Author: Mark Smotroff

Mark Smotroff is a freelance writer and avid music collector who has worked for many years in marketing communications for the consumer electronics, pro audio and video games industries, serving clients including DTS, Sega, Sony, Sharp, AT&T and many others. www.smotroff.com Mark has written for EQ Magazine, Mix Magazine, Goldmine/DISCoveries Magazine, BigPictureBigSound.com, Sound+Vision Magazine, HomeTechTell.com and many others. He is also a musician / composer whose songs have been used in TV shows such as Smallville and Men In Trees as well as films and documentaries. www.ingdom.com Mark is currently rolling out a new musical he's written: www.dialthemusical.com.

Nickel Creek Live at The Fox Theater, Oakland On 180-gram Vinyl

Audiophile News, Audiophile Music, Vinyl

Nickel Creek is an amazing trio of musicians who went on a performing hiatus at a peak in their career, apparently due to the the rigors of...

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Reverend Peyton’s Big Damn Band Delivers Hopeful Dance Songs For Hard Times

Audiophile, Audiophile Music, Audiophile News, Vinyl

I first got introduced to Reverend Peyton’s Big Damn Band a few years back when the stars aligned. Almost at the same time, both a...

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Cecil Holmes’ Soulful Surround Sounds on Quadrophonic SACD

Audiophile Music, Audiophile, Audiophile News, Quadrophonic, SACD/DVD-Audio, Surround Sound

Two years ago at a flea market I found a curious record that looked like one of many records riding the coat-tails of so-called...

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Feeling The Natural Joy Of Brazil’s Airto On Real Gone Vinyl

Vinyl, Audiophile, Audiophile Music, Audiophile News • One Comment

Some of you may know that I’ve been going on a deeper dive into the music of Brazilian master musicians Hermeto Pascoal and Sivuca...

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The Frank Zappa Documentary Part II: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack On CD

Audiophile Music, Audiophile, Audiophile News, SACD/DVD-Audio

In part one of my review series we explored the new Blu-ray edition of the Alex Winter’s terrific new documentary about Frank Zappa...

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The Frank Zappa Documentary Part I: The Blu-ray Disc

Audiophile Music, Audiophile News, Blu-ray Disc, SACD/DVD-Audio

Some of you may remember that last year I was very excited to review a video documentary by producer director Alex Winter about one of my...

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Sivuca Vs. Sivuca – Is a 45 Year Old Bossa Nova Classic Worthy Of A Reissue?

Audiophile Music, Audiophile, Audiophile News

Many of you know by now that I’m an avid record collector… Vinyl, CDs, DVDs, Blu-ray, DVD audio, SACD, 78’s…...

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Hendrix Live In Maui, Part 2: The Blu-ray Experience

Audiophile Music, Audiophile, Audiophile News • One Comment

In Part 1 of my review of The Jimi Hendrix Experience: Live In Maui we explored the three album vinyl portion of the set.  If you...

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Tina Brooks’ The Waiting Game Worth The Wait For Blue Note Tone Poet Vinyl

Audiophile Music, Audiophile, News • 2 Comments

I bought this album — The Waiting Game by Tina Brooks — purely on its reputation. I’d read numerous favorable “now...

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Why Is Paul Chambers’ Bass On Top A Must Get Blue Note Tone Poet Vinyl Release?

Audiophile News, Audiophile, Audiophile Music

Since I have started reviewing the generally acclaimed reissues from Universal Music’s Blue Note and Verve Records label imprints...

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Do You Need Paul McCartney III On Vinyl?

Audiophile News, Audiophile, Audiophile Music

Late last year living legend Paul McCartney put out his third solo album to the surprise of many fans and it became both an instant hot...

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Classic Chet Baker, Kevin Gray Remastered On RTI-Pressed Craft Recordings Vinyl (Part 2)

Audiophile Music, Audiophile, Audiophile News

In part one of my exploration of the new Chet Baker vinyl reissues from Craft Recordings, I discussed the need for these still remarkably...

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Bob Marley’s Songs Of Freedom Vinyl Boxed Set

Audiophile Music, Audiophile, Audiophile News

So, you’ve played your beloved 1980s CD of Bob Marley’s Legend greatest hits to death. You even bought the deluxe expanded...

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