shopaholic_man's Full Review: Harvest by Neil Young
This is a review I originally wrote in February of 2004. I have reposted it, because there is now a seperate category for DVD-Audios. (my original review was bunched in with the regular CD reviews, and DVD audio is definitely not regular CD). The old review is gone, so if you want to read about Neil's best surround sound album, read on!:
Original Feb. 2004 review:
This is the first DVD audio that I purchased to try out my new Pioneer Elite DVD player. (Pink Floyd Dark Side of the Moon was my first SACD). To test this new format, I didn't want to listen to new music, I wanted to listen to an album that I knew I loved. This isn't a review of Neil Young Harvest, its more a review of the DVD Audio release of his classic album. I assume that if you want to pick it up on DVD audio you already love the man with a scratchy sounding voice that still manages to pack more emotion in it per song than most singer/songwriters out there. So what makes Neil Young better on DVD audio, if anything? The packaging of the album was about the same. Cardboard fold out in an earthtone cover with simply the words Harvest Neil Young against a Harvest moon. On the back a simple shot of the band playing. If you look close, a few words that say this is something different: Advanced Resolution DVD audio. Across the bottom in small print, "this disc will only play on players with a DVD Logo and will not play on a conventional CD player. So I popped it out, even the DVD has that reprise record print on it, just like my very often played Harvest CD. Okay, you get a picture on the TV that has still shots of Neil Young, and a choice between an advanced resolution stereo recording and an advanced resolution surround sound mix. I chose surround sound, and sat down in awe as I heard an album I had thought I had heard dozens of times before. DVD audio isn't just a higher quality recording, it makes you listen all over again! The individual instruments in each of the songs just seem to stand out so much clearer than they ever had on the CD (and yeah, I even remember the LP, when I grew up, we didn't have no fancy CDs and digital stuff, we put a big vinyl record on our turntable and it sounded all scratchy and we liked it). Neil Young's voice separated out from the instruments into 6 channels instead of two, makes his voice sounds even more passionate and compelling. Details of his voice and of the individual guitars, piano and harmonica are all brought out in a depth and clarity that I had never heard on the CD before.
Neil Young's Harvest was my first experience with DVD audio surround sound, and it was a great one. Since then, I've been slowly picking up old favorite albums and new artists as they have become available. For those of you already sold on this new format, let me go in depth on this particular album.
Even upon relistening to Harvest after hearing over a dozen albums in this format, I am pleased with the mix and sound recording used for this album. The sound is rich and full, and Young makes good use of the full surround sound field. Instruments are set behind you and in front of you. You feel like you are in the middle of a jam session with Neil Young and the Stray Gators (yes, thats the band that played on this album, and yes Crazy Horse fans, he does have a DVD audio with Crazy Horse too, its Road Rock). Many SACDs and DVD audios place you in the audience with the rear channels as ambient sound (like Diana Krall for example), but Neil puts you right in the middle.
Like most DVD-Audios, Harvest also includes a high resolution stereo mix, and a DVD surround sound mix that can be played on any DVD player. Harvest uses a DTS mix and a Dolby Digital mix for those without a DVD audio player. I like DTS a bit better than Dolby Digital and always choose DTS when watching a movie if its available. A little bit of the richness is lost from the advanced resolution surround sound to DTS, but its still a good mix and the surround mix is the same. The advanced resolution stereo is great for those who don't want anyone messing with the stereo mix of their favorite albums. Yet, the stereo mix still manages to get more clarity and detail out of the music than I have ever heard on the CD. Probably because of the 192 Khz 24 bit sampling rate, instead of CDs 44 khz 16 bit rate.
As bonus materials, Harvest includes a couple interviews, lyrics, and photos. If you like Neil Young, I cannot imagine that you would not like the DVD audio version of this classic Neil Young album.
Nov 05/05 added notes. I STILL LOVE THIS ALBUM! Every upgrade I have made to my system only brings out further nuances to this fine album. I am pleased to say that since my original review Neil Young has released "Hawks n Doves", "Re Ac Tor", "American Stars n Bars" and "On the Beach" on DVD-Audio, although they are not surround sound, each provides incredible stereo. "Greendale" was also released as a Surround sound DVD-Audio. (but "Harvest" is still my favorite)
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