First let me explain where I'm coming from and how I describe "blown away":
When I was younger, I went quite a bit to the Opera and even Ballet. Growing up, I saw my share of live shows, but always smaller, intimate venues (to this day, I've never been to a stadium gig). These days, I tend to go to jazz festivals and jazz clubs.
That is my benchmark for good sound.
The only thing so far that I've ever heard come close to that sound, are the Ultimate Ears Triple.fi 10 Pro. Not only do they sound (disclaimer: to me) like I'm on the stage, or inside the recording booth, but some tracks seem to transport you to another dimension if they're well produced.
Take that as you may, but I'm currently a "junkie" when it comes to finding new tracks that can transport me to that dimension where sound equals pleasure.
So, if you know what I'm talking about, I'm about to present you a list of tracks which I currently get my "fix" from. If you can add to that list, please feel free to do so (pretty please)!
---
Joe Slam and the Spaceship (Harry Connick Jr - She)
The drums, oh my god! Throughout the entire track they deliver a punch to the face with every beat. The solo break at 4:46 is like having your head right next to the drum kit. Thank god the rest of the track is really mellow, otherwise I think I'd be KO'd in under a minute.
Elizabethan Serenade (Mantovani Orchestra - Tea for Two)
Close your eyes to this track and you're on the stage, with the lead strings in front of you slightly to the left, the flute closer slightly to your right, next to the percussions... the 3D feel of this recording is simply out of this world.
Queen B (Puscifer - "V" is for Vagina)
Think what you will about the style of music, but the way the exhale in the background beat evaporates is simply masterfully done. Then the main vocals emerges from inside your own skull and rubs itself all across your brain. It's science bloody fiction in audible form.
Learning to Fly (Pink Floyd - A Momentary Lapse of Reason)
My selection of song reveals that I'm not a purist Pink Floyd fan, and this track doesn't even really come alive until 3:05, but that's when an impossibly large drum goes off and hurls you straight into space.
Photographic (Rex the Dog Dubb Mix) Depeche Mode - The Complete Depeche Mode box set
The most crisp, sharp and hard hitting synth sounds I've ever experienced. There's not much variation to this track, but what there is is executed extremely well.
DVNO (Justice - Justice)
Very, very tight, well defined and hard hitting sounds throughout the entire track, with good 3D placement as well. I'm suspecting that unless you use very good equipment with this track, there's a "a capella" passage at 2:20 with extremely sharp treble which may cut your ears off if you're not careful.
Trend Setter (Lazee - Setting Standards)
There's three different bass lines going on throughout this track, each with different 3D separation, which is a real test of the bass capabilities of your equipment. The entire record is generally very well produced.
Where Eagles Dare (Film Theme) (Ron Goodwin & His Orchestra - That Magnificent Man and his Music Machine)
The way this track builds up anticipation is nerve wrecking, but boy does it deliver, again and again, first with it's deep brass section, then with it's over the top full orchestration, and finally, that oh-so goose-bump inducing growling double-bass.
Lascia Ch'io Pianga (Lesley Garret & Ivor Bolton - Prima Donna)
A lone soprano, some contra-bass, a few strings and a harpsichord. Sure, you may favor other singers, but when it comes to the quality of a recording, it doesn't get much better than this. Hypnotizingly clear, is all I can say.
Under the Sea (Funky Chill Mix) (Digby Jones - Under the Sea Remastered & Remixed 2009)
This must be the clearest lounge I've ever heard. The drums are so well defined, and the rest is very sparse and tightly arranged. When the (probably fake, but still) Fender Rhodes enters at 4:02 it feels as if my life is complete.
The Vulture (Labi Siffre - Remember my Song)
If you like Eminem, you might recognize another track from this album, but I chose this one because it's groovy 70s soul at its best, while at the same time it is extremely well produced with very clearly defined instruments. But ok, I must admit that the "I Got the..." track does more for me (but you can hear some noise in the middle of it when it switches beats).
Hide & Seek (Namie Amuro - Play)
Perhaps not really fair to include a Japanese artist that you can't get outside of that country and perhaps strange choice because she's basically the Britney Spears of Japan, but if you want to hear the state of the art of current Japanese J-pop studio production, the whole album is basically it.
I feel like I'm beginning to dilute the quality of both my descriptions and the contents of my list, so I'll leave it at that for now.
PS. Yes, these are also the tracks I use to judge any audio gear I come across.
When I was younger, I went quite a bit to the Opera and even Ballet. Growing up, I saw my share of live shows, but always smaller, intimate venues (to this day, I've never been to a stadium gig). These days, I tend to go to jazz festivals and jazz clubs.
That is my benchmark for good sound.
The only thing so far that I've ever heard come close to that sound, are the Ultimate Ears Triple.fi 10 Pro. Not only do they sound (disclaimer: to me) like I'm on the stage, or inside the recording booth, but some tracks seem to transport you to another dimension if they're well produced.
Take that as you may, but I'm currently a "junkie" when it comes to finding new tracks that can transport me to that dimension where sound equals pleasure.
So, if you know what I'm talking about, I'm about to present you a list of tracks which I currently get my "fix" from. If you can add to that list, please feel free to do so (pretty please)!
---
Joe Slam and the Spaceship (Harry Connick Jr - She)
The drums, oh my god! Throughout the entire track they deliver a punch to the face with every beat. The solo break at 4:46 is like having your head right next to the drum kit. Thank god the rest of the track is really mellow, otherwise I think I'd be KO'd in under a minute.
Elizabethan Serenade (Mantovani Orchestra - Tea for Two)
Close your eyes to this track and you're on the stage, with the lead strings in front of you slightly to the left, the flute closer slightly to your right, next to the percussions... the 3D feel of this recording is simply out of this world.
Queen B (Puscifer - "V" is for Vagina)
Think what you will about the style of music, but the way the exhale in the background beat evaporates is simply masterfully done. Then the main vocals emerges from inside your own skull and rubs itself all across your brain. It's science bloody fiction in audible form.
Learning to Fly (Pink Floyd - A Momentary Lapse of Reason)
My selection of song reveals that I'm not a purist Pink Floyd fan, and this track doesn't even really come alive until 3:05, but that's when an impossibly large drum goes off and hurls you straight into space.
Photographic (Rex the Dog Dubb Mix) Depeche Mode - The Complete Depeche Mode box set
The most crisp, sharp and hard hitting synth sounds I've ever experienced. There's not much variation to this track, but what there is is executed extremely well.
DVNO (Justice - Justice)
Very, very tight, well defined and hard hitting sounds throughout the entire track, with good 3D placement as well. I'm suspecting that unless you use very good equipment with this track, there's a "a capella" passage at 2:20 with extremely sharp treble which may cut your ears off if you're not careful.
Trend Setter (Lazee - Setting Standards)
There's three different bass lines going on throughout this track, each with different 3D separation, which is a real test of the bass capabilities of your equipment. The entire record is generally very well produced.
Where Eagles Dare (Film Theme) (Ron Goodwin & His Orchestra - That Magnificent Man and his Music Machine)
The way this track builds up anticipation is nerve wrecking, but boy does it deliver, again and again, first with it's deep brass section, then with it's over the top full orchestration, and finally, that oh-so goose-bump inducing growling double-bass.
Lascia Ch'io Pianga (Lesley Garret & Ivor Bolton - Prima Donna)
A lone soprano, some contra-bass, a few strings and a harpsichord. Sure, you may favor other singers, but when it comes to the quality of a recording, it doesn't get much better than this. Hypnotizingly clear, is all I can say.
Under the Sea (Funky Chill Mix) (Digby Jones - Under the Sea Remastered & Remixed 2009)
This must be the clearest lounge I've ever heard. The drums are so well defined, and the rest is very sparse and tightly arranged. When the (probably fake, but still) Fender Rhodes enters at 4:02 it feels as if my life is complete.
The Vulture (Labi Siffre - Remember my Song)
If you like Eminem, you might recognize another track from this album, but I chose this one because it's groovy 70s soul at its best, while at the same time it is extremely well produced with very clearly defined instruments. But ok, I must admit that the "I Got the..." track does more for me (but you can hear some noise in the middle of it when it switches beats).
Hide & Seek (Namie Amuro - Play)
Perhaps not really fair to include a Japanese artist that you can't get outside of that country and perhaps strange choice because she's basically the Britney Spears of Japan, but if you want to hear the state of the art of current Japanese J-pop studio production, the whole album is basically it.
I feel like I'm beginning to dilute the quality of both my descriptions and the contents of my list, so I'll leave it at that for now.
PS. Yes, these are also the tracks I use to judge any audio gear I come across.
