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

SOCIAL DISTORTION - SOCIAL DISTORTION (1990, Epic)

 

1990 Epic First Pressing

Clarity: 3.6

Dynamics: 3.5

Tonality/Balance: 3.5

Soundstage/Image: 3.8

Pressing: 4

There’s no credit to whomever cut this, but they did a fantastic job! Hot raw guitar sound and tight bass. The soundstage has a nice 3D fidelity that makes this sound live! This is sharp and detailed like a knife fight. 

Final Grade: 3.68

RUSH - MOVING PICTURES (1981, Mercury)

 

1981 Mercury 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

Monster stadium-filling sound! Cut at Masterdisk by the legendary Robert Ludwig, this was done right the first time. HUGE hot guitars and thumping drums while detail is crystalline in the wide 3D soundstage. WOW!! This trounces every digital version and 200g remaster I’ve ever owned. This is the one to have my friends! Make sure to look for the Masterdisk stamp with RL in the deadwax. 

Final Grade: 4.5

MATTHEW SWEET - GIRLFRIEND (2019, Intervention Records, x2 LP)

 

Originally released on CD 1991

2019 Intervention x2 LP, Remastered

Cut at Sterling by Ryan K. Smith

Clarity: 5

Dynamics: 5

Tonality/Balance: 5

Soundstage/Image: 5

Pressing: 5

Killer!! This remaster is revelatory, powerful and has a well-balanced 3D sound. Guitars are aggressive and hot but not shrill, bass thumps, nice detail and separation. This is bright and hot on top with crystalline detail in the midrange. The bass thumps. The holographic headroom allows the guitars to attack and arc like lightning from the tweeters. Ryan Smith hit a grand slam with this cut! I will pick an OG nine times out of ten. This one’s the ten. 

Final Grade: 5 

MATTHEW SWEET - 100% FUN (1995, Zoo Entertainment, HQ-180)

 

1995 Zoo Entertainment

HQ-180 First Pressing

Cut at RTI by Bernie Grundman

Clarity: 2.5

Dynamics: 2.5

Tonality/Balance: 2.5

Soundstage/Image: 2.5

Pressing: 4

WTF? First pressing cut by Bernie Grundman should be a match made in heaven.  So, what's going on here? Comparing to my SACD and the songs on TIME CAPSULE CD, this is demonstrably worse. The fidelity is flat and lacks power on top. The low end is fine and not boosted and there is some detail in the midrange. Robert Quine's guitar should shred the tweeters! But it remains flat and lifeless. I don't believe this is brickwalled but it sounds impotent. 

Final Grade: 2.8