El Cielo or TPTPTD? (or even Leittmotif or CWA!)

ThinkResponsibly wrote:
I always though of EL Cielo as the winter album...

I agree . . . el cielo has always been a winter album for me.
Other than that, I like all of their albums. Some I listen to more often than others, but I like all of them for different reasons.

AnewKINDofFEELIN wrote:

cicobuff wrote:

AnewKINDofFEELIN wrote:
No, a SACD release would not be cool. Screw SACD. It was a failed medium. Give me DVD-A any day of the week.

Now that is a very peculiar statement you make there, considering that DVD-A releases have all but dried up, and SACD releases are few and far between, both could be considered as failed mediums, however out of the two mediums it is SACD that gives the best resolution of sound and El Cielo sounded absolutely amazing in SACD.

Add to this the fact that SACD can be hybrid disks such as El Cielo was, makes SACD the better choice for audio being compatible with regular CD players, SACD players, and Universal DVD Players that play SACD and DVD-A (admittedly DVD-A has the advantage of video as well as sound, but I like to buy an album to listen, not read the lyrics on screen etc)

Are you sure you are not getting DVD-A mixed up with bog standard 5.1 or DTS music releases?

I'm talking about the DTS mixes. My main issue with SACD is that you have to have a seperate SACD player to hear it fully. As for the mixes, the DTS version of Deadwing by Porcupine Tree is right up there with the mixing of the SACD El Cielo. I don't mind having to get seperate copies of great albums, as I've bought several albums I already own when I find them on vinyl. I'd just rather not have to buy a new piece of hardware to listen to one album.

I asked Drew about future DTS or SACD releases and he said doubtful. The other one kind of just happened and had a lot to do with Interscope. Maybe if they hook up with Steven Wilson or something he could make it happen.

So you compare DTS with either DVD-A or SACD, nowhere near in the same league.

The advantage of SACD is that the hybrid disks give the option of playing in a regular CD player, a SACD player or a Universal DVD player that supports SACD. Thus meeting your criteria beef of not wanting to have to buy different releases or have to buy seperate hardware, a universal DVD player handles DVD-A, SACD, DTS, CD. A hybrid SACD has 2 layers that is playable on a regular CD player in 2 channel stereo as normal, and the 5.1 layer for playback in a SACD/Universal DVD player.

Multichannel analogue SACD and DVD-A are arguably superior in sound than compressed DTS.

Depeche Mode fans are up in arms about Mute Records decision to only have the latest "Sounds Of The Universe" album released in DTS whereby all the rest of their back catalogue was released in SACD, I do notice the difference...in fact all the back catalogue was released as double disk sets, SACD and 5.1 DTS, and certainly on my system the SACD has a clearer, tighter, crisper sound.

El Cielo is definitely worth hearing in SACD, and there are plenty of Universal DVD Players out there at decent prices in order to be able to hear it.

After enough listens I can now say (I always knew it):

1. el cielo
2. The Pariah, the Parrot, the Delusion

I love El Cielo, it is a great album and one of the most complete albums i've ever heard. The themes and interworkings of the album are on par with greats such as The Mars Volta's De-Loused in the Comatorium and Tool's Lateralus in my opinion.

That being said I waited a long time for this new album. I'm not one of those people that hates Catch Without Arms, I think it's a great album and has a decent number of good songs, but I'll certainly agree it's not the best one, it just lacks the cohesiveness that the other two do. However it has something even the new one doesn't, which is energy and power that I didn't see on El Cielo. So I was worried what this new one was going to sound like and once I finally got a taste, well, I must have gorged myself on it for days.

The album is just as well put together as El Cielo or Leitmotif, if not better, and the length is great too. Where it excels above the others is in the quality of the album. It just feels more toiled over, like the spent days, weeks on each song making it sound perfect. His voice sounds absolutely great, and the songs are catchy enough to make you want to listen over and over without being to catchy and lame.

My order is without a doubt:

1. The Pariah, The Parrot, The Delusion
2. El Cielo
3. Catch Without Arms
4. Leitmotif

El Cielo without doubt. I don't think a single album has gotten so much play or helped me through as many down times in my life as that one, it really is remarkable. As far as order of their albums

1: El Cielo
2: TPTPTD
3: Leitmotif
4: CWA


I know it isn't standard release but if I could I would put Live at the Fillmore at 4 and CWA at 5. That being said they are all incredible albums but El Cielo in my opinion is leagues above the others.

1. El Cielo
2. The Pariah, the Parrot, the Delusion
3. Leitmotif
4. Catch Without Arms

I enjoy the first three albums a lot, they're some of my all time favorites, CWA, I like, but not nearly as much

I have been torn on this question of pondering flucuation. When ever a newly anticipated album comes out expectations can ruin it before the release but in the case of TPTPTD it was well worth the wait. I can't sit here and debate that EL Cielo isnt equally gr8 or better however and similar in format they are uniquely different. TPTPTD has a "retro feel" (as quoted by my best freind DUBBS) to it that and he was right on the money. I guess the true comparison of these two diverse and sound boggling albums is when you mix they together and via any electronic device and enjoy one the best bands I have heard in my lifetime. As a complete work I like all of their music but these two albums we are talking about they are their two best yet.

Give me El Cielo or give me death!

1. El Cielo
2. TPTPTD
3. Leitmotif
4. CWA

All are amazing and reasons why dredg is my favorite band.