mikeymad

I have not - but I am sure I have tasted it... way too sure...

Listen Without Prejudice by George Michael (1990) https://album.link/i/1625866382 Example: Starting with the incredible opening track of - Praying for Time. Which became very poignant, but then drops into the killer Freedom! '90. I can't help but move with this one, with George putting down the bass track for it. The rest of the album is full of great writing and highlights George's voice. But also surprisingly mellow comparatively. I am not sure I listened to the album other than when it dropped. I was over a college buddy of mine's place, and he put it on. While he took like 4 phone calls, I listened away. (and he has the reverse of my first and middle names)

^^ I think I may hate all of that... I wasn't really going to comment on the roster - I am just a baby roaster - until I clicked on the link. You cannot start out with just lying that it is the largest and get away with it. My little machine does 450g per batch. Now I am not too mad at the price point and it does not seem that they are making anything new here. But good luck to them. And the IKAWA looks interesting enough but $1300 for a 100g roaster? dang.. -- One review "I consistently have a quality cup of coffee for less than a Starbucks and very little effort". Ha not hard to do for $1300.. :} Anyway, I have been interested in people's perspective on the whole 'fresh roasted' thing. When I started roasting small batches years ago I would only have enough for a day or so, so it was always 'fresh'. But when I started roasting a full pound at a time and having an extra pound roasted previously. I found that I really prefered the coffee once the roast was about a week old, 5-7 days depending on the roast and bean. Having it 'fresh' I found it a little flat, but nice aromatics. But once it had the time for some off-gassing, I found the flavors on the palate to be much more complex. At least that has been my experience with my coffee and roaster. And these are all via espresso.

Eno by Brian Eno (2024) https://album.link/i/1731220485 Instead of Example - trailer: The album only suffers from being a soundtrack. It is disjointed. And when I want my Eno, I want a cohesive album to get lost in. But with that said there are some cool tacks, and they sound great of course. {maybe I need a pink shirt}

I have been following - Fall of Civilizations - YouTube channel for years now. The host Paul Cooper writes, narriates, and produces these epic documentaries about lost civilizations. Calls it a Podcast. He releases a audio version, and then some months later releases the fully produced video. Not an easy task at 4 hours running time. As he states in the intro of each episode: "I look at a civilization of the past that rose to glory and then collapsed into the ashes of history. I want to ask, what did they have in common? What led to their fall, and what did it feel like to be a person alive at the time who witnessed the end of their world?" These rank up there with almost anything I have listened to or seen. Including - Homemade Documentaries - by Jackson Tyler. Another YouYube documentarian, which I think I have posted here before - here is his latest work on Gemini, Crazy good at just under 3 hours. Mikey likes long format learnings...

Letters from a Black Widow by Judith Hill (2024) https://album.link/i/1725956934 Example: I have been posting a lot recently. I normally listen to a lot of music that is not worthy of posting, but I have had a string of bangers over the last week. I really liked Judith's voice, and this recent album has some highlights to bring it to life.

^ I really like this shot.. ( and bagels are back!!! baby... )

HAAS by Natalie Haas (2023) https://album.link/i/1677843380 Example: Still one of my favorite fiddle players Brittany Haas, this time paired up with her sister (yeah, I know they look nothing alike) Natalie on Cello. Many of the tunes are blending of several works like the example, and it really works for me.

^ I feel like I should listen to more sax now. but Older by Lizzy McAlpine (2024) https://album.link/i/1729662067 Example: I do really appreciate Lizzy's work. I don't like this as much as her last effort. But there are some really great tracks in there. The title track being one of them. I hope that she continues to develop as the singer/songwriter she is.

Know What I Mean? by Cannonball Adderley (1961) https://album.link/i/1729940744 Example: Cannon and Bill playing nicely with each other. Enjoying this recent master, the noise floor dropped a bit, that being noticable. Holding off on rant about a 63 year old recording sounding this good vs a lot of things. {get off my lawn}

That is so funny - well done BBC. ... but give me dem sweet sweet NOS '50s tubes though...

Speak To Me by Julian Lage (2024) https://album.link/i/1724864226 Example: Bit of a rainy day and some Julian on Blue Note. Tis a good day... An hour well spent.

Polaris by TesseracT (2015) https://album.link/i/1015037591 Example: I listened to the albums a bit out of order I realize, this is stepping back to 2015. It is good, but it does not stand out and isn't as cohesive as Sonder (above). But playing is at a high level, and still great to listen to. I think that they have broken out of the Tool sound in the more recent works. A worthy album. It may need a relisten, if I can get Sonder out of the top of my queue for a day.

Your Mini's are what made this a choice for me. Otherwise I would go with something like the Klipshhorn or the crazy Avantgarde Acoustic Trio G3. :} For digital bits - there are options, but probably: dCS - Vivaldi APEX stack.. Yes that is the Transport II - Upsampler - DAC - and Master Clock set. I would trust that they wound get most of the bits right. I have not heard this set but I have liked dCS sound in the past. And I really like the different wave designs on the front.

Sonus Faber sounded so good. They were on my list back in the day. So I started looking around and I found a few things that initially fall on my list. For right now just speakers and amp. Oswalds Mill Audio - imperia pushed by some 300Bs - Pair of WE 97A monoblocks More to come

Sonder by TesseracT (2018) https://album.link/i/1341084087 Example: Really found their sound in this one. The tracks come on hard, and you are rewarded with multiple listenings (I think I am one my 5th round). Looking forward to the recent releases. and THE TORTURED POETS DEPARTMENT: THE ANTHOLOGY by Taylor Swift (2024) Example: Yes the 2 hour version. It is a good collection of songs. Not a complex album, but it is all focused on lyrics. And there are lines that hit hard. As I have said before, I am not the audience for this, but I completely get it. The fans are richly rewarded by pulling apart the lyrics. And there are catchy hooks in there. And 31 tracks - crazy amount of work.

I use to play this game a long time ago when I read all the audio mags.. I think if I listen now it would be a bunch of old equipment. But I may ponder and contribute. 'cause you know that this is a serious forum, wish serious peoples. -- I have not seen it, but I hear you have a big bass trap...

Our executive director, Kristie and I after the walk, it was a long day but great. Many thanks to y'all for your generosity and support. It was a great day, and it went off without a hitch. We got it all done before the rain hit. :} We had four other organizational partners there to share their missions, including the local Community Service Officers from Seattle. Thanks again all... cheers - Mikey

Yay a new overlord.

Ah man - that is strange Antonio. I don't see a transaction... I just ran a test with PP and it seemed to go through. I wonder if givebutter had a glitch.. Many thanks for support regardless. Cheers...

So Fragile, So Blue by William Shatner (2024) https://album.link/i/1734805073 Example: All the Bill you would want.

Thanks everyone for your generosity and support (NFLO). We are all in pregame today - I am getting my truck prepped to drive up to Seattle early tomorrow and haul a bunch of tables and chairs for the event. T-shirts are in and looking good. Hoping the weather holds so that we can show them off during the walk. Thanks again all... https://givebutter.com/Walk4Belonging24/michaelmaddock Cheers - Mikey

Soul Message by Richard 'Groove' Holmes (1965) https://album.link/i/1443137429 Example: We all need a little more "Groove" in our lives. And this RVG master does that very well.

Beethoven for Three: Symphonies Nos. 2 and 5 by Yo-Yo Ma (2022) https://album.link/i/1590901485 Example: I thought I would put this on as a light listen - and holy smokes is it good. This was the first one released in the B43 series (2022). And the arrangement and performance of the 2nd symphony is shockingly good to me. And well done on Sony's part for the recording. I liked the one that was released this year (posted a bit ago), but not like this. Third listen this week and it is only Tuesday. It may become a staple in my queue.

Cheers Jeffy - Happy Birthdays - Edit - Wait is Tim holding a small Ham? or Tounge? -- (that's some creepy shit there).