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Review by analogue December 30, 2014 (8 of 8 found this review helpful)
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Performance:  Sonics:  |
1967/ 11 tracks/ 43 minutes
This is a great original album release from Mobile Fidelity. They sure can pick them. If you're familiar with this band and this album and like their music..........this is a title you must purchase.
I wont get into a descriptive analysis of the music but its considered one of the most original and greatest albums ever recorded. At least if you trust the veracity of Rolling Stones magazine.
With Mobile Fidelity we have the 'warts and all' scenario whenever they transfer tapes to Dsd. It is unavoidable. I have only one minor complaint with the sound of this sacd and many, many compliments.
Let's get the bad out of the way. This sacd needs to be cranked unbelievably high in order to get the best out of the sound. Even with the sound level raised many of the cuts on this sacd seem round shouldered and mellow. They do not have a lot of "bite" to them. Depending one ones system set up some might not agree. On my system where I have very low floor noise............it has a mellowness that bothers me. Also there is not a lot of air to be heard as well.
The good qualities of this sacd are remarkable. Acoustic guitars, drums, bass, vocals and strings are very organic and sweet sounding. I have the remastered cd version of this album and it is the complete opposite in sound and feel. The cd is compressed, boomy and loud and forward.
Some tracks like the first and eleventh have slightly more defined dynamic range and sound wonderful. The beautiful; trumpet solo on track one is awesome as well as some of the choruses on the last track. These two tracks are highlights to an overall beautiful sounding sacd.
There is absolutely no compression or treble boosts on this sacd......the tapes being in excellent condition. No drop outs, raspy or brittle sounds to be heard. I was actually very surprised.
With Mobile Fidelity there are many times where there might be certain qualities to their transfers that preclude them getting a perfect rating for sound. This Company will not alter their Audiophile philosophy and rightfully so. We have to accept the good with the bad when it comes to their sacd output.
I highly recommend this sacd as it does so many things beautifully well. There were many moments where I was almost in awe at the organic, natural sound and feel of this new sacd. 4 and a quarter rating for sound.
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Review by tonereef April 6, 2015 (3 of 3 found this review helpful)
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Performance:  Sonics: |
Undoubtedly one of the all-time classics of rock, a one-off, tough/tender, bitter/hopeful art-song suite that communicates as powerfully today as it did 45 years ago. Spurred by Arthur Lee's personal crisis and death premonitions at the age of 22, Forever Changes is the ironic flip-side/complement to flower-power, a mulatto outsider's view of failing relationships and lost ideals in a society that weighs heavily. Some of this is stated directly, but more often there's a certain irreducible indirection and ambiguity that keeps you coming back. The real genius of the record is how Lee's idiosyncratic lyrics, rather detached yet attitude-driven vocal delivery and fascinating melodic/harmonic twists and turns fuse within each song, and from song to song, to create a singular atmosphere. Not to neglect Bryan MacLean's two songs, which have their own, more positive individuality while fitting into the overall mood, or the beautiful acoustic arrangements, full of surprising moments.
Like many rock recordings of the mid-to-late 60s this one leaves something to be desired. The sound isn't consistently clean - I mean there's a slight grittiness at times, and good modern recordings display more purity and transparency in general. That said, I think this mastering probably looks about as far into the music as we're going to get (for example, subtle reverb effects in some of the quieter sections). I haven't heard the Rhino vinyl, which Michael Fremer gave 10/10, or compared an original pressing. The highs do sound somewhat rolled-off - certainly on some tracks the cymbals are mixed very dark. This could also partly be the result of tape aging, or possibly an EQ decision. But the 2001 CD reissue, which I did check, is bright in the wrong way, like so many remasters of the time. MoFi's presentation is just so much more natural, solid and satisfying in every sonic dimension.
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Review by siebrand November 17, 2015 (1 of 3 found this review helpful)
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Performance: Sonics: |
this record, really, is one that we sll should have.
I recommend it, because the music is very interesting and original. Strong, but also gentle. melodic, but also music with an impact that leaves no one indifferent.
Audio level top notch. We are talking about a an old, rock album, very old ... and look a bit 'what they have created for our ears, those of MFSL!
Compliments.. and Thank YOU MOFI !
:-)
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