Rx4 -- relatively recent remaster reissues

[rblnr]

This came out some years ago but just came across it, a 30th anniversary reissue of Steve Miller Band's 'Fly Like An Eagle'

It's far better than the original CD version -- very dimensional with nice highs. A shockingly good remaster.

http://www.amazon.com/Fly-Like-Eagl...RDN6/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1308250924&sr=8-5

Good Rhino:

The 'handmade' version of Richard and Linda Thompson's 'Shoot Out the Lights'

I have several issues of this album including a fancy 'gold' European version, and this new Rhino is a legitimate improvement over any of them. It's an amazing album that they recorded and toured for while their marriage was falling apart. They alternate songs until they sing together on the great 'Wall of Death' which likens a relationship to a carnival ride. I'm sure Springsteen was partly inspired by this in writing 'Tunnel of Love'.

Bad Rhino:

New Order's 'Low Life'

This 'remaster' sounds no better than the original done in digital's dark days. A big disappointment on a seminal album of the 80s.

As a whole, I find Rhino hit 'n miss where Mofi is consistently good. A lot of stuff I grew up with and love illustrate digital at it's worst -- I'm always on the lookout for remasters from that era.

 

[rblnr]

Popular demand dictates more postings on this topic.

Being B- or C-movie Stones doesn't mean there aren't some pleasures and peaks, in fact, probably means just that minus true soul.

Anyway, the remaster of INXS's 'Kick' just out is light years better than the original, much clearer and less compressed. A great summer album.

I personally guarantee the $15 spent here will garner far greater improvement than a grand upgrade on cables. Same holds true of the prior post albums, and they're better music too.

 

[Phelonious Ponk]

Popular demand dictates more postings on this topic.

Being B- or C-movie Stones doesn't mean there aren't some pleasures and peaks, in fact, probably means just that minus true soul.

Anyway, the remaster of INXS's 'Kick' just out is light years better than the original, much clearer and less compressed. A great summer album.

I personally guarantee the $15 spent here will garner far greater improvement than a grand upgrade on cables. Same holds true of the prior post albums, and they're better music too.

A new movement of remastering, focused on maximizing clarity and dynamic range and made available in both redbook and hires, would be the greatest audiophile development in decades.

Tim

 

[JackD201]

Thank goodness. I think recording companies are finally beginning to hear our pleas! With analog FM out, compression is no longer needed as much. I wonder if this has something to do with it,

 

[rblnr]

A new movement of remastering, focused on maximizing clarity and dynamic range and made available in both redbook and hires, would be the greatest audiophile development in decades.

Tim

Couldn't agree more. It's why I'm always on the lookout For remasters of stuff I like. Hits and misses, but at least the whiffs are cheap.

Neil Young and Bruce here on the forum have hinted at something big happening in the industry in this regard, but haven't seen any details.

Another good remaster btw is Mofi's latest of Little Feat's 'Waiting for Columbus'. This is a favorite live album and the new remaster is significantly cleaner on both CD and vinyl, than the old.

 

[rblnr]

Disappointments:

recent/new JVC XRCD K2/K2HD remasters of Dire Straits 'Brothers in Arms' and The Eagles 'Hell Freezes Over' -- both unspecial and kinda splashy up top. I've heard better recordings of both. Remember being disappointed too in the XRCD remaster of Tina Turner's 'Private Dancer' when it came out several years ago. So 0 for 3 with XRCD.