Have you discovered any new music on hi-rez?

It's always a bad idea to buy music according to the format it's released on, but have you purchased new music simply because it was released on one of the hi-rez formats?

For my SACD purchases, I usually purchase reissues of titles I know or know of. Basically, sticking with music or a music style I am familiar with. However, on one occasion over at audioasylum.com, I was send 2 SACDs released by FIM (First Impression Music) after I did a favor (got him a SACD he couldn't purchase overseas) for a "inmate" in Singapore. One of these SACDs was "River of Sorrow", an ultra realistic direct-to-DSD recording of traditional Chinese instrumentals. I have almost no knowledge of this music, but the more I listened to it, the more I am into it. It certainly took a while to get my ears accustomed to the music, but somehow I got hooked.

Just received a couple of SACDs from Water Lily Acoustics* that feature combinations of traditional Indian and Chinese instruments, plus banjo (Bela Fleck ) and acoustic guitar (Martin Simpson). I have no idea what to expect.

* Many titles on sale at Music Direct.

 

I have 850 SACDs - what do you think?

I'm going to buy music I know? (or worse, have) and of course I've done that. Sometimes it takes ages to get around to playing these reissues - it took me weeks before I started listening to the Elton Johns.

I'm going to buy music I've heard of - certainly. I listen carefully to recommendations from various sources. How about David Elias - "The Window"? That's a treat.

I'm buying (maybe) a couple of SACDs a week that I have no idea what they are about, and in many cases I don't know the artist or the composer. Sometimes I don't even check my list - that's why I have 4 copies of Mendelssohn's Vioin Concerto.

I can say that "River of Sorrow" is outstanding - what glorious sound, and beautiful packaging. FIM have a few like that - works of art. That's currently a $27-$30 SACD though; they were a lot cheaper when they first came out.

I also have quite a few of the Water Lily SACDs - excellent also. Some of it is very approachable - and other is more concentrated in the style (like Ali Akbar Khan's "Indian Architecture"). "Bourbon and Rosewater" is often recommended.

 

Yep. Porcupine Tree. Thorns. Gonna buy Keane. Alison Krauss (wish the new one was on sacd!) Dredg...Widespread Panic....Crystal Method (regret that one....zzzzzzzzzzzz).

 

Geoff, you should change your title from Forum Hall Of Fame to Single Handedly Saving Hi-Rez.

Yeah, I'm guilty of it too. Not so much anymore, but when I first got my player I bought a few discs just because they were there.

 

There's an example. Bought it last weekend - no idea who they are or what they sound like. (I have a few saved up to listen to over the holidays).

 

I bought Keane, Porcupine Tree, Keb Mo (2), Polyphonic Spree and am going to try the Snow Patrol SACD. I have been very impressed by all of the discs so far!

 

Man, I have bought a ton of SACDs and DVD-As just because they were "there" and others said they were "interesting".

Many have been quite good, others disappointing. However, seeing a new title in a real store sometimes is enough to get me to buy it.

I did not, however, succumb to the Britney Spears DVD-A, although I "almost" did. "Get back in the rack, Britney!"

 

I broke down and bought that Britney Spears DVDA.

 

Lucky my friend works at Jive/Zomba, got both Ms. Spears and R. Kelly for free . I just got the Keane Dual Disc last night so I really haven't checked it out.

 

I've purchased a lot of stuff to try, simply because it was on SACD or DVD-A. Among the things I'd never heard before:

Classical music by Tchaikovsky, Beethoven, Brahms, Mahler, Vaughan Williams, Dvorak, Richard Strauss, Rachmaninoff, Sibelius, etc.
Pink Floyd - DSOTM
Disturbed - Believe
Alanis Morissette - Under Rug Swept
etc. (there's lots more, but I'm not at home right now and am drawing a blank)

 

Jon

You should buy it man - Toxic rocks!

PC

 

Brimstone Butterfly

Track down their DVD_A - I just love it - one of the albums I've listened to most this year!

 

The only album I can think of that I bought "just 'cause it's on SACD" is New Favorite by Alison Krauss + Union Station. I'd never investigated Krauss' music before. I think it's very pleasant, but I find I don't play it very often.

 

I bought the Trey Anastasio DVD-A, although I never heard of him before, and didn't know Phish. I really like the album a lot, although the mix definitely works only in the sweet spot.

But my big discovery was the Beck SA-CD.

Martin

 

Allison Krauss

Also, though I had wanted to hear Isaac Hayes' albums, I never got around to acquiring any until they came out on SACD and now love them.

 

Finally picked this one up from Amazon. Beautifully recorded, great music. Perfect for relaxing on the last morning of 2004!

 

I Have 'discovered' Porcupine Tree, Flaming Lips, Polyphonic Spree and a Hungarian Band called Djabe, all because they were available rather than first choce bands and liked what I have heard.

now if someone would just start to release more Multichannel discs I would be gratefull.

 

I was always going to pick up Keane. And I finally did....excellent stuff.

 

If you like new age stuff, try Kitaro's "Sacred Journey of Ku-Kai" on SACD. I picked it up a couple of weeks ago and now listen to it while stargazing with my telescope - man, the music just sucks you in...great great stuff.

 

HiRez disks I have bought from artists or albums that I did not know of before?

Flaming Lips, Norah Jones, Beck "Sea Change" (had heard one single from the album, but I love the entire thing), Ray Charles "Genius Loves Company" (I knew his music. Who doesn't but had not heard any of the songs on this album 'cause I do not listen to the radio).

Now, what I think is most important is the fact that I have 'rediscovered' music itself through HiRez, especially in 5.1. Now I really enjoy it. I've gotten goosebumps on more than one occasion and have even cried while listening to the voice of Karen Carpenter. Before that it had mostly become background or fly-by sounds or something I listened to as a job or in my car on my way somewhere.

 

Thanks. I've seen the Kitaro discs maybe 20 times - and passed them by.

 

I tend to buy a lot more classical music than before. There seems to be quite a lot of (by my standards anyway) classical SACD's around.

 

I tend to buy more music than before on account of HiRez (and this forum).

 

I bought Beck's Sea Change on SACD only because I could get it cheaply. I liked it enough to buy Mutations, which has become one of my favorite recordings.