Customer Reviews

Kind Of Blue 200g 33RPM LP

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

First thing's first. I have nothing but praise for all the pieces on this classic album. It is one of my favorite classic jazz albums and one of the first that come to mind when I think about jazz.

My two-star deduction comes from the surprisingly frequent surface noise ("ticks" and "pops") from the 200g audiophile vinyl pressing. As a general rule, the more massive the LP, the quieter it should be. The surface noise was frequent and audible enough to be distracting at times. The spindle was also off-centered, leading to an audible wow in steady decaying notes. For an audiophile LP that lists for $50, it's downright inexcusable.

Sure, the timbre and sense of air is better than the CD version's but that's the only advantage of this LP. If you choose the original CD release, then the sound quality will sound noticeably veiled in comparison. Yet, if you choose the Sony Super Bit Mapped CD version, then you would be buying a sound with deliberately goosed up treble. For sound quality stakes, it's a no win situation.

Many listeners after hearing the tight arrangements on this album are surprised to hear that it was largely a spontaneous and improvised feat. This is what makes it a quintessential jazz album - the balance between form and improv. Miles was playing with some of his best players ever - Coltrane, Bill Evans, Paul Chambers, Cannonball Adderly (on one track anyway) and James Cobb. He was at the top of his game - so much so that after the popularity of this album, he was driven forward into freer jazz while refusing to look back.

I got this album for my son for Christmas. He was thrilled as he had it in CD form, but wanted the vinyl. He is really "into" jazz and recommends this album highly. Miles is the absolute best in this genre'. He and his two-month old daughter listen to "Kind of Blue" together. She seems to love the mellow sound, especially in the middle of the night.