and those that, on their merits, just plain suck, musically. In the former category, it can be almost anything- this varies, by era- given enough distance from its period of 'overplaydom' I can enjoy it. The other category- well, it doesn't get better with distance and age.

 

[Bill Hart]

How bout one of the earliest demo records of the direct to disc era which, while a great recording, is musical pablum: The Missing Linc.

 

[jazdoc]

Doc, I think you have to separate the records that are overplayed as 'demo' material (a/k/a 'Records to Die From' courtesy of a column in an old HiFi+ issue) and those that, on their merits, just plain suck, musically. In the former category, it can be almost anything- this varies, by era- given enough distance from its period of 'overplaydom' I can enjoy it. The other category- well, it doesn't get better with distance and age.

Good point!

 

[rockitman]

Patricia Barber rocks including her whole band. One of my favorite female artists. The album sound quality is beyond reproach.

 

[JackD201]

Stone me now. I never liked the music played in Jazz at the Pawn Shop. I also have had enough Jacintha's Here's to Ben and Jennifer Warnes' The Hunter for, oh, maybe 3 lifetimes.

 

[docvale]

Stone me now. I never liked the music played in Jazz at the Pawn Shop. I also have had enough Jacintha's Here's to Ben and Jennifer Warnes' The Hunter for, oh, maybe 3 lifetimes.

I'll share the stones with you: I hate Cantate Domino

 

[NorthStar]

Patricia Barber rocks including her whole band. One of my favorite female artists. The album sound quality is beyond reproach.

-----

 

[Phelonious Ponk]

You hear them over and over and over again at audio shows and audio dealerships. We all own at least a few of 'em. So 'fess up . It's the official The Record Sounds Great but the Music Sucks Thread'.

I'll start off with some low hanging fruit...Both of these artists have great voices but their choices of material and arrangements are not commensurate with their talent:

Patricia Barber...does it really matter what record?
Diana Krall...see above
At the risk of being branded a hi fi heretic I'll toss in this chestnut:

Ray Brown "Soular Energy". I"m a big Ray Brown fan and yes, the bass is well recorded, but the performances are uninspiring at best.

Which record does matter with diana Krall. "Live in Paris" and "The Girl In The Other Room" are both very good for very different reasons. I've only heard a couple of others but they were sugary sweet, empty calories. Really, does any other female jazz singer ever need to do another album full of standards with an orchestra? Really? Why?

Tim

 

[Bill Hart]

How many actually like the vaunted Malcolm Arnold 'Dances' record?

 

[MylesBAstor]

How many actually like the vaunted Malcolm Arnold 'Dances' record?

Which one the Lyrita or RR?

 

[Bill Hart]

Which one the EMI or RR?

sorry, the lyrita, english, scottish dances, the harry list one.....

 

[MylesBAstor]

Stone me now. I never liked the music played in Jazz at the Pawn Shop. I also have had enough Jacintha's Here's to Ben and Jennifer Warnes' The Hunter for, oh, maybe 3 lifetimes.

Or Rebecca Pigeon

 

[Bill Hart]

La Folia de Spagna? I should quit dissing these things, and sell 'em. Then i could go out and buy more
I rather like The Plague on Decca Head 6 or whatever it is, i'm not usually much for spoken word records, but it does have its charms.....

 

[puroagave]

How many actually like the vaunted Malcolm Arnold 'Dances' record?

i do! theres an intermezzo that reminds my wife of a jingle in a ralph lauren commercial for chaps...whatever the lyrita recording is thin and excrutiating on CD, the early vinyl pressing is better.

 

[MylesBAstor]

La Folia de Spagna? I can't believe how much that thing goes for. I should quit dissing these things, and sell 'em. Then i could go out and buy more
I rather like The Plague on Decca Head 6 or whatever it is, i'm not usually much for spoken word records, but it does have its charms.....

You can pick up the ATR reissue (or see that Speakers Corner has also reissued La Folia) on Ebay. The ATR is different sounding but still very good nonetheless.

 

[MylesBAstor]

sorry, the lyrita, english, scottish dances, the harry list one.....

I like the Lyrita LP. The RR Arnold Dances is worlds better on tape (meaning there's a greater difference between this pair than other LPs). I just can't get into the sound of most of the RR discs.