My CD player in my car broke so I had to put the old tape deck back in and so I'm left with all my cassettes from the 1990s to trawl through. Been listening to Beaster and Copper Blue a lot recently as a result and they are certainly very specific sounding records but they're so wearing on the ears because of the top end. Both records have this weird (possibly synthesised) percussion/shaker/fake hi hat thing on most songs that's so hi-fi sounding it's almost like a fault with the tape or something, it sounds completely divorced from the music. Also, my memory tells me Beaster is the better more interesting record but when you listen back now it's maybe 1 or 2 passable songs and some real filler. Even Copper Blue feels like someone's tribute to other bands.

Copper Blue would sound great if it didn't sound like the entire mix was pumped through monitors and re recorded through a pair of SM-58s. I wonder if the remastered version sounds closer to Silver Age, which has a mix I actually like.

FuzzBob wrote:Copper Blue would sound great if it didn't sound like the entire mix was pumped through monitors and re recorded through a pair of SM-58s. I wonder if the remastered version sounds closer to Silver Age, which has a mix I actually like.I read a Bob Mould interview a few years ago where he said he actually reamps DI guitars through his studio monitors. But if I remember correctly, he uses a C414 for that, not a 58.

used to love playing JC Auto on tape at brain-melting volume through my walkmanjust got the LP reissue version, excited to hear JC Auto through my wanky old man headphones at thrilling volume but wft it just sounds like an unremitting high-end squall. No dynamics. bit bummed.