Yes – Magnification
Artist: Yes | Album: Magnification | Style: Progressive Rock | Year: 2002 [2001 original] | Quality: DTS 5.1 (.wav+.cue) + DVD-Audio (MLP 5.1 96kHz/24Bit, PCM 2.0 96kHz/24Bit, Dolby AC3 5.1) | Tracks: 10+1 live bonus | Size: 7.96 Gb | Recovery: 5% | Covers: in archive | Release: © Rhino | WEA, 2002 + DTS ремукс DVD-Audio | Note: Watermarked
Many call Yes’ brand of progressive rock “symphonic rock.” The term means that the group produces arrangements in the vein of a symphony using typical rock instrumentation. With Magnification, Yes has taken that a step further, adding a symphony orchestra. The orchestra is not simply thrown over the top, though; the songs were written for this particular grouping. Yes has flirted with this type of thing before. Released in 1970, the Time and a Word album featured a string section, but the complete integration is what makes Magnification a superior work. The material on the CD is pretty standard modern Yes fare, but the addition of that symphony really does create a whole new texture. It also seems as if it inspired the band, and some members put in performances that are head and shoulders above their recent work. The album does have its weak moments and gets just a little over the top at times, but there are a lot more moments that shine than dull ones. (more…)
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Vince Gill – High Lonesome Sound
Artist: Vince Gill | Album: High Lonesome Sound | Style: Bluegrass, Country | Year: 2003 [1996 original] | Quality: DVD-Audio (MPL 5.1 88.2kHz/24Bit, MPL 2.0 88.2kHz/24 Bit, AC3 5.1 48kHz/16Bit, PCM 2.0, 44.1kHz/16Bit) | Bitrate: lossless | Tracks: 11 | Size: 3.41 Gb | Recovery: 5% | Covers: in archive | Release: MCA Nashville (SEL:B0001121-19), 2003 | Note: Not Watermarked
Vince Gill takes off on a tour of American music on High Lonesome Sound. The title cut steps back to a time he hasn’t visited in a while, drawing on his days as a bluegrass singer and guitarist to create a soaring, harmony-driven sound that applies Appalachian drive to modern country rhythms. Most of the rest of the album’s journey treks in new directions. The aggressive guitar riff that opens “One Dance with You” is straight Chicago blues, while the jaunty feel that enlivens “Down to New Orleans” draws on the Windy City’s funky rhythms with a deft touch worthy of Little Feat — with Lowell George, that is. “Tell Me Lover,” also bearing the trace print of Little Feat, dances through a swampy groove. The arrangements by Gill and producer Tony Brown give traditional sounds a modern sheen while maintaining a distinct regional flavor. Gill gets much more room to show off his impressive guitar prowess than on his past records. A pair of small complaints are that his lyrics don’t match the music (they are steeped in the modern country topical schemes) and he can overly sweeten the blues. Elsewhere, he uses the clichéd aspects of Cajun music in paying homage to Louisiana’s musical heritage (R&B and New Orleans second-line rhythms aren’t here and should be, because he’s musically sophisticated enough to pull them off). Therefore, this album works best when he’s not straining for authenticity: “Worlds Apart,” “Given More Time,” and “Pretty Little Adriana” leaven his tried-and-true formula into arrangements that are more progressively atmospheric than his past hits. Gill owns too many strengths to need to transform himself into Lowell George or Bonnie Raitt at this point in his career; he can leave his own mark on any music he chooses to play and — for the most part — does so here. (more…)
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VA – The Nordic Sound – 2L Audiophile Reference Recordings
Artist: Various Artists | Album: The Nordic Sound – 2L Audiophile Reference Recordings | Style: Classical | Year: 2009 | Quality: DVD-Audio (MLP 5.1 96kHz/24Bit) | Bitrate: lossless | Tracks: 19 | Size: ~3.48 Gb | Recovery: 3% | Release: rip and authoring of BluRay by 2L (103232), 2009 | Note: Not Watermarked
VA – Inside the Music – Women on Top
Artist: Various Artists | Album: Inside the Music – Women on Top | Style: Pop, Rock | Year: 2001 | Quality: DVD-Audio (MPL 5.1 96kHz/24Bit, DTS 5.1, Dolby AC3 5.1) | Bitrate: lossless | Tracks: 10 | Size: ~3.15 Gb | Recovery: 5% | Release: Silverline Records, 2001 | Note: Not Watermarked
A collection of ten tracks by female artists released in DVD Audio, Inside the Music: Women on Top is strangely reminiscent of the compilations released when the CD was still a developing format. Most of the track selections are solid enough, including Blondie’s “Heart of Glass,” Katrina and the Waves’ “Walking on Sunshine,” and Kim Carnes’ “Bette Davis Eyes,” but they’re also somewhat dated; Wilson Phillips’ “Hold On” is the most recent track included on the album. Likewise, it’s questionable whether anyone really wants to try out their new DVD Audio system with Vixen’s “Cryin’.” Missing Persons’ “Words,” the Motels’ “Only the Lonely,” and Ike and Tina Turner’s “Nutbush City Limits” round out this odd collection, which is entertaining enough, but hardly state-of-the-art. (more…)
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VA – Inside The Music – New Age
Artist: Various Artists | Album: Inside The Music – New Age | Style: New Age | Year: 2001 | Quality: DVD-Audio (MLP 5.1 96kHz/24Bit, Dolby AC3 5.1, DTS 5.1) | Bitrate: lossless | Tracks: 12 | Size: ~5.11 Gb | Recovery: 3% | Covers: no | Release: 5.1 Label Group | Silverline (72434-92356-9-4), 2001 | Note: Not Watermarked
VA – Inside The Music – Classic Rock
Artist: Various Artists | Album: Inside The Music – Classic Rock | Style: Classic Rock | Year: 2001 | Quality: DVD-Audio (MLP 5.1 96kHz/24Bit, DTS 5.1, Dolby AC3 5.1) | Bitrate: lossless | Tracks: 11 | Size: ~3.88 Gb | Recovery: 3% | Covers: in archive | Release: Silverline Records (72434-77896-9-4), 2001 | Note: Not Warermarked
Silverline and 5.1 Entertainment present a series of Audio-Only DVDs, presented in stunning six-channel Surround Sound for truly breathtaking reproduction. Featuring some of your favorite artists performing their greatest hits, this series is a “best of the best” created especially for this exciting technology. The hits include J. Geils Band’s “Centerfold,” Sugarloaf’s “Green-Eyed Lady,” George Thorogood and the Destroyers’ “Bad to the Bone,” and choice tracks by John Waite, Pat Benatar, Michael Stanley Band, and more! (more…)
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VA – Inside The Music – Classic Country
Artist: Various Artists | Album: Inside The Music – Classic Country | Style: Country | Year: 2001 | Quality: DVD-Audio (MLP 5.1 96kHz/24Bit, Dolby AC3 5.1, DTS 5.1) | Bitrate: lossless | Tracks: 11 | Size: ~2.6 Gb | Recovery: 5% | Release: DVD International | Silverline (B000059LH0), 2001 | Note: Not Watermarked
VA – SACD-LAB Demo Disc 1-3
Artist: Various artists | Album: SACD-LAB Demo Disc 1 | Style: Electronic, Rock, Classic | Year: 2008 | Quality: DVD-Audio (MLP 5.1 96kHz/24Bit) | Bitrate: lossless | Tracks: 3+3+6 | Size: 914+903+ 1630 Mb | Recovery: 5% | Release: © SACD-LAB, 2008 | Note: Not Watermarked
VA – DVD-Audio Music Sampler Vol.2
Artist: Various Artists | Album: DVD-Audio Music Sampler Vol.2 | Style: Rock, Blues, Hip-Hop | Year: 2003 | Quality: DVD-Audio (MLP 5.1 48kHz/24Bit, DTS 5.1 96kHz/24Bit, DTS 5.1 48kHz/24Bit, DTS ES 6.1 48kHz/24Bit, LPCM 2.0 48kHz/24Bit) | Bitrate: lossless | Tracks: 9 | Size: 3.49 Gb | Recovery: 3% | Covers: in archive | Release: DTS Entertainment (DTS DVA 6516024600), 2003 | Note: Not Watermarked
VA – Acura RDX Demonstration Disc
Artist: Various Artists | Album: Acura RDX Demonstration Disc | Style: Electronic, Funk, Soul, Hip-Hop, Jazz, Rock | Year: 2006 | Quality: DVD-Audio (MLP 5.1 48kHz/24Bit, MLP 5.1 96kHz/24Bit, Dolby AC3 5.1) | Bitrate: lossless | Tracks: 25 | Size: ~3.93 Gb | Recovery: 5% | Covers: in archive | Release: © Rhino Special Products, 2006 | Panasonic (OPDA-7826), 2006 | Note: Not Watermarked
Van Zant – Brother To Brother
Artist: Van Zant | Album: Brother To Brother | Style: Country, Southern Rock | Year: 2003 [1998 original] | Quality: DVD-Audio (MLP 5.1 96kHz/24Bit, Dolby AC3 5.1) | Bitrate: lossless | Tracks: 11 | Size: 3.4 Gb | Recovery: 5% | Covers: in archive | Release: Sanctuary | Silverline Records (288186-9), 2003 | Note: Not Watermarked
Brother to Brother marks the first time Johnny and Donnie Van Zant have ever collaborated together, and the results are exactly what fans of either Lynyrd Skynyrd or .38 Special would expect — a set of tough, bluesy Southern rock. Instrumentally, it nearly achieves its full potential, capturing both of the guitarists in fine form. However, the material is a bit inconsistent, with several songs lacking memorable hooks or melodies. Still, the songs that do work are dynamite, and even the weaker tracks have their moments. And that means Brother to Brother is a worth a listen by any serious Skynyrd, Special or VanZant fan. (more…)
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Andrea Bocelli, Renee Fleming, Valery Gergiev – Verdi: Requiem (2003)
Conductor: Valery Gergiev | Composer: Giuseppe Verdi | Orchestra: Kirov Orchestra and Chorus | Album: Verdi – Requiem | Style: Classical | Year: 2003 | Quality: DVD-Audio (MLP 5.1 48kHz/24Bit, MLP 2.0 48kHz/24Bit, Dolby AC3 5.1) | Bitrate: lossless | Tracks: 15 | Size: ~6.46 Gb | Covers: in archive | Release: Philips | Decca (B0001571-19 PDA), 2003 | Note: Not Watermarked
Giuseppe Verdi is one of the most tuneful, beloved composers of vocal music Italy has produced. Verdi wrote REQUIEM in honor of Alessandro Manzoni, an Italian poet and novelist he greatly admired. Acclaimed tenor Andrea Bocelli and soprano Renee Fleming, along with conductor Valery Gergiev and the Kirov Orchestra, perform a moving rendition of this heartfelt work, perfectly capturing the depth of emotion and challenging musical requirements of this work. Any classical-music lover will appreciate this performance. (more…)
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The Mavericks – The Mavericks
Artist: The Mavericks | Album: The Mavericks | Style: Rock, Country | Year: 2003 [1998 original] | Quality: DVD-Audio (MLP 5.1 96kHz/24Bit, Dolby AC3 5.1 48kHz/24Bit) | Bitrate: lossless | Tracks: 11 | Size: 3.22 Gb | Recovery: 3% | Covers: in archive | Release: Sanctuary Records/ 5.1 Label Group / Silverline Records (288213-9), 2003 | Note: Not Watermarked
On their first studio album since leaving MCA in 1999, the Mavericks find themselves at a creative crossroads. While vocalist and songwriter Raul Malo is able to freely indulge his muse on any number of projects, the band as whole has been making numerous musical decisions. The results are not always positive. First, the good news: when at their best, as they are for a good part of this recording, the Mavericks are simply the best there is. On tracks such as “In My Dreams,” informed as it is by Roy Orbison’s ghost and Malo’s deeply expressive singing, the band becomes larger than life. Singing a midtempo ballad, the band gathers around him and allows him to walk out on the emotional edge of his vocal and dig a lot deeper than the arrangement would normally suggest. Likewise, on the son-infused “Shine a Light” sheeny Cuban soul acts as the fiber the tune builds upon. A well-placed horn section and numerous strains of polyrhythmic drive make this the party tune everybody’s been waiting to hear from them. Likewise, the slow rumba feel of “Wondering” with Malo’s ’50s-influenced singing makes this the greatest song k.d. lang never recorded. “By the Time” showcases the band’s still deep country waltz roots, and the B-3 touch that hovers in the background is positively haunting. The slightly funky country AOR root of “Time Goes By” is one of the dirtiest and most emotional tunes the group has ever recorded. The Latin lounge of “San Jose” — not the Bacharach tune — would be the best thing on the album if it weren’t for the badly intoned synthed-out strings. Likewise, “Would You Believe” and “Because of You” with their thickly textured busy-ness draw away from the emotion inherent in them, and they are swallowed by arrangements. The performance of “Air That I Breathe,” while valiant and seemingly heartfelt, cannot redeem this song from the shmaltz pile. The Mavericks are still more than capable of coming up with the goods when it comes to fine songwriting and performances, but next time they should hire a producer to rough up their overly rounded surfaces. Malo may indeed be the problem, trying to maneuver his band into playing for his solo moods, but with a unit this fine, he should be writing for them. (more…)
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The Moody Blues – Days of Future Passed
Artist: The Moody Blues | Album: Days of Future Passed | Style: Progressive rock | Year: 2006 [1967 original] | Quality: DVD-Audio (MLP 5.1 96kHz/24Bit) | Bitrate: lossless | Tracks: 7 | Size: 2.84 Gb | Recovery: 3% | Covers: in archive | Release: rip of SACD by © Decca | Deram (983 215-0), 2006 | Note: Not Watermarked
This album marked the formal debut of the psychedelic-era Moody Blues; though they’d made a pair of singles featuring new (as of 1966) members Justin Hayward and John Lodge, Days of Future Passed was a lot bolder and more ambitious. What surprises first-time listeners — and delighted them at the time — is the degree to which the group shares the spotlight with the London Festival Orchestra without compromising their sound or getting lost in the lush mix of sounds. That’s mostly because they came to this album with the strongest, most cohesive body of songs in their history, having spent the previous year working up a new stage act and a new body of material (and working the bugs out of it on-stage), the best of which ended up here. Decca Records had wanted a rock version of Dvorak’s “New World Symphony” to showcase its enhanced stereo-sound technology, but at the behest of the band, producer Tony Clarke (with engineer Derek Varnals aiding and abetting) hijacked the project and instead cut the group’s new repertory, with conductor/arranger Peter Knight adding the orchestral accompaniment and devising the bridge sections between the songs’ and the album’s grandiose opening and closing sections. The record company didn’t know what to do with the resulting album, which was neither classical nor pop, but following its release in December of 1967, audiences found their way to it as one of the first pieces of heavily orchestrated, album-length psychedelic rock to come out of England in the wake of the Beatles’ Sgt. Pepper’s and Magical Mystery Tour albums. What’s more, it was refreshingly original, rather than an attempt to mimic the Beatles; sandwiched among the playful lyricism of “Another Morning” and the mysticism of “The Sunset,” songs like “Tuesday Afternoon” and “Twilight Time” (which remained in their concert repertory for three years) were pounding rockers within the British psychedelic milieu, and the harmony singing (another new attribute for the group) made the band’s sound unique. With “Tuesday Afternoon” and “Nights in White Satin” to drive sales, Days of Future Passed became one of the defining documents of the blossoming psychedelic era, and one of the most enduringly popular albums of its era. (more…)
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The Foundations – The Very Best of the Foundations
Artist: The Foundations | Album: The Very Best of the Foundations | Style: R&B, Soul, Pop | Year: 2002 | Quality: DVD-Audio (MLP 5.1 96kHz/24Bit, Dolby AC3 5.1) | Bitrate: lossless | Tracks: 14 | Size: ~2.37 Gb | Recovery: 5% | Covers: in archive | Release: Silverline Records (288092-9), 2002 | Note: Not Watermarked
This budget compilation contains some of the best-known work from this English soul group. Put together in DVD audio, it’s a nice treat for longtime fans of the band. Those new to the Foundations or just looking for a particular song might be better off with a standard compilation. (more…)
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