Smile Sessions reviews anyone?!

[The Shift]

Mark Linnett seems to have been on an HDCD hobbyhorse since BWPS, as the Classics and Summer Love Songs discs are both HDCDs. I was hoping he'd left it behind for Smile, but it seems not....

Much earlier… the PS box was HDCD as were the second batch of two-fers (but not, apparently, the 70s/80s Brother two-fers {which I don't think Mark remastered}, Endless Harmony or Hawthorne CA).

[runnersdialzero]

Very interesting, actually the Tone Audio article. One thing bothers me though.

'...in preparation for HDCD...'  I guess many here won't know what that is. HDCD was a system invented about 15-20 years ago by Pacific Microsonics to increase the available resolution on a CD from 16 to 20 bits. In order to make this work, a decoder circuit needs to be designed into the CD player. Compatability is ensured so that HDCDs will play on a non-HDCD player.

However -
a) there are now hardly any HDCD players available worldwide (after a flurry about 10 years ago), and
b) in my (humble) experience, HDCD-encoded discs played on a 'normal' (non-HDCD) player tend to sound worse than an ordinary CD (subjective, but technical reason = more digital noise caused by the wider bandwidth).

Mark Linnett seems to have been on an HDCD hobbyhorse since BWPS, as the Classics and Summer Love Songs discs are both HDCDs. I was hoping he'd left it behind for Smile, but it seems not....

As long as we see it released alongside a standard 16 bit CD, I don't see the problem.

Alternately, go the 24 bit lossless files on a special (!) flash drive route ala the Beatles box set. imo.

[chris.metcalfe]

As long as we see it released alongside a standard 16 bit CD, I don't see the problem.

Alternately, go the 24 bit lossless files on a special (!) flash drive route ala the Beatles box set. imo.

You've misunderstood - the point about HDCD is that it's additional data encoded onto the CD, not an alternative format.

[runnersdialzero]

As long as we see it released alongside a standard 16 bit CD, I don't see the problem.

Alternately, go the 24 bit lossless files on a special (!) flash drive route ala the Beatles box set. imo.

You've misunderstood - the point about HDCD is that it's additional data encoded onto the CD, not an alternative format.

AH BALLZ *tries to break MP3 over his desk*

[Iron Horse-Apples]

Very interesting, actually the Tone Audio article. One thing bothers me though.

'...in preparation for HDCD...'  I guess many here won't know what that is. HDCD was a system invented about 15-20 years ago by Pacific Microsonics to increase the available resolution on a CD from 16 to 20 bits. In order to make this work, a decoder circuit needs to be designed into the CD player. Compatability is ensured so that HDCDs will play on a non-HDCD player.

However -
a) there are now hardly any HDCD players available worldwide (after a flurry about 10 years ago), and
b) in my (humble) experience, HDCD-encoded discs played on a 'normal' (non-HDCD) player tend to sound worse than an ordinary CD (subjective, but technical reason = more digital noise caused by the wider bandwidth).

Mark Linnett seems to have been on an HDCD hobbyhorse since BWPS, as the Classics and Summer Love Songs discs are both HDCDs. I was hoping he'd left it behind for Smile, but it seems not....

As long as we see it released alongside a standard 16 bit CD, I don't see the problem.

Alternately, go the 24 bit lossless files on a special (!) flash drive route ala the Beatles box set. imo.

I want 32 bit floating point and nothing else.

[The Shift]

Blu-Ray…  I see Jethro Tull are getting on board the Blu-Ray bus.

[Jimmie_R]

I want the whole BB cataloge in DTS 5.1 sound on blu-ray!  

[Myk Luhv]

I want their entire catalogue in raw PCM format. Come on Linett!

[Shady]

I guess we can expect The Guardians review soon


alexispetridis Alexis Petridis (twitter)

Oh wonderful - what could be more fun that reviewing a five CD box set via an online stream? That's bound to be a fun-filled few hours.

Still, I get the need for high security around a Beach Boys' Smile box. It's not like it's been repeatedly bootlegged FOR 40 SODDING YEARS.

*continues moaning* Y'know, without the high level security, bootlegs of it might end up all over the internet (links to google search of smile bootleg)

Alexis is bit of an idiot but I'm very interested in his review

[Shady]

Classic Rock review is out

9/10

"Featuring five CDs, double vinyl, two seven-inch singles and a book, it couldn't be any more comprehensive - there are 25 variations, out-takes and snippets of Good Vibrations alone. Elsewhere Surf's Up is the type of pure golden Californian pop that would be ubiquitous in so many hit singer-songwriters of the 70s, while Vega-tables and Do You Like Worms? display a surreal sense of humour offset by haunting melodies that manage to recall both Spector and Mozart. Every home should have one."

[SMiLE Brian]

Classic Rock review is out

9/10

"Featuring five CDs, double vinyl, two seven-inch singles and a book, it couldn't be any more comprehensive - there are 25 variations, out-takes and snippets of Good Vibrations alone. Elsewhere Surf's Up is the type of pure golden Californian pop that would be ubiquitous in so many hit singer-songwriters of the 70s, while Vega-tables and Do You Like Worms? display a surreal sense of humour offset by haunting melodies that manage to recall both Spector and Mozart. Every home should have one."

Great review, can't wait for the box to come and listen to it myself!

[hypehat]

"Every home should have one!"

One for the boxset sticker, imo 

[buddhahat]

Thanks for posting the classic rock review, slim shady - great stuff. Also looking forward to Petridis' review - Ejjoyed his bw interview recently. Let's hope the frustrations of the secure stream don't cloud his judgement!

[TV Forces]

Great review, can't wait for the box to come and listen to it myself!

How is that a great review?  It's three sentences.

[rab2591]

Great review, can't wait for the box to come and listen to it myself!

How is that a great review?  It's three sentences.

And yet it's more informative and intelligent than the one page blurb in last month's Rolling Stone.

[runnersdialzero]

Great review, can't wait for the box to come and listen to it myself!

How is that a great review?  It's three sentences.

"Every home should have one."

[Andrew G. Doe]

OK, my initial review:

It's really, really good. Except for "Teeter-Totter Love". Which sucks.

[SMiLE Brian]

Great review, can't wait for the box to come and listen to it myself!

How is that a great review?  It's three sentences.

And yet it's more informative and intelligent than the one page blurb in last month's Rolling Stone.

The review said it had 25 variations, outakes, and snippits of good vibrations, which is amazing.

[monicker]

One of the things i am sincerely looking forward to the most is Teeter Totter Love. Every single aghast description of it almost guarantees that it's going to be good. The description of it in the Leila post was amazing. No, i'm not joking.

[Andrew G. Doe]

Great review, can't wait for the box to come and listen to it myself!

How is that a great review?  It's three sentences.

And yet it's more informative and intelligent than the one page blurb in last month's Rolling Stone.

The review said it had 25 variations, outakes, and snippits of good vibrations, which is amazing.

Utterly amazing ! I mean, that's EXACTLY the same number as the track listing released over a month ago (plus hidden track) !!! WHOA !!!

[Andrew G. Doe]

One of the things i am sincerely looking forward to the most is Teeter Totter Love. Every single aghast description of it almost guarantees that it's going to be good. The description of it in the Leila post was amazing. No, i'm not joking.

Seriously, it's fucking horrible. Wild Man Fischer would be embarrassed...

[runnersdialzero]

Utterly amazing ! I mean, that's EXACTLY the same number as the track listing released over a month ago (plus hidden track) !!! WHOA !!!

Oh, be nice.

[SMiLE Brian]

Great review, can't wait for the box to come and listen to it myself!

How is that a great review?  It's three sentences.

And yet it's more informative and intelligent than the one page blurb in last month's Rolling Stone.

The review said it had 25 variations, outakes, and snippits of good vibrations, which is amazing.

Utterly amazing ! I mean, that's EXACTLY the same number as the track listing released over a month ago (plus hidden track) !!! WHOA !!!

I know the track listing said that a month ago, I am just excited like crazy and a general great mood right now with the box set release date so close.

[Andrew G. Doe]

Utterly amazing ! I mean, that's EXACTLY the same number as the track listing released over a month ago (plus hidden track) !!! WHOA !!!

Oh, be nice.

Remember who you're entreating. 

[monicker]

One of the things i am sincerely looking forward to the most is Teeter Totter Love. Every single aghast description of it almost guarantees that it's going to be good. The description of it in the Leila post was amazing. No, i'm not joking.

Seriously, it's friggin' horrible. Wild Man Fischer would be embarrassed...

Seriously, that sounds great. My heart is bursting with excitement and i'm really, really glad--even without hearing it--that it wasn't vetoed for inclusion on the box. That honestly gives me hope for many things in life.