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Review by DSD July 16, 2008 (4 of 10 found this review helpful)
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This review and all recommendations are 2 channel Stereo only, I have not heard the multi-channel program.
Mine is a desenting voice of the Blue Coast Collection as I was not impressed musically, although I was somewhat impressed sonically with this SACD.
This a sampler of Blues, Jazz and Folk music played by only one or two players at any one time and not a percussionist or drummer in the whole lot. Did they have a percussion strike when this was recorded? I mean Blues and Jazz needs percussion, sometimes simple folk music can be done without percussion but to my ears even folk music is better with percussion. It's hard to comment on the tracks on this sampler as I only even slightly liked a couple of them a little, for example the first song the two singers have nice voices but the only musical accompaniment is a guitar, where are the rest of the instruments? Most of the rest of the SACD was even more threadbare and I hated the music intensely, this is like the worst kind of "audiophile" music they tried to pass off in the 1960's and 1970's with only one or two unknown performers playing music no one wants to hear because they could not hire enough performers to do the pieces justice. I thought this kind on minimalist non-classical music was way behind us. One of my reasons for writing this diatribe is to do my bit to protest this so it does not become a musical trend. In other words if you like enjoyable music that is warm, beautiful and excites the senses, avoid this SACD at all costs. Now if you like boring audiophile music and hate percussion instruments this SACD is for you.
If you want a sampler of great blues music and unsurpassed sound try BluesQuest - AudioQuest Music AQ-SACD 1052: BluesQuest. Or try any of the live to 2 Track SACDs from DMP, AudioQuest Music and Analogue Productions Originals? To my ears music is more real when there is no editing within a single song or composition involved. All three companies set up the microphones in the best spot and what you get it is what the musicians played and sang. And that my friends is some of the best music on the planet. You can feel the heart and soul of the musicians, it's a connection nearly impossible with edited recordings. As Tom Jung of DMP explained editing destroys the flow of the music. Any of the SACDs from these three labels will offer sound superior to the Blue Coast collection and as a plus most of the music is fantastic, in the pocket, rhythmically right on and a total joy to listen to.
I bought the Blue Coast Collection without listening to sound samples first as it had such good raves on the Internet and Amazon didn't have sound samples available. You don't have to make the same mistake I did as here are music samples from this SACD: http://www.bluecoastrecords.com/bluecoastcollection.html
I won't make this mistake again, I was so dumb to not listen to the sound samples first. All is not lost, I got a good price for it on eBay, in the end I only lost about $10.00 buying this terrible SACD, but it could have been avoided if I had only listened to the streaming audio before jumping the gun.
---- Here is more information on the recording, included the E.S.E. process and which artists are performing which works
"Blue Coast sets a new standard in audio excellence with the Blue Coast Collection. This award winning collection of songs has been recognized by audiophiles and casual listeners for its sonic precision combined with passionate musical performances. Performed in the studio without the use of headphones, overdubs or digital effects, these sessions led to a proprietary recording technique called Extended Sound Environment (E.S.E.), which creates a holographic sensation for both surround and stereo recordings.
The musicians were hand chosen by Grammy nominated producer, Cookie Marenco, who worked as a producer for Windham Hill during the "Golden Years" and co-producer, Jean Claude Reynaud, who brought a technical understanding that was gained early from his father, Jean Marie Reynaud, renowned audiophile speaker manufacturer. In a world where musicianship and audio quality have often been sacrificed for convenience, we aspire to preserve the traditions of excellence in recording."
1. Looking For a Home (5:49)
Written by Keith Greeninger - Performed by Keith Greeninger & Dayan Kai
2. Slow Day (4:04)
Written by Jane Selkye - Performed by Jane Selkye & Chris Kee
3. Lilianna (4:05)
Written by Jose Manuel Blanco - Performed by Jose Manuel Blanco & Jason McGuire
4. Darcy Farrow (3:13)
Written by Steve Gillette & Tom Campbell - Performed by Rob Ickes & Tony Furtado
5. The Dog Song (6:10)
Written & Performed by Garett Brennan
6. Tamalpais (2:00)
Written by Cookie Marenco - Performed by Tony Furtado
7. Immediately Blessed (7:13)
Written by Keith Greeninger - Performed by Keith Greeninger & Dayan Kai
8. In Love Before the Last Call (4:59)
Written by Jane Selkye - Performed by Jane Selkye & Chris Kee
9. Romance (4:01)
Written & Performed by Jason McGuire
10. These Knees (2:45)
Written & Performed by Garett Brennan
11. The Waves of Kilkee (2:56)
Traditional - Performed by Rob Ickes
12. Finale (1:47)
Written & Performed by Glen Moore
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Review by Whitehall January 6, 2009 (3 of 4 found this review helpful)
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So not everyone loves this sort of music - but I do! This was recorded in Marin County, California, where I lived for 20 years, and reflects the musical styles and attitudes of the area. The piece entitled "Tamalpais" is named after the redwood-covered mountain that dominates the southern end of the county across the Golden Gate from San Francisco.
There can be little question as to the quality of the sound here (at least in SACD stereo). It is simply the best of my extensive collection and has only been bettered in my home by live studio FM broadcasts on my local minimal-compression, all-analog FM station here in Silicon Valley, KKUP. Few LIVE performances sound this good!
I will grant that a couple of the pieces rehash the "I'm a drunken bum, woe is me" theme common amongst folkies. This always slightly irritates the patriarch in me but when done with style, emotion, and self-awareness, as on the lead track, it evolves sympathy.
My wife, the non-audiophile, overheard this one playing in another room and later asked me to play it for her to listen to directly on the main stereo system, noting that it sounded so good. That is a compliment seldom given.
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