Michael Fremer's website is called musicangle.
On this site you will find a feature called 157 In-Print LPs You Should Own!
I can't begin to count the bad records on this list. There are scores of them -- albums that are so bad that we once had special sections to help you avoid them. (Now that we don't sell in-print LPs, there's no longer any need for them of course.)
Doing Positive Harm
But Michael Fremer holds just the opposite view; he thinks these are records you should own. Now I suppose we can disagree over the merits (or lack of them) of a title such as Deja Vu on Classic. It's a free country after all. But the reason this list does such positive harm to the record buyer, in my opinion, is that MF passes over possibly the best record Classic ever cut, Crosby Stills and Nash's first album, in order to put this piece of crap on the list in its place.
To understand the depth to which this audiophile reviewer has sunk, one need only play the two records side by side. It's pretty clear that one sounds good and the other doesn't. Don't take my word for it. Play them yourself.
Audiophile Reviewers
As I have previously written,
Audiophile reviewers are completely HOPELESS and WORTHLESS. All you have to do is read the commentary in the major audiophile mags or on the audiophile reviewer Web sites for any given record and then buy a copy for yourself to know how wrong they are on a regular basis.
When I read the rave reviews for the recently remastered Deja Vu, after already having heard what a piece of junk it was, I felt like my head was going to explode. But then I remembered that these guys are almost ALWAYS wrong, and I calmed down. The same was true for Who's Next, Rough Mix, Roy Orbison Sings Lonely And Blue, the Mono Blonde On Blonde, So Long So Wrong and so many more I've lost track.
Deja Vu on Classic
Our regular listing for the Classic Deja Vu notes that we do not recommend it. We didn't want to piss off Classic with so many negative reviews, so we kept our criticism hidden from the general public, offering it only to our customers through a secret link.
Now that it's out of print I suppose there can't be much harm in making it public.
I hadn’t played this one myself until recently, but ears I trusted at the time told me it wasn’t very good, and those ears were right. It’s harsh and dull at the same time! The worst of all possible worlds.
I have stumbled across a number of amazing hot stamper copies over the years which have allowed me to hear this record in its full sonic glory -- copies which kill all the imports and the MOFI (which I used to think sounded good until I heard a good domestic copy), so I know how good this record can sound. This copy is pretty far down the list of better pressings. Way down.
But it may be better than what you've heard, as most copies of this album REALLY SUCK. We created a section for albums like this: Rock Records That Almost Never Sound Good.
I wouldn't put much stock in the press release below. No doubt my competitors will sell lots of these, and maybe some people will even like it, but I think most audiophiles will be quite disappointed, and I'm here to tell you that you can do a lot better.
Read some of the commentary on the So Far and Deja Vu albums pictured to the left to learn more about this title. So Fars we can find. They can show you what's wrong with this Classic Record.
"After a three year process to obtain the original analog master tapes for one of Rock's most legendary titles, Classic Records has succeeded in reissuing the definitive LP version of the 1970 CSNY blockbuster recording with the following features: · Cut from the original two track analog masters · Mastered by Bernie Grundman using all-tube cutting system · Pressed on Classics proprietary Quiex Super Vinyl Profile · Authentic leatherette jacket reproduction"
Newrt01-01-04-FRED012207
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