Muskrat Ramble

You all may find this column relevant and interesting: http://www.classicstoday.com/features/f1_0104.asp

I see that some other folks here dig classical music. It's been a love of mine for a long time now. What sort of stuff do you all like? I've been re-listening to Beethoven's symphonies for the first time in a while, specifically Nikolaus Harnoncourt's set with the Chamber Orchestra of Europe on Teldec. This set was showered with hosannas of praise when it was released a decade or so ago. It's hardly the be-all-end-all of Beethoven sets, but it is really fine. Harnoncourt plays down the joie de vivre and humor of the symphonies in favor of Beethoven's stern and serious side. While Harnoncourt's approach lacks some desired warmth, he excels at highlighting the awesome rhythmic drive of these works. The fast movements are exciting--even thrilling--and the overly familiar 5th symphony feels wonderfully fresh and vital here, with the first and third movements steeped in intensity and ferocity without any sort of exaggerated wildness. With his emphasis on short, punchy, repeated rhythmic themes, Beethoven has often sounded to me like a sort of spiritual antecedent to heavy metal. These recordings really highlight the connection. But if you don't like heavy metal, don't worry: it's still good old Ludwig! The recordings themselves sound a bit too dry and raspy for my tastes, like they've been scoured down with fine-grit sandpaper, but the performances are definitely worth hearing.

I don't have any of the Collectables releases yet, but I do know that many of the sessions they've re-issued are available on other labels, either as new releases or easily-found used discs. I'm thinking in particular of Rahsaan, Blakey, and Ornette. So, it might be worth considering the various options before buying.

I absolutely love The Infinite (though I'm not so keen on Freak In), so I can't wait for the new album.

Thanks! Good to be here.

The Infinite is one of my absolute favorite jazz discs from the hundreds lining my shelves. Gorgeous, fascinating, subtle stuff with some beautiful playing in a Filles-era Milesian vein, particularly from Douglas himself, Caine, and Clarence Penn on drums. I'm having a hard time getting into Freak In, though. I have no problem at all with electronics and whatnot in jazz, but I just don't really find it musical or interesting on that particular album. I sort of get this "Wheee! I just discovered synthesizers!" vibe. I'll need to do more listening to be sure. Can't wait for Douglas's next album, nonetheless.

Classical and rock mainly, though I keep an open mind and ear. For the former, I particularly enjoy baroque, late romantic, and early 20th-century works. For the latter, mainly metal (the real thing: old Metallica, Megadeth, Black Sabbath, etc., not 80's pop metal hair bands), classic punk, alternative/college rock, classic rock (Zep, Hendrix, etc.). I also like some new-agey electronic stuff, like old Tangerine Dream.

Budget-priced classical discs are extremely common and often excellent. In addition to checking out Gramophone's site and the mag itself for reviews, consider mags like Fanfare (for the hardest of the hardcore collectors--I remember a Wagner opera review that ran for like four pages) and books like the Penguin Guide to Compact Discs and the Good CD Guide (from Gramophone). In addition to Naxos and the budget discs from once-dominant labels like EMI, DG, Decca/London, etc., an interesting budget-priced label well worth checking out is Brilliant Classics. They sell a combination of their own new recordings and recordings licensed from other labels. They sell their discs insanely cheaply and some of them are awesome, award-winning recordings.

One guilty musical pleasure: the BeeGees. Actually, those cats were great tunesmiths, whatever you think of their style. (I'm more a metal guy myself, but good music is good music.) Someone mentioned Doris Day above. I've never heard her music, but she made some great romantic comedy films: Pillow Talk, That Touch of Mink, etc. Classic romantic comedies are another guilty pleasure of mine, but that's a matter for a movie thread