Abbey Road Remastered Review

If you are a hardcore Beatles nut like me then you woulda scored the ABBEY ROAD 50th ANNIVERSARY box set last week. I got the super deluxe edition with the big book, handwritten lyric scans, studio notes, outtakes, demos and of course, remastering of the album.

Most people when they hear "remastered," they don't take much stock in it. But with The Beatles, there is an exception. In 2009, all their albums were remastered and it was noticeable. I could hear the drums and bass higher in the mix and it sounded "warmer" from all previous CD ports.

*Note: I won't argue the sound of vinyl with this or other releases. I'm going to talk about CD only. Apologies to my sound nuts out there with a preference for wax. Much love. Also I won't debate the Stereo vs. Mono mix here. I'm just reviewing the CD box set. Choose your own preference.

So is this 2019 remaster worth listening to? ABSOLUTELY. Here is what I can say about it:

You've heard these sounds hundreds of times. But this time in headphones they sound fresher. Sunnier. Sparkier. Glassy. Just overall more shiny than ever before. The vocals are higher in the mix especially and you can hear the guys breathing in and out before singing more than before.

Also, the instruments are separated better. You can actually zone in and just listen to what Paul is doing on the bass or the enhanced deepness of the lower toms when Ringo hits them (Most noticeable in the SOMETHING intro and drum solo in THE END). You can hear little bass fills and playful things Paul does on songs more and guitars don't sound as fuzzy on songs like BECAUSE or I WANT YOU. Truly you can hear the song and think, "What is Paul playing" and can ignore the rest and zero in on just him and hear it! I've never heard it like this before. Truly wonderful.

One special thing I noticed is that HER MAJESTY starts and its full on in my right ear. Mid-song, its drifted to the center. By the end, its fully on the left ear! Just a little playful thing done for those who care to notice.

The song that sounded the best to me was SOMETHING. There are waves of sound there and they are completely separated. And George's vocal is higher in the mix and clear as if it were recorded yesterday.

I took the time to listen to the 2009 remaster and then switch to this new 2019 remaster and compare the first minute or so of each song just to see if there were differences, and truly there were. I must say I give G. Martin a big thumbs up for this mix. It might be my favorite way to hear my favorite Beatles album now!

I checked out the studio alternate takes and demos and its interesting to hear how these songs were formed. The real highlight is "THE LONG ONE," Which is the whole medley as one long 16 minute thing together, and with HER MAJESTY in its original spot between MEAN MR MUSTARD and POLYTHENE PAM. A glimpse of how we might have heard it had it remained that way. Personally, I like it taken out because it seems to lose momentum with it left in. But I'm also coming at that having it heard the same way for a long damn time.

Also, you hear a lot of laughing and chatting between the takes. Might help dispel the myths that they were super angry at each other during this period... unless they found the playful bits and put them in there to help sedate those old myths. But either way, it was nice to know and hear that the boys did have times of fun while making their final album together. 

Anyway, that is my review. Thanks for reading and go get that deluxe box set! 

CHRISTMAS 2018

Some picture highlights of my Christmas 2018:

Belle Belle says: MEOW HUMBUG!

Santa really poured it on this year!

Lily loves the empty boxes.

Watching my boys open their presents is always a delight!

Above: My gifts from my lovely in-laws and my lovely fiancee Santa D! They know me so well.

I ended the day making Ham, Green Beans, Biscuits, Dumplings and Potatoes using my mom's mixer and Gloria's rolling pin. Its like they are with me every time I cook those meals for my family!

I spent the rest of Xmas drinking booze, playing games and chatting. It was a fun day. Now back to the day job grind for the rest of the week. Gotta get ramped up for the end of the year and get some stuff off of my TO DO list! Here's hoping!

Merry Holidays to all of you. Thanks for your support.

--T

Facebook Page, Beatles and More

Hey friends, 

 

Just so people are reminded, I am moving all FB activity to a public page. My old personal profile will maintain no posts or activity beyond this point. This is in an effort to keep me focused on my creating and not the insanity of the back and forth keyboard war that we so often lose ourselves in. Anything personal will likely go into the blog here at my site and any business announcements will be posted on my new FB page here: https://www.facebook.com/AdamTalleyArtistWriterGuy/ I suggest you "LIKE" and "FOLLOW" that page if you want to keep up with me and what I am doing. Or continue to download/stream my IDIOTHEAD MORNING SHOW PODCAST via Itunes or Talkshoe.

2017 will see me releasing probably THREE more books and 2018 I have some big plans for. So there is lots to come from me. I appreciate all the love and support I have got throughout the years and as I kick this car into gear and head for the finishing line in the comics' world, I hope you will help me see this journey to the end and what lies beyond. There is so much to come.

Last night the art gods blessed me with seven new pages and my hand stayed strong throughout! I'm very happy about that. I'm scanning them up today and getting them ready to go. I'm striving hard to push this first erotica book out the door now that I am past the halfway point on Starslam 3. So expect a Kickstarter to begin something later this summer. Starslam 3's Kickstarter will be the fall or early winter I think, if all goes well. And there is a third book of sorts of my art coming from someone else. All exciting things! So much to do...

After last blog's confession I've been getting messages of encouragement and advice and I appreciate all of it. The numbers are shocking, I know. But it certainly isn't a death sentence in my view. Many have beat this demon and I will be no different. I've already begun to do so.

The Beatles SGT PEPPERS came out 50 years ago today. I remember when I first heard that album and how it seemed that all music had changed for me. I realized all the doors that album opened in my listening experience and how it gave birth to progressive rock... a genre many of my favorite bands live in. All beginning right there. Happy birthday, Sgt. Peppers. Long live the memories! 

Tomorrow a new ROGER WATERS album comes out. His first since 1992!!! I'm sure a lot of it is about the current political climate and I cannot wait to dig into it. I'll give a full review soon. 

My girl and I went to the movies the other day and saw SNATCHED. The new Amy Schumer/Goldie Hawn movie. While not the next CITIZEN KANE, I laughed in a few parts. Its worth a watch as a dumb comedy. Go enjoy it. 

 

Next week I'm seeing TOOL live here in Michigan! I'm beyond excited to finally get to see them. Expect pics and a full report... if not some audio/video from the show. Oh yes. 

I suppose that is it. I will get with you all next week sometime about all the progress that has been going on all the things cooking on my stove. Maybe even some progress art pics! We'll see... if you are good! 

Cheers, T

Late Night Rumblings about Music, Art and Other Forgettable Things

Its 10:30pm on Wednesday. I can't sleep.

My sleep is all jacked up from switching shifts this week from my usual 3-11pm shift to a 7-3pm shift at my day job. Its my fault, I volunteered for the gig. Starting next week I do split shifts to train in a new skill set of outputting graphic design for different products than what I currently do. Its an industry standard now, and the experience will be greatly valuable for me as I move forward in my career there or wherever I may roam. Meanwhile at home, I'm doing sketches in books and commissions for clients for the Kickstarter and private commissions. Then I am dreaming up the next page art on Starslam 3 and stuff for the Patreon stories and eventual launch. Anything to get some legs under the table of my "art career."

Meanwhile, I'm battling a new health issue: Carpal Tunnel... which has recently surfaced and is becoming a literal pain. Right now its something I can cope with, especially with the use of braces and other such devices. But does it really have to effect my right hand and arm? The one I use to click a mouse and to draw with? Universe... sometimes you play unfairly.

My mind is swimming with the passage of time, lack of stability and routine. This week I am on a major music kick, thanks no doubt to my recent weekend recording music and hanging with my friend. I realized there are some major holes in my collection of music paraphernalia and collectibles. There are some Special Edition Cds I don't have and Live DVDs I somehow never got. All gleefully added to my wish lists now, thank goodness. The hunt begins for those.

Today I am on a big Beatles kick, because of the announcement of the SE of Sgt. Peppers... a 50 year old album that signifies a major step up in music creation. The first "prog rock" album, which launched the careers of some of my favorite music. Today marks the 15th anniversary of Layne Staley's death, as well as the 23rd anniversary of Kurt Cobain's death (however that happened). It sucks that mainstream music has been utter shit since they left us. And all we can do is examine the small details and listen to the remastered versions and isolated vocal tracks. Pure genius with all of those musicians. Certainly not repeated like that since. So it goes.

In all of this, I realize that there are some albums I have always neglected to drill down on. Some of the deeper cuts or influences on these bands that I just have neglected to dissect yet. I got the music, but never bothered to scope it out. I made some new playlists, and so I will. That is a new mission I have now taken on... as if I didn't have enough self imposed things to do!

I got asked back to the same comic store I always set up at for Free Comic Book Day. But I'm bowing out because its the same weekend I already scheduled with my kids. That's fine, I don't have anything new to sell anyway. Maybe next year. Maybe never. Who knows where this new Patreon/Kickstarter/porn comics thing will lead me? Can't sell that stuff at a family establishment! Oh well.

I'm sitting here in my tiny apartment, stuffed full of things I love and the things she loves. A bunch of stuff I should be reading or playing or listening to or watching. Stuff I'll hopefully get to enjoy one day. Stuff that will decorate a home I will earn for myself very soon. I'm trying to get to everything and everyone I have had to neglect for one reason or the other.

Duties call.
Time slips by.
Life happens around you.

Some good stuff is coming up. I got a trip planned to go see my dad. Some much needed R&R as well. No agenda. Just... BEING. I can handle that I think.

Also coming up is the Exxxotica. I had to bow out as an exhibitor but I'm excited for the trip to promote Starslam and what I am doing. Maybe see if it would work for me next year.

Other than that, hard work every day. At the day job, at home, and in my thoughts and feelings. Things are better. Things are brighter today. Instead of being sad that heroes and musicians I love are gone, I am grateful to have them at all. I'm especially grateful for the art they left behind. I hope I am that something to someone, someday. I get emails or messages of praise and support of my work and you have no idea how that makes me feel. Like all of it was worth it. Like what I do and the struggle I have internally to get it done is a good fight to have. Keep making it important. Keep it going. I love creating passionately enough that no amount of hand and arm numbness or pain can stop it. No fear of the future or fatigue of the daily grind can pull me down.

I create for you, sure. But mostly and selfishly, I do it for me.

Forgive me for that won't you? But rest assured, I am not about to quit. Not on myself and certainly not you!

The music rolls on.

--T