Definitive Audiophile pressings

Alright... Here's my thoughts on the KPG Rocktober Electric Warrior vs the Mofi 45.. Before we go totally off the rails for the evening...

It's a grimy dirty album. So it really comes down to, how do you prefer to listen to it? The 33 is KPG, it's bassy and full and dirty but skews a bit crunchy and muddy at times, not a lot of separation between instruments, but it's cohesive and it rocks. The 45 has a much wider soundstage, and it's much more dynamic and has a lot more separation and air between everything but it also sounds maybe a little... disjointed? Like someone deconstructed a grunge record and a little artificially pulled all the instruments slightly apart? It's similar to the Band albums that Bellman did in 45. They're super clean but... should they be? Is that what the album is supposed to actually sound like? The 45 also had more vocal sibilance... but that actually doesn't bother me so much because it didn't sound "wrong". It made sense in the mix. Currently I'm leaning to the 45 just due to the separation because generally I don't like muddy. But if this was an album I had listened to for years like the Band, I might be leaning to the 33 like I do in that case simply because it's the more condensed sound I'm used to and what sounds "right" to me in terms of The Band's sound. But as it is with EW, an album I don't have a long history with, I think the 45 is the keeper for me. I like hearing every part, even if it's a little deconstructed... And honestly Rip Off is mind blowing on the 45 and that alone probably clinched it for me because damn I love that track and it hits so hard given the extra room to breath on the 45.
 
Last edited:
Kind of a random question and not really sure where to ask but a couple classic Japanese Rock albums I always wanted non-bootleg copies of were both officially reissued in November of last year I noticed. I've been checking off and on at different places hoping I could find them in at least the 40-50 range (especially Flower Travellin' Band) but the rock bottom price is about 60 it seems (rollinrecs of all places I found it for that price).

Anyone know of a US store/website that carries Japanese pressings? Or even a foreign site where the shipping is not completely insane.

Here's the two i'm mostly looking for.

Flower Travellin' Band ‎– Anywhere (there album Satori is a classic as well)

Blues Creation

For anyone that doesn't know them, FTB is an insane Psychodelic/Heavy Rock group that I would put up against some of the all time greats. Hands down the greatest album of all time that has naked Japanese hippies riding motorcycles on the front cover.

Then Blues Creation is more well...... Blues Rock as the name suggest but is also a great one.
 
LeeVing said:
Yep...That's the only copy of the Mono Pet Sounds I need. I also recommend people find that copy rather than spend the $$ on any reissue, as they can be found cheap and usually in decent to great condition.
Click to expand...

Doesn't look very cheap on discogs
 
Mather said:
Alright... Here's my thoughts on the KPG Rocktober Electric Warrior vs the Mofi 45.. Before we go totally off the rails for the evening...

It's a grimy dirty album. So it really comes down to, how do you prefer to listen to it? The 33 is KPG, it's bassy and full and dirty but skews a bit crunchy and muddy at times, not a lot of separation between instruments, but it's cohesive and it rocks. The 45 has a much wider soundstage, and it's much more dynamic and has a lot more separation and air between everything but it also sounds maybe a little... disjointed? Like someone deconstructed a grunge record and a little artificially pulled all the instruments slightly apart? It's similar to the Band albums that Bellman did in 45. They're super clean but... should they be? Is that what the album is supposed to actually sound like? The 45 also had more vocal sibilance... but that actually doesn't bother me so much because it didn't sound "wrong". It made sense in the mix. Currently I'm leaning to the 45 just due to the separation because generally I don't like muddy. But if this was an album I had listened to for years like the Band, I might be leaning to the 33 like I do in that case simply because it's the more condensed sound I'm used to and what sounds "right" to me in terms of The Band's sound. But as it is with EW, an album I don't have a long history with, I think the 45 is the keeper for me. I like hearing every part, even if it's a little deconstructed... And honestly Rip Off is mind blowing on the 45 and that alone probably clinched it for me because damn I love that track and it hits so hard given the extra room to breath on the 45.
Click to expand...
As someone who is super familiar with the album, I reach for the MoFi 9/10 times. It’s just that much more impressive to me. The soundstage is fantastic. The KG cut is no slouch but the MoFi is on another level. I really hope they do The Slider at some point.

if I had the KG cut I don’t think I’d feel the need to upgrade it. I got the MoFi first and then found the KG to compare. Plus I don’t mind having it in 33 and 45. It’s an album I love spinning and sometimes I’m lazy and don’t want to flip the album over so much if we have company over (ya know...whenever that might happen again...)
 
hype said:
Kind of a random question and not really sure where to ask but a couple classic Japanese Rock albums I always wanted non-bootleg copies of were both officially reissued in November of last year I noticed. I've been checking off and on at different places hoping I could find them in at least the 40-50 range (especially Flower Travellin' Band) but the rock bottom price is about 60 it seems (rollinrecs of all places I found it for that price).

Anyone know of a US store/website that carries Japanese pressings? Or even a foreign site where the shipping is not completely insane.

Here's the two i'm mostly looking for.

Flower Travellin' Band ‎– Anywhere (there album Satori is a classic as well)

Blues Creation

For anyone that doesn't know them, FTB is an insane Psychodelic/Heavy Rock group that I would put up against some of the all time greats. Hands down the greatest album of all time that has naked Japanese hippies riding motorcycles on the front cover.

Then Blues Creation is more well...... Blues Rock as the name suggest but is also a great one.
Click to expand...
Hmm... Face Records is typically good. They are a japanese store but have a storefront in NYC (haven't checked to see if it is still open though during pandemic). Not sure what their shipping is but usually if you order more than 1 album it's not too bad. Sometimes if they have it in their japanese store, they might be willing to ship it to their NYC store with their other bulk shipments and then mail it to you from here. I'd give them a call and see. They might know somewhere else to get it from if not.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top