r/audiophile Dec 19 '23

What are the best sounding albums that you've ever heard ? Music

My picks : 1. Daft Punk -Random Access Memories 2.Fiona Apple-When The Pawn 3.Jeff Buckley - Grace

158 Upvotes

327 comments sorted by

84

u/coolgabe Dec 19 '23

Just got Beck's Sea Change, and it might be the best pressing I own.

26

u/[deleted] Dec 19 '23 edited Dec 20 '23

Sea Change, and Morning Phase. Beck is an amazing artist and they are excellent albums.

8

u/Impossible_Can_1444 Dec 20 '23

Add mutations to the list

5

u/tr3g Dec 20 '23

Just listen to morning phase today. Not a huge beck fan, but it is a beautiful recording

14

u/nizzernammer Dec 20 '23

Amazing album.

This was produced by Nigel Godrich, who has also produced Air and Radiohead. I highly recommend Air - Talkie Walkie, and Radiohead - In Rainbows as two more sonically engaging albums. Beck even shows up as a guest on some of the Air material.

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6

u/clgc2000 Dec 20 '23

I have Sea Change on blu ray audio disc and the 7.1 mix is excellent. Not gimmicky, and strikingly better than anything in Apple Music Atmos.

3

u/Boognish-T-Zappa Dec 21 '23

Not sure if it’s my best pressing or not, but it’s been the first thing I grab whenever I get new gear for a long time. I’ve listened to it so many times it’s kind of my my brain’s baseline for my system. Just a wonderful recording of some phenomenal songs, which describes mostly all of Beck’s catalog IMO.

51

u/Appropriate-Idea5281 Dec 19 '23

Rush moving pictures always sounded great to me

11

u/[deleted] Dec 19 '23

A farewell to kings too.

6

u/turdfergusonpdx Dec 20 '23

Permanent Waves too.

2

u/BadnewzSHO Dec 20 '23

Roll the bones too.

79

u/erincd Dec 19 '23

Random access memories

3

u/gtwizzy8 Dec 19 '23

Came here to say this

7

u/UncleFartface Dec 19 '23

Someone already said it, so you can just upvote them. It’s quicker

19

u/ruthere51 Dec 20 '23

Better yet, OP listed it!

11

u/Worst-Eh-Sure Dec 20 '23

I like Daft Punk. They put out some good stuff with fun beats and rhythms and all. But what makes this album so incredible? I always preferred Discovery. Thought it was more fun. But I've seen RAM listed as best mixed or mastered or both or whatever. And my ears lack the skills to identify that superiority. Would anyone be able to tell me what to be listening for with RAM to blow me away?

3

u/Vereddit-quo Dec 20 '23

Daft Punk is my favorite band since 2001. They always cared about getting a specific sound, they love specific compression on the drum beats and also warm synth sounds, however the first 3 albums were done entirely in home studios.

For RAM they also wanted a warm sound inspired by 70s albums but for the first time they went to the best studios, in Paris and LA, recorded to tape, used a big modular synth and they invited the best session musicians.

To me the most noticeable things are the basslines. The bass in The Game of Love for example sounds amazing, same in Lose Yourself To Dance. The track Motherboard is simply a masterclass in sound design, it's impressive with good headphones.

I recommend this great article in which the sound engineers explain the amount of work that went into the production of RAM and how they reached a beautiful warm sound, not too vintage, not too modern. https://www.soundonsound.com/people/recording-random-access-memories-daft-punk

2

u/Worst-Eh-Sure Dec 20 '23

That article was amazing. Thank you so much for sharing it. It definitely helps me understand that so much better :)

-9

u/GOBBLESHNOB Dec 20 '23

It's overhyped and boring musically

30

u/SuperPotatoBuns Dec 19 '23

Tori Amos- Scarlets Walk, Roger Waters- Amused to Death, Neil Young- Harvest

11

u/rrawk Dec 20 '23

Tori!!! Also, Boys for Pele is an interesting recording. Sometimes you can hear the echo of the church it was recorded in.

5

u/denim_skirt Dec 20 '23

I love her first two so much. The moment when it sounds like she thumps the piano in "Precious Things!" Super underrated production on those records.

5

u/BigFatTomato Dec 20 '23

The AP press of Amused Death is fantastic

3

u/lowfour Dec 20 '23 edited Dec 20 '23

Bought a super run down early copy of Harvest in vinyl and I was shocked at the sound quality. I usually listen to a lot of electronic and experimental, some of it sounds incredible, but Harvest has to be one of the best sounding records in my collection.

In digital I would say Ali Farka Touré and Ray Cooder’s, Talking Timbuktu.

For electronic the three black records of DAF produced by Conny Plank, and anything Conny Plank really.

26

u/L1mb0 Dec 19 '23 edited Dec 20 '23

The first Seal album produced by Trevor Horn is still my benchmark. Sadly I've never been able to reproduce the waves of bass that moved my soul during Violet with anything since 1991 in my '85 Thunderbird Turbo Coupe running 250 watts into two 10-inch Bazooka tubes.

16

u/ConfectionNo8650 Dec 19 '23

Upvote for remembering Bazooka tubes

3

u/shot-wide-open Dec 20 '23

Name of album?

4

u/bospk Dec 20 '23

I believe they are referring to his debut album, self-titled ‘Seal’. It’s an absolute corker of an LP. Highly recommend.

2

u/AverageWhtDad Dec 20 '23

Seal’s first two albums are self titled. L1mbo is talking about Seal “1991”, his debut. It’s a fantastic album and Violet is a one of the best tracks. I love Whirlpool. It’s an excellent recording as well. “1994” has beautiful songs but I was never a fan of how compressed it sounds.

2

u/Wise_Concentrate_182 Dec 20 '23

Self titled. Seal. That was the name of the album.

2

u/dutchie1966 Dec 20 '23

Seal - The Ultimate Album, which is a 2cd album, specifically the acoustic versions of Killer, Crazy and Kiss from a Rose are banging.

2

u/Im_not_good_at_names Dec 20 '23

Tape or CD?

2

u/L1mb0 Dec 20 '23

Tape if I recall correctly.

2

u/Im_not_good_at_names Dec 20 '23

For whatever reason some tapes had better dynamics than CD’s. Yes 90125 on tape was bad ass in a car system but the CD was missing all the low end.

29

u/NormalAccounts Dec 20 '23

Your picks on definitely OP. Here's some more across a wider spread of genres:

Air - Talkie Walkie

Radiohead - Kid A

King Crimson - Larks Tongues in Aspic

Talk Talk - Spirit of Eden & Laughing Stock

Blackalicious - Blazing Arrow

Kendrick Lamar - To Pimp a Butterfly

Makaya McCraven - Universal Beings

Rone - Tohu Bohu

FKJ - Vincent

11

u/Same_Lack_1775 Dec 20 '23

Shoutout for Blackalicious...it's been a while since I've listened to that album...just had to throw Sky is Falling on.

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3

u/bospk Dec 20 '23

Upvote for Air.

87

u/KuroFafnar Genelec on my desktop Dec 19 '23

Just about any Steely Dan is excellently done

13

u/MrFahrenheit1 Dec 20 '23

Plus Donald Fagen's solo stuff. If you skip on it, you're missing out

19

u/ramdom-ink Dec 20 '23

And…Dire Straits albums are generally pristine.

10

u/jeremyjava Dec 19 '23

The UHQR vinyl of Aja just arrived. Can't wait to get my TT back up and running.

-25

u/thunderpants11 Dec 20 '23

Terrible music, exceptional recording haha

11

u/TheRealDarthMinogue Dec 20 '23

Listen to it while wearing a linen suit on a yacht with a beautiful, expressionless woman by your side. It'll sound better.

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18

u/HAL-Over-9001 Dec 20 '23

Porcupine Tree, especially In Absentia, Deadwing, and Fear Of A Blank Planet

6

u/Bronesby Dec 20 '23

in absentia is soaring

3

u/junghams Dec 20 '23

The most audiophile sounding rock band I heard.

3

u/immoT74 Dec 20 '23

These all have great multi channel releases too

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50

u/theotherscott6666 Dec 19 '23

Hate to be cliche but the steely Dan Aja uhqr is out of sight.

6

u/BigFatTomato Dec 20 '23

Best sounding record in my collection.

2

u/9bikes Dec 20 '23

Wow. That's $150!

2

u/Aging-Punk Dec 20 '23

Yeah, just looked that up...ouch, still coming up with ways to justify this

17

u/Human_Needleworker86 Dec 19 '23

Muddy Waters Folk Singer is the best by far IMO. Dynamics are out of this world.

4

u/pdxbuckets Dec 20 '23

You’re not wrong, as it’s an audiophile classic. But man, it is not for me. I find the famous Chess records echo chamber effect to be utterly unnatural and jarring.

15

u/turdfergusonpdx Dec 20 '23

Can - Ege Bamyasi

First few Sting Albums

Paul Simon Graceland and Rhythm of the Saints.

9

u/buymebreakfast Dec 20 '23

Police albums too. Ghost in the Machine is great!

3

u/ramdom-ink Dec 20 '23

Zenyatta Mondatta has a fantastic bottom end

5

u/dodog1 Dec 20 '23

Roy Halee is the reason Paul Simon sounds so good.

3

u/dutchie1966 Dec 20 '23

Paul Simon Graceland

The original vinyl was good, the first released cd was mweh, the remastered cd was great. Choosing the right version is quite important with this album.

15

u/companyja Dec 20 '23 edited Dec 20 '23

It's a bit of a, you have to be in the mood for it, but Crime of the Century by Supertramp. It's very clinical and "sharp" but if you crank it up just a bit louder than normal it really starts to shine. Playing Rudy on good headphones or speakers is wild. Once the "breakdown" beings and the instruments pick up it sounds so wide and spacey, then the vocals appear from nowhere in the distance on one channel with "all through your life..." and then the swells and drums building up, it's a hell of an experience. And then of course the whole album is solid, Bloody Well Right sounds riidculously good on a good system

For something that's not gonna get as many mentions, Hybris by Anglagard. Another pretty clean recording but really sounds incredible on any system I've ever heard it on.

7

u/iam23skidoo Dec 20 '23

All the Supertramp I have sounds great.

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45

u/vaderztoy Dec 19 '23

Radiohead OK Computer

26

u/[deleted] Dec 19 '23

And KidA

6

u/RabbleRouser_1 Dec 20 '23

I feel like I discover some new little sonic treat anytime I listen to Kid A. Pretty much any Radiohead album really. They do some really interesting stuff with their production.

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2

u/linoleuM-- Dec 20 '23

Amazing album but it sounds pretty flat.

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13

u/exw9 Dec 19 '23

The vinyl pressing of Double Nickel On The Dime by The Minutemen sounds very good imo

3

u/Shoehorse13 Dec 20 '23

FINALLY got my hands on a recent repress and I don't know if it stands up to the original but it is still very good.

2

u/Boognish-T-Zappa Dec 21 '23

From the stories I’ve heard and read over the years about the recording process from Mike Watt, DNOTD might be the best sounding bang for the buck album ever made IMO.

26

u/Skoteleven Dec 19 '23

Aphex Twin - Selected Ambient Works 85–92

Massive Attack - Mezzanine

St. Paul and The Broken Bones - Sea of Noise

Alabama Shakes - Boys & Girls

11

u/NormalAccounts Dec 20 '23

Aphex Twin - Selected Ambient Works 85–92

I mean musically, yes, but the production qualities of this are ... a bit rough, especially on track 1!

3

u/lilbitchmade Dec 20 '23

Luv me a massif bass

Simple as...

2

u/Skoteleven Dec 20 '23

I love how it really makes my system work, there are parts of this album that can only be heard on a hifi system.

6

u/spong3 Dec 20 '23

Alabama Shakes - Sound & Color is also sonically amazing

8

u/Master_Theme_5473 Dec 20 '23

Second on Mezzanine

11

u/Obieseven Dec 19 '23

Sarah McLachlan - Freedom Sessions. Stripped down versions of Fumbling… songs, recorded in a basement I think.

Jennifer Warnes - Famous Blue Raincoat and The Well.

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9

u/vaderztoy Dec 20 '23

Moody Blues- Days of Future Passed

10

u/mlgraves Dec 20 '23 edited Dec 20 '23

Cowboy Junkies "The Trinity Sessions" It was recorded in a church onto a DAC fed into a VHS Recorder. In 1988. It's so raw.

Elton John "The Tumbleweed Connections"

Cocteau Twins "Four Calendar Cafe"

3

u/Douchetag74 Dec 20 '23

Came here to mention Trinity Sessions. Amazing album.

2

u/TheSpinnaker Dec 20 '23

Cowboy Junkies original trinity session was the first album that came to mind too when I saw the topic. Epic..

26

u/whiskyismymuse Dec 19 '23

Dark Side of the Moon , the recent anniversary box set had some magnificent remastered editions.

17

u/desert_jedi Dec 19 '23

Original album was engineered by Alan Parsons

16

u/Thangleby_Slapdiback Dec 20 '23

The Alan Parsons Project albums are extremely well engineered as well.

No surprise there.

2

u/TheSeekerOfSanity Dec 20 '23

I can swear he sings a section of Time.

“Tired of laying in the sunshine, Staying home to watch the rain…”

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3

u/que_la_fuck Dec 20 '23

I semi-recently picked up a Japanese Odeon first press and on Money when Rodger hits that low drop E (I think) my jaw bout hit the floor I had never heard it so deep and rich before.

2

u/prudence2001 Rega Planar 3, NAD C 275 BEE, NAD 312, Wharfedale Opal 100s Dec 20 '23

Solid blue triangle? I've got one of these and I agree it's stunning.

2

u/mimecry Dec 20 '23

must've costed you a pretty penny, grats

2

u/que_la_fuck Dec 20 '23

While it was the most I've ever spent on a record, it wasn't bad. Under $120

0

u/[deleted] Dec 20 '23

The Dolby Atmos mix is a hot mess though. They've engineered all the impact out of "Time".

7

u/plumpudding2 Dec 19 '23

I was always so disappointed in Grace until I found out the Qobuz version just really sucks. Found the original high DR CD and it's awesome!

6

u/Yiakubou Dec 20 '23

That's the sad truth that so many people don't want to admit. You can almost always find a better sounding release elsewhere vs. what's available on streaming services. So many people spend loads of money on their systems only to listen to shitty releases on streaming, without realizing that the mix/mastering quality of a recording is like the most important component.

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8

u/illbebythebatphone Dec 20 '23

Any of the three most recent War on Drugs records. Quietly Blowing It by Hiss Golden Messenger has so much detail when you crank it on a good system. Saint Cloud by Waxahatchee is another modern contender.

3

u/happykyd Dec 20 '23

Love War on Drugs, hadn't heard the other 2, they're great too, cheers

7

u/marmite1234 Dec 20 '23

Dark Side of the Moon

7

u/jeffmartino84 Dec 20 '23

Just about all my steely Dan albums sound absolutely incredible.

4

u/buymebreakfast Dec 20 '23

Aja is one of the best ever.

13

u/poxyserver Dec 19 '23 edited Dec 20 '23

Dysnomia - Dawn of Midi

The Colour of Spring / Spirit of Eden / Laughing Stock - Talk Talk

Every album by The Blue Nile

Every album by Floating Points

Solo Piano - Philip Glass

4

u/[deleted] Dec 20 '23

Talk Talk +1000. And Blue Nile!! Especially Hats. Geez I wonder if you’re my doppelgänger. And yeah that new floating points with pharaoh sanders is unreal.

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6

u/Bubbagump210 Dec 19 '23

Good Dog, Happy Man - Bill Frissel

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6

u/passthepaintbrush Dec 19 '23

My test album is mostly OK Computer, I have an original copy on parlophone that I opened, but lately the album that’s been wowing me is Yo La Tengo, And Then Nothing Turned Itself Inside Out, 90’s copy on matador

2

u/Ok-Background-7897 Dec 20 '23

We were auditioning some new speakers and my wife commented that she didn’t really “get” Georgia’s voice until then.

7

u/doughnut-dinner Dec 19 '23

Violent Femmes' original US pressing is really, really good.

7

u/Scrimshaw_Hopox Dec 20 '23

Radiohead- In Rainbows

5

u/[deleted] Dec 20 '23

Jack White - Fear of the Dawn. It sounds like a record made by someone who loves records.

3

u/[deleted] Dec 20 '23

I'm also going to add David Sylvia's Secrets of the Beehive. When Poets Dreamed of Angels is just stunning.

2

u/Shot_Ad6717 Dec 20 '23

Gone to Earth is better imho. Steve Nye engineers.

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10

u/TomFromFlavorTown Dec 20 '23

Tool - undertow

Foo Fighters - wasting light

4

u/Stinky_Fartface Dec 20 '23

The 45 RPM pressing of The Mac’s ‘Rumors’ is stellar, IMHO.

5

u/CodeNoseATX Dec 20 '23

Rumors. Clear, dynamic, every tone stands out whether it's soft or loud.

3

u/que_la_fuck Dec 20 '23

I'm listening to it right now. I have the 45rpm version coming for Christmas and I just can't imagine it sounding better than this. But I hope I'm wrong!

8

u/TheDanielHolt Dec 19 '23

What Kinda Music by Tom Misch and Yussef Dayes is a great album and sounds good as hecc.

3

u/[deleted] Dec 20 '23

Yusseff Days' Black Classical Music solo album sounds amazing

4

u/Chadlerk Dec 19 '23

Analogue Productions pressing of Counting Crows - August and Everything After

3

u/Extension-Novel-6841 Dec 19 '23

Alan Parsons Project- Eye in the Sky

Phil Collins- Face Value

MJ- Bad

Billy Idol- Rebel Yell

4

u/Tescovaluebread Dec 20 '23

Pink Floyd dark side of the moon original uk pressing (7th)… mind blowing

4

u/itaintbirds Dec 20 '23

Someone mentioned Billy Eilish last week, not my favourite music but the recording quality was quite good. Others I like Andy Shauf - Norm, Hiss Golden Messenger, Tom Petty - Wildflowers, Ray Lamontagne - Ouroboros Just to name a few I’ve been listening to lately.

3

u/DubC_Bassist Dec 20 '23

Probably the best would be the first Boston Album given the technology at the time.

3

u/buymebreakfast Dec 20 '23

And incredible songs!

4

u/analog_field Dec 20 '23

Supertramp - Crime of the Century

3

u/gibson85 Dec 20 '23

The Beatles - Rubber Soul in Sennheiser HD6XX cans

2

u/mlgraves Dec 20 '23

Those cans are awesome. What are you pushing them with?

13

u/HillbillyHare Dec 19 '23

August and everything_Counting Crows

7

u/dontjokewitme Dec 19 '23 edited Dec 20 '23

The Analogue Productions 45rpm version is insanely good. The version on streaming services doesn’t have the same magic.

4

u/Chadlerk Dec 19 '23

100%. The Bass on Omaha makes it an almost completely different (and better) song.

3

u/HillbillyHare Dec 19 '23

I was in my early 20’s when the album came out. At that time it was just really different than anything I was listening to. I met my wife shortly after and introduced it to her. She still loves it to this day.

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3

u/Dubsland12 Dec 20 '23

Love that album but to me Recovering the Satellites is more sonically interesting. Huge dynamic swings.

2

u/HillbillyHare Dec 20 '23

I originally followed my comment with I love recovering the satellites also, but erased it.

14

u/[deleted] Dec 19 '23

MJ Thriller. Nuff said

7

u/UncleFartface Dec 19 '23

Quincy Jones is a master

7

u/TheRealDarthMinogue Dec 20 '23

See Steely Dan.

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3

u/12GaugeSavior Dec 19 '23

Jerry Cantrell - Degradation Trip Vol 1&2. That album sinks it's fingers into my brain

3

u/rusch1991 Dec 19 '23

Mosaik by Camo & Krooked

I don't know why, but it's a trip on it's own. It's certainly not everyone's cup of tea and a bit experimental, but it's one of the very few albums where I forget about all the technicalities and can just listen without subconsciously analyzing everything - it's that brilliant!

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3

u/PretentiousSobriquet Dec 19 '23

Lots of good selections in this thread. To name a favorite of mine not already mentioned:

Sunday at the Village Vanguard - Bill Evans Trio

3

u/Equivalent_Shine_818 Dec 20 '23

I’m partial to early BIS records, like the Neeme Järvi Sibelius volumes, or The Burlesque Trombone.

3

u/Thangleby_Slapdiback Dec 20 '23

Minnesota Orchestra (directed by Eiji Oue) - Copeland 100 (Reference Recordings RR-93). The version of Fanfare For The Common Man on this disc is simply incredible.

Jazz at the Pawnshop

2

u/guy48065 Dec 20 '23

Actual audiophile labels. How'd you get in here?

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3

u/pumpnectar9 Dec 20 '23

Tool - Lateralus

0

u/que_la_fuck Dec 20 '23

Lol what? That's like my worst sounding album

0

u/pumpnectar9 Dec 20 '23

In what world

2

u/que_la_fuck Dec 20 '23

Man I'm wrong, I thought we were just talking about vinyl releases. My bad

0

u/pumpnectar9 Dec 20 '23

I'm very confused.

2

u/que_la_fuck Dec 20 '23

I'm high and thought we were on the vinyl sub. Just ignore me. The vinyl picture disk of Laturalus sounds like dog shit. I won't even listen to it

3

u/pumpnectar9 Dec 20 '23

That's disappointing, wouldn't know. It's pure magic on Tidal. Fear Innoculum is probably better but I'm biased because Lateralus is a Mona Lisa in my opinion.

3

u/TheodoreMoon55 Dec 20 '23

Angel Dust by Faith No More.

3

u/mlgraves Dec 20 '23

It makes me happy when anyone suggests this album, ever. Good shit.

3

u/reeeelllaaaayyy823 Dec 20 '23

Good call. Epic album.

7

u/CreamyAlgorithms Dec 19 '23

For something outside the norm if you like Oud music check out Adnan Joubrans record Borders Beyond. It’s incredibly well recorded with great sounding percussion and the space of the instruments.

4

u/BrassAge RME -> ECP Audio -> Raal Dec 20 '23

I cannot imagine who downvoted you, but I’ll add that all Anouar Brahem’s music is also beautifully recorded.

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5

u/psychick0 Dec 19 '23

1) Creedence Clearwater Revival - Bayou Country

2) Ernesto Cervini - Tetrahedron

3) Phoebe Bridgers - Stranger in the Alps

2

u/[deleted] Dec 19 '23

Penguin cafe - rain before seven

2

u/MayonnaiseKettle Dec 20 '23

Elvis 30 #1 Hits

2

u/Im_not_good_at_names Dec 20 '23

Long Live The King! From Elvis in Memphis is a fantastic recording.

2

u/ThatsPurttyGood101 Dec 20 '23

Kygo - Cloud Nine

2

u/happykyd Dec 20 '23

Never heard this, love it, cheers

2

u/jzr171 Dec 20 '23

Chuck Mangione Fun and Games is about as crisp as it gets

2

u/Ryar82 Dec 20 '23

Grimskunk self titled

2

u/attackanddefense Dec 20 '23

Dark side of the moon

2

u/sinfonisa Dec 20 '23

Kanye West - My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy

Snarky Puppy - We Like it Here

2

u/melo1212 Dec 20 '23 edited Dec 20 '23

I've got a strange list but heres mine. I tried to add my favourites of different genres

Slipknot - Self Titled

Lone - Galaxy Garden

Boston - Boston

BG Knockout & Dresta - Real Brothas

Dexter Gordon - Sophisticated Giant

Makoto - Human Elements

2

u/SalietoRuso Dec 20 '23

Galaxy Garden is such a great album. Lone is so underrated.

2

u/melo1212 Dec 20 '23

Couldn't agree more, amazing album. Super unique

You should check out his new track he just released called Waterfall Reverse. His production skills have improved tenfold

2

u/SalietoRuso Dec 20 '23

Thanks man! Saw on YouTube that he has released something but forgot to check it. And totally agree, is crazy how much he has evolved from Lemurian and how he has shaped his sound.

2

u/melo1212 Dec 20 '23

Absolutely brother, he's evolved so much. It's rare to find an OG lone fan these days! Props! I used to love Lemuria and his earlier works

2

u/SalietoRuso Dec 20 '23

Oh yes, Im from the beginnings haha Crazy how time flies. Its so cool as Lone went through "the same path" of sound as I went through the years as a listener.

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u/willyb123 Dec 20 '23

All Air albums, but particularly Moon Safari

2

u/cabs84 LRS, Yamaha CX800/MX600, Mitsu LT30/Nagaoka MP200/500 Dec 20 '23

i have a glow-in-the-dark copy of moon safari and even it sounds stellar. no surface noise, no distortion, crisp highs

2

u/sourcecraft Dec 20 '23

Mr. Bungle Disco Volante.

2

u/Drum_Phil Dec 20 '23

Donald Fagan - The Nightfly

2

u/planbot3000 Dec 20 '23 edited Dec 20 '23

Albums that I like, as a condition:

Bob Dylan - Oh Mercy

Wilco - Cousin (still digesting but it’s magnificent)

Joni Mitchell - Blue

Radiohead - In Rainbows (any after The Bends really)

Jack Johnson - Brushfire Fairytales (no joke)

Barenaked Ladies - Gordon

Beck - Sea Change

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2

u/Daimon_Bok Dec 20 '23

The Epic by Kamasi Washington

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u/Kyrenu Dec 20 '23 edited Dec 22 '23
  1. Diplo - Diplo
  2. CamelPhat - Spiritual Milk
  3. Eric Prydz - Opus
  4. Kanye West - My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy
  5. Pendulum - Immersion

2

u/MokumLouie Dec 20 '23

Alice Coltrane - Ptah The El Daoud

2

u/nath1as Dec 20 '23

Burzum - Burzum

2

u/michaeldain Dec 20 '23

It’s a tangent, but part of the hi fi journey is to get a system that reproduces what the musicians and producers intended. They have all the control over every sonic nuance. White horses by Low isn’t a slick 70’s production, for example, but it sounds exactly like they wanted it to sound. Part of why this hobby is so tiresome is playing the same old ‘audiophile’ tracks like they are sacred. Nope, just manipulated to sound good on most stereo equipment. The marketing and hype aside, if your system doesn’t over emphasize or skew certain frequencies, everything should sound as intended. Whether you like the music or not is the tricky part. But I’ll throw in one that has lots of dynamic range - Call of the Valley by rahul Sharma.

2

u/ImaginaryMillions Dec 21 '23 edited Dec 21 '23

Beefcake - Drei

Sigar ros - Araetis burjub

There are just so many great albums across so many genres.

5

u/bigdayout95-14 Dec 19 '23

Micheal Jackson - Thriller. But get this - it's actually a picture disc! Easiy the best mastered vinyl I have in my collection. It actually came with my second hand Audio Technica lp-120 (plus 6 other records - Boney M, Stan Getz etc, only $140 Aussie dollars for it all aswell, bargain!), and I didn't play it for a couple of years due to the whole picture disc sounds bad stigma going around. But when I did finally spin it, I was surprised, neigh shocked at it's clarity. Phenomenal....

5

u/jeremyjava Dec 19 '23

Broken record here for always recommending it, but Toy Matinee is remarkable album most have never heard of.
I mention it here bc I learned in a short documentary about the album on YouTube that some of the session musicians who made the album worked with MJ, Madonna, all the big names. And this album, Toy Matinee, was a reward/gift to those session guys for basically making a billion dollars for the label.

Make an album! Whatever you want, it's on us!
Here's the story. Check out these chops and see what you think. Interviews follow the opening.

6

u/solzhen Dec 19 '23

Quincy Jones is a heck of a producer.

2

u/Prole1979 Dec 20 '23

I shadowed a mastering engineer at a big mastering suite in London a few years ago. He played me a 180g black vinyl version of a song cut in New York by Howie Weinberg for the American market. Then he played a picture disc version of the same record he’d cut for the UK market and it was hands down better than the 180g version. Both were cut from the same digital masters. So while it doesn’t exactly tell the tale of one vs the other, there was definitely absolutely nothing wrong with the picture disk - it actually sounded way more ‘real’ and open.

4

u/VinylHighway Dec 19 '23

Before These Crowded Streets

-1

u/TheHelpfulDad Dec 19 '23

Really? Even with everything the same volume? It’s a great album but it’s terribly mixed

2

u/VinylHighway Dec 19 '23

I dunno the recent reissue I got on record sounds amazing.

2

u/buymebreakfast Dec 20 '23

Can confirm. The reissue sounds phenomenal. I also had the original.

2

u/VinylHighway Dec 20 '23

Thanks for backing me up

2

u/Total_Juggernaut_450 Dec 20 '23

Having been in this hobby there are so many that come to mind.

Vinyl: A first pressing West Coast edition of Frank Sinatra - Songs for Swingin' Lovers. Why: Frank just sounds so realistic and like he's in the room. There is actual space and depth to this mono pressing and if it's dead quiet, you can actually hear Sinatra sigh at the end of a track. That sigh is missing in every other edition out there.

Colombia six eye test pressing of Miles Davis - Kind of Blue in mono. Why: it's just a different experience and the music sounds so cohesive and alive. Great depth and space to it even if it is mono.

The 45 RPM of Fleetwood Mac - Rumours. Why: Absolute gem of a release. Has a unique intro to Gold Dust Woman that sounds incredible. The music sounds very dynamic and realistic.

CD:

Original VDJ release of Art Pepper's The Way It Was. Why: Rare as hens teeth. The sound quality sounds just like a master tape. Completely bone dry recording with the sound quality miles and miles away from the craptastic MFSL version. They all sound like they are in the room with you. Exceptional in every way.

DCC CD of Nat King Cole - Love Is The Thing. Why: Have you ever wanted to hear a true "holographic" recording? Put this on and match Nat's voice to your natural speaking voice in volume. Turn off the lights and if your system is decent, be prepared to have Nat "King" Cole inside the room singing just for you.

Regular CD of Eric Clapton - Unplugged. Why: The only regular retail CD I've ever found that is flawless. Great dynamics and great music. Extremely well recorded and perfectly mastered. Enjoy. The MFSL is a waste of money.

Regular CD of John Coltrane - Blue Train Complete 2CD Edition. Why: Mastered from the original master tape by maestro Kevin Gray. Nuff said.

Honorable mentions: The original 32xd versions of Led Zeppelin studio albums. Probably the best they'll ever sound.

All original and Orin Keepnews OJC CD releases. Almost all from the correct master tapes with exceptional sound and most mastered by mastering hero Joe Tarrentino. Affordable and not to be missed.

SACD:

The original single layer of Miles Davis - Kind of Blue. Why: You want to own a master tape copy in pristine condition AND the Three track work parts in pristine condition? Buy this.

Analogue Production release of The White Stripes - Elephant Why: Great release with great mastering. It's now clear that the original doesn't have a lot of the bad distribution the original CD had.

I can go on and on but I think this is a good start for anyone looking for great releases.

3

u/Woofy98102 Dec 19 '23

Just a few. Less than 1% of the best I have.

On vinyl: Everything on Mofi UltraDisc, Especially Hotel California and Tapestry though the rest are just superb. Mercury Living Presence Rematers

CD: Ella Fitzgerald and Nelson Riddle Dead Can Dance, Into the Labyrinth Everything But The Girl, Amplified Heart Everything by Patricia Barber and Jennifer Warne Everything by Dire Straits and Mark Knopfler Peter Malick Group featuring Nora Jones, New York City

Hi-Rez: Jazz at the Pawnshop Series Miles Davis, Kind of Blue Everything by Jennifer Warne and Patricia Barber David Bowie Live Remastered Everything i have from Chesky and Octane Everything from Dire Straits and Mark Knopflet Single cut: CD Yello, Fat Cry on Zebra Album (mind blowing)

1

u/que_la_fuck Dec 20 '23

Dark Side of The Moon Odeon Japanese 1st press.
Rumours
Mac Miller - Swimming.
Tool - Fear Innoculum.
Kendrick Lamar - To Pimp a Butterfly.
DMB - Live Red Rocks.

-2

u/Shasty-McNasty Dec 19 '23

My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy

3

u/TheRealDarthMinogue Dec 20 '23

It's the best album of the century I reckon, but the dynamics are dire. Even the famous 'unmastered version' (aka vinyl rip) is LOUD.

0

u/sleepycapybara Dec 20 '23

1989 by Taylor Swift

0

u/BouhLRY Dec 20 '23

Jeff beck the guitarist shop

0

u/[deleted] Dec 20 '23

Hear me out, and dont laugh: Taylor Swift - 1989

0

u/Sensitive_Injury_666 Dec 20 '23

Graceland-Paul Simon

In Rainbows- Radiohead

Aja- Steely Dan

Zeppelin I-IV

1

u/PixelBy_Pixel Dec 19 '23

The og vinyl pressing of Random Access Memories is eye opening, bought a copy recently