Note: If a recording listed here was previously reviewed in Stereophile, whether in "Record Reviews" or in a past edition of "Records to Die For," the volume and number of the pertinent issue(s) appear in parentheses at the end of the review. For example, a listing of "(Vol.35 No.12)" indicates that a review of the recording appeared in the December 2012 issue.
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COMMENTS
Great to see Moondog included but Herb, I would disagree with your statement that "his every act...was an act of love." From Philip Glass's preface to Robert Scotto's biography, "The Viking of 6th Avenue":
"As amazing as he was, he was a difficult guy, and a bit of a racist too. He spoke of not liking black or Jewish people"
But his music is indeed divine.
I believe he was referring to Moondog's MUSICAL acts.
I love the R2D4 episode. Stereophile has a rich history in this regard.
I am happy to see some recognition for the late, great James Horner. Sneakers is a wonderful album which I can listen to at anytime. Whenever I can't decide on an album to listen to, I put on either the Sneakers soundtrack or the Patriot Games soundtrack. Great stuff!
It would be really swell if someone put all of the Stereophile R2D4 on a public Tidal playlist everyone could enjoy. I have compiled a couple years worth of R2D4 material, but it is really time consuming. Plus, I don't know how to make a playlist public - but, folks on Audiostream comments boards have done so with wonderful results.
My R2D4 in their catalogue is "The Colour Of Spring"
The music itself is gorgeous and has amazing sonics.
It's my go-to album when I challenge friends to an A/B test between analogue and digital.
I've seen many jaws drop to the floor when they hear how much better it sounds on vinyl. (In my case, it's E.M.I. America ST-1719 Mastered by Wally Traugott, versus E.M.I. CDP 7462282, the original U.K. CD)
Is there anybody under the age of 30 on the Stereophile staff? No wonder Millennials are buying soundbars in droves.
It would have been great to see some observations on recordings that people actually buy in reasonable numbers. You know, popular music.
Stereophile serves its customers very well I think. At times they've had someone like Ariel Bitran, who has recommended music that I've bought - even music he participated in.
But there's a more important issue here. Is it better to look for Stereophile to represent all age groups in some way, or might it be better to include other sources in the search for different genres of audiophile music?
I think there's a danger that this excellent magazine will end up like Harley-Davidson — catering to an increasingly older and insular market.
There is a fair bit of 'new' or cutting-edge music that is well recorded, or uses sound in unusual ways. The latest Daft Punk album 'Random Access Memories' sounds stunning, for example.
There is a danger for magazines like this, but one of the unique things about Stereophile in particular is how even the middle-age guys dabble in the various pop musics. I can't speak for them (someone has to ask them individually, for what should be obvious reasons), but I can speak for myself. I'm into nearly everything - Daft Punk, Alt-J, Armin van Buuren, Enslaved, Katy B, Nouvelle Vague, ...... but come to think of it, since Stereophile is more a hi-fi gear mag than a music mag, I'd say that the gear tests will generally drive the acquisition of new music tracks, rather than the need to fill out R2D4 issues. That's how it works for me.
So if I say, "Never trust anyone under 30"........
(There is no Sanctuary.)
Yeah - everybody wants to live to old age, but they still dread it.
I've always thought Weather Report eponymous LP was hugely underrated, for me a great choice. Interesting list, thanks.
I have a major problem with people, and especially reviewers, calling any and all electronic music, electronica. Electronica is somewhat new age, quite feminine and vastly uninteresting. This kind of inappropriate labeling should not happen from people with an educated ear. Electronic music is among the most difficult music to reproduce in an audiophile set up, I feel reviewers overlooking this category are inapt to review.
Let's see now, checked out 2015-16 dubious "records to die for" and so far the only recording worth a damn is mahler's 9th. This means 99.9% of the remaining selections of "records to die" are utter cacophany. How to account for the musically impaired stereophile staff? Easy answer: EMPLOYEE'S (self-explanatory). INVESTOR's (self-explanatory) An editor with its head up the investor's A** - little wonder.
Whats worse than that? the predictable empty reponses to this post (assuming it doesn't get deleted) defending stereophile's poor taste equal in nature and consequence to the united states governments responses regarding 911 -> COMPLETE BS
what a let down.
John Atkinson
Editor, Stereophile
Hi johnny boy.. just read your (well deserved) snide reply. Still, you illustrate my point better than I do. It's unfortunate you think "holding down a job" is a relevant parameter pertaining to the intrinsic value (or worth as you would put it) of a human being. Are you aware if this were the case, there would be no need for music in the first place? Where to even begin to explain.
Well, here are some links for you:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zGeZiWOeGIc
http://www.deseretnews.com/article/645199800/BYU-places-911-truth-professor-on-paid-leave.html?pg=all
I think that audiophile equipment and music are indivisable one does not exists without the other, that's why stereophile magazine should try to bring more music articles and recomendations to it's content. Will be nice to know which popular music is been auditioned by stereophile reviewers.
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