Downloaded the latest release of CDex to rip files in the Monkey’s Audio format. Hence the above.
The idea was that I wouldn’t have to wait for the Neuros to hit the UK before I could listen to compressed music on the go. Instead, I could use my Sony D-CJ 501 (I have my CDs ripped and encoded in Ogg Vorbis). With Monkey’s Audio, I could rip MP3s from that rather than digging out the CD.
What was the first album to be ripped? This is, of course, a great honour to be bestowed upon any artist, and it took me no time at all to decide that Pet Sounds would be it.
With all the buzz that still surrounds the Beatles — Liverpool’s burgeoning tourism industry (!) draws heavily upon their fame — it seems the Beach Boys have been somewhat forgotten. That’s a terrible shame, because Pet Sounds is one of the greats. Far better than anything the Beatles came up with (Let It Be is their best, by the way), it’s coherent, short, superbly produced, and packed with great songs.
But I’ve lost my copy. Score 1 for listening to CDs versus ripping. If I had to dig CDs out of their various boxed and piles to listen to them, they wouldn’t get lost so easy — although it would be untidy.
Another, then, to test my new ripping setup. Not only must the album be good musically, but it should have something that makes it worth listening to at a higher bitrate than I’m used to. There was only one option: OK Computer, possibly the best album ever. Ever since Kid A — which an electronica- and dance-loving DJ friend of mine reckons is their best — music journalists have been searching for ‘the new Radiohead’ . I think even Mansun were described as them at one point, but it’s easy to see why they’re so clingy.
For me, OK Computer is divided into loose sections. You have a jarring, pounding opening pair; then three more reflective, sort-of traditional songs (only Let Down is anything but, and the best track on the album); then the more percussive-feeling Karma Police and Fitter Happier; then the least good tracks, plenty of space and echoes; then the bleak closing trio.
After all that, which meant I could use my MP3 CD player…I sold it. One of my friends is off to Australia for a month and wanted to be able to listen to his CDs, so it’s goodbye, old friend.
Oh, and I didn’t sell it for cash. Instead I sold it for a copy of George Washington on DVD.