I've asked Tyler who pressed it so we'll see but yes if that review of the black version is one to go on these are all bad. I can't think KG would be overly thrilled at this. I've never heard a KG master that sounded this bad, so sometime seriously dropped the ball on this one.
Vinyl Me Please (store, exclusives, swaps, etc)
- Thread starter Captainfog
- Start date
Mr Moore
Well-Known Member
Yeah, it is a shame. I was just gonna grab a standard when I see it over here but I think I'll give it a miss now.
Chris V
Active Member
I decided to spin my Joel Ross last night to check out the sound. I don't have the most high-end set up, but I have a decent player with an Ortofon Red cartridge. The static and noise are very noticeable, especially during the quiet parts of Touched By An Angel. I sent an email this morning.
On another note, The Isley Brothers sounds fantastic and Skull Snaps turned out to be a great surprise.
If you can get it cheap it's not the worst. The louder passages sound good, it's just the quiet ones especially on side A and B that are rough. But the 33 dollar price tag for cheap as dirt pressing, jacket, and sleeves is galling. It's highway robbery.
Selaws
Well-Known Member
Just done a bit of digging and Tone Poet Guru - Joe Harley commented on his copy (look at the bottom comment) saying that its 'nice and quiet although slightly warped. Not enough to cause any issues but worth a mention'. In fact theres a few users commenting on warps but saying that their copy sounds fine. Making me wonder if theres just a bad batch amongst some good presses?
Mr Moore
Well-Known Member
I believe that's Kevin Gray @ Cohearent Audio which is the master but doesn't indicate pressing plant.
Selaws
Well-Known Member
@Mather beat me to it, but yes seems like Kevin Gray @ Cohearent Audio (Look under the 'variations' bit at the top)
Ohhhh fuck it's Precision Record Pressing in Ontario Canada of all places. They're a joint venture of GZ, they suck. That explains it.
Selaws
Well-Known Member
Detective Mather cracks the case again!
But yes there are some people on that board saying they got good copies, now my guess is most of those copies are the black ones since VMP just shipped but... I guess it shows in some manner there are good copies out there. But I'd still be very surprised to see good ones amongst only 500 VMP editions. But seeing this I think I'll try for another VMP copy and see what happens. If it's the same, which I'm sure it will be, I'll get credits.
Mr Moore
Well-Known Member
That was the only bit I recognized! I think it's highlighted because the forum software thinks its an email address, lol.
Yes to Made In Canada sticker. It's the same pressing.
agutierrezb
Well-Known Member
I haven't heard your copy (obviously), but I think you're making it sound like the master itself is terrible. I think the master is actually pretty good, it has a lot of dynamics and the soundstage is pretty solid. What is bad from this pressing (at least from my experience with the standard copy), is the noise and warping. In my case the first is not THAT bad, there are only a couple of pops throughout, but the warping is terrible.
Yes what I meant was I've never heard a KG mastered album that sounds this bad. Meaning to say that the pressing has killed what would normally be very good sounding album. I agree that the master itself sounds good, as evidenced by the louder passages but everything else sounds noisy. Not KGs fault and undoubtedly not his master. Sorry I should have been more clear.
Djxfactor511
Well-Known Member
How do I approach emailing VMP about my disappointment with this record without coming off as a piggy-backer to others' complaints? Damn you social anxiety.
I think you just be honest about it. You have the record, it's very noisy, for 33 dollars it really shouldn't sound like this. Is there something that can be done, either a replacement or some credit's? Honestly that's all I do. Just be nice about it and I'm sure they won't accuse you of piggybacking, I mean god knows month to month they get REAMS of replacement requests for all sorts of issues. I mean between Beach House and Queen and TVOTR and Veedon Fleece among MANY others they must have received THOUSANDS of identical complaints because everyone had the same problems. Nothing really different here...
NathanRicaud
Well-Known Member
Be yourself! Let VMP know that you are very disappointed in this Joel Ross pressing, especially as all the other Blue Note VMP exclusive records have sounded magnificent!
