Muse back catalogue on vinyl - worth it?
Posted by: JWM on 19 September 2009
Muse have recently released their back catalogue on vinyl, and the LPs are selling like hotcakes.
They are American repressings as far as I can work out, but are they worth it?
I have an original Origin of Symmetry vinyl pressing, which is cr*p quality production (and in fact quite noisy vinyl). My impression of Muse CDs is that again the production is poor, like so much these days aimed at the mass market of downloads, ipods and DAB radio.
I don't want to spend £20 a pop on these records if really they are little better than the CDs.
They are American repressings as far as I can work out, but are they worth it?
I have an original Origin of Symmetry vinyl pressing, which is cr*p quality production (and in fact quite noisy vinyl). My impression of Muse CDs is that again the production is poor, like so much these days aimed at the mass market of downloads, ipods and DAB radio.
I don't want to spend £20 a pop on these records if really they are little better than the CDs.
Posted on: 19 September 2009 by Lontano
http://www.stevehoffman.tv/for...highlight=muse+vinyl
A few comments here but nothing too substantial
A few comments here but nothing too substantial
Posted on: 19 September 2009 by u5227470736789439
Dear James,
Nothing I have heard Muse do has struck me as better than lugubrious pretentious rubbish.
Simply listen to them on the radio. Absolute [crap, ex Virgin] Radio is really plugging them at the moment, and yes it is either MW or DAB, which is about what the group diserve in my view.
Their presence will pass soon enough, or not quite ... Save your money for something of musical substance ...
If the radio does not cure you then buy the music in CD or LP ...
ATB from George
Nothing I have heard Muse do has struck me as better than lugubrious pretentious rubbish.
Simply listen to them on the radio. Absolute [crap, ex Virgin] Radio is really plugging them at the moment, and yes it is either MW or DAB, which is about what the group diserve in my view.
Their presence will pass soon enough, or not quite ... Save your money for something of musical substance ...
If the radio does not cure you then buy the music in CD or LP ...
ATB from George
Posted on: 20 September 2009 by BigH47
Who's being pretentious now? Or is that precious?
Posted on: 20 September 2009 by seagull
I like Muse but suspect that the vinyl would not be worth getting.
I have some vinyl by other contempary bands (Doves, Elbow, Editors) and wouldn't bother again. They use the same masters for CD and vinyl.
For example, on the last Editors album the first to songs (the singles) sounded dreadful - it calmed down a bit after that but still poor quality.
As Steven Wilson proves in his many guises it IS possible to produce good sounding RECORDS.
Stick to the cheap as chips CDs.
I have some vinyl by other contempary bands (Doves, Elbow, Editors) and wouldn't bother again. They use the same masters for CD and vinyl.
For example, on the last Editors album the first to songs (the singles) sounded dreadful - it calmed down a bit after that but still poor quality.
As Steven Wilson proves in his many guises it IS possible to produce good sounding RECORDS.
Stick to the cheap as chips CDs.
Posted on: 20 September 2009 by u5227470736789439
quote:Originally posted by BigH47:
Who's being pretentious now? Or is that precious?
Or tongue in cheek!
Posted on: 20 September 2009 by BigH47
quote:Originally posted by GFFJ:quote:Originally posted by BigH47:
Who's being pretentious now? Or is that precious?
Or tongue in cheek!
Difficult to say really.
Posted on: 20 September 2009 by u5227470736789524
quote:Originally posted by BigH47:quote:Originally posted by GFFJ:quote:Originally posted by BigH47:
Who's being pretentious now? Or is that precious?
Or tongue in cheek!
Difficult to say really.
MUSEings ?
Posted on: 20 September 2009 by Voltaire
quote:Originally posted by GFFJ:
Nothing I have heard Muse do has struck me as better than lugubrious pretentious rubbish.
ATB from George
Come the revolution you will be the first against the wall my friend!
Posted on: 20 September 2009 by Chief Chirpa
quote:Originally posted by Voltaire:quote:Originally posted by GFFJ:
Nothing I have heard Muse do has struck me as better than lugubrious pretentious rubbish.
ATB from George
Come the revolution you will be the first against the wall my friend!
Q: Fred and munch are coming at you, you've only got two shots left, which one do you go for first?
A: Give Fred both, in case the first one misses.
<snigger>
Oh, almost forgot to ask...
I've never really listened to Muse - where should I start?
Posted on: 20 September 2009 by Lontano
quote:Originally posted by Chief Chirpa:
I've never really listened to Muse - where should I start?
Black Holes or Absolution. I was blown away by this band when I saw them live. Knights of Cydonia live is awesome. Was not a good concert for the ear drums though.
Posted on: 20 September 2009 by u5227470736789439
quote:Originally posted by Chief Chirpa:quote:Originally posted by Voltaire:
Come the revolution you will be the first against the wall my friend!
Q: Fred and munch are coming at you, you've only got two shots left, which one do you go for first?
A: Give Fred both, in case the first one misses.
<snigger>
Oh, almost forgot to ask...
I've never really listened to Muse - where should I start?
At the end?
That was tongue in cheek in case you had not guessed!
ATB from George
Posted on: 20 September 2009 by pumpkinhead
quote:Originally posted by Lontano:quote:Originally posted by Chief Chirpa:
I've never really listened to Muse - where should I start?
Black Holes or Absolution. I was blown away by this band when I saw them live. Knights of Cydonia live is awesome. Was not a good concert for the ear drums though.
The first time I saw them was at the MEN on their last tour and they were brilliant so I went to see them again at their big Wembley Stadium gig which was poor by comparison. I don't think the venue helped much. The old Wembley had a much better atmosphere then the new one. It's a pity they didn't just re-furbish it. It was part of this country's heritage.
Posted on: 20 September 2009 by Lontano
My days of liking the big venue gigs are behind me. When I saw Muse it was Sydney Entertainment Centre (so not too big compared to the stadiums) and probably I would guess 10,000 people. Not an arena I enjoyed with all the other shows I attended there but Muse turned it into a small club. Amazing musicianship and a young crowd getting to see a real band. Excellent.
Recently I saw my 20th Springsteen show. I have been to many of his big outdoor shows but at Hampden Park I thought he was as always fabulous but I did not enjoy the bigness of the show as I have done in the past.
These days a small venue or jazz club just is a far more enjoyable night out. I must be getting old.
Recently I saw my 20th Springsteen show. I have been to many of his big outdoor shows but at Hampden Park I thought he was as always fabulous but I did not enjoy the bigness of the show as I have done in the past.
These days a small venue or jazz club just is a far more enjoyable night out. I must be getting old.
Posted on: 20 September 2009 by Voltaire
As I have posted here before, my sister and I would rate Muse as one the best live acts we have ever seen ( and we have seen a few).
Posted on: 22 September 2009 by rodwsmith
I'm with Voltaire - one of the best concerts I have ever seen.
They are definitely the band who appear (to me) to enjoy playing live the most - the concert I saw was an amazing show, and not for fancy light displays, or sets, or videolinks with spaceships or proseltysing bishopsl, but for the joy of the performance of the music.
Not sure the new album is going to be quite as much for me as Absolution or Black Holes, but they are distinctive and talented, whether you like the music or not (and I can imagine his voice being for many what Michael Stipe's is for me). But it's all personal. As someone sage once said: wisdom is the acceptance that taste is subjective.
I went for the vinyl of the new album, and it has still to arrive to my annoyance (posted from the UK apparently. Strike-torn British postal service to inept French one, doesn't bode well...)
I would consider buying more vinyl if the quality is there - and I'm pleased they're selling well.
They are definitely the band who appear (to me) to enjoy playing live the most - the concert I saw was an amazing show, and not for fancy light displays, or sets, or videolinks with spaceships or proseltysing bishopsl, but for the joy of the performance of the music.
Not sure the new album is going to be quite as much for me as Absolution or Black Holes, but they are distinctive and talented, whether you like the music or not (and I can imagine his voice being for many what Michael Stipe's is for me). But it's all personal. As someone sage once said: wisdom is the acceptance that taste is subjective.
I went for the vinyl of the new album, and it has still to arrive to my annoyance (posted from the UK apparently. Strike-torn British postal service to inept French one, doesn't bode well...)
I would consider buying more vinyl if the quality is there - and I'm pleased they're selling well.
Posted on: 23 September 2009 by JWM
Thanks for comments, everyone. In the end I took the coward's way out and settled for the basic cd for £6.03 with free delivery from a Play trader.
Posted on: 24 September 2009 by Voltaire
quote:Originally posted by rodwsmith:
the concert I saw was an amazing show, and not for fancy light displays, or sets, or videolinks with spaceships or proseltysing bishopsl, but for the joy of the performance of the music.
And there it is, why Muse are so good.
Posted on: 01 October 2009 by JWM
Just listening to this (cd) which arrived this morning:
Musically, I'm really enjoying it. Proper prog, if a bit 'ELP (strong classical influence/homage) meets Queen (screeching singing and slightly camp').
In my experience, I also have to say that thi is by far and away the best sounding (i.e. production) Muse recording I have ever heard. A bit narrow, perhaps, but not with the [same amount of] horrible compression as the other stuff.
Musically, I'm really enjoying it. Proper prog, if a bit 'ELP (strong classical influence/homage) meets Queen (screeching singing and slightly camp').
In my experience, I also have to say that thi is by far and away the best sounding (i.e. production) Muse recording I have ever heard. A bit narrow, perhaps, but not with the [same amount of] horrible compression as the other stuff.
Posted on: 02 October 2009 by rodwsmith
I'm enjoying it too - more and more (which I didn't expect to, as it seemed a bit 'obvious' at first).
Partly prompted by this thread, I bought a ticket to go see them play - in Turin, which is 3 hours drive from me. This appears for all the world to be an open air stadium thing, and december in Turin can be cold to the point of snowy, but am still anticipating a good night.
Awarded myself a stay the the Art and Tech hotel, which is part of the old restored Fiat factory (think Italian Job), so looking forward to that.
Partly prompted by this thread, I bought a ticket to go see them play - in Turin, which is 3 hours drive from me. This appears for all the world to be an open air stadium thing, and december in Turin can be cold to the point of snowy, but am still anticipating a good night.
Awarded myself a stay the the Art and Tech hotel, which is part of the old restored Fiat factory (think Italian Job), so looking forward to that.
Posted on: 02 October 2009 by ryan_d
James,
I have Absolution on vinyl and it blows the cd away for sound quality. It's also pristine with no noise of any sort....180g I think too. i got it from Diverse Vinyl. Its the only one I have on vinyl.
Ryan
I have Absolution on vinyl and it blows the cd away for sound quality. It's also pristine with no noise of any sort....180g I think too. i got it from Diverse Vinyl. Its the only one I have on vinyl.
Ryan
Posted on: 02 October 2009 by JWM
Thanks Ryan,
just the sort of personal recommendation I needed! Good job I've just been paid
£75 Cher-ching for 3x2LP, Showbiz, Absolution and Black Holes (I already have Origin of Symmetry, dare say the new pressing is better, but hey I've already got it!)
just the sort of personal recommendation I needed! Good job I've just been paid
£75 Cher-ching for 3x2LP, Showbiz, Absolution and Black Holes (I already have Origin of Symmetry, dare say the new pressing is better, but hey I've already got it!)Posted on: 02 October 2009 by u5227470736789439
But Muse is pretentyious rubbish, and this time I mean it
Posted on: 03 October 2009 by ryan_d
You may not like it George, but that does not make it rubbish. This type of fervoured comment, denigrating others opinions or tastes is, quite frankly, what is wrong with this forum. Some tolerance is definitely in requirement!!!
Ryan
Ryan
Posted on: 03 October 2009 by Analogue
Have a couple of cups of strong black coffee George, it may make you feel better?
Posted on: 03 October 2009 by u5227470736789439
If I were commenting in a derogatory way on Phil Collins, who has more tallent in his little finger than Muse has in total, it would no doubt be a laugh.
I find the current interest in Muse - and they will be coompletelely forgotten long before Collins, whom I do not admire - strange to say the least.
They are terrible. No buts on that one as far as I can see. Even Coldplay actually have produced more interesting pure pop music.
ATB from George
I find the current interest in Muse - and they will be coompletelely forgotten long before Collins, whom I do not admire - strange to say the least.
They are terrible. No buts on that one as far as I can see. Even Coldplay actually have produced more interesting pure pop music.
ATB from George