BIG STAR - #1 RECORD (1972, Ardent Records)

 

1972 Ardent Records

First Pressing

Cut at Monarch by Larry Nix

Clarity: 5+

Dynamics: 5+

Tonality/Balance: 5+

Soundstage/Image: 5+

Pressing: 5+

Huge hot sound, just incredible fidelity! This kills every repress/remaster I’ve owned. WOW!! Wide deep soundstage with 3D detail balanced perfectly. Low end pulses like a heartbeat driving the jam. Sharp on top like an X-acto knife. Highest recommendation!!

Final Grade: 5+

RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE - RENEGADES (2000, Epic Records)

 

2000 Epic Records

DMM cut at Europadisk by Don Grossinger

First Pressing

Clarity: 4

Dynamics: 4

Tonality/Balance: 4

Soundstage/Image: 4

Pressing: 4

The CD is brickwalled and just crushingly loud. However, this US OG is a DMM so bass tightens up a bit. There's a lot of music stamped on the single piece of wax, so it's actually mastered a bit quieter. You need to crank the volume a bit more than usual. When you do, it comes alive! There's headroom in the cacophony and sharp details I've never heard before. Bass crunches, guitars shred, vocals loud and clear. 

Final Grade: 4

NINE INCH NAILS - THE DOWNWARD SPIRAL (1994 Nothing Records/Interscope/TVT, Promo)

 

HALO EIGHT

1994 Nothing/Interscope/TVT

Promo, Only 3,000 pressed

Clarity: 5

Dynamics: 5

Tonality/Balance: 5

Soundstage/Image: 5

Pressing: 5

Unbelievable. Just perfect. This is better than the ‘08 Kevin Gray cut (which is great!) and kills the 2017 pressing. This has a very hot high end that balances on a crunching, pulsing low. But it truly shines in-between with crystalline detail in a wide 3D soundstage. This just sounds gigantic! Hearing Adrian Belew’s guitars with super hot texture is bliss. WOW. This is possibly the single best sounding LP I’ve ever spun. No hyperbole.

Final Grade: 5

RAMONES - RAMONES (1976 Sire, Club Edition)

 

1976 Sire

Columbia House Pressing

Cut at Sterling by Greg Calbi

Clarity: 4.5

Dynamics: 4.5

Tonality/Balance: 4.5

Soundstage/Image: 4.5

Pressing: 4.5

Holy shit!! I have a ‘78 repress (non-Sterling) I thought was good but loses to this Columbia House pressing! So, CH uses the original Sterling stampers cut by Greg Calbi! Bass is tight and grooving but it’s the guitars that are ear-splittingly hot with Joey’s intense vocals pushed forward in the mix. WOW! I believe this is the first repress from either '76 or ‘77. Why? A bit of research reveals that only the first pressing has the label errors BEAT IS ON THE BRAT and misspelling of BLITZKREIG. And this version has both mistakes! Again, this is a Sterling cut and is absolutely stellar! Highest recommendation. 

Final Grade: 4.5

MOTHER LOVE BONE - SHINE (1989 Stardog Records, E.P.)

 

1989 Stardog E.P.

Promo

Clarity: 4.5

Dynamics: 4.5

Tonality/Balance: 4.5

Soundstage/Image: 5

Pressing: 4

Unbelievable. This thing is hot and loud, guitars just shred the tweeters yet bass rolls off perfectly on the bottom. 3D detail in the midrange. Just a fucking powerful presentation! I was fortunate enough to find one for a reasonable trade, but this is worth your $$$. WOW! Highest recommendation!

Final Grade: 4.5

NICK CAVE & THE BAD SEEDS - FROM HER TO ETERNITY (1984 Mute, UK)

 

1984 Mute, UK

First Pressing

Clarity: 4.5

Dynamics: 5

Tonality/Balance: 4.5

Soundstage/Image: 5

Pressing: 4

Unbelievable 3D soundstage with crystal clear detail and separation! WOW! If you only know the music from the brickwalled CD this is a revelation. This sounds like you’re in the club in Wings of Desire and Nick Cave and his band are in the groove. It’s loud, intense and intimate. Highest recommendation!!

Final Grade: 4.6

LUCINDA WILLIAMS - WORLD'S GONE WRONG (2026 Highway 20 Records)

 

2026 Highway 20 Records

Sky Blue vinyl

Clarity: 4

Dynamics: 4

Tonality/Balance: 4

Soundstage/Image: 4

Pressing: 4

Lacquer cut by Jeff Powell. I listened to my 24bit [flac] download and was amazed by the deep, detailed fidelity. So how does this compare? I like it better! This bests the 24bit digital as the guitars are hotter and "crunchier" on top and the bass it a bit tighter. The midrange has a wonderful texture in the organs, harmonica and vocals and has a deep 3D image. But the [flac] sounds great too, just not as aggressive on top. You can't go wrong with either, but this really comes alive from the needle-drop. Highest recommendation.

Final Grade: 4

MICHAEL PENN - MARCH (1989 RCA Records)

 

1989 RCA Records

First Pressing

Cut at Masterdisk by Robert Ludwig

Clarity: 4.5

Dynamics: 4.5

Tonality/Balance: 4.5

Soundstage/Image: 4.5

Pressing: 4.5

WOW! Masterdisk pressing cut by none other than Robert Ludwig. This is hot, loud and intense yet retains a warmth and vibrant 3D soundstage that will knock your socks off. Thumps on the low end too. Damn, this is a fine sounding pressing. Highest recommendation!

Final Grade: 4.5

PEARL JAM - TEN (1991 Epic Records)

 

1991 Epic Records, Europe

First Pressing

Clarity: 3.5

Dynamics: 4

Tonality/Balance: 3.5

Soundstage/Image: 4

Pressing: 4

Fidelity is deep and powerful and rolls off just right in the high notes while bass is big and fluid yet not “boomy”. Nice 3D image. Separation and clarity are a revelation. There’s a lot of music stamped here, and it sounds bold! 

Final Grade: 3.8

TESLA - MECHANICAL RESONANCE (1986 Geffen Records)

 

1986 Geffen Records, First Pressing

DMM (Direct Metal Master)

Cut at Sterling by George Marino

Clarity: 4.2

Dynamics: 4.5

Tonality/Balance: 4

Soundstage/Image: 4

Pressing: 4

Holy Hell, what an outstanding pressing! A Sterling stamper cut by George Marino and wow, will knock your socks off! Hot guitars jump out of the tweeters while detail in the midrange is bright and clear. Bottom end kicks but isn’t pushed aggressively so keeps a nice 3D image. This is what I call brilliant vintage mastering, the kind that has been lost in the 21st century. Don’t even consider a remaster/repress and get this one. 

Final Grade: 4.14