Soundfreak may believe it's just louder, but on my setup, I've definitely heard a clear difference between my 93/94 remasters. I can't see how it's down to just being louder. Also, I dont' remember the recent ANATO remaster being the same as the 2005 remaster. But since I have only sat and listened to the first set of remasters, I'll have a 2nd batch to listen through when I'm back home. Otherwise, I've been very impressed by most of the 2011 remasters that I have heard.
Adam.
I reckon although they do sound "louder", that SURELY isn't the only thing remastered? If I turn the sound up on my old CDs, they still don't come close to the new remasters.
There is plenty of new sounds, instruments, vocals coming through that I never heard... especially guitars, which in a lot of songs imo were hidden behind lead vocals/harmonies. e.g March Of The Black Queen, Dreamer's Ball, Don't Stop Me Now, It's Late, to name but a few sound much improved.
I hear Brian's voice on Good Company, 39, All Dead with much more clarity... with a near live sound. Good Company for me is a particular highlight, as his voice sounds so rich. I've always thought Brian's voice lacked oomph, but now it sounds wonderful... really made me appreciate him more... and if I try turn up the volume on some songs on old Cds, it doesn't match the new remasters AT ALL.
Harmonies come through better on Bicycle Race, Fat Bottomed Girls, MOTBQ, Lap Of The Gods... Rev, with a nice balance between high and low parts, something that I've not noticed before... it's always sounded not enough of each on certain songs on old CDs.
I do respect your opinion SoundFreak, but I do agree that you may have a negative point of view which you are clinging too for the sake of argument. Which songs DO YOU LIKE from the remasters, I can't see you saying "none". (Please read this with the respect it is intended towards your opinions).
BTW, I really like the fact that you can at last hear the guitars on DSMN (long lost guitars). I'd never heard the guitars so strong on my old CDs so that there is a particularly strong argument FOR the reamsters.
That last comment was a joke btw, before anyone mocks me! In truth, the bonus DSMN is AWFUL imo. The guitars sound like static or some sort of noise distortion!
I'm looking forward to making a nice edit of the guitarless intro leading into the guitarified main song. I wish it had the guitar vamping on the middle 8 breakdown like on Live Killers. I might add that myself.
I think the remastered Action This Day is worse than the previous version. The beginning part sung by Roger was very muffled. Body Language sounds better in the remastered album.
To be honest, I think they sound great - although it might just be because it has given me a chance to upgrade my 128 MP3s to 320 ones.
dysan wrote: To be honest, I think they sound great - although it might just be because it has given me a chance to upgrade my 128 MP3s to 320 ones.
Why is it only now you can hear them in a higher bit rate? Couldn't you just have ripped your original CDs to 320kbs in the first place? Plus I always thought iTunes etc all came in 320kbs too? Sorry if I'm wrong here.
at least in the U.S., iTunes comes in either standard bitrate, which is 128 kbps, or iTunes "plus" which is double that, 128 per channel or 256 kbps.
My top 5 remastered album tracks in terms of sound (so far);
Good Company (Listeneing to it my brother's car and it sounded great... he has a fantastic surround sound system and it came across great)
March Of the Black Queen (Lots of new sounds for me... both instruments and vocals)
You And I (Given an even bigger punch than before imo)
The Prophet's Song (Sounds so fresh)
Fairy Fellers Masterstroke (This song needed remastering more than any I think, and it's all the better for it. Sounds less cluttered now)
Top 5 Bonus;
White Queen Live
YTMBA Live
Soul Brother
The Kiss
Dreamer's Ball Accousitc Take
These 5 sound superb. Gives me goosebumps when I think we might get the live tracks on a live album. Soul Brother has always sounded pretty decent, but sounds amazing now. Freddie's main vocal is crisp and raw and I think its awesome. Kiss is really cool and one of the bonus tracks I keep listening too. Dreamer's Ball is so different, and I think sounded better than the album track (which was also excellent).
