Audioslave

Product Information

As flawlessly recorded as it is played, it's an impeccably precise rendition of the musical masterpiece, full of the depth and dynamic interest that makes it such a potently emotional powerhouse. The hollow hall acoustics of the St-Eustache Church in which the orchestra was recorded wonderfully exploits the sheer power (especially in Mars) and the warmth and lifting woodwinds (particularly in Jupiter) of the composition, too. Don't be unnerved by Kid A's dimensions, you won't need a turntable that'll spin at 78rpm to play this double 10-inch record; whether it was made this way for aesthetic or simply due to Radiohead being willful, it's really just a 33 1/3rpm vinyl in fancy dress. Tom's guitar playing is exceptional. Tim's bass creates this blues like groove that offers further flavour and Brad's drumming builds the tension perfectly.

Audioslave - Out of Exile - (Vinyl LP) | Rough Trade Audioslave - Out of Exile - (Vinyl LP) | Rough Trade

The vocal performance is something out of this world, I always love to sing along to try and hit the same notes, which is not easy, while the vocalist makes it look effortless, always leaving me impressed. The guitars and the riffs are top-notch and feel so grand, you can easily tell these are the same guys who performed RATM. It does sound fantastic, though. There's a boldness to the sound that is strangely euphoric, despite the album's often subdued phrasing, and a luscious quality to electronic and acoustic instruments alike that creates a genuinely immersive soundscape. Given the number of times this truly beautiful album must have been re-cut, it stands to reason by now pressings are pretty much as good as they can be. That certainly rings true for us.The reason Music For Films makes it to this list though is precisely because we weren't totally enamoured with it before we heard Showell's half-speed version running at 45rpm; the sonic upturn in all from detail to dynamics, though admittedly often subtle, for us gave the music new dimension. Kind Of Blue is one of those works that as good as defines its genre, and in many ways it feels peculiar to play it on anything other than vinyl.

of the best-sounding vinyl records | What Hi-Fi? 12 of the best-sounding vinyl records | What Hi-Fi?

This vinyl version, while not being too dynamical, is still much (MUCH!) better than its CD counterparts: I never realised how good, powerful and warm it can sound until today. Again haven’t heard MOV copy so I can’t compare to that but in comparison to compressed sounding CD it sounds warmer and more dynamic.

Chris's vocals are high and powerful as ever. Bringing the emotion and sophistication in his voice. Paring up with the remaining members of Rage is just brilliant. That sound is very prominent here, but it works on curating that funk, bass sound that Rage are known for.

Audioslave – Audioslave (2002, Vinyl) - Discogs

Strange, Leon Vynehall's name springing to mind when compiling this list; his inclusion, though, is about more than some half-baked homonym. No two vinyl records are exactly the same, but deficiencies from mastering to press can also leave whole batches sounding sub-par, and in the gravest scenarios have you eschewing some of your otherwise favourite albums.

Sony Music Entertainment Inc. and Interscope Records / Manufactured by Epic, A Division of Sony Music. Joni Mitchell's Blue is as essential to a record collection as bread and milk are in your weekly shop.

Audioslave - Audioslave | Releases | Discogs Audioslave - Audioslave | Releases | Discogs

We don't mean that vegans won't like it, but rather its intimate production desires a physical medium spinning as close to you as Mitchell's voice appears in the room. Welcome to Vinyl Week on What Hi-Fi?, in association with Technics. You can find out more about how Technics has been defining turntable culture for half a century and the company's SL-1200M7L Limited Edition turntable.

It is undoubtedly to do with his velveteen vocal draped stunningly over this nine-song set, but also in the rounded body of its accompaniment and the jagged edges he allows sometimes to cut through.