Loveless Remaster Actually Sound Better?

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there's the Isn't Anything remaster vinyl that came out. now THAT's something that really needed to be reworked and made to sound more clear.. my cd always sounded too muddy, and wasn't sure if it was just the way it was recorded or it was just poorly mastered.

Anyone drop the dough for the Isn't Anything vinyl? Worth it?

donut bitch (donut), Friday, 14 November 2003 06:15 (twenty-two years ago)

I think my Loveless CD finally crapped out. Bummer.

hstencil, Friday, 14 November 2003 06:17 (twenty-two years ago)

My new (repressed, I think, got it about three years ago) Creation "Isn't Anything" sounds gorgeous. Completely crystalline etc, nothing even slightly "muddy" about it, and the new one's prob from the same master I guess.

Andrew Thames (Andrew Thames), Friday, 14 November 2003 06:43 (twenty-two years ago)

I think I'll listen to it tonight, actually.

Andrew Thames (Andrew Thames), Friday, 14 November 2003 06:44 (twenty-two years ago)

hmm now it's working. Guess I won't have to buy a new copy after all.

hstencil, Friday, 14 November 2003 07:05 (twenty-two years ago)

is this remastered version vinyl-only?

heywood jablomi (heywood), Friday, 14 November 2003 08:28 (twenty-two years ago)

This is all very curious - didn't Shields say something to the effect that he'd rather Loveless wasn't coming out on vinyl at all back in '91? I recall an NME interview where he mentioned overseeing the cassette production (paraphrasing from memory - "Everyone thinks that the tape version will automatically be crap, but you'd be surprised what you can do.") The implication was that the CD was really the only medium that was going to do this (at that time unheard) sonic masterpiece justice.

Michael Jones (MichaelJ), Friday, 14 November 2003 11:59 (twenty-two years ago)

apparently there wasn't meant to be a vinyl pressing and it was (relatively) hastily deleted.

the surface noise (electricsound), Friday, 14 November 2003 12:01 (twenty-two years ago)

I'm surprised to hear that, ES - the idea of Creation (or any other UK indie) domestically releasing anything on CD/MC only was unheard of back then. I presume this is where McGee drew the line as far as meeting KS's whims was concerned.

I know that my copy of the LP (just coming out of the Colm-with-sampler track) had a pretty obvious pressing defect on it.

I'd speculate that what's happened here is KS has approached the material with fresh '00s ears and decided that it needed some serious re-EQing.

Michael Jones (MichaelJ), Friday, 14 November 2003 12:15 (twenty-two years ago)

Generally, turning up the sound on a CD is a bad idea. It makes it sound better because all other CDs' sound is turned up nowadays. But the dynamics are a lot better on CDs that are not recorded particularly loudly.

About remasters of 90s CDs. If the remaster sounds better, then they must have done a real lousy job originally.

Geir Hongro (GeirHong), Friday, 14 November 2003 13:42 (twenty-two years ago)

I'm very disappointed with the poor quality of the printing of the covers/sleeves/booklets on my CD(s), which I think were part of the Creation Goes Sony cheapo reissue campaign.

PJ Miller (PJ Miller), Friday, 14 November 2003 17:29 (twenty-two years ago)

Me and a friend are doing some home-baked remasters of some of the EP's, i'll let people know when we're done if anyone wants a copy. Results so far have been pretty good.

Lynskey (Lynskey), Friday, 14 November 2003 17:39 (twenty-two years ago)

What are you using, Lynskey? Cedar? Sound Forge? Outboard gear?

Michael Jones (MichaelJ), Friday, 14 November 2003 17:41 (twenty-two years ago)

Bits and pieces of all sorts - mostly Soundforge though. Multiband compression's giving some of the best results so far as regards getting the low end up to audible levels, eq'ing the low range up just does terrible things. The treble contents a tough one, so saturated that theres fuck all definition to bring out of it.

Lynskey (Lynskey), Friday, 14 November 2003 17:46 (twenty-two years ago)

Also, it sounded better on CD in 1991 when I didn't have a CD player than in 2003 when I have got one.

Also also, mine fades out completely, albeit in an unorthodox manner.

PJ Miller (PJ Miller), Friday, 14 November 2003 17:53 (twenty-two years ago)

Anyone drop the dough for the Isn't Anything vinyl? Worth it?

I don't have the reissue, but the Creation pressing I have is probably the loudest recording I own, and is relatively clear (you know, all things considered). Although keep in mind my copy is on Creation, and your CD is on (and the Plain LP reissue would be licesened from) Sire, so the master tapes may vary somewhat.

Funk, Friday, 14 November 2003 22:55 (twenty-two years ago)

What I love about the album is that it's pretty much the only album I have that I can never set the volume settings too high. I have a stereo system where I usually set the volume to 15-20 or so to get it really loud. When I'm listening to it on headphones, usually you'd set it a little higher, like 20-25. But on Loveless, I have no problem bringing it up to 45 or so. I really can't say that about anything else.

There's a lot of stuff that is simply hidden in the mix that you can't hear without absolutely blasting it. I fell in love with "Blown a Wish" again recently when I heard it being played extremely loudly over the PA at the North Six between sets. Then again, the DJ may have been using the remastered version, which would explain why I was hearing a lot I hadn't remembered hearing on a usual listen. Still...what a great song...what a perfect album.

Girolamo Savonarola, Saturday, 15 November 2003 09:46 (twenty-two years ago)

I have a vinyl Loveless. I did not know it was rare or controversial.

Like MJ's it has a pretty serious pressing defect, ie. the first track skips like a wee lass in a playground.

Perhaps I could solve the problem if I got hold of some... outboard gear and took it to the middle of a large reservoir.

the pinefox, Saturday, 15 November 2003 15:00 (twenty-two years ago)

haha!

athos magnani (Cozen), Saturday, 15 November 2003 15:32 (twenty-two years ago)

Decent turntables are pretty cheap now tho

Andrew Thames (Andrew Thames), Sunday, 16 November 2003 10:35 (twenty-two years ago)

I wish they'd just sell the uncompressed recording directly. I'll buy whatever tape machine/computer is required.

Spencer Chow (spencermfi), Sunday, 16 November 2003 12:38 (twenty-two years ago)

nice work on the skipping simile jim

robin (robin), Monday, 17 November 2003 02:36 (twenty-two years ago)

you mean joe

the surface noise (electricsound), Monday, 17 November 2003 02:41 (twenty-two years ago)

I don't have the reissue, but the Creation pressing I have is probably the loudest recording I own, and is relatively clear (you know, all things considered). Although keep in mind my copy is on Creation, and your CD is on (and the Plain LP reissue would be licesened from) Sire, so the master tapes may vary somewhat.

Huh. Cuz all versions of "Isn't Anything" I've heard, vinyl especially, have sounded criminally quiet... which is extremely frustrating knowing that much of the music on that record gives you the impression it's the most monstrous sounding rock imaginable... "Feed Me With your Kiss", "You Never Should", etc.

donut bitch (donut), Monday, 17 November 2003 02:51 (twenty-two years ago)

The Isn't Anything songs live were the most monstrous sounding rock imaginable. The rhythm section played like fucking animals.

David Gunnip (David Gunnip), Monday, 17 November 2003 16:54 (twenty-two years ago)

He's right, you know.

PJ Miller (PJ Miller), Monday, 17 November 2003 19:25 (twenty-two years ago)

When I saw them at Leicester Poly in '91, it was like animals fucking.

Michael Jones (MichaelJ), Monday, 17 November 2003 19:30 (twenty-two years ago)

one year passes...
I bought this. It does sound like a better mix, but it didn't improve my listening experience as much as I'd expected it would.

Curt1s St3ph3ns, Wednesday, 2 February 2005 22:15 (twenty-one years ago)

Feed Me With Your Kiss live was a million times more terrifying than Merzbow, Panasonic, anything. I thought my brain was going to implode. You couldn't even plug your ears.

Snappy (sexyDancer), Wednesday, 2 February 2005 22:27 (twenty-one years ago)

This has made me realize how shitty side 1 is compared to side 2. (But "Only Shallow" is still a grebt opener)

Curt1s St3ph3ns, Thursday, 3 February 2005 21:17 (twenty-one years ago)

There is nothing any "remastering" can do that's gonna make me like the drum sound on Loveless.

Mr. Snrub (Mr. Snrub), Friday, 4 February 2005 02:46 (twenty-one years ago)

Did I read an interview where Kevin Shields said he was going to mix the album again, but with louder bass - or did I just dream it?

I keep thinking about taking each track on this album and adding new bass and drums to it. But I guess I'm almost as lazy as Kevin?

Chewshabadoo (Chewshabadoo), Friday, 4 February 2005 11:50 (twenty-one years ago)

I have the Minidisc edition of this. Bet you aint seen that.

mark grout (mark grout), Friday, 4 February 2005 11:52 (twenty-one years ago)

I have a *copy* on minidisc!

Chewshabadoo (Chewshabadoo), Friday, 4 February 2005 12:02 (twenty-one years ago)

The mailman just delivered this one today. It does sound better (warmer, more details) but blabla subjective vinyl ludism etc. But holy Kevin...that gatefold sleeve is worth the price alone.

Omar (Omar), Friday, 4 February 2005 18:39 (twenty-one years ago)

three years pass...

I know I have it on minidisc. I haven't seen it for some time though.

OK, the 2CD 'remaster' is out soon, maybe even now.

Someone post here:
1) What exactly is the difference between CD1 and CD2 (One's a remaster, and one's a remaster of the analogue original)

2) Which sounds better/different and how?

Mark G, Sunday, 8 June 2008 09:55 (eighteen years ago)

Speaking of the reissues, is this listing on Amazon.co.uk the same as that Japanese one that was linked somewhere here last year? If the box includes everything (I really want 'You Made Me Realise' on CD) then I'd be well worth the wait and the extra bucks.

MacDara, Sunday, 8 June 2008 10:12 (eighteen years ago)

http://www.about--depression.info/Images/DepressionBlues.gif

banriquit, Sunday, 8 June 2008 10:15 (eighteen years ago)

the remaster was pushed back to the end of june

akm, Sunday, 8 June 2008 13:32 (eighteen years ago)

"You made me realise" is already on Cd.

Mark G, Monday, 9 June 2008 08:34 (eighteen years ago)

Um, hasn't it been deleted for years?

MacDara, Monday, 9 June 2008 08:43 (eighteen years ago)

I suppose. Is it that hard to get hold of?

Mark G, Monday, 9 June 2008 08:49 (eighteen years ago)

Amazon resellers have it starting from 50 quid sterling. I love it and all, but I don't love it that much.

MacDara, Monday, 9 June 2008 10:51 (eighteen years ago)

FIFTY QUID?

I don't even love my copy that much.....

Mark G, Monday, 9 June 2008 11:16 (eighteen years ago)

.. ebay's 'completed' sales has it gone for £42 on a 'buy it now' (i.e. first bidder got it), and £26 for the 12" version.

Mark G, Monday, 9 June 2008 11:18 (eighteen years ago)

Im hoping this remaster will sort out the flabby, lifeless bass frequencies on the original release, but I'm gussing we'll just get something with shitty brick-wall limiting turned up to the max.

I'd love to be proved wrong though.

Chewshabadoo, Monday, 9 June 2008 11:29 (eighteen years ago)

seven months pass...

why 2 discs

eman, Wednesday, 21 January 2009 05:00 (seventeen years ago)

are there nerd fights over which version is better

eman, Wednesday, 21 January 2009 05:01 (seventeen years ago)

There will be.

There will be.

Telephone thing, Wednesday, 21 January 2009 06:30 (seventeen years ago)

Next month, isn't it?

I wouldn't hope for new stuff, if even a re-release takes two years, and 8 months of delay.

Mark G, Wednesday, 21 January 2009 08:27 (seventeen years ago)

http://thepowerofindependenttrucking.blogspot.co.uk/2012/05/mbv-loveless-2012-remasters.html

tl,dr: The new release has the discs swapped: disc one is supposed to be the digital remaster, and disc two from analog. They are labeled as so too. Except, a blatant manufacturing error - on all copies I've been made aware of - has the wrong labels on the discs. The new release has #1 labeled digital but with the analog master. #2 is labeled analog but has the digital master.

nate woolls, Tuesday, 8 May 2012 10:07 (fourteen years ago)

(those aren't my words in the tl,dr)

nate woolls, Tuesday, 8 May 2012 10:08 (fourteen years ago)

Would be interested to compare, bitwise, the versions just released and those I got my hands on in 2008.

Michael Jones, Tuesday, 8 May 2012 10:13 (fourteen years ago)

Soon the original Loveless CD will be a treasured collector's item.

Lil' Kim Philby (Call the Cops), Tuesday, 8 May 2012 10:24 (fourteen years ago)

I wouldn't be surprised if that is true, to a degree. What with being out of print for the last few years in anticipation of these remasters they have held a decent value whenever we have had them come in, either secondhand or as left over new stock.

only NWOFHM! is real (krakow), Tuesday, 8 May 2012 10:27 (fourteen years ago)

Congratulations on your mail order krakow... truly spreading the Meronian word.

Lil' Kim Philby (Call the Cops), Tuesday, 8 May 2012 10:49 (fourteen years ago)

Kiitos paljon! Thanks very much! A project born of obsession and love...

only NWOFHM! is real (krakow), Tuesday, 8 May 2012 11:12 (fourteen years ago)

Is that actually true about the mislabelling?

Sick Mouthy (Scik Mouthy), Tuesday, 8 May 2012 13:30 (fourteen years ago)

I trust that dude, I have to say.

Maybe not all of them, I'll have to check mine (seems if one has a fuller fade out on "Soon", that's the analogue master)

Mark G, Tuesday, 8 May 2012 14:39 (fourteen years ago)

I think that guy is the guy behind the New Order/Joy Division/Smiths reissues that have been discussed here, I think he knows his stuff.

nate woolls, Tuesday, 8 May 2012 14:40 (fourteen years ago)

yeah, exactly.

Mark G, Tuesday, 8 May 2012 14:41 (fourteen years ago)

SO, will list to Loveless CD1 on the way home..

Funny, the e.p. set: First time I've seen a gatefold CD with absolutely nothing on the inside gatefold! (Open again, there's the e.p. covers)

Mark G, Tuesday, 8 May 2012 16:10 (fourteen years ago)

I've been reading similar things about the mislabeling on other sites. Can't say I'm surprised at how they bungled this but it does seem to be common with remasters nowadays.

skip, Tuesday, 8 May 2012 16:19 (fourteen years ago)

should start a thread re all these high profile remastering f*ck ups.

i recently picked up the special edition of the spandau ballet debut, and lo', that too is f*cked.

no bass at all. truly dreadful remastering.

then again, they did label the cds correctly.

mark e, Tuesday, 8 May 2012 17:17 (fourteen years ago)

No bass at all?!? Like... no bass part whatsoever or just no bottom end?

btw didn't i braek ur heart (NickB), Tuesday, 8 May 2012 17:18 (fourteen years ago)

no bottom end.

check the reviews : http://www.amazon.co.uk/Journeys-Glory--Spec--Spandau-Ballet/dp/B0034GYAU8/ref=sr_1_9?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1336497581&sr=1-9

mark e, Tuesday, 8 May 2012 17:20 (fourteen years ago)

Alas poor Martin Kemp (was it remastered by Gary?)

btw didn't i braek ur heart (NickB), Tuesday, 8 May 2012 17:23 (fourteen years ago)

haha.
no.
seem to have read somewhere tis same bloke who messed up the recent duran remasters, but i can't be 100% certain.

mark e, Tuesday, 8 May 2012 17:38 (fourteen years ago)

the worst remastering/ mastering job i can think of is the Blur StarShaped DVD which is *legendarily* screwed beyond words. it's the only genuinely unlistenable DVD or CD
i've ever owned.

piscesx, Tuesday, 8 May 2012 17:40 (fourteen years ago)

I believe that was mastered from a VHS copy.

Anyways, I played CD1, it has the 'full fade' on Soon, which makes it a mislabel.

Mind you, the "CD1" and 2 markings are tiny so hey.

Mark G, Tuesday, 8 May 2012 20:11 (fourteen years ago)

four months pass...

Hey what's this? Got a good beat to it.

Sick Mouthy (Scik Mouthy), Saturday, 22 September 2012 17:26 (thirteen years ago)

So, I gave them a listen and I don't think they really fixed the problems with Loveless and Isn't anything. I had heard people say before that Loveless on vinyl sounded amazing and the CD sounded like crap. I have always thought the recording was too tinny and not wide/full enough.

I thought the same thing about Jesus and Mary Chain's Psychocandy, but I think the remaster fixed this album and now it sounds great. I thought Sterelolab's Peng! remaster fixed that album up as much as possible, but the Loveless remaster doesn't do the trick -- in fact, it kind of goes in the other direction. Now, a lot of the vocals sound so separated from the noisy drone that it looses the effect of being behind a wall of sound.

3×5, Sunday, 23 September 2012 17:06 (thirteen years ago)

Yo, what Peng! remaster???

gwenguthrie gwen ross (Stevie D(eux)), Sunday, 23 September 2012 20:44 (thirteen years ago)

ha i just checked the mbv forum for the first time in a lil while: the thing that makes me laugh is how GREEDY everyone is. like there is the perpetual state of still-flickering optimism riding on whispers or occasional kevin shields interviews, but on top of that people are all trying to put DATES on it. like possibly November??. i guess if it really is almost finished then WE COULD HAVE IT LIKE STRAIGHT AWAY? also atm there is a post in which people are enthused by rumours about, 1., deadlines, i guess forgetting the grey sunlightened pencil deadline of 1994 on the wall of a now demolished studio, &, 2., that after recording is finished there would only, "only", ~only~, only be mixing to do. i mean it could be out in october if he just has to scribble mix my new album off his checklist. i am really not different from these people but the similarities between mbv fans & doomsday cults are so marginal.

let's get the banned back together (schlump), Sunday, 23 September 2012 21:00 (thirteen years ago)

Peng remaster?

svend, Monday, 24 September 2012 20:50 (thirteen years ago)

Discogs says reissue is 2008, but I can't see any mention of a remaster.

Chewshabadoo, Monday, 24 September 2012 21:38 (thirteen years ago)


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