Well, usually someone starts one of these threads and I was surprised to find nobody had yet, so I'll take the honours this year.
It was, indeed, a very good year chez Kelman, getting both a combination of hard media and super high resolution digital downloads that absolutely would change the minds (and ears) of those who are naysayers about the validity of the format. Yes, some high res is a rip-off, just as remasters are, but the 9 titles I received are absolutely marvellous - in the case of the Joni Mitchells, especially Court and Spark and Hissing of Summer Lawns, it feels like she's singing in my living room, and I'm hearing a ton of details (the number of layered guitars, for one) that I'd never heard before.
So, here's the picture..and the complete list:
And the booty is:
A. Hard Media:
Magma - Köhnzert Zünd. Been waiting for this awhile, today's the day I crack it open, because the soft media was just too enticing.
B. High Resolution Digital Albums, all at 24-bit/192Kbps (they sell at 24/96 but the extra resolution is absolutely palpable):
1. My favourite run of Joni Mitchell albums (all I'd add is Blue and I'll be done): Court and Spark, The Hissing of Summer Lawns, Hejira, Don Juan's Reckless Daughter, Mingus, Shadows and Light
2. Two latter-day Miles albums (since I've been collecting his '60s period through Mobile Fidelity's SACD Hybrid series of hard media): Tutu and Amandla.
With so many layers on the Miles albums, I'm hearing everything more clearly and on a more broadened soundstage, with a dynamic range that really does go from a whisper to a scream. Joni's records, especially the first two, come at a time when folks were often taking particular advantage of layering, and so, for example, the title track to Court and Spark has, at best count so far, three...possibly four guitars. I love being able to hear the detail.
Detail which, of course, is revealed with absolute truth through my Tetra 333s.
It was, indeed, a very, very happy Christmas. Thanks to my wonderful wife, Rio!
Bookmarks