BEWARE the "remaster"
J. Scott | 12/06/2008
(1 out of 5 stars)
"KEEP your original copy of "Grace" or buy a used one while you still can. First, the "Grace" album itself warrants five stars. It is stunning from start to finish. The problem is with this "remaster". Like most of the dung the industry and record companies continue to heap on us, this remaster is s**t. It is UNNECESSARILY over-compressed, overmodulated, and DISTORTED. The only passages you need to hear to prove this are the loud peaks in "Hallelujah" - i.e. "I've seen your flag..." or "And every breath we drew...". The digital distortion in Jeff's voice is a direct result of George Marino's LOUSY mastering. It makes me want to vomit. Marino either has NO ears or didn't have the stones to stand up to Columbia and tell them he would not desecrate this beautiful record by mastering overly hot according to current industry "standards". These passages are NOT distorted on the original CD of "Grace". Howie Weinberg's mastering on the original issue sounds wonderful, especially by comparison to this monstrosity, and keeps in perfect balance the dynamic highs and lows and "breath" in the music and without distorting the peaks. This remaster is not the way this album should be heard and experienced. Everyone who allowed this to happen should be ashamed."