LACKLUSTER "REMASTER" AND A PRESSING PLANT PROBLEM TO BOOT
BOB | LOS ANGELES, CA | 07/06/2009
(2 out of 5 stars)
"The advance marketing text on this release states this CD is remastered. Technically, this is true for any first-time transfer of a recording to compact disc, and I suspect that's all which is actually at work on this release.
This CD is most likely just a digital transfer of the old LP-EQ'd master, the cheapest method for releasing a CD. The audio on this disc sounds like a speaker with a cloth draped over it. It's very likely that if you have a decent turntable, and the original LP, you'll have a more enjoyable listening experience than this CD.
This is the same business model that speciality labels, most notably Wounded Bird, utilize to churn out audio-dreck to faithful fans desperate for a particular title on CD.
In addition, my factory cellophane-sealed copy arrived with two 1" parallel scratches on the data side of the disc. The San Diego-based Amazon Seller "CargoMart" obligingly opened the remaining two copies in their stock and found identical gouges. Obviously, there's something amiss in the disc handling equipment at whatever pressing plant these discs were manufactured at.
An e-mail to the Cherry Pop folks, the label that released this disc, about the scratches, went unanswered.
All in all, a disappointment to a great LP which had never seen the light of day on CD until now."
Yes!, but No?
Duane L. Rice | Chapmansboro, Tn United States | 11/02/2009
(3 out of 5 stars)
"Peroidically I do a search for some of my favorite albums, to see if they were ever released in cd format. So I was really excited when this album turned up recently on one of my searches. Then I read the review of how poorly it was reproduced. I have fallen victim to this folly a few times before, one being Bubble Puppy's Hot Smoke and Sassafras album, which sounded like it was made from a warped lp, which has since been re-done by someone else, and sounds great.
Anyway, this was one of my favorite lp's of the period, as well as their second lp, entitled "Pet Rock".
I still have "Sunbathing" on vinyl and "Rock" on cassette made from vinyl. If I had a way to transfer them to disc, I would do so in a heartbeat.
I'd like to see someone do a, two on one, cd release of these two albums, but only if it were done right.
One of the best early Power Pop/Rock albums with a wonderful blend of guitars and keyboards playing off each other, fun lyrics with a message, and tunes that won't be easily gotten out of your head.
Enter at your own risk,but well worth the trip, if you can overlook the flaws in it's re-production.
Duane Rice
"
Track Listings (10) - Disc #1