music that sounds like..

[policerule]

[quote="Schmaffy"]

Damn. This was my shot, and I blew it.[/quote]


I'll take the bait, Schmaff

I can't have a worm dangled in front of me like that without biting it off.

[sockii]

I think the lack of live instruments/drums makes it sound somewhat dated today

I need to go back and spend some time with the Equalizer, too. I haven't collected much of it precisely because of that dated sound. I'd be curious to hear something like "Tancred Ballet" with live instruments, but so much of the Eq. music has such an electric sound to it that I find it difficult to appreciate the composition behind it.

After this thread I ended up putting TE&OC on repeat while working today...I definitely stand by it being a bit of an underappreciated gem. Some of the pieces I didn't "get" at all for years are now my favorites ("Dark Ships" in particular...I love how that piece builds, beginning so ominous and then kicking in with that great "booming" section at about 3:30). (Don't ask me to me all edumacated in describing music, here.)

If/when I can get around to it, Tancred Ballet is actually one of the pieces which is in HB&CM as an instrumental interlude...I can probably extract that short section into mp3 for those who aren't, well, in the mood for 3+ hours of opera...

[TheEqualizer]

[quote="DirtyMartini"][quote="sockii"]I think the lack of live instruments/drums makes it sound somewhat dated today[/quote]

I need to go back and spend some time with the Equalizer, too. I haven't collected much of it precisely because of that dated sound. I'd be curious to hear something like "Tancred Ballet" with live instruments, but so much of the Eq. music has such an electric sound to it that I find it difficult to appreciate the composition behind it.[/quote]

I am a bit surprised how people seem to have more a problem with "dated sound" if it involves an "electric sound." Isn't all of the music by the Doors dated in sound? The music of Hendrix? The music of Zeppelin?

Of course, I am waaayy biased. You may not know this, but I really like the Equalizer CD.

[DirtyMartini]

[quote="TheEqualizer"]I am a bit surprised how people seem to have more a problem with "dated sound" if it involves an "electric sound." Isn't all of the music by the Doors dated in sound? The music of Hendrix? The music of Zeppelin? [/quote]

Apologies, EQ -- I should have said "electronic," not "electric." (Les Paul on the brain.)

Entirely a taste thing, of course. For me, it's two-fold: the sound quality and the sound style. Remastering was a godsend for me because the tinny, flat sound quality of a lot of 60s and 70s recordings literally hurt my head, so I could only ever listen to the Doors, Hendrix, or Zeppelin for so long before needing to turn them off. But style-wise, I find that some (I wouldn't say all, but some) of their music is marked by their time period without being limited by it. Zeppelin's bluesy raunch, for example, plays better on modern radio than, say, Starland Vocal Band's "Afternoon Delight." (In a different vein, Simon & Garfunkel have more lasting appeal than Seals & Crofts.) The work tends to appeal despite changing times. (I think a lot of the Police transcends their time period as well.) And in my case, it's an overall style that I just like.

But to me much of The Equalizer sounds like a guy in the 80s on a Casio keyboard -- which isn't all that far off the mark. The sound quality isn't fabulous, but it's that thin, kinda plunky, and artificial electronic sound of the instrument(s) and some of the style that to me sticks it in its decade. I didn't much like that guy-in-the-80s-on-a-Casio-keyboard sound back in the 80s either. I fully admit that I am not in love with all works Copeland: Stewart and I have very different opinions, for example, on the relative import of lilting soprano sax and clarinet melodies. I understand the appeal to others, of course; just doesn't float my boat. As is, in 2009, I just don't think it holds up well.

Putting the tunes in the hands of separate, "real" (if you will) instruments does help, though. There are some interesting turns and melodies going on behind it all, and I do find it interesting to look at how Stewart's work has progressed. I'd be curious as all hell to hear a modern Equalizer set revamped for full orchestra.


[quote="sockii"]If/when I can get around to it, Tancred Ballet is actually one of the pieces which is in HB&CM as an instrumental interlude...I can probably extract that short section into mp3 for those who aren't, well, in the mood for 3+ hours of opera...[/quote]

I hadn't realized. Thanks, sock. Do you know which disc/track? (I can't remember, but I'm pretty sure our copies are from the same source.)

[sockii]

A random thought that just hit me...I can't remember if we've ever tried it here before or not, but...

What would folks think about doing a schedule of discussion threads about SC's various works? (Soundtracks and albums and operas, oh my?) Something like every two weeks (or every month, even, if we want to be lazy ), opening up a thread for folks to pick apart/talk about in more detail the various recordings out there, which could be useful for both new folks looking to discover the work that's out there, and olden fen looking for a reason to re-evaluate/re-discover older albums?

Just a thought. It could be fun...

[conroy]

Although the TE&OC sounds too polished, I still love listening to the tunes on there and often wonder how great they would sound with some lush orchestrations like what happened to a lot of Stewart's scores in the early - mid 90's when he started using Judd Miller, Michael Andreas and Michael Thompson. Even the sucky ones like Airborne and Bank Robber had cool scores that I wish could be released on DVD with isolated music only tracks. And imagine how cool it would be to see a performance of Stewart's work involving all the above and a full orchestra with some guess appearances by Stanley Clarke, Rusty Anderson and Vicki Randle. And I think the Spyro would be pretty cool if it was arranged for something like a live orchestra & cool stuff like gamelans instruments.

[njperry]

[quote="sockii"]A random thought that just hit me...I can't remember if we've ever tried it here before or not, but...

What would folks think about doing a schedule of discussion threads about SC's various works? (Soundtracks and albums and operas, oh my?) Something like every two weeks (or every month, even, if we want to be lazy ), opening up a thread for folks to pick apart/talk about in more detail the various recordings out there, which could be useful for both new folks looking to discover the work that's out there, and olden fen looking for a reason to re-evaluate/re-discover older albums?

Just a thought. It could be fun...[/quote]

I like the idea but I see 2 problems in practice, knowing Nutters. I can't see us keeping to a schedule nor can I see us staying on topic. This thread strated about the Rhymatist soundtrack, then discussed the movie, Leopard Son, Little Blue Boy, Pecker, and EQ and Other Cliffhangers, with occassional references to much of the SC soundtrack catolouge. So I question our focus on a particular piece of Stewart's music. That said, sounds like fun and I am happy to give it a try. Always want to discuss Stewart's music. I just added to my signature line today somethign the Master siad in Savannah last year: "There are a few strange people on this planet. A sure sign of that is that they kind of like my music." I am proud to be one of those strange people.

[Divemistress of the Dark]

Hmmmm. I'll agree staying on topic and hewing to schedule ain't our long suit, but it'd be fun to try. Guess this means, Here's another YES vote.

[ltwoman]

Having just watched Everyone Stares for the umpteenth time, I wish Stewart would put out an entire disc of the "dearranged" Police songs (or his own material for that matter. It's just so cool to hear it in a different formula.)
As to the discussion threads, some of us (the aforementioned new folks) are still playing catch up with getting hold of some of the stuff. I didn't realize so much was already unavailable via conventional routes. But I'm a game observer, or listener, or whatever (I haven't done that either. It's ALL so new.)

[smax]

Itwoman, can i assume that you'd like to go to; http://www.mediafire.com/download.php?8nyy7mbn0pr ?

reps to carlos. ahem.

[ltwoman]

Well, aren't you just a wealth of (great) informationThanks, smax! I will download this later. Wow! I've been seriously doing this forum-thing for several weeks now and everyone has been so helpful! Now, do you know of a simple way to get hold of Equalizer and some of the earlier soundtracks? The ones that are no longer available or only at the cost of $64 and up? Now it sounds like I'm groveling, but is there a one source for of any of these?

[smax]

pleasure, Itwoman.... stuff that is commercially available should be purchased, me thinks.... or we run he risk of being smoted (?) by the maestro.....

[ltwoman]

Got it. I hadn't looked at it like that.
Thanks again.

[ltwoman]

Smax (or anyone), I hope you can help me out on this one. I downloaded the above dearrangement (and it does sound exactly like what I would love), but 1 hour and 43 minutes later (on dialup) I can't open it. It's asking me what program do I want to use to open it. I have a Dell , Windows Media Player and Vista. Any ideas? AAAGGGGHHH! (I don't know how to use those little smiley faces or it would be an ANGRY and FRUSTRATED one.) Pay It Forward: THANKS.

[smax]

there are a few free programmes which will unpack a "rar" file (if that's what it is).

i use this one: http://www.7-zip.org/
fairly straight forward; you download the programme; then when you "right click" on the rar file; 7-zip (or whatever) will appear and you can open the file then bob's your uncle, fanny's your aunt and how's your father...