Search - Ministry :: Side Trax

Is everybody deaf? There is a problem here...

REX | Chicago | 10/14/2004

(2 out of 5 stars)

"Both Rykodisc and Al Jourgensen deserve accolades for finally compiling this material together onto one disc, and I must say I was greatly looking forward to hearing such classics as "No Name, No Slogan" and "Rubber Glove Seduction" in sparkling remastered glory. I have the other Ministry reissue disc and the RevCo releases as well, and while their quality varies considerably, all of them sound distinctively improved. Unfortunately, the reality with this compilation is that something must have gone horrible awry in the mastering -- perhaps somebody grabbed the wrong files -- for these tracks sound worse than the WaxTrax! originals by a long shot. In most cases, intricate details and stereo effects that panned back and forth are completely gone, and worst of all, the tracks sound flattened and lifeless. Instead of demonstrating the heart-pumping, fist-pounding, immaculately-produced anthems these tracks once were, Side Trax offers a bunch of monochromatic, monophonic replications that give the whole project an overwhelming feeling of "cash cow" with little attention paid to quality control. I have yet to figure out how I am the only one on earth who has yet noticed this flaw, but I may as well offer this up to those with discerning ears who were looking forward to hearing their old time WaxTrax! favorites in a new light. This, sadly, is not your opportunity.



EDITED TO ADD: As of March 2005, Rykodisc have corrected the error and re-pressed the CD with the proper stereo mastering. You can contact them and have your problematic copy replaced with very little hassle. The new mastering sounds good, if not necessarily better than the original EPs -- a testament to how ahead of their time they once were."

The other sides of a stunning band..

Takis Tz. | InYourHead | 05/02/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"First off, the copy i own isn't problematic as some reviewers here report about theirs which is a big relief indeed because who would want such an essential release marred by poor sound quality?

On to more important things then, as is the case with "Early trax", this compilation was also way overdue, and it's bells in the ears for those who appreciate high quality music of any kind.



Ministry's side projects were never the usual "lets experiment with some stuff noone wants to hear" affair that is often the case with other bands. Instead they were intriguing (and diverse even) musical side projects with always something extra to offer to the band's dedicated fans.



Sure, in most of these side projects, the song remains the same in a sense. It's industrial, industrial, industrial. That, with the exception of LARD possibly -which veers off to glam rock in certain instances- is a recipe that Ministry have become the true masters of, the measuring unit (or one of the main ones in any case) for others to count themselves up against.



Everyone will differ in favorites here naturally, but in my humble opinion the track that easily stands out is "Hey as****e" from 1000 Homo DJs. It's a track that is reminiscent in a way to a Bodycount track (remember them?), with the difference being that while the setting is similar it's much more sarcastic and caustic, and definetely more explosive and bombastic.



"Supernaut" (a perennial live concert Ministry classic) is also a show stealer as are "Dont stand in line" and "Man should surrender" from Pailhead.



But it's pointless to pick out things here. This is an essential release from one of the most influential and way ahead of its time bands. Ministry were on such a par with their side projects as well as when they were being the Ministry we know.



The fact that some of these tracks go back 10 years or longer and yet they are as relevant as it gets musically still today says it all.



"

Gotta agree with REX on this one...

Tarkus | 12/28/2004

(2 out of 5 stars)

"Something must have gone horribly wrong in the remastering, as this disc sounds as soft and flat as the original Wax/Trax! discs (at least in the case of Pailhead and 1000 Homo DJs). It's a shame as the other Ministry/RevCo reissues are so "in your face". Perhaps a "WTF???" e-mail to Ryko is in order...."