"Garden Grove" by Sublime
Riding shotgun in my friend's crappy car in 1996, listening to Sublime cracked something open for me: emotionally, musically, even spatially.
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"Lisztomania" by Phoenix
Lisztomania starts with a click and a piano chord, then the whole thing lifts. It's crisp and airy. Nothing is buried. This pop confection rewards a system that can separate midrange detail.
"Wicked Game" by Daisy Gray
Daisy Gray's cover of Wicked Game strips the original to its bones. It's a beautiful dynamics showcase for hifi systems with midrange control and a low noise floor.
"Sledgehammer (2012 Remaster)" by Peter Gabriel
The 2012 remaster of Sledgehammer puts the horn section in your lap. That opening hit is all brass and breath, tight and forward. The texture on the snare is wildly good and never gets lost in the mix.
"Forgot About Dre" by Dr. Dre & Eminem
The crass swagger here is weapons-grade. Synth stabs and high hat ride nimbly on top of an iconic west coast hip-hop bass groove that is equal parts chill and threatening AF.