Landmark Album That Monkeys Appear To Have Remastered
Parrish A. Highley | Somewhere I've Never Travelled | 11/27/2009
(3 out of 5 stars)
"The album itself is five stars, but the primates let loose to remaster this bring it down to three. Now, I like the strong presentation of the midrange that SACD renders, but the midrange on this SACD is so inordinately exaggerated that it is almost unlistenable. If you have two-way speakers and are slightly tone deaf to midrange frequencies, then this mix might work for you. However, if you have normal sensitivity to midrange frequencies AND a dedicate midrange on three-way speakers, then this is a far, far cry from what this music is supposed to sound like. The loudness issue rears its ugly head as well, but even that pales to what these monkeys did to the midrange.
If you are an audiophile, you may want to track down the dvd-audio of this album instead. My only hope is that, once again, Mobile Fidelity Sound Labs will step up to the plate and show everyone how a remaster is supposed to be done. I normally refrain from scathing reviews as I would like to give the potential target of my ire the benefit of the doubt, but there is no doubt here. If this was intended for audiophiles, then this remaster is unforgivable."
If you are interested in the SACD disc, forget this album
D. Follette | upstate NY | 04/28/2010
(1 out of 5 stars)
"I am one of the few people (the rest of you know who you are) who believe that SACD has been the missed opportunity that audio fans and music lovers who don't want to be bothered with vinyl were waiting for. So with that in mind, I really purchased this for the SACD portion of the set. I am of an age that I remember ELP at their peak and always hoped to get a great digital remaster of one or all of their best recordings. As far as the SACD disc goes this is not it. In fact it is by far the worst SACD I have ever purchased, popular or classical.
I own two of the best SACD players ever built, the Sony SCD-XA9000ES and the Marantz reference player. I first decided to preview the SACD disc on the Sony using the headphone jack and my Sennheiser HD600s. The sound on the first track Jerusalem was so bad- literally distorted, that I thought there was a problem with the player or the headphones. I switched to the Marantz and my Sony MDR-F1 headphones and it sounded even worse! At that moment I realized I should have taken some of the negative reviews more seriously. Although some of the later tracks on the SACD disc are better, overall in is bad, just bad. It is an embarrassment that any studio engineer and any recording label actually issued this disc.
The CDs are good, not great, but listenable. But if you were hoping for the full SACD experience that was possible for ELP you will be bitterly disappointed."
Don't waste your money
John Montgomery | 03/08/2010
(1 out of 5 stars)
"The only reason to buy this packaging over previous versions is the SACD disc, so this review concerns only that disc.
This is quite possibly the worst SACD engineering effort ever. If there's a worse one, I certainly don't want to hear it. After the opening song I was switching with known discs to make sure my system was not broken. After the second song I moved to another system to ensure there weren't compatibility issues with that player.
The mid range is highly boosted in most places, the bass is nearly nonexistent, the high frequencies come and go within songs, but mostly from the rear channels, rarely from the front. Lake's vocals disappear into the background as if he's singing from a pub next door, only to come out full force from nowhere, then retreat again. The volume of the rear channels is jacked way up relative to the front. Instruments switch channels at apparently random times, creating an experience like a Quadrophonic demo LP. Rather than feeling like you're in the middle of the studio, you feel as if you are listening to a child with a panning joystick. Given the imbalance in equalization and volume, this effect is particularly grating, as within a single passage an instrument will jump from a boosted channel with full high end to a softer one with compressed highs then back again. Even the liner notes are a mess, with "Manticore" sometimes spelled "Manicure," and incorrect references to the musicians' respective backgrounds.
If you want the CD, buy another edition. This set is not worth having at any price, let alone a high one."
Great Sound, Bad Package
Axe Murderer | Atascadero, CA | 05/29/2010
(4 out of 5 stars)
"I think that those people who hate the sound of the SACD in this release either need to get their sound system checked or they need to get their ears checked! After reading those 1 star reviews I purchased this "deluxe edition" with no small degree of trepidation. But after playing the SACD I was enormously relieved and pleased by its excellent sound quality. I can't imagine what could make them dislike it so much.
I am very thankful that some labels continue to release a few titles in this format. I recently learned that In the Court of the Crimson King (Deluxe) by King Crimson (featuring Greg Lake on vocals and bass) has been released as an SACD as well, and have happily placed my order! If only Atlantic would release "Close to the Edge" in this format I would gladly shell out the $$ for it even though I already own the LP and the digitally remastered CD versions. Mostly I have had to be content with the many excellent classical SACD releases, of which I have purchased not a few.
What didn't please me about this "deluxe edition" of BSS was the package. This three disc set is packaged in a tri-fold digi-pak but there are only two plastic trays with CD hubs in the package. The third disc (the SACD!) was stuffed into a pocket along with the booklet, like an afterthought. Hardly "deluxe packaging"! The booklet is rather skimpy for a "deluxe edition" as well. I guess it had to be slim enough to fit along with the SACD! I have swapped the positions of the CD version and the SACD so the SACD should be safe.
Still, I remain grateful that the multi-channel SACD version is available at all and that it sounds so good."
What Happen to K2-HD 24bit Remasters?
D. Mitchell | USA | 01/22/2010
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Apart from Amazon being a great Online retailer, they have dropped the ball when it comes to accuracy in CD Label/Version detail and UPC identification. Case-In-Point: I have attempted to enlighten Amazon by submitting description updates only to find them rejected. At one time, a dispute over whether the item was Newly Remastered; I pointed out as proof that the printing on the CD in question itself said "Digitally Remastered" and that Amazon of Canada, listed it as such. But the description update request still was rejected.
For all who are wondering what happen to the K2 HD remastered 35th Anniversary reissues of ELP, this CD (Amazon, ASIN: B000AMZ20Q) is the UPC:4988002489909 for Brain Salad Surgery; K2-HD, 35th Anniversary Remaster, Japan-Victor 9/28/2005
I consider the Limited Edition, K2-HD 24bit Digital Remaster's to be one of the best series to date.
Why so many versions? The answer isn't that Keith Emerson, Lake and Palmer (or others) are out to build a massive retirement fund. Technology has vastly improved and the quest for that perfect remastered reissue prevails. Sometimes, a remastering house project may fall short of expectations and the artist may need to shop around again for a better manufacturer for his work (ever had your car's new paint job botched, now having to repaint the car again by someone more talented). Sometimes it involves record label contracts and the need to wait-out the contract in order to get it remastered by someone else.
Either way, the effort of most to remaster ones life's work is more about quality, not quantity.
See Album Details at: amazon.ca (and) amazon.co.jp