Gatefold packaging
Audio Quality: 4.5 / 5
Song Quality: 4.5 / 5
Packaging: 4 / 5
So, Beck is great. That's pretty much the gener
al consensus of music fans. His catalog is so innovative and diverse that you'd be hard pressed to find anyone who can't find something to love. However, this record is tricky. Ask Beck fans to name their favorite and least favorite of his albums, and in both categories, you'll hear this record brought up time and again. Like all great pieces of art, this album tends to generate extreme reactions, both good and bad. Either way, if you haven't heard it yet, this album is definitely worth a listen.The production on this record is wonderfully lush, with gorgeous string arrangements and understated guitar and vocal performances. It's the sort of album that just begs to be heard on a record player, demanding your undivided attention to all the little nuances that make up this beautiful whole. I was concerned before listening to this record, because having previously listened extensively to the CD, I had an idea in my head of how beautiful this vinyl should sound. I was afraid it wouldn't live up to my expectations.
Perhaps the most curious thing about this release is that it's NOT on 180-gram vinyl. I've read these vinyl are 150-gram each, which does feel about right. Really not sure why this wasn't given the modern 180-gram treatment, and I hope it doesn't result in this record getting worn out early. The good news is that it doesn't appear to have affected the sound quality.
It is my understanding that this record was originally recorded to analog tape. I don't know about the mixing and mastering processes and how purely analog this final recording is... but I can tell you that this vinyl version sounds stunning. One word to sum up this listening experience: immersive. This record is so textured and vibrant that it sucks you in from the first notes of The Golden Age and hangs on until the very end. Lost Cause, which ranks among my favorite songs of all time, sounds otherworldly in this setting. Just beautiful.
The record comes in a nice gatefold package with the lyrics printed inside. The records sit in generic white sleeves. As you may know, the CD version of this record came with 4 different modifications of the album artwork. The LP is only available with the one "standard" cover, which surely saved on production costs, but I would have preferred one of the alternate covers to make it stand out from the CD.
Clearly, I'm of the opinion that this record is one of, if not THE best effort from Beck Hansen. It's a gorgeous, otherworldly listening experience. The record was made with a great deal of emotion and intensity, and it's wonderfully fortunate that it is available in a format that allows the listener to fully appreciate the passion put into its production.
Buy this LP from Amazon.com
Buy this LP from ElusiveDisc.com
Monday: The Fireman - Electric Arguments
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