Menu
Close

Popular Searches

Close

Log in

Haven't signed up for an account? Create one.

Forgot password?

or log in using

This space left intentionally blank…

Matthew Sweet - 100% Fun

Written by: Todd Martens

Intervention’s pressing reveals a run of aces when it comes to sonics. While many A-to-B comparisons yield a few points in favor of the original pressing, 100% Fun is not one of them. Intervention’s copy slays the Classic Records-licensed 1995 release.

Most Recent Reviews

Grateful Dead American Beauty

WS 1893

Johnny Cash American IV: Man Comes Around

B0019507-01

The Beatles The Beatles (“The White Album”) 2018 Stereo Mix, 2-LP

B0028831-01

Bob Dylan More Blood, More Tracks—The Bootleg Series Vol. 14

19075858971

John Coltrane Both Directions at Once: The Lost Album

B0028316-01

Reviews

The Police - Every Move You Make: The Studio Recordings

Written by: Vance Hiner

The music on Every Move You Make: The Studio Recordings forms a complex tapestry of jazz, prog rock, and reggae held together by world-class musicianship and some of the most distinctive pop melodies of the past 40 years. While the Police’s success can still be measured in massive album sales, the overall improvement in sound quality to the group’s records offered by the LPs in this box set provides a clearer picture of each member’s contributions and underlines why the band remains unique.

The Beatles - The Beatles (“The White Album”)

Written by: Joe Taylor

In sum, Martin and Showell give The Beatles more sonic consistency and tame the occasional high-frequency aggressiveness of the original. While my memories of earlier pressings remain strong and favorable, this remixed and remastered version stands as a welcome and pleasing alternative. Recommended without reservation.

Neil Young - Harvest

Written by: Joe Taylor

In addition to serving as the best and most musical version of Harvest, Reprise’s 2009 reissue features artwork and packaging better than that of the original. Printed on heavier cardboard, the album cover has a more textured, weathered look. As with all the vinyl releases I’ve heard in Young’s Archive Series, Harvest stands as a model of how reissues should be done.

George Harrison - All Things Must Pass

Written by: Joe Taylor

The 2017 vinyl reissue of All Things Must Pass replicates the original cover art, including the inner sleeves and full-color poster of George Harrison. Ron McMaster cut the vinyl from 24-bit/96kHz files remastered at Abbey Road Studios. The remaster uses less compression than what’s on the original U.K. pressing of the album.

Matthew Sweet - Altered Beast

Written by: Todd Martens

By giving the 52 minutes of original-album material the groove space it’s always deserved across three vinyl sides, the music finally enjoys room to breathe and registers a fullness, depth, and vivacity entirely lacking from the thin, constrained-sounding Zoo/Classic Records LP. Altered Beast quite literally sounds like a new record.

The White Stripes - White Blood Cells

Written by: Vance Hiner

Given Third Man Records’ commitment to analog, it surprised me when my review disc had two identical Side B labels. Things didn’t improve when I dropped the needle and discovered each side marred by nasty pops. A clearly visible divot (bubble) also appears on the beginning of side one.

David Bowie - The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars

Written by: Vance Hiner

This 2015 Parlophone LP shares the same dead wax information and the vinyl appears to be the same as the 100% analog-mastered 2012 40th Anniversary EMI edition. On both pressings upper-register detail boasts greater clarity, and the bass is improved, but the overall presentation is slightly flatter and less emotionally engaging than on the U.K. original.

More Reviews

Radiohead - OK Computer OKNOTOK 1997-2017

Written by: Vance Hiner

Too bad XL Records didn’t contract with a pressing plant with quality control worthy of Radiohead’s watershed work.

The Cure - Kiss Me Kiss Me Kiss Me

Written by: Vance Hiner

Alas, the 2013 Rhino edition of Kiss Me, Kiss Me, Kiss Me serves as a prime example of how the soul of a recording can get lost in the reissue process. Compared to the original U.K. pressing (direct metal-mastered at the Town House), Rhino’s 2LP set sounds compressed and one-dimensional.

Led Zeppelin - Led Zeppelin IV

Written by: Dennis Davis

Led Zeppelin’s peak: How else do you describe an LP on which side one opens with “Black Dog” and closes with “Stairway to Heaven”? In between resides “Rock and Roll” (a song that became a concert staple, and for good reason) and “The Battle of Evermore,” one of the band’s most beautiful creations. Led Zeppelin IV is not just Led Zeppelin’s finest album but one of rock’s all-time best LPs. The group’s movement towards acoustic and British folk reaches its apex here, and this considering the quartet had only started releasing albums two years prior. 

Bruce Springsteen - Born To Run

Written by: Joe Taylor

Sony Legacy’s reissue stands as the definitive, well-balanced version of Springsteen’s iconic LP. When I want to hear Born to Run, this is the LP I’ll spin.

Murray Head - Nigel Lived

Written by: Danny Kaey

With Nigel Lived, Intervention Records continues its streak of focusing on remarkable titles most other audiophile labels wouldn’t likely consider for reissue. Drawing from the best-possible source material, Kevin Gray cut Nigel Lived from original engineer Phill Brown’s ¼-inch 15ips analog master tapes at 45RPM over two LPs. The sound is fantastically dynamic, open, and full-range, and the packaging—from the super-thick, high-gloss gatefold sleeve to the eight-page insert book printed by Stoughton—as good as it gets.

Bob Dylan - Bringing It All Back Home

Written by: Joe Taylor

Bob Dylan’s acoustic guitar opens “Subterranean Homesick Blues” on Bringing It All Back Home. But as soon as Bruce Langhorne’s electric guitar and Bobby Gregg’s drums enter, Dylan effectively announces he’s making a rock n’ roll record. Mobile Fidelity’s reissue of the album, cut at 45RPM and pressed on two LPs, lets you hear the three guitars backing Dylan more clearly than the original Columbia Records version and brings other instruments into the open.  

The Pretenders - The Pretenders

Written by: Joe Taylor

Mobile Fidelity’s pressing of The Pretenders retains much of the fire of the original Sire Records US pressing while adding space around the instruments and a deeper soundstage. Chrissy Hynde’s voice comes out into the room with the instruments layered behind her in support. Small details, such as the touch of reverb that Chris Thomas added to Hynde’s singing, are easier to hear and Chris Farndon’s bass lines are larger and have even greater impact.

Close

Don't get caught in the deadwax

Keep up to date with our exclusive deals & more. Sign up for our newsletter today!