Favourite piece of music to exploit your system?

[davedotco]

The more 'difficult' the music and, sometimes, the the quality of the recording often give the most explicit of indicators as to how well a system is working.

Absolutely on target (for me at least). I've only had my new system for a few days. I find myself looking to high quality recordings of complex music. In my case that means orchestral and operatic stuff, and I'm enjoying how the new system can open the music out and make sense of it as music.

I remember listening, on my own system, to Thelonius Monk, who uses some seriously odd chords. Could not get my head around it at all, sounded like Les Dawson...... :rofl:

Then I took it into the shop and tried it on a good system......... :rockout:

First time I was able to listen to 'Round Midnite, quite awsome. Still with me, a few years ago I was driving home quite late after a tough day and, unusually for me, had the radio on. Someone put on that track, I had to pull over onto the hard shoulder, no way could I listen to that and drive at the same time.

 

[the record spot]

Presumably, easier to change the station for 15 minutes...?

 

[hoopsontoast]

A selection of albums I love and also happen to shop up weaknesses in systems (for different reasons) :

The Cure : Disintegration

The Cure : Pornography

The XX : The XX

Various : Oldboy Soundtrack

Orbital : The Altogether (Doctor? is a particular favourite)

Idelwild : The Remote Part

Coldplay : Parachutes

Blue Man Group : Audio

Dust Brothers : Fight Club Soundtrack

New Look : New Look

Tangerine Dream : Thief Soundtrack

Pixies : Waves of Mutilations

Wolfmother : Wolfmother

 

[BigH]

Well I for one completely understand the OPs question and I like it. Music that I find particularly impressive includes:

Newton Faulkners - Hand built by robots

Agnes Obel. I wanted to like her. Nice voice, but I found her stuff too samey. By the end of the album (I only have her first one) I was bored. I prefer Lisa Hannigan.

Prefer her latest album Aventine. Lisa Hannigan is OK but prefer Natalie Merchant esp. Motherland but took me a while to get into her, in fact it was only because of my new system.

 

[BigH]

I agree about the Dead Can Dance track. Also Eric Bibb is a good choice.

Also try Chris Jones - Roadhouses & Automobiles this was used by B&W for their expensive range of speakers.

Little Feat - Long Distance Love, great if your speakers can handle the bass intro.

Then there is all the usual stuff, like Steely Dan, Pink Floyd, Dire Straits and Supertramp.

Many jazz albums are well recorded for a modern one try Edgar Knecht - Dance on Deep Water

For vocals try Shelby Lynee - Just a Little Lovin' and Melody Gardot - My One and Only Thrill.

Also Donnal Lunny - Coolfin is worth trying.

 

[Singslinger]

"The Road To Hell'' Chris Rea;

"Blast'' Marcus Miller.

 

[davedotco]

Presumably, easier to change the station for 15 minutes...?

Strangely, and quite truthfully, I was so caught up in the playing that the idea never occurred to me. Probably could not have done so even if it had......

I have rarely listened to music in the car since my 'rock and roll' days, and quite often I wasn't driving anyway. Since the 'Thelonious experience', on the M25 of all places, I just don't play music in the car anymore.

So you are right in a sense, just turn it off.

 

[Rethep]

Is a woman by Lambchop is a brilliant album for your criteria at least on my system

Thanks for the hint. I have just bought it from iTunes! It is also brilliant music, to me.

 

[BigH]

Similar to the Chris Jones track is Nils Lofgren - Keith Don't Go live: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3dXAWbHb8mk

Also try Ray Montford - Many Roads

 

[hoopsontoast]

Similar to the Chris Jones track is Nils Lofgren - Keith Don't Go live: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3dXAWbHb8mk

Also try Ray Montford - Many Roads

I forgot about that one, the whole album is very good!

Another song in particular is 'Bass and Drums Intro' off Nils Lofgren Band - Live

 

[BigH]

Just remember a couple more: Michael Hedges - Aerial Boundaries (apparently excellent on vinyl) and Antonio Forcione - Tears of Joy.

 

[DandyCobalt]

The new London Grammar release "If You Wait" on 45rpm vinyl is my fave at the moment for showing what a good hifi can sound like.

 

[Tommy1964]

Most of the soundtrack of The Mission is wonderful listening.

 

[BigH]

For soundtracks try Black Hawk Down. Ashes to Ashes is an interesting track that may show off your system.

 

[pyrrhon]

Have you tried electronic music in youir system ?

I would challenge your system with let say "NIN, find my way". You should turn up the volume and feel the bass kicks travel across your home and your whole body, its absolutely low. Or listen to "Breton, The comission". More percussions: "Nicolas Jaar, Mi mujer". Electronic music really can be made with a lot more attack and frequency range then any accoustic played music. Multi layered guitars I would think of "Radiohead, weird fishes" and multi layered beats and grooves try The field. Low-fi recording that needs nothing but an awesome hi-fi system: "Fink, Perfect darkness" you actually hear imperfections easily, like when the guitar is switched on but not played yet, finger moved etc.. and again absolute low bass kicks with high rythmic guitar. Playing this song never fails to impress my guests!

Usually I play mp3 at 320 or vinyl ->Nad c165->Nad 275->Paradigm monitor 9. Its probably not better then any other system it just deals very well with dynamics and rythms.

 

[letsavit2]

Depeche mode. - violator

 

[KidKomet]

Steadily going through all of the suggestions I'm not already familiar with. Nils Lofgren's acoustic Keith don't go, is just incredible!