New Record Releases Reviewed for Sound Quality and Musicallity

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Audiofile Rating: Music Quality 10 / Sound Quality 9, except for Seeds of Love, Sound Quality "10"

Batch Review:

There’s no question these five artists are outstanding examples of modern pop music today. I’m as guilty as anyone for falling into long stretches of time where I only listen to music I was exposed to when I was younger, High School – College era. But if you’re really into music, whether it’s hard rock, blues, whatever – and you find yourself doing the same thing – only buying music from your particular era “back then” than you are doing yourself a HUGE DISERVICE. Because if you are truly into great music, this batch represents modern music at its finest.

 

Some, like the Tears for Fears album pictured in the “Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab banner are not new, but a new release from the original master tapes – hence – new production of an older record. But tears was a band that for some reason got missed by many “not from the era” in which they were newly popular, and company’s like MO-FI are going back and grabbing that music which deserves to be immortalized on collector quality vinyl.

 

As for the truly newer artists highlighted here, The 2015 Capital Records release of the Decemberists is a production of impressive originality and musicality. If you like Neil Young, Mason Proffit or The band, it should be at the top of your list to pick up. They have an earthy grass-roots originality to them that speaks to you with wonderful stories and non-traditional lyrics. Three sides of music are included with this “gatefold” album, heavy vinyl pressings w/an interesting celestial design on the fourth non-playable side. This is one of my new-favorite records!  I think we’ll be expensing one of these for demonstration of the Hi-Fi gear next door at Uptown Audio.

 

Another amazingly original recording is that of the “Fleet Foxes” w/there 2015 release on Sub Pop records. Another Gatefold Album cover, the first is a full length 33 1/3 LP, the second is a full size EP w/about 15 minutes of material per side. Another outstanding recording lyrically, musically, and sound quality wise. The vocals on this in my mind are as good as “One Direction” -- Could use this next door as well, but have to limit how many “demo” records we have laying around…

 

The Mobile Fidelity Original Master Recording of Tears for Fears The seeds of love – what can I say – every “Mo-Fi” recording is painstakingly derived from the original master tapes, on top quality vinyl and are a number limited edition. Every single Mo-Fi record ever released when it goes out of production instantly goes up in value usually by a minimum of four times.  So even if you are not a collector – per say, if all you every bought were Mo-Fi releases – your record collection would be worth considerably more than you paid for it. Oh, and did I mention, these recordings are typically better than the original – earn a “10” for sound quality. 

 

As for the Black Keys, the material on this one is lush and syrupy, with excellent musicality and originality. Lots of reviews out there for this very popular band so once again, yes, sound quality is on par with what you would want music this good to sound like when you get it home to your very own vinyl spinner!

 

“cheers”

John Fogerty, Wrote a Song For Everyone, Vinyl Record Review, Audiophile Sound Quality, Vanguard Records

Vinyl Record Review

John Fogerty: Wrote A Song For Everyone, 2013 Vanguard Records (double album gatefold set) on heavy (gram weight not specified vinyl).

Audiophile Rating: Music Production Quality 10 / Recording 7

Style: Popular, Rock, Singer, Song Writer



This recording get's a 7 as the overall quality is very good, but not as good as most "audiophile" or other heavy vinly recordings of today. The sound quality beats the pants off most of the used records you'll come across with broad rich detail over the entire frequency range and a quiet velvet like background. The sound stage itself exceeds the width and debth of the speakers but fails to extend to the listening posistion.

If you are a fan of any of the following artists; Zac Brown, Foo Fighters, Kid Rock, Miranda Lambert, Brad Paisley, Alan Jackson, Bob Seger, Keith Urban, Jennifer Hudson, Dawes, or My Morning Jacket you’re going to want to pick this one up. Fogerty’s music is as fresh and timeless as the living legend himself, and he plays in with each of these artists on one or more of his own songs. Recorded on the Vanguard label and produced by Julie Fogerty the sound and production quality of this album set sounds even better than the original Fantasy label.

This album has all the ingredients to become a truly a timeless classic. Even when I’ve been stuck in a Jazz or classical mood (usually will ONLY play the genre I’m stuck in when it’s one of these two), I find myself putting this one on again and again – it’s just too good to classify or file away for an occasional play when I’m in a rock, country, or folk mood.

For instance, take some of the same tracks on the original Fantasy recordings,i.e. Who’ll Stop The Rain, Long as I can See the Light I would usually say the original version is better, not so here. My Morning Jacket’s version of Long – Light is stupendous, pedal steel guitarist Carl Broemel makes the music sound both old school classic and fresh and new and Fogerty’s voice has held up surprisingly well for his years of 62 I believe blending as if just one of the group during vocal accompaniments w/those half his age. And on Who’ll stop the rain, you realize Seger’s voice has also held up amazingly well for someone that’s been belting it out with such passion since the early 60’s he & Fogerty sound rich and melodic together on this one with a beautiful piano accompaniment from Silver Bullet pianist Craig Frost (also of early Grand Funk Railroad fame). Again, the music has a timeless appeal that sounds as much like a product of today as it did when it first hit the airways some 40 years ago. And Zac Brown’s rendition of Bad Moon Rising, and Kid Rock’s Born on the Bayou are among my new favorite songs.

All the bands on this album take ownership of Fogerty’s music to a degree not often the case with famous “duets” and or “covers”. I see myself replacing this vinyl on a regular basis – i.e. I must be on my 5th copy of Dark Side of the Moon….”cheers”
--Mark