LATEST ADDITIONS

Album Reviews
Ellington Masterpieces  A Record That Belongs In Every Record Collection
Michael Fremer  |  Dec 05, 2014  |  48 comments
The Internet has diminished the number of "record fairs" but there still are some. When I go to "record fairs" l like to "play against type". If I see a vendor who looks like Elvis Presley (and there is/was one), I know his 50s rock records are going to be good but expensive so I'd rather rummage through the boxes of $1 records he's put on the floor under his table. That's where he puts the "junk" about which he knows nothing.

Continue Reading »
News
Roasting Chad Kassem This Weekend At L.A. and Orange County Audiophile Society Gala
Michael Fremer  |  Dec 04, 2014  |  9 comments
That's a photo of Chad Kassem and me from 1997. We go back a long way—to the 1980's actually. He's getting a "lifetime achievement" award on Sunday December 7th from the Los Angeles and Orange County Audiophile Society.

Continue Reading »
Turntable Reviews
Another Listen to Music Hall's MMF 11.1 Turntable
Michael Fremer  |  Dec 01, 2014  |  37 comments
Another listen to Music Hall's MMF 11.1 turntable? Wasn't one full review sufficient?
Continue Reading »
AAA VinylAlbum Reviews
Joni Mitchell's Hejira  Reissued AAA on 180g Vinyl
Michael Fremer  |  Nov 30, 2014  |  47 comments
Not that it’s any of my business, but I was disappointed reading that Joni Mitchell had nixed Taylor Swift’s playing her in a biopix. “All you’ve got is a girl with high cheekbones” she’s reported to have said.

Continue Reading »
Album Reviews
Second Line Funk!  Brass Band Compilation Will Get You Up and Dancing!
Michael Fremer  |  Nov 26, 2014  |  2 comments
This double LP compilation pressed on "tie dyed" colored vinyl includes previously released Mardi Gras Records recordings from the seven brass bands featured on this surprisingly entertaining set.
Continue Reading »
News
A Lego Turntable?
Michael Fremer  |  Nov 26, 2014  |  16 comments
From Mixmag.net: someone in Korea has built a working LEGO turntable and tone arm. Amazing.
Continue Reading »
News
Neil Young "Ditch Trilogy +" LP Box Set Coming For Black Friday RSD. This image is of a Counterfeit!
Michael Fremer  |  Nov 26, 2014  |  26 comments
The Neil Young master tapes for this second box set were sitting in Chris Bellman's mastering suite last winter when I visited and interviewed Bernie Grundman about the Blue Note reissues, some of which were originally digitized at BGM Mastering and some of which were cut to lacquer by Chris.
Continue Reading »
Phono Preamp Reviews
A Current Affair: The Intriguing MR Labs VERA 20 MC Phono Preamplifier
Michael Fremer  |  Nov 24, 2014  |  9 comments
The compact, two piece VERA 20 Phono Preamplifier from MR Labs may look more like a piece of medical technology and less like high performance audio gear, but don’t let its plain looks deceive you.

It consists of two relatively small chassis, one containing the amplification and signal processing electronics and the other the power supply. The power supply chassis (which at approximately 6 pounds weighs 3 times more than the amplification chassis) is capped at one end with a beefy heat sink more typical of a power amplifier. The two chassis connect via a pair of multi-pin umbilicals.

Continue Reading »
News
Led Zeppelin File Identities Revealed
Michael Fremer  |  Nov 24, 2014  |  10 comments
For those taking the time to listen to the two posted files in the Led Zeppelin III review....
Continue Reading »
Beatles
The World's Greatest Artists Sing The Songs of Paul McCartney: What Could Possibly Go Wrong?
Michael Fremer  |  Nov 23, 2014  |  19 comments
The producer Ralph Sall had an idea ten years ago or so: why not get some of the greatest musical talents of our time to pay tribute to Sir Paul McCartney by having them cover his songs? What could possibly go wrong?

Continue Reading »

Pages

X