 |
| View previous topic :: View next topic |
| Author |
Message |
JamiroFan2000
Correspondent
Joined: 21 Mar 2002
Posts: 2881
Location: The Jamiroquaized States Of America
|
 Posted: Fri Feb 22, 2013 23:09 |
 |
|
[MY REVIEWS] 20th Anniversary Jamiroquai Album Remasters!!!
 Hello again,
Well today's my birthday, I'm 36, and gosh have the years flown by! Thank goodness I devoted 20 years of it to Jamiroquai, cause if it had ended up being another band, I wouldn't have never met so many great friends of the Online Jamily over the last 2 decades. OK, now, what I'm about to parlay on your eyes is my 'review' of the Jamiroquai Remasters, but one ground rule before I begin:
- Please don't message me into the ground, either on my Facebook/My E-mail/On JamiroTalk to ask for access to this, I got it purely for a 'preview listening' (they were mid-low quality, but still can comprehend the differences between the old masters/new remasters) and cannot...cannot share this with anyone openly on the forum or on the internet.
There, I hope y'all understand, here's my review, album-by-album:
EMERGENCY ON PLANET EARTH (2013 REMASTER):
Well I start right off with EOPE, and out the three albums that went under the 'cosmetic digital music knife', this one REALLY benefited from the cleaning up, vocals were heightened and the instrumentation was fleshed out, separated and tightened up to bolster up the power of the original compositions. I assure you, this remastering DID NOT harm and was very respective of the early music of Jamiroquai. I'm sure some 'supposed early Jamiroquai music purists' will come out of the digital woodworks and insist that the first vinyl/CD pressings of EOPE are 'way better' than their newly remastered albums, but being JamiroFan whose been on the fence about what was better, my tastes were more inclined to wanting to hear these recordings cleaned up for the next generation of Jamiroquai fans to met their 'modern expectations' than just let the masters just sit around in some dusty bins, untreated and unkept till the next 20 years passes us by. In my opinion, the tracks that were remastered on EOPE, counting the Bonus CD, that sound so much better are as follows:
- If I Like It, I Do It
- Music Of The Mind
- Too Young To Die (Extended Version)
- Hooked Up
- Revolution 1993 (Demo)
- When You Gonna Learn (Live @ Leadmill Sheffield)
RETURN OF THE SPACE COWBOY (2013 REMASTER):
Still originally maintaining, among intense discussions with other JamiroFans, that EOPE/ROTSC should have been released as a 'double album', the 2nd album turned out some BIG surprises with it's remasterings. Alot of the tracks on this album ended up being 'very pumped up' through the process of remastering, adding more necessary 'ummph' on the instrumentation given ROTSC was lyrically the most 'topically powerful' album of it's heyday in the Jamiroquai back catalogue. The strength of this album will prevails in this remastering, no shortcomings anywhere to be seen, and the life lessons will present to those inquiring minds. Here are the tracks from the ROTSC in my opinion really resound with more greatness after the remastering:
- Mr. Moon (biggest surprise in sound difference, totally reinvigorated!)
- Just Another Story
- Light Years
- Manifest Destiny
- Space Clav
- Scam
- Journey To Arnhemland
TRAVELLING WITHOUT MOVING (2013 REMASTER):
Was the album that made Jamiroquai a household name from 1996-1997 and marked Jamiroquai's departure from the 'post-analog' to 'pre-digital' album recording of the first two albums. Still was skeptical that this album, which still on it's own doesn't really warrant a 'remastering', would sound any different. But alas, I was proven wrong, that remastering complimented at the very least the songs on the album that weren't purely composed by 'pro-tools' and other digital shortcuts that would become the standard for studio recording/composition of later Jamiroquai albums. Here are the tracks, in my opinion, from TWOM that really sound better after the remastering:
- Cosmic Girl
- Use The Force
- Alright
- High Times
- Didjerama/Didjital Vibrations
- Do You Know Where Your Coming From (Full Horns Mix)
- Funktion (OHHHHHHHH!! NICE!)
There you go, I must say, these remasterings have brought so many great, fond memories from the early days of Jamiroquai and their music and reasserted why they continue to be my favorite band. I'm hoping these remasters will bring you the same 'piece of music of the mind' as it did me reflecting on this miraculous magical time in Jamirohistory. Hope you enjoy this review and hope it inspires you to buy these new releases to support Jamiroquai, even if you don't want to spend money on this material you already own and prefer the unremastered versions of their early catalogue. Take care, stay funky and ROLL ON MARCH 2013!
Sincerely Honored To Remain,
JamiroFan2000
_________________
|
|
| Back to top |
|
 |
Javis
Joined: 31 Oct 2006
Posts: 1530
Location: Córdoba, Argentina
|
| Posted: Fri Feb 22, 2013 23:24 |
|
|
WANT
BTW, thanks for taking the time to do the review. Very useful. 
Last edited by Javis on Sat Feb 23, 2013 00:11; edited 1 time in total |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
zeioIIDX
Joined: 07 Sep 2007
Posts: 239
Location: Biloxi, MS
|
| Posted: Sat Feb 23, 2013 00:02 |
|
|
I want too! Every time I listen to the first three albums, I always have to crank up the volume much higher than when I listen to anything else I own. Never occurred to me that a remaster of the albums would help or even be released to begin with. Seriously wanna hear Mr. Moon, it's one of my top five favorite Jamiroquai songs. I really wish they had a studio release of the live version where they included some nice flute sections. Gonna be awesome 
_________________
If it ain't no natural law, then you can keep your regulations. 'Cause if I like it, I do it. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Dye
Correspondent & Expert
Joined: 16 Nov 2003
Posts: 5146
Location: Planet Home; Buenos Aires, Argentina
|
| Posted: Sat Feb 23, 2013 00:07 |
|
|
So, we've got some new high quality remasters and you're making a review based on a LOW QUALITY preview?
Now that's ballsy  |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
JamiroFan2000
Correspondent
Joined: 21 Mar 2002
Posts: 2881
Location: The Jamiroquaized States Of America
|
| Posted: Sat Feb 23, 2013 01:19 |
|
|
| Dye wrote: |
So, we've got some new high quality remasters and you're making a review based on a LOW QUALITY preview?
Now that's ballsy |
Hehe, I know what you mean, but even at that low quality (believe it, it ain't down anywhere near 96 klbps if that's what your thinking!), it really expands in your headphones into a sprawling audio adventure of yesterquai, the remastering was done THAT DAMN WELL! I mean, I could have waited to do this review when I got the 'CD quality' level, but I just wanted to get it out there on what my thoughts were on these releases, and so far...they are totally worth the wait. Even suffices that old petition of mine towards Sony to remaster said albums back in 2006, and I totally forgive them now. If anything, you can trust my 'word' on this, but I'm sure the trolls whom endear themselves more with the 'original unremastered material' will come out and 'nanny-boo boo' their way into doubting me. In any case, we're ALL in for a treat with the remasterings, that was the core message I was trying to say with my 'reviews'. Cheers!
Sincerely,
JamiroFan2000
_________________
|
|
| Back to top |
|
|
FunkyVibes
Joined: 28 Oct 2009
Posts: 364
Location: Eugene, Oregon
|
| Posted: Sat Feb 23, 2013 05:55 |
|
|
Hey thanks for the sweet review. Quick question. How do the songs released as singles on these 2013 remasters compare to the singles remastered on the High Times Compilation?
Oh also, Happy Birthday dude!! |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
JamiroFan2000
Correspondent
Joined: 21 Mar 2002
Posts: 2881
Location: The Jamiroquaized States Of America
|
| Posted: Sat Feb 23, 2013 18:37 |
|
|
| FunkyVibes wrote: |
Hey thanks for the sweet review. Quick question. How do the songs released as singles on these 2013 remasters compare to the singles remastered on the High Times Compilation?
Oh also, Happy Birthday dude!! |
First off,  thank you for the birthday greetings, Brother Funky, much appreciated , I did have a great day and got lots of nice prezzies...not to mention another new layer of 'fat' to my potbelly...hehe! Secondly, to you question, I would say those 'High Times: The Singles' remasters were only done '1/2 way through'. What I mean is they didn't go to the 'Nth degree' of remastering as they have with the impending 3 album remasterings. The 'High Times' Remasters only scratched the surface, the NEW remasters were WAY MORE intricate/detailed in their processing, enhancing the vocals and emboldening them to be much more audible/understandable through whatever 'audio effects' were administered (EXAMPLE: The 'static microphone' on the song "Scam"), meticulously separating all the instrumentation and making them all 'independently relevant' in the full performance, strengthening the overall audio presentation. Now I'm not 'bashing' the 'High Times' Compilation remasters, they were a good treat for their time back in 2006, but technology has come so FAR and evolved so FAST that this 'remastering update' really increases the power of each song, the 'value' of each song & just fucking blows my mind with how everything that remained 'hidden' in each recording, I.E. the famous 'Secret Sounds', are totally 'unveiled', in some songs, for the first time to our delightful ears. Thanks for the great question Brother Funky, I hope I answered it well, if anyone else has any questions about these remasters, please feel free to post a reply on this thread and I'll answer it to the best of knowledge. Cheers!
Sincerely,
JamiroFan2000
_________________
|
|
| Back to top |
|
|
FunkyVibes
Joined: 28 Oct 2009
Posts: 364
Location: Eugene, Oregon
|
| Posted: Sun Feb 24, 2013 07:05 |
|
|
| JamiroFan2000 wrote: |
| First off, thank you for the birthday greetings, Brother Funky, much appreciated , I did have a great day and got lots of nice prezzies...not to mention another new layer of 'fat' to my potbelly...hehe! |
Those are the best kind of birthdays. 
Thanks for the detailed response. It sounds like whoever did the remixing did a thorough job. I look forward to hearing the cds on a stereo set up. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
JamiroFan2000
Correspondent
Joined: 21 Mar 2002
Posts: 2881
Location: The Jamiroquaized States Of America
|
| Posted: Sun Feb 24, 2013 19:53 |
|
|
| FunkyVibes wrote: |
| JamiroFan2000 wrote: |
| First off, thank you for the birthday greetings, Brother Funky, much appreciated , I did have a great day and got lots of nice prezzies...not to mention another new layer of 'fat' to my potbelly...hehe! |
Those are the best kind of birthdays.
Thanks for the detailed response. It sounds like whoever did the remixing did a thorough job. I look forward to hearing the cds on a stereo set up. |
Indeed, and if JK indeed, according to the description note on CDJapan's sales listing, was in charge of the 'mastering/remastering', then damn, what an excellent job done to all involved. Cheers!
Sincerely,
JamiroFan2000
_________________
|
|
| Back to top |
|
|
iranterres
Joined: 02 Apr 2008
Posts: 422
Location: Brasil
|
| Posted: Mon Feb 25, 2013 00:40 |
|
|
There's a whole misconception regarding these "digital remasterings" that were done to these albums.
Firstly, every modern professional audio recording is fully digital since at least the first half of the 80's. These were usually recorded using Digital Audio Tapes (DATs) on specialized multi-track recorders, possibly up to 32 different tracks. So, it was fairly possible to record each instrument separately and to be mixed up or cut and balanced, amplified, tuned and detuned into the final master, that is the so called mastering process.
ALL the professional recordings of Jamiroquai were digital, what changed from one album to another was simply the mastering technique employed, and it was performed by the producer and the sound engineer, with a possible input from the band.
I read here the more avid fans or purists telling the first albums doesn't sound as good (technically) as the last ones, I'd say the story is a little bit different.
I think EOPE sound better as a whole than TROTSC, it sounds more crisp and bright, but i noticed that maybe TROTSC sounds as it is to fit more into the album's proposal, its more somber and insightful than the first.
As for TWM it sounds like they were playing inside a cushioned studio, it sounds muffled but much warmer than the first two, although i think TROTSC and TWM used similar production techniques.
So in my personal opinion what was done was much simpler than some may imagine, pretty much some re equalization, some bilinear filtering, more stereo spacing (or less, depending on the track) some parts were brought up and some were brought down. All of this is done via software, since you were dealing with digital data all the time, was easy game, the only difference was the medium, back then were DATs, and today we have solid-state.
These samples were particulary of bad quality, the only noticeable difference i felt while listening, is the tracks sounding more punchy.
Thanks.
_________________
At the speed of cheeba, you and I go deeper... |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Andrew
Joined: 26 Oct 2004
Posts: 1015
Location: Australia
|
| Posted: Tue Feb 26, 2013 12:10 |
|
|
| iranterres wrote: |
There's a whole misconception regarding these "digital remasterings" that were done to these albums...
These samples were particulary of bad quality, the only noticeable difference i felt while listening, is the tracks sounding more punchy. |
Do we think some people feel the first albums "need" remastering because back then the albums were designed to be played through proper full range speakers rather than the tiny earbuds everyone seems to listen through these days (the whole iPod phenomenon wasn't around back in the 90s)? To be honest I've never thought there was anything wrong with the original albums, but that may be because of the type of speakers I've always used...? I also agree that the original albums would have been recorded to sound a certain way deliberately... As in, the final 'tone' or 'feel' of the sound makes the albums relate to the subject matter within them.
Hopefully some care has been taken with these new ones and it's not merely the 'loudness' that's been bumped up... I'm gonna hold off from checking out these early samples or reading anyone else's opinion and reserve judgement 'til I get my hands on the full bitrate CD versions and can sit down for a proper first listen. They deserve that I reckon.
_________________
|
|
| Back to top |
|
|
HoneyBee
Joined: 21 Jul 2010
Posts: 673
|
| Posted: Tue Feb 26, 2013 23:21 |
|
|
Iranterres' was a great review!
I think remastering the cd's will provide different versions.
And if you love the original, you may not like the new version.
But for those with an open mind, or excited for a new version it could be fabulous.
And it's not like it's going from Analog to Digital to get it out onto cd.
But a remaster would just offer a different balance of sound.
Maybe the TWM recording sounds more cushioned because they took the mainstream path, believing reflective sound is more amateur. (Although Led Zeppelin played in an open reflective room). People in the record industry believe there is a certain way to record and master a final copy.
But then again you have musicians like Dan Auerbach (who recently won best producer) and Jack White who may be bringing things around to questioning the status quo with fuzz and reverb and reflection.
As for the newly re-released Jamiroquai albums, something it may provide is funding to the original members. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
didgeridoo
Joined: 26 Mar 2005
Posts: 1
|
| Posted: Sun Mar 17, 2013 18:26 |
|
|
Thanks for the reviews!
I can't wait for my copy
_________________
good vibes |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Joolz
Joined: 05 Jan 2012
Posts: 4
|
| Posted: Tue Mar 19, 2013 02:31 |
|
|
Hi all, just received my copies; thought I'd post my opinion.
I already thought all the albums were mixed well in the first place, so I was interested into hearing what sonic differences I was about to be subject to.
I guess the main difference between the two is the amount of 'punch' the percussion and bass have now. I've noticed this in Mr Moon, the intro when the drums come in sound (slightly) more crisper with bigger attack. Space Cowboy's bass is also more 'heavy', I might even go as far as saying this album sounds a bit more grunge/dirty than previous.
TWM I didn't really notice that much difference, I always thought that the sound on this album was slightly muffled, and I still feel like that is happening in this new edition (purposely I imagine).
Another thing I noticed was how loud I was able to play these albums at. I always got annoyed at the 'hiss' in the tracks on the albums, and while I'd like to say it's gone; it's not, albeit a lot quieter than before. Getting rid of a lot of the hiss has allowed the instruments to really shine through a lot more than previously, I guess this ties in with my earlier point about the tunes being more punchier.
Whilst I didn't pick up a lot of difference between the old and the new, if you're an avid Jamiroquai fan and would like to hear a 21st century rendition of the tunes, I'd definitely reccomend picking these up still...if not for the music, for the essay's written by JK (extremely interesting)!
Can't comment on EOPE at the moment, haven't listened to it yet. I've got Space Clav on repeat! 
_________________
Waiting for that special day when the original 4th album is finally released |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Michael
Joined: 01 May 2008
Posts: 277
Location: Düsseldorf, Germany
|
| Posted: Sun May 19, 2013 14:09 |
|
|
Hey you all.. I know I've been offline for about the past 2 years.. But hey, here I am back again, just to spread my feelings about the new EOPE remaster, which I'm f*cking disappointed about!
Yeah I know JamiroFan, you wrote this album benefited the most, what I think about it = it destroyed the whole atmosphere in the Album.
Every song now is just a loud bunch of music, seriously not done very gently!
For example, listen to Blow Your Mind or Too Young to Die. In all songs the bassline was reinforced, and together with the kick of the drums you can hear the bass "popping" nearly every time!
I think you can check out this wiki-entry http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Loudness_war
_________________
http://www.flickr.com/photos/michael_driesch/ |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
|
|
You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum
|
Powered by phpBB © 2001, 2005 phpBB Group
|
Editorial
Search
Memberlist
Register
Profile
Private messages
Log in
