LOW CUT CONNIE - HI HONEY (2015, Contender Records)

 

2015 Contender Records

Mastered at Ardent by Kevin Nix

Clarity: 5

Dynamics: 5

Tonality/Balance: 5

Soundstage/Image: 5

Pressing: 5

Mastered by Kevin Nix at Ardent! You may have heard of his father Larry Nix, legendary engineer who cut the first BIG STAR record at Ardent (among so many other great albums). And this sounds phenomenal. This cut is hot, loud, sharp with plenty of headroom to spare. The bass is groovy and the low-end kicks. Damn, this crushes the CD mastering. This was my album of the year in 2015. Finally getting around to spinning the wax on my new gear and my jaw is literally on the floor. Wow, what a dynamic pressing! I'm falling in love with the album all over again.

Final Grade: 5

THE FLYING BURRITO BROTHERS - THE GILDED PALACE OF SIN (1969, A&M Records)

 

1969 A&M Records

First Pressing

Clarity: 5+

Dynamics: 5+

Tonality/Balance: 5+

Soundstage/Image: 5+

Pressing: 5

My god, the headroom is incredible. Razor-sharp detail and bright guitars on top, with a low-end that kicks hard. The bass shakes the floorboards and rattles the windows. I don't have a repress or remaster to compare but no need to search for one after spinning this. This is one the best sounding records in my modest collection. The pedal steel guitar haunts the 3D soundstage like a forlorn spirit. I don't see a credit to whoever cut this lacquer at Monarch, but they have my undying respect.

Final Grade: 5+

LLOYD COLE - LLOYD COLE (1990, Capitol Records)

 

1990 Capitol Records

First Pressing

Mastered by Tim Young & Wally Traugott

Clarity: 4.4

Dynamics: 4.3

Tonality/Balance: 4.6

Soundstage/Image: 4.8

Pressing: 4

Mastered by the legendary Tim Young and cut by the legendary Wally Traugott! And this sounds legendary! The space and headroom present here are quite amazing. Matthew Sweet's basslines are very tight and Robert Quine's guitar just the right amount of heat. Fred Maher's drums sound incredible. Blair Cowan's Hammond haunts the ether like a ghost adding to the deep soundstage. I don't believe any repress could match this. It's perfect.

Final Grade: 4.42

THEY MIGHT BE GIANTS - FLOOD (1990, Elektra)

 

1990 Elektra First Pressing

Cut at Masterdisk by Robert Ludwig

Direct Metal Master

Clarity: 4.7

Dynamics: 4.8

Tonality/Balance: 4.8

Soundstage/Image: 4.7

Pressing: 4.5

Well Holy Shit, this crushes the 2014 MOV repress (which is very good). This should come as no surprise since this is a DMM cut at Masterdisk by the legendary Robert Ludwig. HUGE 3D soundstage with razor sharp detail. Guitars and horns bright and aggressive while low end punches when it’s supposed to. Highest recommendation.

Final Grade: 4.7

THE CLASH - LONDON CALLING (1979, CBS, x2 LP, UK)

 

1979 CBS x2 LP, UK First Pressing

Cut by Tim Young

Clarity: 5+

Dynamics: 5+

Tonality/Balance: 5+

Soundstage/Image: 5+

Pressing: 5

This pressing is fantastic with solid kick ass bass and nice balance, so the midrange isn’t masked. A nice powerful EQ that gets better as you spin the volume knob higher and higher! I have had quite a few US reissues over the years, but nothing sounds like this. The horns on The Right Profile give me chills! The headroom is so amazing. This sounds GIGANTIC and attacks from the speakers and hits hard, all in a holographic soundstage. This is an incredible cut. This is the one to get friends. Cut by the legendary Tim Young!! WOW! Highest recommendation. 

Final Grade: 5

GRAHAM PARKER - BURNING QUESTIONS (1992, Demon Records)

 

1992 Demon Records, First Pressing UK

Cut at MPO by Tim Young

Clarity: 3.8

Dynamics: 4

Tonality/Balance: 3.6

Soundstage/Image: 3.9

Pressing: 4

Cut by the legendary Tim Young! This sounds full and beefy unlike the digital versions which are more “technical”. Here, we get bouncy basslines amid a 3D soundstage with details such as ghostly keyboards and ethereal backing vocals. The headroom is quite amazing. This is my second favorite GP album and it’s a much better experience on vinyl. Though the 2016 remaster on CD only isn’t bad…for the car stereo.

Final Grade: 3.86

REDD KROSS - PHASESHIFTER (1993, This Way Up)

 

1993 This Way Up

Europe, First Pressing

Cut by Tim Young

Clarity: 5

Dynamics: 5

Tonality/Balance: 5

Soundstage/Image: 5

Pressing: 5

Skip the 2020 Third Man repress which sounds bland. This lacquer was cut by the great Tim Young and is on a completely different level! So hot on top it will melt your tweeters with a HUGE low-end that shakes the room. But it's the headroom and 3D soundstage in the midrange where the sharp detail attacks. This is easily in my top ten best sounding pressings I've ever spun! WOW! The drum sound is unbelievable. Damn. Seriously, drop the cash for this and you won't be disappointed. And this smokes the original CD.

Final Grade: 5

NICK DRAKE - FIVE LEAVES LEFT (1978, Antilles, US Reissue)

 

Originally released 1969 UK only

1978 Antilles US Reissue

Cut at Sterling

Clarity: 4.6

Dynamics: 4.7

Tonality/Balance: 4.6

Soundstage/Image: 4.8

Pressing: 4.5

The headroom in this Sterling cut is amazing. Deep 3D soundstage perfectly underscored by cello. Vocals strong and clear, detail exquisite. Such an intimate record with live harmonics. This kills my modern repress which is now on the trade pile. Highest recommendation.

Final Grade: 4.64

GOLDEN SMOG - DOWN BY THE OLD MAINSTREAM (2018, Run Out Groove/Rykodisc, x2 LP, LE)

 

Originally released in 1995 CD only

2018 Run Out Groove/Rykodisc x2 LP

Brown Marbled, Numbered Limited Edition

Clarity: 4.1

Dynamics: 4.3

Tonality/Balance: 4.6

Soundstage/Image: 4.4

Pressing: 4

This kills the original CD. Why? It's the huge holographic soundstage that opens up and allows the music to breath. It kicks on the low end but doesn't obscure the midrange. The top is still bright and crunchy. Detail is crystal clear and sharp. I can't find a credit for whoever mastered and cut the lacquer, but they did an epic job. My number #1410.

Final Grade: 4.28

SOCIAL DISTORTION - BORN TO KILL (2026, Epitaph, x2 Pink/Yellow LP, Limited Edition)

 

2026 Epitaph First Pressing

x2 LP Pink/Yellow Limited Edition

Cut at Infrasonic by Pete Lyman

Clarity: 3.2

Dynamics: 3.5

Tonality/Balance: 3.5

Soundstage/Image: 3.6

Pressing: 4

Cut by Pete Lyman at Infrasonic. The album was mastered by Stephen Marcusson and PL did a fantastic job getting this thick, raw, electric sound on vinyl! No distortion on my copy (only the social kind). But this mix is driven by hot, heavy guitars punching from the speakers with a balanced but not boosted low-end. This cut has plenty of headroom and smokes my [flac] download. I'm playing at maximum volume as I type this, and it is killer when turned to 11. Nice holographic soundstage in the cacophony so Benmont Tench's Hammond just haunts the background.

Final Grade: 3.56