December 1st, 2024
Audio-Technica's AT-ART1000X "Direct Power" Cartridge Adds Midband Glory And Texture a promise fulfilled By: Michael FremerCostly, exotic phono cartridges are fun to write about and of course to listen to and own but they represent a tiny fraction of the business for large, "industrial grade" producers like Audio-Technica. Though most of the company's cartridge output centers on "bread and butter" models like the AT and VM 95 series, maintaining high precision, manufacturing excellence requires exercises in forward thinking design and execution.... Read More
Comments: 19December 1st, 2024
Play Me My Song - “Nursery Cryme” Gets Revisited The first album by the classic lineup of prog pioneers By: Dylan PegginBy 1971, things were finally starting to come together for Genesis. Vocalist Peter Gabriel, keyboardist Tony Banks, and guitarists Mike Rutherford and Anthony Phillips initially churned out short baroque pop pieces on their 1969 debut, From Genesis to Revelation, while they were still pupils at England’s prestigious Charterhouse boarding school. Producer Johnathan King fought to keep the group’s arrangements concise to a simple pop formula, but Genesis was keen to... Read More
Comments: 1Somehow, it’s already the end of November, which means that the holiday season is upon us. “Finding good gifts for picky vinyl obsessives can be hard,” goes our gift guide intro year after year. Thus, Michael Fremer and Malachi Lui (with the consideration of other writers’ most enthusiastic reviews this year) have compiled a list of recommended records, gear, and accessories. All products are independently selected. We hope this helps at least someone.iFi Zen Phono 3... Read More
Comments: 1November 29th, 2024
A Blah RSD Black Friday Still Produces a Few Gems for jazz fans anyway By: Michael FremerA relatively lackluster set of RSD Black Friday offerings had me staying home. There were a few interesting items but nothing that had me running to the store, especially pre-dawn to wait on line. Your reaction may have differed and for all I know you are reading this standing on line at your favorite record store. These three were sent my way, so of course I listened.Resonance HLP-9074The Sun Ra Arkestra played Warsaw while I was there covering last October's... Read More
Comments: 9November 29th, 2024
Great sounding «Bill Evans in Norway» Is More Than a Time Capsule Another Bill Evans live gem in Black Friday limited release. By: Jan Omdahl
Bill Evans in Norway is a double album with a never before heard recording of an excellent 1970 concert from the Kongsberg Jazz festival featuring the Evans trio with bassist Eddie Gómez and drummer Marty Morell.
Read More Comments: 6November 28th, 2024
"Beatles '64" Documentary Begins Streaming on Disney+ Friday, Nov.29th—Harvey Kubernik Provides the Backgrounder Martin Scorsese produced documentary is built upon the Maysles Brothers' cinema verité coverage of fab four's culture shattering first visit to America By: Harvey KubernikVeteran music journalist, author, Zelig-like scene schronicler Harvey Kubernik has seen it all, (or at least much if not most of it) and over the decades has managed to be the man on the ground for the most momentous events in rock history. The genre may be fading but interest in it, and its history has not, as the excitement surrounding this new documentary that covers the same time frame as the recently released The Beatles 1964 US Albums in Mono box... Read More
Comments: 5November 28th, 2024
History Etched on Vinyl: Wilhelm Furtwängler and the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra - The Radio Recordings (1939 - 1945) PART 2 The In-House Label of the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra presents a Compelling Survey of the Legendary Conductor at work in Wartime Germany By: Mark Ward
Part 2 of my examination of this landmark release of Furtwängler's wartime recordings with the BPO continues with a detailed discussion of the music and performances contained on these records, and of their cultural, historical, and political context and significance.
You can read Part 1 here.
Read More Comments: 5November 26th, 2024
Drummer, Composer, Arranger Jacob Wendt Takes BN Love to a Higher Level some of us buy the records, Jacob made one! By: Michael FremerYou needn't read the liner notes to feel from where drummer/composer Jacob Wendt draws his inspiration. The front cover photo and art direction offer a hint. The back cover does not, but drop the stylus on the title track opener and you'll hear Rudy's classic Blue Note stereo spread and feel Horace Silverness of it. The "Sidewinder"-ness of the follow up tune, "New Groove" is even more obvious, but on neither tune nor on any of... Read More
Comments: 0November 26th, 2024
History Etched on Vinyl: Wilhelm Furtwängler and the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra - The Radio Recordings (1939 - 1945) PART 1 The In-House Label of the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra presents a Compelling Survey of the Legendary Conductor at work in Wartime Germany By: Mark Ward
In this limited edition 8-vinyl LP set of recordings drawn from its epic 22 CD/SACD of the wartime recordings of Wilhelm Furtwängler and the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra, we have a unique and compelling portrait of music-making as an act of cultural and political assertion, latterly embodying defiance in the face of defeat and fear. These were also recordings made with a higher level of sonic fidelity than hitherto available, made possible by the new technology of tape and tape recorders developed and built in Germany in the 1930s. That any of the original master tapes themselves survived the fall of Berlin and their removal to the Soviet Union is just one aspect of the fascinating tale told by these legendary recordings and the beautifully presented accompanying materials in this remarkable set. Part 1 features an overview of the set, a discussion of Furtwängler’s unique place amongst conductors, and the story behind how these recordings came to be made, and the technology developed to make them. Part 2 continues with a detailed discussion of the music and performances contained on these records, and of their cultural, historical, and political context and significance.
Read More Comments: 18November 22nd, 2024
"American Idiot" Does the "One-Step! the most tuneful of Green Day albums By: Michael FremerSerious Green Day fans will tell you American Idiot is not their favorite G.D. album and I'm not going to go down the road of naming names and producing my Top 10 G.D. albums. Your choice, but there are so many great ones, mostly fast, furious, Clash inspired all-American teen-angst infused punk with sly humor added. 2004's American Idiot is Green Day's Tommy—an ambitious, tune-filled, provocative rock opera that critiqued life in W's America and... Read More
Comments: 28November 22nd, 2024
Blue Note Releases Never Before Released "Forces of Nature: Live at Slug's" McCoy Tyner and Joe Henderson with Henry Grimes and Jack DeJohnetter By: Tracking AngleBlue Note Records has released Forces of Nature: Live at Slugs’, a never-before-issued live recording of jazz legends McCoy Tyner and Joe Henderson leading a stellar quartet with bassist Henry Grimes and drummer Jack DeJohnette at the hallowed lost NYC jazz shrine, Slugs' Saloon, in 1966. The release was produced by Zev Feldman with Jack and Lydia DeJohnette, and is available now on 2-LP, 2-CD, and digital formats. Tyner and Henderson had been forging a strong... Read More
Comments: 7November 21st, 2024
"The Beatles 1964 US Albums In Mono"—A Complete Success? I went in a cynic came out a believer—with a few minor caveats By: Michael FremerIf you were not expecting greatness from this set be prepared to be disappointed. The box set's producers understood that the high bar set by the all-analog 2014 The Beatles In Mono box set required this American follow up to be at least equally good, if not better, even though it covers but a single year in the life of The Beatles and the group's relationship with Capitol Records. But what a year it was! Filled with label competition, marketing intrigue,... Read More
Comments: 37November 21st, 2024
Rega Aura MC A phono preamp that gets to the heart of the matter By: Jason KennedyOn October 28th Rega company owner and sole director Roy Gandy gave away all of his shares to a trust established to protect the company in the future. He created an EOT (employee owned trust) and effectively gifted Rega to its workers. The reason given is that this move will “protect our culture and decades of hard work. Becoming an EOT prevents the company being sold and potential buyouts (by dreaded investors) whilst providing all staff with job security going... Read More
Comments: 3November 21st, 2024
A Remix Of George Harrison’s Living in the Material World Doesn’t Fix What Isn’t Broken A FLAWED YET LOVELY BEATLES SOLO ALBUM IS IN GOOD HANDS WITH PAUL HICKS By: Morgan EnosOn 1973’s Living in the Material World, George Harrison’s capacity for subtlety began to elude him in earnest.Six years earlier, he’d released “Within You Without You” on Sgt. Pepper’s — scolding, to be sure, but above all gorgeous, enveloping, and innovative. (Plus, the snickers at the end made it all land.) On the 1968 B-side “The Inner Light,” he channeled the Tao Te Ching with sweet poignancy. On other key songs I don’t need to name, he deftly threaded eros and... Read More
Comments: 1November 20th, 2024
The Beatles 1964 US Albums In Mono Box Opening I didn't bother with lighting or makeup so I could scoop the bitter trolls! lol By: Michael FremerThe box set arrived about an hour ago and I got right on it and shot this box opening video. Honestly, more interesting is the second embedded video with Kevin Reeves and Pat Kraus showing the tapes and the cutting process along with some of the ideas that went into the new cuts. The tape box notes show that bass was seriously cut for the original records as was some top end splashy cymbal stuff.What wasn't clear from the video is what they did for these new... Read More
Comments: 5