The Verdict: They're LOUD!

[andylama]

I just received my copies of the BBK and HOLV remasters, and I've been listening carefully.

For those of you who were fence-sitting and wondering: yes, there is a difference. However, you may not even notice much unless you have "studio ears" (read: analytical listening skills).

The biggest difference: the remasters are LOUD--easily 8 dB hotter than the Capitol issues. (8 dB is a lot!)

I'm not about to do an exhaustive A/B analysis of the equalization, etc., and I'll try to refrain from getting overly analytical about it, but I can tell you that they do sound 'better', but not consistently so.

To my (highly subjective) ears, I hear better stereo imaging, better lower-midrange clarity and more overall 'punchiness'.

A couple of tunes where the difference turned my head: Floatboat, Pitch the baby, Iceblink, 50-50 clown, Wolf in the breast.

Seems like overall, HOLV is "more improved", but that could be because it was sonically a better album to begin with.

Lesser difference: the artwork. BBK now looks like the LP (white band to the right). HOLV looks not very different to me (maybe a tad less vibrant?), but not 'blotchy' as someone here observed (sorry I don't remember who I'm quoting here), and the CD face is translucent, showing the metallic disc surface, unlike the Capitol version that had the ugly white base-coating.

If you're wondering, my comparison is based on the standard US issues by Capitol.

My verdict: well worth the (piddling) $12 each, and they will be taking the place of the Capitol issues in my collection.

Of course, your mileage may vary.

[mattadore]

Excellent summary. :)

I will just add that the BBK remaster really has put that album in a whole new light for me... I always considered it to be a bit, "ehhhh..." to be honest, but hearing it again on the remaster, I've found a whole new appreciation for just how beautiful BBK really is.

[andylama]

Here's the less clinical version of my review above:

On the remastered HOLV: The beginning of "Fotzepolitic" feels like being shot out of a cannon before hearing my favorite anthem!

Whoooaaaahhh!

[mattadore]

:music:

I had a smashing time listening to all 6 remasters in sequential order Saturday... I heard heavily felanged handclaps (?) phasing from left to right channel in "My Love Paramour" that I never even knew existed before!!!

[E-Lo]

Originally posted by andylama
A couple of tunes where the difference turned my head: Floatboat, Pitch the baby, Iceblink, 50-50 clown, Wolf in the breast.
Seems like overall, HOLV is "more improved", but that could be because it was sonically a better album to begin with

SOLD! I have been a complete tight-ass holdout with the CT remasters but the time has come to put my dear old HOLV CD to rest . . . that thing has survived years of play, scratches, and abuse and never skipped! But the thought of a sonically improved Pitch the Baby, Cherry Coloured Funk, Wolf in Breast, Iceblink, Carolyns Fingers, Athol, Cico, etc. etc. just makes me delirious.

[andylama]

Originally posted by E-Lo

SOLD! I have been a complete tight-ass holdout with the CT remasters but the time has come to put my dear old HOLV CD to rest . . . that thing has survived years of play, scratches, and abuse and never skipped! But the thought of a sonically improved Pitch the Baby, Cherry Coloured Funk, Wolf in Breast, Iceblink, Carolyns Fingers, Athol, Cico, etc. etc. just makes me delirious.

Do it, E-lo!

At $12 or $13 a pop, there really is no reason NOT to.

(revelling in the delirium)

[mmmender]

don't forget though.....if you already own a copy of stars and topsoil then you've already got a few of the holv and bbk remastered tracks!

http://images.amazon.com/images/P/B00004Y2FT.01.LZZZZZZZ.jpg

[E-Lo]

:spear:
Embarrassed to admit it, but never bought Stars & Topsoil! :blush:

I am loathe to buying CDs without new music, unreleased, tracks or versions, but the temptation of the new sound quality is too much :)

[mmmender]

:provoke:

e-lo, have you gone completely mad?

[Colin]

I have the world's worst car stereo system. Music generally sounds lousy, especially played thru my protable CD -- lots of static and distortion. But I tried the new HOLV this morning & it sounded brilliant! I guess a really well-mastered disc can overcome a lousy system!?!?

So we know Robin is still visiting -- please tell us what you were seeking to improve on BBK/HOLV. (no, I won't give up!!)

[Brett]

So that's it then! That's the answer! These......go up to 11!!!
LOL
:guitar:

[E-Lo]

Originally posted by mmmender
:provoke:

e-lo, have you gone completely mad?

Yes of course!

seriously though, I just wish they could have thrown on at least an unreleased track or 2 to make it a better "value proposition" (to borrow a b/s business phrase I see at work all the time). That would have pushed me over the edge to buy them when they first came out . . . however my dollars (cents?) will have a subliminal message attached to them when they reach Liz, Simon, and Robin's pocket book . . . GET BACK TOGETHER!!!!


;)

[watchlar]

value proposition??? oh dear ernie...

it's all about hearing Orange-Appled...like hearing it for the first time....the EPs on CD sound horrible in comparison....

blink blink
dahhhhhhling

[E-Lo]

ok im gonna start ordering them tonight!

i havent heard much of the victorialand remasters, what are they like?

[ScottL]

By the way, we discussed victorialand a bit toward the end of the thread Remasters: first impressions (http://www.herb-bauer.com/~leesa/cocteautwins/vBulletin/full/showthread.php?s=&postid=19893#post19893)

About Stars & Topsoil, I bought it largely for the remastered EP tracks...including Aikea-Guinea, Pink Orange Red, Pale Clouded White...one song that pleasantly surprised me was Dewdrops...the high-end on the guitars really came forward...very nice. Out of all songs on the remasters so far, the one I almost feel I got the most out of was Tinderbox...

I measured ~6dB on victorialand....I tried normalizing the 16bit digital wav to have it play at the same level....anyway, CD mastering is well known to be better today than it was 20 years....the original CD's weren't the original thing...the vinyl was far closer to that...remastering should make CD's a better representation of that sound, it got back 6dB that shoulda be utilitized in the digital medium...maximize signal to noise ratio.

[andylama]

ScottL,

Right on. When I put the new and old BBK CDs in my changer to do a little A/B listening, I set the volume for the old recording. When I switched to the new disc, the added 8 or 9 dB gain just about kicked me out of my chair.

I, for one, didn't realize that the EP tracks on Stars&Topsoil were remastered. (sigh) Now, I'll have to buy that one too. (sigh) :D