Surrounded On Sundays - 5.1/quad reviews and summaries

PhantomStranger · Sep 29, 2019

The Doolittle surround mix is one of the few I haven't heard from one of my favorite albums. Anyone know who mixed and mastered it?

c-eling · Sep 29, 2019

Galactus2 said: ↑

Time for some Pixies.

Doolittle is the second studio album by American alternative rock band Pixies, released in April 1989 on 4AD. The album's offbeat and dark subject material, featuring references to surrealism, Biblical violence, torture and death, contrasts with the clean production sound achieved by the newly hired producer Gil Norton. Doolittle was the Pixies' first international release, with Elektra Records as the album's distributor in the United States and PolyGram in Canada.

Pixies released two singles from Doolittle, "Here Comes Your Man" and "Monkey Gone to Heaven", both of which were chart successes on the US chart for Modern Rock Tracks. The album itself reached number eight on the UK Albums Chart, an unexpected success for the band. In retrospect, album tracks such as "Debaser", "Wave of Mutilation", "Monkey Gone to Heaven", "Gouge Away", and "Hey" are highly acclaimed by critics, while the album, along with debut LP Surfer Rosa, is often seen as the band's strongest work.

Doolittle has continued to sell consistently well in the years since its release, and in 1995 was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America. The album has been cited as inspirational by many alternative artists, while numerous music publications have ranked it as one of the most influential albums ever. A 2003 poll of NME writers ranked Doolittle as the second-greatest album of all time,[2]Rolling Stone placed the album at 227 on its list of "The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time"[3] and Pitchfork ranked it as the fourth best album of the 80s.[4]

So that's^ what Wiki says about Doolittle, and folks can visit that site for more facts and figures.

But, as so often is the case, Wiki doesn't give the readers the flavor of what's being discussed. And for a difficult band like the Pixies, it's a challenge.

How do you describe the Pixies to someone not familiar with them? Post-punk? They're certainly that. Abrasive? Oh yes they can be. Off-beat and quirky? You betcha. They are all this and more, and yet so much of their music is compelling and just draws you in. Who do you compare them to? On Doolittle, their 'dark' subject matter, as Wiki describes it, includes such odd material as incest, monkeys gone to heaven, slicing up eyeballs, waves of mutilation, and so much more. Clearly, they're not for everyone.

My copy is a 2016 Blu Ray pure audio release. Not sure what other formats are/were available. This was a gift to me, so also not sure where it came from. This reasonably-priced example on Discogs appears to be the one I have:

Pixies - Doolittle

Right from the opening track of Debaser, the Pixies grab your attention and let you know they're not your ordinary rock band. This is a crystal-clean production, though some might find it a bit on the 'bright' side. Drums are up front, vocals are mixed on some of the channels. Same goes for Tame, the 2nd song. It's a 1-2 punch that will tell a listener 'you're either going to find this interesting, or way too abrasive for you.'

And yet, the Pixies can hit to so many fields. On 'Wave of Mutilation,' you're singing along with some very catchy....albeit dark and strange....lyrics. On some songs on this mix, the center channel is used for vocals, but not always. And on some, it's used only for music. It can seem as though the mix is just as experimental as the music. Quite possibly that's intentional.

Pixies fans that lament bassist Kim Deal leaving will point to songs such as 'I Bleed' and 'Here Comes Your Man,' among others, as examples of what a great bassist she is. Plenty of Pixies fans I know say the band was never the same after she left.

In any case, people wondering if the Pixies can be melodic, or write 'hits,' 'Here Comes Your Man' is as catchy as anything that was on the radio at that time. This song, plus 'Monkey Gone to Heaven' on this album, helped to launch the Pixies out of the small club scene, and onto a wider audience. IMO.

'Man' is a great mix of a pop song, if it can be considered that. All the instruments and voices are just balanced nicely. And it's all nice and clear. The whole album, by and large, was very well-recorded. Not sterile or bright, but some may find it as such; at least on some songs.

Sandwiched between 'Man' and 'Monkey' is a song called 'Dead.' It just serves to remind the listener not to get lulled into a false sense of who the Pixies are. It's strange and off-beat, but has some nice drumming on the front speakers.

'Monkey Gone To Heaven' is almost the quintessential Pixies song for me. It's got everything: melodic lines, jangly guitar, great bass lines (and back up vocals) by Kim, some abrasive yelling by Frank Black and wild imagery. Again, a fairly balanced mix, but this song seems to make more use of the back channel speakers than some of the others. It's subtle, though. 'Monkey' is often the song Pixies fans play for neophytes, as a good example of what they can sound like. It really does play to all their strengths.

'Mr. Grieves' is all post-punk, and the same can be said for 'Crackity Jones.' Lots of punk energy and urgency in these songs, and if any of you are familiar with Boston's Mission of Burma alt band, I could easily have seen them recording either of these songs. But I can also see people skipping these songs, as they're not as developed, IMO, as others on the album.

'La La Love You' is a return to Pixies' quirkiness. Kim whistles in the background of it, while Frank croons in the front speakers. Hard to envision them taking this one too seriously when they recorded it.

'No. 13 baby' is another post-punk rocker that could have used some more development. It has some nice fuzzy guitar work, and had some potential, but kind of falls a bit on the underwhelming side, compared to some of the other tracks. But it's also one of the songs here that makes generous use of the back channel speakers. So there's that.

Want more distortion and abrasive Pixies? 'There Goes My Gun' has it for you, and it also could have used more time in development. There are a few songs on Doolittle that remind me that this was only their second album, and as strong as it is overall, they were still finding their way.

'Hey,' though, is a real gem, with trademark quirky lyrics such as 'whores in my head, whores in my bed.' It's also a break from the screechy style of some of the other songs, and is a bit more laid-back.....if any Pixies song can be accused of that. Frank's in the front channels, and Kim is echoing him in the back. A nice mix, and a change of pallet.

If you ask 10 Pixies fans what they think of 'Silver,' you might get 20 opinions. Some call it filler, some love it. It might be as polarizing as the Pixies themselves. It's odd and dream pop-ish, and not something to expect from this band. But that's what I mean about them hitting to so many fields.

If there was any doubt about this album finishing strong, 'Gouge Away' removes all fears. It's classic Pixies, right up there with 'Monkey' and 'Man' here. Shimmering, fuzzy guitar, propulsive drumming, Frank yelling, accusing weed sellers of price gouging (allegedly what it's about) and some background la la la's by Kim. And just short enough to have gotten some airplay on the more adventurous FM stations.

I won't lie -- the Pixies were very much an acquired taste for me. I didn't know what to make of them at first, and had to ease my way in. But time and patience has rewarded me, and now I consider them one of Boston's best alt bands (and I'm from the Boston area, so I've seen a ton of them). Conversely, I can also see where people just don't warm up to them. They are very unconventional......but in a good way.

Doolittle and Surfer Rosa are often pointed to as their best work. That's tough to argue with, and there's something on both albums that should appeal to a rock fan with open ears for something new and different. This Blu Ray audio 5.1 mix is very clean, clear, crisp. If anybody else has it, I'd certainly be interested in their impression of it; on certain systems, I wonder if it's too in-your-face, or shrill.

A great album overall, and there are styles here for a variety of tastes.

Happy listening!
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Nice write-up, thanks. I ended up pulling out my 5.1 before this came out. For 5.1 this was all that was released. For the two channel portion you get the MFSL mastering which was a nice touch, my favorite mastering for this album. Enjoy

c-eling · Sep 29, 2019

PhantomStranger said: ↑

The Doolittle surround mix is one of the few I haven't heard from one of my favorite albums. Anyone know who mixed and mastered it?
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Pixies - Doolittle

weekendtoy · Sep 29, 2019

riskylogic said: ↑

The Source

Studio album by Ayreon
Released April 28, 2017
Recorded 2016–2017, mainly at the Electric Castle, Netherlands
Genre Rock opera progressive metal progressive rock
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I really like The Source, and it's my favorite of the several surround releases by Ayreon. However, they are all really good.

I have the 4cd/DVD Artbook edition.

Other surround releases include:

Best of Ayreon Live

Into the Electric Castle

Actual Fantasy Revisited

riskylogic · Sep 29, 2019

weekendtoy said: ↑

I really like The Source, and it's my favorite of the several surround releases by Ayreon. However, they are all really good.

I have the 4cd/DVD Artbook edition.

Other surround releases include:

Best of Ayreon Live

Into the Electric Castle

Actual Fantasy Revisited

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I have the first one - AKA Ayreon Universe, and I like it. That's the one and only Ayreon live performance ever, I believe. I didn't know there was a surround version of Into the Electric Castle, but I don't like that album especially. I'm not familiar with Actual Fantasy at all.

mark winstanley · Sep 29, 2019

riskylogic said: ↑

I'm thinking this statement needs some further explication. It seems to me that the width of the soundstage is basically a property of the stereo mix. Therefore, the statement at first glance would seem to be about the quality 0f the stereo mixes of Distant Satellites vs WHBWH. Then again, what you may really mean is that the inclusion of the center channel, especially on WHBWH, messes up the stereo soundstage. If so, I'm inclined to agree. I'm beginning to think quad is better.
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A centre speaker won't narrow the audio field, merely give definition to a particular aspect... generally vocal or lead instrument.

audiomixer · Sep 29, 2019

“Abbey Road” 5.1 sounds great!

mark winstanley · Sep 29, 2019

riskylogic said: ↑

The Source

Studio album by Ayreon
Released April 28, 2017
Recorded 2016–2017, mainly at the Electric Castle, Netherlands
Genre Rock opera progressive metal progressive rock

Length 88:33
Label Mascot Label Group
Producer Arjen Anthony Lucassen

The Source is the ninth studio album from Ayreon, a progressive metal/rock opera project by Dutch musician Arjen Anthony Lucassen, released on April 28, 2017. It is Lucassen's first album under his new label, Mascot Label Group.[2]

As with every Ayreon album, it is a concept album with each character being portrayed by one singer. Unlike the previous album The Theory of Everything, it marks a return to science fiction and the Ayreon storyline; it acts, in particular, as a prequel to 01011001, making it the first album in the storyline's chronology.[3] In The Source, the Alphans, ancestors of humanity, try to prevent the extinction of their race from machines who took control of the entire planet Alpha, by sending a select few Alphans into space so they can attempt to start anew on a distant world.

In the typical style of the project, the album features several guest singers to portray the characters across the album; although Lucassen usually prefers to work only once with a same singer in Ayreon, he mostly cast returning performers for The Source, including James LaBrie (Dream Theater), Simone Simons (Epica), Floor Jansen (Nightwish), Hansi Kürsch (Blind Guardian), Tobias Sammet (Edguy, Avantasia), Tommy Karevik (Kamelot, Seventh Wonder), and Russell Allen (Symphony X), together with newcomers such as Tommy Rogers (Between the Buried and Me), for a total of eleven main vocalists.

Album Reviews
Allmusic
Angry Metal Guy
Prog Archives

Personnel

- Arjen Anthony Lucassen / electric & acoustic guitars, bass, mandolin, analog synthesizers, Hammond, Solina Strings

With:
- Paul Gilbert / guitar solo
- Guthrie Govan / guitar solo
- Marcel Coenen / guitar solo
- Joost van den Broek / grand & electric pianos
- Mark Kelly / synthesizer solo
- Ben Mathot / violin
- Maaike Peterse / cello
- Jeroen Goossens / wind instruments
- Ed Warby / drums
- James LaBrie / vocals as The Historian
- Tommy Karevik / vocals as The Opposition Leader
- Tommy Rogers / vocals as The Chemist
- Simone Simons / vocals as The Counselor
- Nils K. Rue / vocals as The Prophet
- Tobias Sammet ) / vocals as The Captain
- Hansi Kürsch / vocals as The Astronomer
- Mike Mills / vocals as TH-1
- Russell Allen / vocals as The President
- Michael Eriksen / vocals as The Diplomat
- Floor Jansen ) / vocals as The Biologist
- Zaher Zorgati / vocals as The Preacher
- Jan Willem Ketelaers / chorus vocals
- Lisette van den Berg / chorus vocals
- Will Shaw / chorus vocals
- Wilmer Waarbroek / chorus vocal

Track listing

All songs written by Arjen Anthony Lucassen.

1. The Day That The World Breaks Down (12:32)
2. Sea Of Machines (5:08)
3. Everybody Dies (4:42)
4. Star Of Sirrah (7:03)
5. All That Was (3:36)
6. Run! Apocalypse! Run! (4:52)
7. Condemned To Live (6:14)
8. Aquatic Race (6:46)
9. The Dream Dissolves (6:11)
10. Deathcry Of A Race (4:43)
11. Into The Ocean (4:53)
12. Bay Of Dreams (4:24)
13. Planet Y Is Alive! (6:02)
14. The Source Will Flow" (4:13)
15. Journey To Forever (3:19)
16. The Human Compulsion (2:15)
17. March Of The Machines (1:40)

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Ayreon is a studio project by Arjen Anthony Lucassen, Prog Metal with a cheesy scifi libretto. I think I have the entire catalog, which is almost certainly more than I really need. The Source is my second favorite Ayreon album with disc 1 of The Universal Migrator being the first. The Source is the first to be released with a Surround mix

There are both 3 (2 CD 1 DVD) and 5 disc (4 CDs 1 DVD) versions of the album, and both have the surround mix. Unfortunately, it’s DTS. Not so unfortunately, it’s a 4.1 mix. In the end I picked this one because I wanted to give my center channel a break. Although you can still get it new, there are many used copies available:

Amazon US
Amazon UK

The Source is my second favorite Ayreon title after Disc 1 of The Universal Migrator. I play it a lot. However, I often only get through the first half of it. That’s because the first five tracks are my favorite sequence, plus an hour and a half of Ayreon in one sitting is a bit much.

Surround Mix by Arjen Lucassen
This album is an hour and a half long and has seventeen tracks. I am not going to go through it track by track. Instead, I am going to make some general comments about the whole mix, and then go through two tracks, comparing the stereo version with the surround version. The first is my favorite track on the album, Star of Sirrah. Because of the awesomeness of the bass line, I usually turn it up with this comes on in the car; which probably isn’t that safe because all the other cars start to look like asteroids. I also chose The Dream Dissolves because it has a really anice two minute intro that sounds great in surround.

Here’s why I’m so interested in the stereo vs surround question right now: Back in the old days, I used to have separate upstairs stereo and downstairs home theater systems. The decision process of what I would to listen to tended to start with where I was going to listen and then picking the recording. If I’m going to listen on the stereo system then I select the two-channel server, and if the it’s the home theater then I’m playing from the multichannel server. When I buy multichannel recordings, one of the reasons is to have a version to play on the HT system. Otherwise, I am wasting half of the speakers.

But those days are temporarily gone. All I’ve got now is the functional equivalent of my old HT system, which is also my best stereo system. So now, I have the new problem of deciding version is better. In this case, the multichannel version of The Source is lossy, while the stereo version is HD. So, maybe it would be better to waste two of my speakers, especially since the center isn’t playing anyway.

General comments

Even though it’s a quad mix, the lead vocals are usualldy perfectly centered. I could swear they are coming out the center speaker. Well, at least if you sitting in the sweet spot.

As is usually the case, it’s higher frequency stuff the gets put in the year (Six Wives had bass in the back on one track, but that was mixed for quad systems, not home theater systems). In this case, that means synthesizers, strings, guitars, and some background vocals. The rhythm section stays up front.

Most of time, the rear speakers just mimic the front. However, some of the interludes have swirly synthesizers and there are front-to-back echoing vocals on at least one the tracks too.

Star of Sirrah
Besides the multichannel mix, the DVD also has video versions of four of the tracks, including this one:

The track begins with a synthesizer and guitar intro that makes heavy use of the rear speakers. While it’s true that the back speakers become invisible during the bass-dominated passages that start ninety seconds in, but they reappear when the bass subsides. Furthermore, even the bass passages sound a little thin in stereo relative to the surround mix. Even though I thought this track might be better in stereo, the surround version is much better, at least on this system. Some of that may be because the stereo version on the DVD is also lossy – the HDTracks version I also have sounds much better with headphones.

The Dream Dissolves
The first 1:35 makes more or less equal use of the front and back speakers. This passage starts with synthesizer, then adds bass drum (a rare appearance of percussion in the back), and then flute. Then vocals (Floor Jansen) appear, only in the front. At 2:25, track goes metal with normal mixing, which concludes the surround highlight of the album.

In conclusion, if you want to play this album on your home theater system, get the DVD. Furthermore, if you going to play the DVD on your home-theater system, be sure to select the 5.1 version even though it’s really 4.1.
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I haven't got any of their/his stuff yet.. I enjoyed a theater thing on YouTube one day though. Sounds interesting.

mark winstanley · Sep 29, 2019

audiomixer said: ↑

“Abbey Road” 5.1 sounds great!
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Cool.
I'm headed back home tomorrow, and I'm looking forward to it.

riskylogic · Sep 29, 2019

mark winstanley said: ↑

A centre speaker won't narrow the audio field, merely give definition to a particular aspect... generally vocal or lead instrument.
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I'm thinking it won't make the field any wider either. But, I suppose a given surround mix could be wider than a stereo mix, or vice-versa, because of the way it is mixed.

Dee Zee · Sep 29, 2019

zobalob said: ↑

Gene Clark's superlative "No Other" has a deluxe boxed set on the horizon, including a 5.1 mix on both SACD and Blu Ray. GENE CLARK - No Other
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Looking forward to the No Other surround mix.

fredblue · Sep 30, 2019

PhantomStranger said: ↑

The Doolittle surround mix is one of the few I haven't heard from one of my favorite albums. Anyone know who mixed and mastered it?
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Kevin Vanbergen of FX Copyroom, who was involved in the Depeche Mode and Nick Cave 5.1's (in cahoots with Kevin Paul)

Remixing Depeche Mode In Surround

The official website for independent record label 4AD.

privit1 · Sep 30, 2019

This Sunday I played
Gong - You (quad mixes from the new box)
Tangerine Dream - Phaedra
And a faulty Abbey Road which is currently making it's way back to Amazon

ti-triodes · Sep 30, 2019

I didn’t want to ask this in the dedicated Abbey Road thread since it will be lost in the madness over there.

Anyone compare the Atmos mix with the 5.1? Is there much difference? I don’t have Atmos set up and was wondering how much difference the Atmos mix makes, for better or worse.

~dave~~wave~ · Sep 30, 2019

ti-triodes said: ↑

I didn’t want to ask this in the dedicated Abbey Road thread since it will be lost in the madness over there.

Anyone compare the Atmos mix with the 5.1? Is there much difference? I don’t have Atmos set up and was wondering how much difference the Atmos mix makes, for better or worse.
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mark winstanley · Oct 1, 2019

Firstly - Thank you very much to @riskylogic and @Galactus2 for standing in and running through some albums for you guys in my absence. I enjoyed checking out their run downs while the Mrs was asleep. I actually ordered the Source, as I really enjoyed Ayreon's The Theatre Equation.
I thought the Pixies mix was very good, and I love some songs on the album, but I am a bit hot and cold on the album itself ... I know that makes me completely uncool , but you are what you is, and I am very uncool
The Allman's are of course classic, and i probably need to Eat a Peach at some point.
I need to familiarise myself with Anathema, as I am not familiar with them ... I am not only uncool, I am out of touch.....

One thing I highly recommend, though I have not heard the 5.1 yet is the new Dream Theatre album ( Distance Over time)... I was just driving (both times I listened to it) but it sounds like a really good album. It certainly has a nice return to Petrucci tearing up the fret board and a little heavier drum and guitar arrangement than I have heard from them in a while.
It should arrive tomorrow, so perhaps I will run through that next week. Although I am not sure about them lyrically, and again I haven't heard the 5.1 yet, the new Opeth album ( In Cauda Venenom ... which translates as a Sting In The Tail, I believe) also sounds very good. It seems to have a really good traditional kind of prog arrangement/feel, but again I was driving, so I can't give a very well defined opinion at this stage, but that will be coming up at some point also.

jhw59 · Oct 1, 2019

~dave~~wave~ said: ↑

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The Quad forum guys says the Atmos tops the 5.1 mix but both are excellent.

mark winstanley · Oct 1, 2019

Also don't forget to run through any of the albums we have done, if you feel drawn to

Reference to the albums

Alice Cooper - Welcome To My Nightmare Surrounded On Sundays - 5.1/quad reviews and summaries
Allman Brothers Band - Live At Fillmore East - Surrounded On Sundays - 5.1/quad reviews and summaries
Allman Brother Band - Eat a Peach - Surrounded On Sundays - 5.1/quad reviews and summaries
Anathema - We're Here Because We're Here - Surrounded On Sundays - 5.1/quad reviews and summaries
Ayreon - The Source - Surrounded On Sundays - 5.1/quad reviews and summaries

The Beatles - The Beatles (White Album) Surrounded On Sundays - 5.1/quad reviews and summaries
Beck, Jeff - Blow By Blow Surrounded On Sundays - 5.1/quad reviews and summaries
Bjork - Vespertine Surrounded On Sundays - 5.1/quad reviews and summaries
Bowie, David - The Rise And Fall Of Ziggy Stardust And The Spiders From Mars Surrounded On Sundays - 5.1/quad reviews and summaries
Browne, Jackson - Running On Empty - Surrounded On Sundays - 5.1/quad reviews and summaries

Charles, Ray - Ray Sings, Basie Swings - Surrounded On Sundays - 5.1/quad reviews and summaries

Davis, Miles - Bitches Brew - Surrounded On Sundays - 5.1/quad reviews and summaries
Depeche Mode - Some Great Reward - Surrounded On Sundays - 5.1/quad reviews and summaries
Dire Straits - Brothers In Arms Surrounded On Sundays - 5.1/quad reviews and summaries
Doobie Brothers - The Captain And Me Surrounded On Sundays - 5.1/quad reviews and summaries
Dylan, Bob - Blonde On Blonde Surrounded On Sundays - 5.1/quad reviews and summaries

ELO - debut album Surrounded On Sundays - 5.1/quad reviews and summaries
Emerson Lake And Palmer - Brain Salad Surgery Surrounded On Sundays - 5.1/quad reviews and summaries

Fagen, Donald - The Nightfly Surrounded On Sundays - 5.1/quad reviews and summaries
Flaming Lips - Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots Surrounded On Sundays - 5.1/quad reviews and summaries
Fleetwood Mac - Rumours Surrounded On Sundays - 5.1/quad reviews and summaries

Gaye, Marvin - Lets Get It On - Surrounded On Sundays - 5.1/quad reviews and summaries
Genesis - Selling England By The Pound Surrounded On Sundays - 5.1/quad reviews and summaries
Gentle Giant - The Power and The Glory - Surrounded On Sundays - 5.1/quad reviews and summaries

Hendrix, Jimi - Electric Ladyland - Surrounded On Sundays - 5.1/quad reviews and summaries

Inxs - Kick Surrounded On Sundays - 5.1/quad reviews and summaries
Iron Maiden - Dance Of Death Surrounded On Sundays - 5.1/quad reviews and summaries

Jethro Tull - Minstrel In The Gallery Surrounded On Sundays - 5.1/quad reviews and summaries
Joel, Billy - The Stranger Surrounded On Sundays - 5.1/quad reviews and summaries
John, Elton - Madman Across The Water Surrounded On Sundays - 5.1/quad reviews and summaries

King Crimson - Red Surrounded On Sundays - 5.1/quad reviews and summaries

Lynyrd Skynyrd - Southern Surroundings Surrounded On Sundays - 5.1/quad reviews and summaries

Moody Blues - A Question Of Balance Surrounded On Sundays - 5.1/quad reviews and summaries

Nine Inch Nails - The Downward Spiral Surrounded On Sundays - 5.1/quad reviews and summaries

Oldfield, Mike - Five Miles Out Surrounded On Sundays - 5.1/quad reviews and summaries

Pat Metheny Group - Imaginary Day Surrounded On Sundays - 5.1/quad reviews and summaries
Pixies - Doolittle - Surrounded On Sundays - 5.1/quad reviews and summaries

Queen - A Night At The Opera Surrounded On Sundays - 5.1/quad reviews and summaries

REM - Green Surrounded On Sundays - 5.1/quad reviews and summaries
Rich, Charlie Behind Closed Doors Surrounded On Sundays - 5.1/quad reviews and summaries
Roxy Music - Avalon Surrounded On Sundays - 5.1/quad reviews and summaries
Rush - Moving Pictures Surrounded On Sundays - 5.1/quad reviews and summaries

Sly And The Family Stone - Greatest Hits - Surrounded On Sundays - 5.1/quad reviews and summaries
Steve Miller Band - Fly Like An Eagle Surrounded On Sundays - 5.1/quad reviews and summaries

Talking heads - Remain In Light Surrounded On Sundays - 5.1/quad reviews and summaries
Tangerine Dream - Phaedra Surrounded On Sundays - 5.1/quad reviews and summaries
Townsend, Pete/Lane, Ronnie - Rough Mix Surrounded On Sundays - 5.1/quad reviews and summaries
T Rex - Electric Warrior Surrounded On Sundays - 5.1/quad reviews and summaries

Uk - Night After Night Surrounded On Sundays - 5.1/quad reviews and summaries

Wakeman, Rick - Six Wives Of Henry The Eighth Surrounded On Sundays - 5.1/quad reviews and summaries
Waters, Roger - Amused to Death Surrounded On Sundays - 5.1/quad reviews and summaries
Who - Quadrophenia Surrounded On Sundays - 5.1/quad reviews and summaries

XTC - The Black Sea Surrounded On Sundays - 5.1/quad reviews and summaries

Yes - Close To The Edge Surrounded On Sundays - 5.1/quad reviews and summaries

Zappa - Quaudiophiliac Surrounded On Sundays - 5.1/quad reviews and summaries

If the mood takes you, please feel free to give us your summary of any of these albums that we have done. For our purposes here, please try and give us information about the mix, in as much or as little detail as takes your fancy.
If you feel so inclined, review the album, and the mastering or anything else about the album that you feel drawn to.
Cheers,
Mark

mark winstanley · Oct 1, 2019

Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds - Dig Lazarus Dig

Studio album by
Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds
Released 3 March 2008
Recorded June–July 2007
Genre Alternative rock garage rock [1]
Length 53:35
Label Mute ANTI-
Producer Nick Launay

Dig, Lazarus, Dig!!! is the fourteenth studio album by Australian alternative rock band Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds. The album was recorded in June and July 2007 at The State of the Ark Studios in Richmond, London and mixed by Nick Launay at British Grove Studios in Chiswick, and was released on 3 March 2008.

It would also be the last album to feature founding member Mick Harvey, who left the Bad Seeds in 2009, and the second without founding member Blixa Bargeld. Dig features the same personnel as the Abattoir Blues/The Lyre of Orpheus double album. It is also the first to be released since the Bad Seeds side project Grinderman released their eponymous album. In several interviews Cave has stated that this album would "sound like Grinderman", implying a garage rock sound. In line with this rough-and-ready approach, the album was recorded in about five days, an uncommonly short period for a full-length album.[2]

Dig, Lazarus, Dig!!! features artwork by British artists Tim Noble and Sue Webster.

Nick Cave – Vocals (1–11), Organ (1,2,6,7), Piano (3,8,9), Tambourine (3,5,11), Sleigh Bells (3,11), Toms (5), Harmonica (5), Electric Guitar (9), Vibra-Slap (11)

Martyn P. Casey – Bass (1–3,6–11)

Thomas Wydler – Brushed Snare (1), Shaker (2,10), Tambourine (2,5,10), Drums (4,8,9), Hand Drums (7)

Warren Ellis – Viola (1,6,9,11), Loops (1,4,6,7,10,11), Fender Mandocaster (2–4,7–10), Tenor Guitar (3,5,8,10), Maracas (3) 12 String Lute (5), Drum Machine (6), Piano (8), Flute (9), Mandolin (9)

Mick Harvey – Electric Guitar (1,4–6,10,11), Acoustic Guitar (2,5,7–9), Bass (4,5), Organ (10)

Jim Sclavunos – Drums (1–3,5–7,10,11), Bongos (1,5), Cowbell (1), Cuica (3), Congas (3,4), Finger Cymbals (4), Shaker (5), Maracas (7), Tambourine (8,9), Sleigh Bells (9)

James Johnston – Organ (2,5,9), Electric Guitar (5)

All backing vocals and handclaps by Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds; Conway Savage is listed as a band member but does not play his usual keyboards on the album

All songs written by Nick Cave unless otherwise stated

"Dig, Lazarus, Dig!!!" – 4:11

"Today's Lesson" – 4:41

"Moonland" – 3:53 (Cave, Ellis, Casey, Sclavunos)

"Night of the Lotus Eaters" – 4:53 (Cave, Ellis)

"Albert Goes West" – 3:32 (Cave, Ellis)

"We Call Upon the Author" – 5:11 (Cave, Ellis)

"Hold on to Yourself" – 5:50 (Cave, Ellis, Casey, Sclavunos)

"Lie Down Here (& Be My Girl)" – 4:57

"Jesus of the Moon" – 3:22

"Midnight Man" – 5:06

"More News from Nowhere" – 7:58 (Cave, Ellis, Casey, Sclavunos)

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Nick Cave has had a much storied career and released a vast array of music, from the beautiful, yet disturbing Boys Next Door single Shivers, through the avant punk of the Birthday Party, and the development of The Bad Seeds, who started out sounding like distant cousins of the Birthday Party, and eventually carved out a broad and magnificent catalog of music that moves from piano ballads, pulsating acoustic guitar driven ballads, through dense soundscapes using every conceivable form of musical instrument, to raw rock derived music ... and then there are the soundtrack albums, which to be honest I am not very familiar with, but I have no doubt that he and long time collaborator Mick Harvey, did a good job, because soundscapes were their bread and butter.
Nick has written novels, that I haven't read, but my wife has. The Bad Seeds in all their various guises have thrilled many with their dynamic live shows. Recently the Distant Sky movie/concert received a lot of good feedback, and I am looking forward to a bluray at some point in the near future. He has apparently also played parts in some alternative movies, but again, I haven't seen them.

Nick hails from Australia, but for any real chance of longevity an artist needs to get across to the overseas market, because Australia's population just isn't big enough to sustain a long career, especially when one is walking on the opposite side of the tracks to the mainstream. He and both his main bands spent most of their time moving between Germany and England, and getting a fairly large fan base, although really probably contained in the cult status area.

This album is the bands 14th album, and followed the magnificent Abattoir Blues/ Lyre Of Orpheus ... but there was a four year gap in which time Nick put together the Grinderman project, in which the guys essentially returned to a garage band style with Cave playing guitar for the first time, instead of his usual piano. The Grinderman project was very successful and gave the guys a chance to shake off the cobwebs and step out from under the weighty expectations of the Bad Seeds.

So we get to Dig Lazarus Dig. The reason i picked this album rather than one of my favourites .... The Good Son, Henry's Dream, Abattoir Blues/Lyre of Orpheus ... is because it is more recent and in a recent discussion about the band on this forum, it became obvious that this album is one that divides the fans. I think it is a fine album, and yet again, although I have listened to the 5.1 version, it has been a while and I really wanted to revisit it. So forgive my slight self indulgence here, as I think this is a really good album, and felt like listening to it, so I figured I may as well knock this one out ... I would probably have done Push The Sky Away or Skeleton Tree, but sadly they aren't available in 5.1, although the One More Time With Feeling bluray has 5.1 versions of most of the tracks included in the movie, and is well worth checking out.

This is still available around the place ...
Amazon from about $9 https://www.amazon.com/Dig-Lazarus-...dig+lazarus+dig&qid=1569952449&s=music&sr=1-1
Discogs from about $11 Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds - Dig!!! Lazarus Dig!!! European pressing
Discogs from about $9 Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds - Dig!!! Lazarus Dig!!! UK and Europe pressing...

Unfortunately it is only a DD and DTS soundtrack, but I don't get too concerned about that as long as it is done well. So just a heads up there for folks more particular about these things.

All the Bad Seeds albums up to Dig, are available in this format, and I have them all, because I love this guy and the band, and always find something to come away with from their albums.... so we will probably get around to them as we go through this thread sorry to those of you who don't like them lol

5.1 mixed by Kevin Paul and Mick Harvey
5.1 mastering by Simon Heyworth.

This album has the influence of the Grinderman project within it, and was somewhat removed from the Bad Seeds albums that lead up to it. It still contains the narrative, somewhat sarcastic and somewhat dark Cave lyrical styling.

Dig Lazarus Dig
The first thing that strikes me is a slightly thin garagey sound. It isn't a bad sound at all, just a particular styling of sound.
We have a rhythm guitar right.
There some swirling pick scrapes and effects guitars.
The rhythm section is front and centre.
There are some Cave backing vocals coming from the right side.
Organ also on the right.
Another rhythm guitar on the left.
This is a balanced mix, but could use some lower mids and bottom end.

Today's Lesson
Keyboard effect left side.
Some rhythm gtr bouncing from side to side.
We are getting the kick through the sub by the way.
This sounds very balanced also, with the effects in the surround channels (not effects sends, but non chordal guitar and keyboard sounds)

Moonland
We start with a rhythmic groove, with a little organ to the left, and percussion to the right.
B box left side.
Percussive rhythm guitar come in the right rear.
This track is essentially one of Cave's predominantly narrative tracks, and the mainly percussive and bass backing works well in this field.
When the guitar and keys spike into the mix, they use the sides and rears, and work effectively.

Night Of The Lotus Eaters
We start with a really nice surround effect through the rears.
Cave moves into one of his narrative pictures.
I can actually hear the roots of the Push, and Skeleton styles here.
We have a rhythmic base, with Cave's semi spoken vocal. This is embellished with some cool rears sound effects, that come in at appropriate points in the track.

Albert Goes West
Guitar driven semi-punk sounding backing track here, with guitars on either side.
This probably a slightly lesser song, in some ways, but from an album context it brings a more full rock sound back into the fray, after the more atmospheric Lotus Eaters.
We get a balanced mix again, which is always nice.

We Call upon the Author
Possibly my favourite track.
Pieces of guitar add to the sides, left and right.
The rhythm section is solid up front.
The breakdown has the hiss, and effects surrounding us.
Again the balance here is very good...
This is a very different sort of music to the progressive, and classic rock that was made for surround, but it shows that even this more raw, and less dense style can really suit the 5.1 format.

Hold On to Yourself
Yes it has been a while since I really listened to this, I love this song.
For someone unfamiliar with the band, it is hard to explain the way they go about constructing these soundscapes.
We have a violin creating a sort of sound effect loop around us, while the drums pulse the rhythmic feel up front.
We get an acoustic rhythm gtr right rear. We have an electric guitar playing little snippets of melodic, atmospheric guitar on the left.
An organ comes in left side playing a simple but effective little riff.
It is actually this styling that makes the bands live shows so phenomenal.
We get little bits and pieces going on all around and it makes for a great track.

Lie Down Here (and be my girl)
Guitars either side. Bvox all round.
Another raw sounding semi-punk track, that again harkens back to early Seeds.
Again well balanced

Jesus Of The Moon
Keys left. Gtr right. Violin left.
Here we have a more gentle atmospheric track, that has a cool mellow groove.

Midnight Man
Gtr left and right.
This track has a somewhat 60's semi-psychedelic feel, especially the way the chorus comes in.
We have plenty of spreading of pieces, and breaking them down does the track an injustice.
We slide into an anarchic melange of sound to finish.

More News From Nowhere
An ambient guitar effect track swirls around us. A gtr on the right.
We again have a rhythm and narrative track here.
Again we have a nice balance.

I do really like this album, but it is a slightly lesser album in some ways. You can hear the band searching for something new, and in doing so, actually reflect some of the stylistic choices from the early albums. I feel some of the folks that enjoy From Her to Eternity, and The First Born Is Dead, may well really like this.
Like a good movie this album seems to build in tension, and the deeper you get into it, the better it gets.
If I had any real criticism of the album, I think the bass is slightly less present than I think it should be, but the kick drum does get good sub coverage. There is a somewhat lack of lows and lower mids, and I don't know if that is by design, or if it was not eq'd well ... or if that is a side effect or being on a more lossy format.

This isn't necessarily an album I would recommend to a new listener to the band.
I would definitely lean more towards
The Good Son, for more piano based semi-gospel styling.
Henry's Dream, for more aggressive, but melodic acoustic driven story songs.
The Boatman's Call, for Cave's take on beautiful, and heartfelt ballads.
Abattoir Blues/lyre Of Orpheus, for a melting pot of everything the band does, with a somewhat gospel feel....

This album also has three bonus tracks/outtakes mixed for 5.1, and also like the other releases in this series, bonus videos and mini documentary of people talking about the album.

mark winstanley · Oct 1, 2019

I was going to run through Simple Minds Sparkle In The Rain, but the Meniere's is playing up and my hearing is struggling today, so I am going to give it a miss.

While I was setting it up though, I did notice that apparently the first issue had/has some form of mispress. Does anyone know anything about this please?
What exactly was wrong with the initial release?

Cheers
Mark

mark winstanley · Oct 1, 2019

Ok
So for next Sunday lets throw up the seven options for album choices

mark winstanley · Oct 1, 2019

Dream Theatre - Distance Over Time
Eagles - Hotel California (it's almost bizarre we haven't touched on this album yet, as it is very well done, in spite of the band seeming to be very out of vogue with the hip crowd )

mark winstanley · Oct 1, 2019

Pink Floyd - Dark Side Of The Moon
Be Bop Deluxe - Sunburst Finish

mark winstanley · Oct 1, 2019

Aretha Franklin - Best Of (quad)
Marillion - F.E.A.R.

mark winstanley · Oct 1, 2019

Mahavishnu Orchestra - Birds Of Fire
Barclay James Harvest - Octoberon

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Surrounded On Sundays - 5.1/quad reviews and summaries

PhantomStranger Man of Mystery

c-eling They're made of light,We never would have guessed

c-eling They're made of light,We never would have guessed

weekendtoy Rejecting your reality and substituting my own.

riskylogic Forum Resident

mark winstanley Certified dinosaur, who likes physical product Thread Starter

audiomixer As Bald As The Beatles

mark winstanley Certified dinosaur, who likes physical product Thread Starter

mark winstanley Certified dinosaur, who likes physical product Thread Starter

riskylogic Forum Resident

Dee Zee Once Upon a Dream

fredblue Surrounded by Music

privit1 Senior Member

ti-triodes Senior Member

~dave~~wave~ Forum Resident

mark winstanley Certified dinosaur, who likes physical product Thread Starter

jhw59 Forum Resident

mark winstanley Certified dinosaur, who likes physical product Thread Starter

mark winstanley Certified dinosaur, who likes physical product Thread Starter

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