Norah Jones

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  • headrott
    headrott Posts: 5,496
    edited July 2010
    Now I understand. It could be the greatest writing and performance ever by a certain artist, but if it is poor sound quality you'll pass on it. Fair enough. I guess your method of selecting a "best album" and mine are just different.

    That said, of course I would like an album to sound phenominal, but I would prefer it to be written and/or performed phenominally foremost.

    I just listened to "Cricklewood Green" by Ten Years After mastered by MFSL. I decided the recording, production, etc. is not first rate (even when mastered by MFSL) but the writing/performance is phenominal (Alvin Lee is phenominal on here). I could never decide not to listen to it again based of just how it sounds. It is too good of an album to pass it up.

    Greg
    Relayer-Big-O-Poster.jpg
    Taken from a recent Audioholics reply regarding "Club Polk" and Polk speakers:
    "I'm yet to hear a Polk speaker that merits more than a sentence and 60 seconds discussion." :\
    My response is: If you need 60 seconds to respond in one sentence, you probably should't be evaluating Polk speakers.....

    "Green leaves reveal the heart spoken Khatru"- Jon Anderson

    "Have A Little Faith! And Everything You'll Face, Will Jump From Out Right On Into Place! Yeah! Take A Little Time! And Everything You'll Find, Will Move From Gloom Right On Into Shine!"- Arthur Lee
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  • F1nut
    F1nut Posts: 50,734
    edited July 2010
    Well, it can be of poor sound quality and still make my ears happy. The original Beatles CD's were of poor sound quality, but I listened to them all the time. They were not annoying. It's when I find the music/vocals annoying to my ears that causes me not to want to hear it again. Norah trying to go down on the mic is annoying. Mothership is another example. As good as the music is, the over the top brickwalled sound is annoying to the point of making it unlistenable.
    Political Correctness'.........defined

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  • PSOVLSK
    PSOVLSK Posts: 5,220
    edited July 2010
    F1nut wrote: »
    Well, it can be of poor sound quality and still make my ears happy.

    I agree. On the opposite end of the spectrum, I sometimes listen to music I don't really even like because it sounds good. Not necessarily the quality of the recording, but some artists are just good musicians and everything just seems "right". A couple of examples for me would be James Taylor, Erin McKeown, Mark Knoepler. I wouldn't listen to any of these artists in my car, but on my modest systems they sound great.
    Things work out best for those who make the best of the way things work out.-John Wooden
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  • hearingimpared
    hearingimpared Posts: 21,136
    edited July 2010
    headrott wrote: »
    Now I understand. It could be the greatest writing and performance ever by a certain artist, but if it is poor sound quality you'll pass on it. Fair enough. I guess your method of selecting a "best album" and mine are just different.

    That said, of course I would like an album to sound phenominal, but I would prefer it to be written and/or performed phenominally foremost.

    I just listened to "Cricklewood Green" by Ten Years After mastered by MFSL. I decided the recording, production, etc. is not first rate (even when mastered by MFSL) but the writing/performance is phenominal (Alvin Lee is phenominal on here). I could never decide not to listen to it again based of just how it sounds. It is too good of an album to pass it up.

    Greg

    What a great album. I bought it when it first came out and it's still in the rotation when the gear is up.
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  • fatchowmein
    fatchowmein Posts: 2,637
    edited July 2010
    F1nut wrote: »
    IMO, she is a much better blues singer than she is at jazz.

    +1. I hope she hooks back up with Peter Malick.
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  • hearingimpared
    hearingimpared Posts: 21,136
    edited July 2010
    PSOVLSK wrote: »
    I agree. On the opposite end of the spectrum, I sometimes listen to music I don't really even like because it sounds good. Not necessarily the quality of the recording, but some artists are just good musicians and everything just seems "right". A couple of examples for me would be James Taylor, Erin McKeown, Mark Knoepler. I wouldn't listen to any of these artists in my car, but on my modest systems they sound great.

    I've always asserted that fact! I have several audiophile LP pressings and CDs and the music (in some cases if you want to call it that) sucks but the sonics are so off the charts it just sucks me in.

    Jess I can't sit and listen to even the greatest of music through if it sounds like **** just like your observation about "Mothership". Especially compressed recordings. I always try to find a better recording. For instance; as much as I love the Beatles, George Martin really eff'd up their recordings by having the instruments come out of one speaker and the vocals out of the other. I find it very hard to listen through the album. I have found quite a few rereleased Beatles LPs where some how they managed to remix it so the stereo image is true.

    I have a brand new copy (at the time) of Cream's "Disraeli Gears" (great, great music) done in mono. The instruments and vocals come out dead center on top of each other between the speakers. Thank God I have a "mono" switch on my Spectral pre. It widens the sound stage and sounds really good when the mono switch is engaged.
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  • shack
    shack Posts: 11,154
    edited July 2010
    I either like the music or not. I don't care how good the recording, mastering, sonics, etc are...if I don't like it...I don't own it or play it just because it is a great recording.

    However a REALLY BAD recording can ruin really good music. A case in point. Mott the Hoople's "All the Young Dudes" is an album I like quite a bit. The original recording on CD was pretty much "unlistenable" for me. IT WAS HORRIBLE! My vinyl copy from back in the day was worn too badly to play from overuse and mishandling during periods of an "altered state" so that was not an option. A remastered version was released that corrected the flaws and now it gets play in my rig. The original CD was nothing more than a coaster.
    "Just because you’re offended doesn’t mean you’re right." - Ricky Gervais

    "For those who believe, no proof is necessary. For those who don't believe, no proof is possible." - Stuart Chase

    "Consistency requires you to be as ignorant today as you were a year ago." - Bernard Berenson
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  • PSOVLSK
    PSOVLSK Posts: 5,220
    edited July 2010
    shack wrote: »
    I either like the music or not. I don't care how good the recording, mastering, sonics, etc are...if I don't like it...I don't own it or play it just because it is a great recording.

    I think that most people would agree. Sometimes my wife will ask, "What are you listening to? It doesn't sound like something you would like." She's correct, except the music, sonics, recording is so spot on that it just sounds good.
    Things work out best for those who make the best of the way things work out.-John Wooden
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  • headrott
    headrott Posts: 5,496
    edited July 2010
    hearingimpared wrote: »
    I have found quite a few rereleased Beatles LPs where some how they managed to remix it so the stereo image is true.

    Hmmmm, I always find remixed Beatles albums hard to listen to because of the use of a non-tube mixing board. The tone of everything is completely wrong. Some would consider that being picky, but it's still the way I feel. It has nothing to do with being a "purist" or whatever label people want to give it, it's just what sounds better sonically. I'll take the vocals coming out of one channel and the instruments out of another any day over the tones from a solid state mixing board being put to the vocals and instruments.
    hearingimpared wrote: »
    I have a brand new copy (at the time) of Cream's "Disraeli Gears" (great, great music) done in mono. The instruments and vocals come out dead center on top of each other between the speakers. Thank God I have a "mono" switch on my Spectral pre. It widens the sound stage and sounds really good when the mono switch is engaged.

    The MFSL CD of Disraeli Gears has both the mono and stereo mixes if I remember correctly. Better go break it out and give a listen. Definately interesting to hear the differences.

    Greg
    Relayer-Big-O-Poster.jpg
    Taken from a recent Audioholics reply regarding "Club Polk" and Polk speakers:
    "I'm yet to hear a Polk speaker that merits more than a sentence and 60 seconds discussion." :\
    My response is: If you need 60 seconds to respond in one sentence, you probably should't be evaluating Polk speakers.....

    "Green leaves reveal the heart spoken Khatru"- Jon Anderson

    "Have A Little Faith! And Everything You'll Face, Will Jump From Out Right On Into Place! Yeah! Take A Little Time! And Everything You'll Find, Will Move From Gloom Right On Into Shine!"- Arthur Lee
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  • Face
    Face Posts: 14,340
    edited July 2010
    I would love to reproduce with her.
    "He who fights with monsters should look to it that he himself does not become a monster. And when you gaze long into an abyss the abyss also gazes into you." Friedrich Nietzsche
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  • headrott
    headrott Posts: 5,496
    edited July 2010
    hearingimpared wrote: »
    What a great album. I bought it when it first came out and it's still in the rotation when the gear is up.

    This album is absolutely phenominal. Alvin Lee is one of the greatest guitarists ever (IMO). A good example is Year 3000 Blues. Plus, Year 3000 blues is pretty good on the SDA's!

    Greg
    Relayer-Big-O-Poster.jpg
    Taken from a recent Audioholics reply regarding "Club Polk" and Polk speakers:
    "I'm yet to hear a Polk speaker that merits more than a sentence and 60 seconds discussion." :\
    My response is: If you need 60 seconds to respond in one sentence, you probably should't be evaluating Polk speakers.....

    "Green leaves reveal the heart spoken Khatru"- Jon Anderson

    "Have A Little Faith! And Everything You'll Face, Will Jump From Out Right On Into Place! Yeah! Take A Little Time! And Everything You'll Find, Will Move From Gloom Right On Into Shine!"- Arthur Lee
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • hearingimpared
    hearingimpared Posts: 21,136
    edited July 2010
    shack wrote: »
    I either like the music or not. I don't care how good the recording, mastering, sonics, etc are...if I don't like it...I don't own it or play it just because it is a great recording.

    However a REALLY BAD recording can ruin really good music. A case in point. Mott the Hoople's "All the Young Dudes" is an album I like quite a bit. The original recording on CD was pretty much "unlistenable" for me. IT WAS HORRIBLE! My vinyl copy from back in the day was worn too badly to play from overuse and mishandling during periods of an "altered state" so that was not an option. A remastered version was released that corrected the flaws and now it gets play in my rig. The original CD was nothing more than a coaster.

    LOL Steve, you and I have been going back and forth on this issue since I joined this nuthouse four years ago!!!
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  • PSOVLSK
    PSOVLSK Posts: 5,220
    edited July 2010
    Keiko wrote: »

    I also like the CD, New York City that she did with Peter Malick.


    Just ordered this on Amazon. $2.30 + $2.98 shipping. Estimated shipping date: July 16-Aug. 4.:confused::confused: Quite a range, eh?
    Things work out best for those who make the best of the way things work out.-John Wooden
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  • PSOVLSK
    PSOVLSK Posts: 5,220
    edited July 2010
    Just got an e-mail notice that my order has shipped from Ohio. Estimated delivery date of Aug. 2. Are they walking it to me???
    Things work out best for those who make the best of the way things work out.-John Wooden
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  • hearingimpared
    hearingimpared Posts: 21,136
    edited July 2010
    PSOVLSK wrote: »
    Just got an e-mail notice that my order has shipped from Ohio. Estimated delivery date of Aug. 2. Are they walking it to me???

    Trained carrier pigeon! They are taking into consideration that the pigeon might get lost and have to return for better directions.:D

    That's why shipping costs more than the product!:rolleyes:
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  • shack
    shack Posts: 11,154
    edited July 2010
    PSOVLSK wrote:
    Just got an e-mail notice that my order has shipped from Ohio. Estimated delivery date of Aug. 2. Are they walking it to me???

    Media Mail - I've had something take over 3 weeks to arrive via MM. Then again, I gotten something in a couple of days with MM. You just never know. They always quote the max.
    "Just because you’re offended doesn’t mean you’re right." - Ricky Gervais

    "For those who believe, no proof is necessary. For those who don't believe, no proof is possible." - Stuart Chase

    "Consistency requires you to be as ignorant today as you were a year ago." - Bernard Berenson
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  • PSOVLSK
    PSOVLSK Posts: 5,220
    edited July 2010
    hearingimpared wrote: »
    That's why shipping costs more than the product!:rolleyes:

    I almost couldn't make myself buy it for this reason. It's just wrong to pay more for shipping than for the product you're buying.
    Keiko wrote: »
    They coulda shipped that disc 1st Class for a buck and a half.

    No doubt. Well, I'll enjoy it when it gets here...next month:p:D
    Things work out best for those who make the best of the way things work out.-John Wooden
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  • shack
    shack Posts: 11,154
    edited July 2010
    PSOVLSK wrote:
    I almost couldn't make myself buy it for this reason. It's just wrong to pay more for shipping than for the product you're buying.

    Not a good way to look at it. I buy books, CDs and DVDs all the time through Amazon Marketplace or Half.com for anywhere from a few cents to a couple of bucks plus mailing. Still a great deal.
    "Just because you’re offended doesn’t mean you’re right." - Ricky Gervais

    "For those who believe, no proof is necessary. For those who don't believe, no proof is possible." - Stuart Chase

    "Consistency requires you to be as ignorant today as you were a year ago." - Bernard Berenson
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  • PSOVLSK
    PSOVLSK Posts: 5,220
    edited July 2010
    shack wrote: »
    Not a good way to look at it.

    It's a ridiculous way to look at it:D Just seems a little unstable paying more for shipping than for the product. Bottom line is a CD advertised as "very good" condition for only $5. Can't beat that!! Thanks to those who recommended it.
    Things work out best for those who make the best of the way things work out.-John Wooden
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  • PSOVLSK
    PSOVLSK Posts: 5,220
    edited July 2010
    August 2 came a little early:p:D CD arrived today. I've only listened to it once, but it sure sounds nice on the 1C's in the bedroom. I suspect this will get plenty of play. Thanks again for the recommendation.
    Things work out best for those who make the best of the way things work out.-John Wooden
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  • packetjones
    packetjones Posts: 1,059
    edited July 2010
    I just looked on amazon for this since you got it for so cheap. Did you purchase it used? Just curious.

    -edit-

    I also see that Norah is coming to OKC in august. Tickets are $48 a piece. Not sure if I should go or not. Anyone ever seen her live?
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  • PSOVLSK
    PSOVLSK Posts: 5,220
    edited July 2010
    Yes, I bought it used. I looked for a CD in at least "Very Good" condition and a vendor who had lots of feedback and an excellent rating.
    Things work out best for those who make the best of the way things work out.-John Wooden
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  • fatchowmein
    fatchowmein Posts: 2,637
    edited July 2010
    packetjones wrote: »
    I also see that Norah is coming to OKC in august. Tickets are $48 a piece. Not sure if I should go or not. Anyone ever seen her live?

    I saw her "Not Too Late" concert but she covered all of her material including New York City. We had a great time but I'm a Norah Jones fan, wife is not. Concert was laid back. "Not Too Late" is probably her weakest album.
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  • frodaddy
    frodaddy Posts: 124
    edited July 2010
    Her first CD was recorded much better than her second. But for both, from track to track the recording quality varies.
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