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Every job requires a specific tool and replacing the Vivid G1Giya’s midrange unit would take a 6mm hex key, which we didn’t have. On our way to Wes’ place, therefore, John Atkinson and I made a quick stop at the local hardware store and purchased a hex key set. Then, we were ready to get to work.
We’re currently working on our July 2010 issue, which will include Wes Phillips’ review of the Vivid Audio G1Giya loudspeaker ($65,000/pair). Near the end of Wes’ auditioning, the domes of both upper-midrange units were inexplicably damaged. As you can see from the picture, it appears the domes were poked by some sort of dull object. Wes didn’t do it; Wes’ wife didn’t do it. We’ll never know how the damage occurred. What we do know is that the aluminum-dome midrange unit is incredibly delicate and has a strong magnetic pull.
The damage occurred after John Atkinson had…
Exactly six months after we’d seen them perform in Puerto Rico, at that strange island bar, Bamboo Beach (see “Records to Die For,” February 2010, pages 71-72), the Vivian Girls performed on Saturday night, this time so much closer to home, at Maxwell’s in Hoboken. I bought tickets for the whole crew—Rizzo, Fritzy, Papi Chulo, Fuzzy, and Tigga—so that, together again for the first time since that memorable trip, we could relive the magic. We ate well, drank too much, laughed, danced, and sang along as the Vivian Girls burned through their energetic set.
And on Saturday, April 24th, Attention Screen performed at Yamaha’s Artist Services concert hall. The performance was recorded by John Atkinson for a future Stereophile CD, the band’s third, scheduled to be released at the 2010 Rocky Mountain Audio Fest in October. It was an excellent night of music. Check out the images in our Gallery.
I was directed to this video via the Stereophile Twitter page, in a tweet from Bowers & Wilkins, who’d seen it first at Audiophilia. Moments after I’d watched the video, Stereophile contributor Jim Austin also sent me the link.
“Seen this yet?” he asked.
Funny how the internet works.
Anyway, it’s an awesome video, and I can’t wait for the film. Because, really, there are few things in this world as cool as vinyl. The vinyl LP is one of humankind’s greatest achievements and deserves to be celebrated. I’m thinking an opening night party is necessary…
On Saturday night, in New York City, upstairs in Manhattan’s 54th Street Yamaha piano studios, which by the way is very close to that other keyboard shrine, Steinway Hall, Stereophile’s own contributing editor Bob Reina and his group, Attention Screen recorded their third live album for Stereophile Records, a label owned and run by editor in chief/sound engineer John Atkinson, our fearless leader. Just so there is no confusion, I mean that last term as an endearing salute rather than in the sense of Rocky & Bullwinkle’s Germanesque dictator of Pottsylvania.
In any case—damn those…
Photo: Sebastian Mlynarski
Did I tell you I’ve been in love with this stupid song? Remember the girl I told you about? The one I feel like such a fool about? Phosphorescent is one of her favorite bands. In this song, which I discovered earlier this week, the singer sets the story at the Mermaid Parade, an especially important event in my personal history. (Can I have a personal history? Have I lived long enough?) I can remember, clearly, being out there on the sand, watching the sun come down, watching the naked women dancing, watching the people scatter about like birds as…
Whenever I’m at Tunes in Hoboken, getting my fingers all dirty on the vinyl LPs, I stop and stare at this one album, John Prine’s Sweet Revenge, and I wonder what it’s all about. Prine looks pretty bad-ass there in his convertible, decked out in so much blue denim, dark aviators over his eyes, a cigarette at his lips, the wind in his hair, legs crossed and flung out over the passenger side window like he’s seriously satisfied, like he really doesn’t care.
Don’t ask me why, but, despite all of that, my interest is never so high that I take the chance and spend the five dollars…
Last night, on Later with Jools Holland, Joanna Newsom performed “81,” the lead single from her ambitious and inspired triple-LP, Have One On Me.
(Via Prefix)
I’ve been making my way, slowly and delightedly, through the album. This thing takes time. It takes time because there is so much going on in Joanna Newsom’s music, and because what is going on is all so refreshingly other.
I read somewhere something like, “Once the music leaves your mind, it’s already been compromised.” I understand that idea and, most often, agree. I go walking around with songs in my…