[skepticalfriend]

Hi all -

Help.  Everything I buy sounds like garbage.  For example, I was excited about this band Metz, but I get it home into my system only to discover that the recording is just so awful, so muddy and harsh, that I can't even listen to it for one full song.  This happens all the time.  The only worthwhile stuff I find is recorded by Steve Albini . . . I listened to the Jesus Lizard (Liar) after Metz this evening and the contrast was in-freaking-credible.  Obviously bands like Metz may be going for a certain sound, but I certainly can't dig it (except in my car or through my computer speakers!).  Anyway, there's only so much Steve Albini can record so I'd love to hear recommendations.  My taste is eclectic - from heavy stuff like the Jesus Lizard to alt country like Drive By Truckers or Son Volt to folksy stuff even like Palace Music, Avett Brothers, etc.

I am new to Audiocircle so forgive me if this is a common thread - I did some poking around and only found one discussion from back in 2006.

Thanks folks.

[thunderbrick]

Welcome to AC!      Since I don't listen to current rock for the same reason, I'm eager to hear what people suggest.

[FullRangeMan]

Hi all -

Help.  Everything I buy sounds like garbage.  For example, I was excited about this band Metz, but I get it home into my system only to discover that the recording is just so awful, so muddy and harsh, that I can't even listen to it for one full song.  This happens all the time.  The only worthwhile stuff I find is recorded by Steve Albini . . . I listened to the Jesus Lizard (Liar) after Metz this evening and the contrast was in-freaking-credible.  Obviously bands like Metz may be going for a certain sound, but I certainly can't dig it (except in my car or through my computer speakers!).  Anyway, there's only so much Steve Albini can record so I'd love to hear recommendations.  My taste is eclectic - from heavy stuff like the Jesus Lizard to alt country like Drive By Truckers or Son Volt to folksy stuff even like Palace Music, Avett Brothers, etc.

I am new to Audiocircle so forgive me if this is a common thread - I did some poking around and only found one discussion from back in 2006.

Thanks folks.

Current rock sound like garbage to me too for musical reasons.
If you are talking about sound quality, seems most pop and rock releases had bad sound quality due compression or by recorded in low def PCM(low sampling rate).

I read in a pro-music magazine some rock studios are specialized in delivery this crude, harsh sound, and many bands use these studios cause they prefer this sound for purposes of musical style and to pretend be a rebel band to the audience.

[Bear]

Hey Skep welcome to AC,

A couple to try off the top:


Heavyish...
Nine inch nails: slip (free hi-rez FLAC download on their website)
Green Day: Uno Dos Tres(HD Tracks)

Rock/Country:
Brandi Carlile

www.thirdmanrecords.com(very eclectic mix of recordings on vinyl)

[2gumby2]

I can always expect high quality recordings from Tool and anything Trent Reznor is involved in. My Tool CDs use the HDCD format and they sound fantastic.

[Diamond Dog]

Hi all -

Help.  Everything I buy sounds like garbage.  For example, I was excited about this band Metz, but I get it home into my system only to discover that the recording is just so awful, so muddy and harsh, that I can't even listen to it for one full song.  This happens all the time.

Sorry, you lost me...you were excited about this band but don't want to listen to them because their recording didn't sound good to you on your system. Sounds like you were more excited about your system than about that band...

I think that people who won't listen to contemporary music because of sound quality deficiencies aren't going to be listening to a whole lot of contemporary music. I also think that for all the kvetching and complaining about compression and bad mastering and anti-brickwalling petitions started and signed by the small band of folks nutty enough to get into this hobby, the recording industry just isn't that into us...And so it becomes a matter of prioritization for us.

If you are all about the pristine clarity and the depth of soundstage and the - insert favoured audiophile terms here and here -  there's nothing wrong with that. But you might want to consider getting a good SACD player and exploring the wonderful world of classical music. Many sterling recordings to enjoy from a sound-quality point of view...your system will sound terrific! With many rock recordings, perhaps not so much.
 
Otherwise, strap yourself in because a lot of contemporary music will not meet your standards from a hi-fi point of view so the ride's gonna be rough. And while venting on audio hobbyist boards about the sound quality of modern rock recordings might make you feel better and get a ( small ) bunch of audiophiles all stirred up and shouty alongside you, it does not appear that a change is gonna come... In fact it may get worse.

If this is " The Music Circle", then let's talk about music here. Not sound quality. Music. And with that, I'm going to check out this band Metz because it looks like you and I have some mutual favorites based of your post, skepticalfriend. Thanks for the tip !

D.D.

[underdawg]

I agree the selection for rock in the audiophile world is lacking.
I am on my 25th audiophile system since the audiomart days.
I listen to metal mostly but have few other artists based on recordings.
No offense but I will never switch to classical music, I can get that on elevators lol.
I have a set of cds I use to test equipment.
My system is all vaccum tube including cables except the speakers as of now,thinking tube crossovers lol.
Cary cad 308 preamp 12au7s
Cary cad 100 monos in tridoe mode, powering cabasse/ zalaytron custom speakers kt 88s
Sub amp and vmps large subwoofer.
I use aural thrills active  tube cables 12au7s
Source is modwright oppo 83se fully modded 6sn7s
The music or bands of my choice for testing ( good recordings)and listening is:ill get the actual cd's title if you want later
slipknot - bass speed and depth
firewind - guitars/ midrange
judas priest - bass/ guitars
heart - vocals
faith hill - vocals
pantera bass, guitars, vocals
wilson phillips - vocals
five finger death punch - bass
all remains the same - bass , vocals
Iron Maiden - just like them alot
Shania Twain (spelled wrong sorry), mutt lang her husband was dokken's recording engineer - knows how to record
Dokken
and finally my newest aqcisition: IN this moment - title blood - awesome bass, timing changes, killer guitars , unsual vocal swings
Hope this helps.
I know their are few metal audiophiles but I am one and it has taken years to compile my list of reference cd's.
kindest regards
Deric

[underdawg]

Oh by the way
sounding quality is fantastic, can hear system clean and clear in driveway and alley.
system pushes hi spls , the way i like similar to my truck tube sound system.

[bprice2]

The Black Angels:

Phosphene Dream
Directions To See A Ghost

Both of these sound excellent to me.

[lokie]

The Who- "Live at Leads".

[Chromisdesigns]

Sorry, you lost me...you were excited about this band but don't want to listen to them because their recording didn't sound good to you on your system. Sounds like you were more excited about your system than about that band...

I think that people who won't listen to contemporary music because of sound quality deficiencies aren't going to be listening to a whole lot of contemporary music. I also think that for all the kvetching and complaining about compression and bad mastering and anti-brickwalling petitions started and signed by the small band of folks nutty enough to get into this hobby, the recording industry just isn't that into us...And so it becomes a matter of prioritization for us.

If you are all about the pristine clarity and the depth of soundstage and the - insert favoured audiophile terms here and here -  there's nothing wrong with that. But you might want to consider getting a good SACD player and exploring the wonderful world of classical music. Many sterling recordings to enjoy from a sound-quality point of view...your system will sound terrific! With many rock recordings, perhaps not so much.
 
Otherwise, strap yourself in because a lot of contemporary music will not meet your standards from a hi-fi point of view so the ride's gonna be rough. And while venting on audio hobbyist boards about the sound quality of modern rock recordings might make you feel better and get a ( small ) bunch of audiophiles all stirred up and shouty alongside you, it does not appear that a change is gonna come... In fact it may get worse.

If this is " The Music Circle", then let's talk about music here. Not sound quality. Music. And with that, I'm going to check out this band Metz because it looks like you and I have some mutual favorites based of your post, skepticalfriend. Thanks for the tip !

D.D.

Nah, I completely understand where he's coming from.  I've heard bands live that I loved, and then bought a CD that sounded completely crappy.  No matter how much I liked the music live, if the recording grates on my ears every time a play it, it doesn't get played much.

[medium jim]

The Who- "Live at Leads".

That was from the 70's....there is a lot of good reissued to cd from the day, the problem is that most of today's music is recorded so badly that it is unlistenable to.   Whereas, there is plenty of great modern Jazz, Country and Classical.  TAS has a section on the current music releases that covers most genres and covers several new releases each edition/issue.  It might be a decent source.

There is the following thread that also might be a good place to glean for something to listen to:

http://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=26231.msg1178420;topicseen#new

Jim

[thunderbrick]

Nah, I completely understand where he's coming from.  I've heard bands live that I loved, and then bought a CD that sounded completely crappy.  No matter how much I liked the music live, if the recording grates on my ears every time a play it, it doesn't get played much.

+1!  The thread is about identifying specific music that meets certain criteria.   

[SteveRB]

Hi all -

Help.  Everything I buy sounds like garbage.  For example, I was excited about this band Metz, but I get it home into my system only to discover that the recording is just so awful, so muddy and harsh, that I can't even listen to it for one full song.  This happens all the time.  The only worthwhile stuff I find is recorded by Steve Albini . . . I listened to the Jesus Lizard (Liar) after Metz this evening and the contrast was in-freaking-credible.  Obviously bands like Metz may be going for a certain sound, but I certainly can't dig it (except in my car or through my computer speakers!).  Anyway, there's only so much Steve Albini can record so I'd love to hear recommendations.  My taste is eclectic - from heavy stuff like the Jesus Lizard to alt country like Drive By Truckers or Son Volt to folksy stuff even like Palace Music, Avett Brothers, etc.

I am new to Audiocircle so forgive me if this is a common thread - I did some poking around and only found one discussion from back in 2006.

Thanks folks.

Jesus Lizard - Wheelchair Epidemic 7" is one of the greatest recordings ever. It's too bad that 99% of audiophiles will never hear it, and even fewer will appreciated it.

My recommendations:
Michael Hurley - Ida Con Snock (better than Palace Music)
Michael Hurley - SnockGrass (better than Palace Music)
Richard Davies - There's Never Been a Crowd Like This (better than the beatles)
Sic Alps - s/t (mid era Rolling Stones style)
The Lamps - Under The Water Under The Ground (its a loud record)

[SteveRB]

Dirty Three - Toward the Low Sun (their newest release -- they all sound good)
Grinderman - Grinderman 2 (Nick Cave, some people can take it or leave it. but it is well recorded rock)

[kenreau]

I hear you and agree that poor sq can really kill the enjoyment level of an album. 

On the harder side of things, I can listen to;
>Disturbed
>High On Fire (usually great sq on drums and cymbals)
>The Sword
>Wolfmother
>Fu Manchu
>Grinderman
>Queens of the Stone Age and Them Crooked Vultures
>Sonic Youth
>Smashing Pumpkins (Gish and Siamese)
>The Raconteurs
>TOOL
>D.B.T.
>Soundgarden.
>Red Fang (local hard rock Portland band - Youtube their videos - "Prehistoric Dog" and "Wires" are awesome and whip smart funny)


Middle of the road rock - Neil Youngs albums going back 5 to 12 years (Can't get enough of Greendale.  Can't get through an entire album of any of his most recent 3 or 4 albums).  My Morning Jacket is good.  Radiohead and Red Hot Chili Peppers plus and minus. 

Kenreau

[jarcher]

+1!  The thread is about identifying specific music that meets certain criteria.   

While I hope we all put the quality of the performance first over the quality of the recording, discussing the merits of the latter I think still has a place in a "music" circle just as I think we would agree that discussing the sound quality at a concert venue - whether acoustical or amplified - would also be relevant. I.e. how the music is carried from the performer to the instrument to the environment, whether its live or recorded, are factors relevant to enjoyment of music and worth discussion.

As for the OPs request for recommendations, would suggest that being more specific about preferred genre and other criteria may produce better responses.  Theres a lot of well recorded music out there!

[vinyl_lady]

With respect to more recent music/releases:
Folk rock--The Decemberists; Mumford & Son
Indie Rock-- Arcade Fire; Wilco; Grace Potter & the Nocturnals
Pop-- The New Pornographers
Rock-- Any Neil Young album. Neil is fanatical about recording quality. The new NY & Crazy Horse Psychedllic Pill is terrific, so is Americana;

I have a lot of new music by the above artists on vinyl (and a few CDs) and am very pleased with the recording quality, especially the vinyl.

Some of the vinyl reissues are great too, like the 45 RPM of Fleetwood Mac and Rumours; the 45 RPM Doors albums; The Rhino reissues of Chicago Transit Authority and Love Forever Changes; Counting Crowes, August and Everything After.

Laura

[Devil Doc]

Since you mentioned Folksy stuff, I can recommend any reissue by Sandy Denny, Steeleye Span, Pentangle (especially "The Time Has Come"), and Fairport Convention. If your tastes run in that direction, most Doc Watson recordings are pretty good.

Doc

[Mitsuman]

Contemporary Rock on vinyl

Son Volt - Hollywood Town Hall 180g vinyl
Wilco - AM 180g vinyl
Widespread Panic - Dirty Side Down

Classic Rock on vinyl

Moxy - S/T (black album)
Budgie - If I were Brittania I'd Waive The Rules
Budgie - Bandolier
Joe Walsh - The Smoker You Drink The Player You Get
Hall & Oates - Abandoned Luncheonette
Focus - Standing Waves
Bachman Turner Overdrive - S/T
Bachman Turner Overdrive - Not Fragile
The Knack - Get The Knack
Stevie Ray Vaughn - Couldn't Stand The Weather


I could go on with many more, but I assure you the right (original/early) pressing of the older rock above sounds fantastic.