Posts by 3410
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Oh for FUCK'S SAKE. Key has just appointed Nigel Latta to the group reviewing the child discipline law.
If you think that's bad, apparently he's now put TV builder/goofball "Cocksy" in charge of the $11b leaky homes debacle (no online source yet, it seems.)
This can't be true... can it? What next? Jude Dobson in charge of Health restructuring?
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I can hardly wait until tomorrow! Squeeee!
Me, I'm looking forward to someone ripping and posting the (sort-of-)multitracks.
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I played Beatles: Rock Band last night. It's pretty cool if you like that sort of thing. Hearing those tunes played really badly for the first time is quite amusing.
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First thoughts on the remasters [Now, bear in mind that I'm a B**tles geek and a mastering geek and a hobby complainer. Also, that these are general comments, not having heard everything yet.]
Gotta say, I'm not entirely blown away. Both mono and stereo suffer from EQing. In all cases auditioned thus far the treble is rolled off (60 y.o. engineers compensating for their tinnitus, perhaps?) A/B'ed against the best vinyl rips and the '87s, the tops really are missing a bit most of the time; lead guitar often doesn't quite sting like it should, cymbals don't sizzle.
Stereo editions (but not mono) are compressed a bit much; about 3dB too much, IMO. It's not extreme, but the lack of air is often slightly (or, occasionally, fairly) evident on the rockers. Overall clarity is generally improved, but often only slightly so.
It's a bit more complicated than that, of course. Every song has been worked on individually, so some are more successful than others. Occasionally, a complete success, but far more often, merely quite good.
Best general improvement is in bass detail but this is, I feel, partially due to EQ boosting in this range.
Haven't heard too much mono yet, but the same EQ issues exist on what I've heard; mainly, a lack of treble, but in the odd case a pretty severe lack of bass heft, too.
Like I said at the top, this is obsessive-level complaining. These are certainly no worse than most modern remasters (and better than a lot of them) and some elements do reveal themselves like never before, but talk of the previously unimagined levels of mastering quality is, to my ears, largely just good marketing.
I guess I'm probably in the minority with many of these opinions, but I know the records well and, so far, this is how I see it.
The music is, of course, great, and the packaging is pretty nice. Despite the minor quibbles (and they are minor; there is so much to like here), the discs are certainly rewarding. Grab 'em, tilt the EQ a bit towards the treble where required, and rock out.
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Thanks, Russell, Lyndon, JoJo, and Islander, for your thoughts on the Google book thing.
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Anyone know anything about the Google Book Search Settlement Agreement? [Also, FAQs]
Specifically, the wisdom of opting out or not?
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Although I think in the early 80s it was Roger Gasgoine (sp?) who hosted it? Or was it a Leishman?
Lloyd Scott?
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Was that "put a sparkle in your smile (smile)" or an earlier version?
I think that one was later.
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The ad I'd like to see rescued is a double-length epic rap for Sparkles (1983).