Jawbox

AUDIO ONLY Private Remaster of Jawbox's second album "Novelty" from 1992.

I wasn't happy with the last Private Remaster I put on YouTube of this album so here is a new, improved (in my honest opinion) rework. So enjoy the tracks, your feedback is always appreciated!

Notes: First you got Husker Du's "Zen Arcade" and now you get Jawbox's second album "Novelty". It was their first long-player to feature second guitarist/vocalist Bill Barbot and was the last to feature Adam Wade on drums.

So why the private remastering treatment?

From the allmusic review for "Novelty", "The only negative aspect is Iain Burgess' murky production. Normally an outstanding producer, Burgess gives Novelty a bizarre din that frustrates in places. Adam Wade's drums sound a bit canned, and J. Robbins' vocals sound too "from the depths" on occasion."

Perhaps the din was a 'creative choice'? But I think it was a frustrating murk that made this great album sound veiled and almost powerless to these ears, or certainly not as hard-hitting as it should've been!

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The 16-bit limit still applies, but I've found in all cases of my private remasters, especially tough jobs like Husker Du's "Zen Arcade", that the detail is in there, albeit buried in the murk and sub-standard mastering. I definitely think hi-resolution is the future of quality digital music, 24-bit and higher sampling rates on websites like hdtracks.com

10 years назад

rebusd

I would speculate that the higher frequency response would yield some new harmonic info, even if the 16-bit SNR limits the dynamics?

10 years назад

zararity

Nowadays, especially when it comes to artists that won't quite make the sales, there's no need for another physical release. We're all on the internet pretty much and I reckon 24-bit FLAC/lossless releases are the way forward. No manufacturing costs, all they need to cover is the tape transfers and clean-ups if they so wish. Not looked into vinyl as getting as high a quality transfer means a much higher cost of equipment which is definitely out of my reach ;)

10 years назад

zararity

Thanks for the comment! Yeah, I'm working off the 16-bit releases, they're the cleanest we've got... Trouble with releases on these small labels, and with small bands is that often their backcatalogues get the once over onto CD (if they're lucky) and that's it, they won't be remastered or re-released in a higher quality format again. Look at Husker Du's releases, they're in dire need of remastering but zilch.

10 years назад

rebusd

dude I must say, so far your versions retain and reemphasize quite favorably much of the detail of the 16bit mixes. From which I presume you dubbed unless you have a lead which I don't. What I wouldn't give for 24bit versions of all my favorite Dischord records :) Incidentally, have you considered tracking down a vinyl for the same purposes?

12 years назад

matpeachey

mush would be amazing. one of the best punk records of all time in my opinion!

12 years назад

zararity

@thesliotar Had a wee listen to Leatherface's "Mush"... unfortunately can't seem to track down a lossless version over here, just crummy mp3s! Booo!

12 years назад

thesliotar

Dude, the last one was way better than the cd master of Novelty and this sounds amazing too! Well done! Any chance you want to remaster Leatherface Mush?