Akiko Suwanai, Philharmonia Orchestra, Charles Dutoit – Poeme (2004) [SACD / Philips – 475 6189]

Akiko Suwanai, Philharmonia Orchestra, Charles Dutoit - Poeme (2004)

Title: Akiko Suwanai, Philharmonia Orchestra, Charles Dutoit – Poeme (2004)
Genre: Classical
Format: MCH SACD ISO + Hi-Res FLAC

Award-winning violinist Akiko Suwanai is backed by the City of Philharmonia Orchestra conducted by Charles Dutoit for this recording of compositional works by Saint-Saëns, Lalo, Chausson, Kreisler, Berlioz, and Ravel. This music here is a collection of pieces that fall just short of “major” concertos (more like encore pieces) though Akiko Suwanai does them full justice!!!! Particularly, the Saint-Saens “Introduction et Rondo Capriccioso” and Ravel’s “Tzigane” are top notch. Ms. Suwanai plays with a great deal of warmth, personality, and maturity that allows her Strad to really sing! The recording is top notch, with the violin a bit forward and the orchestra back a ways.

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1 min read

Akiko Suwanai, City Of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra – Sibelius & Walton: Violin Concertos (2003/2008) [SACD / Philips – 470 622-2]

Akiko Suwanai, City Of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra - Sibelius & Walton: Violin Concertos (2003)

Title: Akiko Suwanai, City Of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra – Sibelius & Walton: Violin Concertos (2003/2008)
Genre: Classical
Format: MCH SACD ISO + Hi-Res FLAC

Award-winning violinist Akiko Suwanai is backed by the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra conducted by Sakari Oramo for this recording of compositional works by Sibelius and Walton. In 1990, Suwanai was the youngest winner of the International Tchaikovsky Competition following a second place award in the Queen Elizabeth Music Competition in 1989. The performances display warm virtuosity, captured with brilliant sound quality.

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1 min read

Akiko Suwanai – Johann Sebastian Bach: The sonatas and partitas for violin solo (2022) [2xSACD / Decca – UCGD-9086/7]

Akiko Suwanai - Johann Sebastian Bach: The sonatas and partitas for violin solo (2022)

Title: Akiko Suwanai – Johann Sebastian Bach: The sonatas and partitas for violin solo (2022)
Genre: Classical
Format: MCH SACD ISO

 

25 years after her CD debut, Akiko Suwanai finally recorded Bach’s milestone, unaccompanied works! This is a new recording with Guarneri del Gesu “Charles Read”, a new masterpiece that she continued to earnestly face under Corona. Akiko Suwanai, one of the leading violinists of our time, celebrates the 25th anniversary of her album debut this year with a long-awaited recording of the complete works of Bach’s Sonatas and Partitas for Solo Violin. In 1990, Akiko became the youngest solo violinist in history to record the complete works of Bach. In 1990, she became the youngest ever winner of the International Tchaikovsky Competition, and in the 30 years since then, she has disciplined herself strictly, and with a musicality nurtured with rich sensitivity, she gives us Bach performances that are supple and dynamic. The first pressing is a SACD hybrid with liner notes by Sawako Agawa. The first pressing is a SACD hybrid with liner notes by Sawako Agawa and comes in a sleeve case with a different design from the standard edition. The instrument used is a 1732 Guarneri del Jez “Charles Reed”.

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2 min read

Aimee Mann – Lost In Space (2002) [MFSL 2003] [SACD / Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab – UDSACD 2021]

Aimee Mann - Lost In Space (2002) [MFSL 2003]

Title: Aimee Mann – Lost In Space (2002) [MFSL 2003]
Genre: Rock
Format: SACD ISO + Hi-Res FLAC

Aimee Mann’s Lost in Space carries a vivid narrative strength, amplified by her Magnolia soundtrack prominence. The album’s autumnal mood, with layered keyboards and shifting chords, enhances her eloquent lyrics. Major-minor shifts, like in “Guys Like Me,” add ironic twists to her storytelling. Themes of alienation and metaphorical addiction run through tracks like “This Is How It Goes” and “High on Sunday 51.” Mann’s wordplay, such as “heroine” versus “heroin,” deepens the album’s introspective tone. Recorded in Ryan Freeland’s home studio, subtle electronic touches complement the low-tech arrangements. Despite its dark themes, Lost in Space showcases Mann’s unmatched skill in crafting poetic regret. The album underscores her status as a spectacularly underrated songwriter, masterfully exploring depression’s peculiar beauty.

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1 min read

Aimee Mann – Bachelor No.2 Or The Last Remains of the Dodo (2000) [MFSL 2004] [SACD / Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab – UDSACD 2025]

Aimee Mann - Bachelor No.2 Or The Last Remains of the Dodo (2000) [MFSL 2004]

Title: Aimee Mann – Bachelor No.2 Or The Last Remains of the Dodo (2000) [MFSL 2004]
Genre: Rock
Format: SACD ISO + Hi-Res FLAC

Aimee Mann’s Bachelor No. 2, or the last remains of the dodo shares four songs with her Magnolia soundtrack, written and recorded concurrently. Despite similarities, Bachelor No. 2 has a distinct, intimate, and fragile identity, feeling quintessentially like Mann’s work. The album showcases Mann’s confidence and her strongest songwriting to date. Produced by multiple producers and co-written with songwriters like Jon Brion, it maintains a cohesive sound. Mann’s literate, clever, and melancholic style is perfectly matched by crisp, layered arrangements of guitars and keyboards. The detailed production enhances her melodic songs without overpowering their intimacy. This is Mann’s most compelling and consistent work as a writer and performer. While not a grandiose masterpiece, Bachelor No. 2 is her finest record yet.

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1 min read

Aerosmith – Toys In The Attic (1975) [SACD 2002] [SACD / Columbia – CS 57362]

Aerosmith - Toys In The Attic (1975) [SACD 2002]

Title: Aerosmith – Toys In The Attic (1975) [SACD 2002]
Genre: Hard Rock
Format: MCH SACD ISO + Hi-Res FLAC

Aerosmith’s third album, Toys in the Attic, perfected their blend of Rolling Stones-inspired raunch and Led Zeppelin-style riffs. The album’s success stems from sharper songwriting and a clear sense of purpose. Joe Perry delivers iconic riffs in tracks like “Walk This Way,” “Toys in the Attic,” and “Sweet Emotion.” Steven Tyler embraces sleazy themes, drawing from dirty blues like “Big Ten Inch Record” for lyrical inspiration. Tyler’s playful, sex-charged lyrics shine in songs like “Walk This Way,” “Sweet Emotion,” and “Uncle Salty.” Perry’s gritty, exaggerated riffs lead the band’s raw, greasy sound. Unlike their influences—Rolling Stones, New York Dolls, and Led Zeppelin—Aerosmith lacked menace or mystique, focusing instead on gritty, fun hard rock. Toys in the Attic captures the band’s street-wise, blooze-driven attitude, setting them apart in hard rock.

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1 min read

Aerosmith – Rocks (1976) [Reissue 2000] [SACD / Columbia – CS 57363]

Aerosmith - Rocks (1976) [Reissue 2000]

Title: Aerosmith – Rocks (1976) [Reissue 2000]
Genre: Hard Rock
Format: SACD ISO + Hi-Res FLAC

Rocks, Aerosmith’s fourth studio album released in 1976, is hailed as their rawest and most rocking work. AllMusic praised it for capturing the band’s unfiltered energy, while Rolling Stone ranked it No. 176 on its 500 Greatest Albums list. The album influenced hard rock and heavy metal bands like Guns N’ Roses, Metallica, and Nirvana. Commercially successful, it shipped platinum upon release and later achieved quadruple platinum status. Three singles charted on the Billboard Hot 100, with “Back in the Saddle” and “Last Child” reaching the Top 40. Despite escalating drug use, Aerosmith nearly surpassed their previous masterpiece, Toys in the Attic. Fans often debate whether Toys or Rocks is the band’s definitive work, but Rocks excels in raw intensity. Key tracks include the menacing “Back in the Saddle,” funky “Last Child,” and gritty “Rats in the Cellar.” Lesser-known songs like “Combination,” “Get the Lead Out,” and “Nobody’s Fault” are equally vital. The album closes with the ballad “Home Tonight” and the rock-star tale “Lick and a Promise,” cementing Aerosmith’s indestructible aura.

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2 min read

Aerosmith – Just Push Play (2001) [SACD / Columbia – CS 62088]

Aerosmith - Just Push Play (2001)

Title: Aerosmith – Just Push Play (2001)
Genre: Hard Rock
Format: SACD ISO + Hi-Res FLAC

After Nine Lives underperformed, Aerosmith took action to revitalize their sound. Steve Tyler and Joe Perry took control of production, working with Mark Hudson and Marti Frederiksen, nicknamed the Boneyard Boys. This isn’t a full band effort, but Hudson and Frederiksen’s influence helps make Just Push Play tighter and savvier than anything since Pump. The album lacks enough memorable songs and includes awkward moments, like the title track’s “f*ckin’ A” chorus and the oddly named “Trip Hoppin’.” Tracks like “Avant Garden” feel out of touch, reflecting the band’s refusal to act their age. Despite flaws, Just Push Play is a sleek, classicist hard rock record. It’s Aerosmith’s best work in nearly a decade, especially on catchy tracks like “Jaded.” The album doesn’t match the comebacks of Permanent Vacation or Pump. The dated sexy robot cover art contrasts with the relatively fresh music. Just Push Play shows Aerosmith regaining form, making its missteps forgivable.

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1 min read

Aerosmith – O, Yeah! Ultimate Aerosmith Hits (2002) [SACD / Columbia – C2S 86700]

Aerosmith - O, Yeah! Ultimate Aerosmith Hits (2002)

Title: Aerosmith – O, Yeah! Ultimate Aerosmith Hits (2002)
Genre: Hard Rock
Format: SACD ISO + Hi-Res FLAC

O, Yeah! Ultimate Aerosmith Hits is a double-CD greatest hits album by Aerosmith, covering their career up to 2002. It features their biggest hits in chronological order, including both Columbia and Geffen eras. The album includes two new songs, “Girls of Summer” and “Lay it Down.” As the sixth Aerosmith hits collection, it’s the first to combine both label periods. Hits like “Mama Kin,” “Jaded,” and both versions of “Walk This Way” are included. Some tracks, such as “Draw the Line” and “Pink,” are presented in remixed forms that enhance their sound. “Girls of Summer” is a strong addition, though “Lay it Down” is less impressive. While nearly all major hits are present, fan favorites like “Lord of the Thighs” and “Chip Away the Stone” are absent. The second disc focuses heavily on the less-acclaimed Get a Grip era onward, which weakens its impact. Despite being comprehensive for casual fans, it doesn’t fully capture Aerosmith’s essence like Rocks or Pump.

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2 min read

Adriel Gomez-Mansur – Recital (2006) [SACD / Avanti Classic – 5414706 10252]

Adriel Gomez-Mansur - Recital (2006)

Title: Adriel Gomez-Mansur – Recital (2006)
Genre: Classical
Format: MCH SACD ISO + Hi-Res FLAC

Adriel Gomez-Mansur’s debut album, recorded at age 17, showcases remarkable musical maturity. The Argentinean pianist avoids flashy repertoire, opting for introspective pieces like Liszt’s Consolation No. 3 and Schumann’s Traumerei. His selections highlight serene and reflective works, defying expectations for a young artist. Gomez-Mansur’s performances reveal depth and sensitivity beyond his years. The album includes virtuosic pieces like Rachmaninov’s Op. 32 Preludes and Scriabin etudes, played with technical finesse. His focus remains on the composers’ intentions, not self-display. The result is a genuine, musical journey, not a showcase of technique. This debut establishes Gomez-Mansur as an astonishingly talented young pianist.

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1 min read