Sonic Grade: D
Another Sundazed record reviewed and found to be way off the mark.
As usual, the Sundazed only hints at the exceptionally good sound found on the best early pressings. We recommended it back at the day — let’s face it, we had a lot to learn.
In its defense, allow me to point out that it’s tonally correct, so for fifteen bucks you are getting your fifteen bucks worth, and probably not a dime’s more. We just cannot take this kind of sound seriously anymore.
Once you’ve heard the real thing, this pressing just won’t do.
Kevin Gray remastered this title, and we have found that the bulk of the records he’s involved with are rarely better than awful. Here is a good example of a record he mastered that falls far short of any record that would qualify to have the words “audiophile pressing” attached to it.
Look for these obvious signs that you are playing one his recuts:
The sound is opaque. It resists your efforts to hear into the recording. This is to be expected. Modern records in general tend to lack transparency, one of the most important qualities that the better vintage pressings have in abundance.
In addition, Gray’s records consistently lack ambience and air. We discuss that subject in more depth here.
If you are looking for audiophile sound on vinyl, our advice would be to avoid any record he is associated with.
