[vapman]

What do you like to test your headphones with?

For me, I have a mix CD of various lossless songs, but the first to try out is always Kyuss' "Green Machine". Not my favorite song ever, but the intro guitars either sound very crisp or very muddy and there is absolutely no in-between (by the way, you'd be surprised at what a quarter mod on some Grado Comfies can do!). If it's crisp, the phones get my approval.

Other songs I like to test with are Night Goat by The Melvins and some sunn0))). Maybe a Merzbow track too. Some Shellac is good too to hear lots of little tiny details.

 

[QRanc]

I test everything with a few songs off QOTSA - Songs for the Deaf, and Portishead - Dummy, and usually some Beatles.

 

[Currawong]

Lately, some Sara K, not just for her vocals, but for the band playing as well.

 

[Sabrage]

Don't see how you could test anything with Merzbow... I can never tell what's going on in their albums.

I find myself reaching for my top-shelf post-rock; Grails, Godspeed, This Will Destroy You, as well as some of Venetian Snares' more diverse stuff. (Rossz)

 

[GreatDane]

Track #9 - Too Rich For My Blood.

 

[compuryan]

I use tons of songs to test. But one that I've always enjoyed is "Like You'll Never See Me Again" by Alicia Keys

 

[Happy Camper]

One song?

Who Wants to Live Forever- Aryeon & After Forever.

Big synth. energy, female and male solo and choir vocals, fast-attack drums, strings, bass, horns, wailing guitar, high dynamic demand and delicate passages.

Honorable mention:

The Flight of the Valkyies- Wagner
Christmas in Sarajevo- Trans Siberian Orchestra
And You and I- Yes
My God Called Me This Morning- The Fairfield Four
Tears in Heaven- Eric Clapton

OK I cheated.

 

[ingwe]

Quote:

Originally Posted by GreatDane /img/forum/go_quote.gif Track #9 - Too Rich For My Blood.

Yep indeed.

 

[Happy Camper]

Another Patricia Barber piece I enjoy is Constantinople from Modern Cool.

 

[928GTS]

Either Hybrid's "Finished Symphony" or Daft Punk's "Voyager"

 

[Hunted Charlie]

"Science vs. Romance" by Rilo Kiley is excellent, I've found.

 

[Ttvetjanu]

Massive attack - mezzanine

 

[cwell2112]

Guster - One Man Wrecking Machine
Regina Spektor - Fidelity
Modest Mouse - Float On
Radiohead - Reckoner

And a few others...

 

[krmathis]

Probably this one:
Nils Lofgren - "Keith Don't Go"

Hard to choose just one, since I have several regular ones.

 

[wovenhand]

Shellac - Dog And Pony Show, Prayer To God
Neurosis - The Tide, The Doorway, Given To The Rising
Blonde Redhead - anything from the albums "23" and "Misery Is A Butterfly"
Nine Inch Nails - anything from "The Downward Spiral" and a lot off of "Ghosts I-IV"
Battles - Race:In
Einstürzende Neubauten - Sabrina, Selbstportrait Mit Kater
Woven Hand - Down In Yon Forest, Slota Prow - Full Armor
Unsane - Against The Grain
Trans Am - Futureworld
Weedeater - God Luck And Good Speed
Radiohead - Pyramid Song

There's a small selection of what I throw on when auditioning.
It was impossible to narrow it down to just one.. or a few. Sorry.