Emerson, Lake & Palmer Album: “Brain Salad Surgery”

Today was my first listen of the SACD version of Brain Salad Surgery. There are two other discs included with this edition, neither of which are of interest to me. I also own the DVD-Audio version.

Why it gets 4 stars. It sounds as good, perhaps a tiny bit better than the dvd-audio version. Hard for me to do A-B comparisons with any accuracy, but I do have a solid system anchored by a denon DVD-3910, and the SACD is high quality. Really depends on your player and which format sounds better on it. If you do not have the dvd-audio version than this is a no brainer.

Why not 5 stars then? Well, because I was hoping for better dynamics on the first Karn Evil track (that always sounded a little flat to me on the DVD-Audio) and there is not much if any improvement there. Also, there is no bonus Lucky Man track on the SACD, which sounds quite good on the dvd-audio version. If you have the DVD-Audio verson, probably no need to get this one. If not, pick the SACD up for $25 or so from one of the venders here, and avoid paying the rediculous amount that the DVD-Audio version is going for.

The album itself is five stars, but the primates let loose to remaster this bring it down to three. Now, I like the strong presentation of the midrange that SACD renders, but the midrange on this SACD is so inordinately exaggerated that it is almost unlistenable. If you have two-way speakers and are slightly tone deaf to midrange frequencies, then this mix might work for you. However, if you have normal sensitivity to midrange frequencies AND a dedicate midrange on three-way speakers, then this is a far, far cry from what this music is supposed to sound like. The loudness issue rears its ugly head as well, but even that pales to what these monkeys did to the midrange.

If you are an audiophile, you may want to track down the dvd-audio of this album instead. My only hope is that, once again, Mobile Fidelity Sound Labs will step up to the plate and show everyone how a remaster is supposed to be done. I normally refrain from scathing reviews as I would like to give the potential target of my ire the benefit of the doubt, but there is no doubt here. If this was intended for audiophiles, then this remaster is unforgivable.

There are a couple other reviews that Amazon has included here that are of OTHER versions of Brain Salad Surgery. Check the review dates, if they are before October 2008, they don't belong here. This new edition has three discs. It should have only had two, as the first disc is the same compressed mix issued by Rhino over a decade ago. Any fan of this album will have already wasted their money on that. The second disc with the "unreleased until 35th anniversary versions" is the reason to buy this deluxe edition! Never before have I heard the dynamics that only existed in my head since hearing this record as a teenager. All the instruments are clear yet retain the original balance of the 1973 mix. I have bought this album 1. on viny1, 2. the Rhino release, 3. The DVD-Audio version, 4. and now this one. I could have skipped 2 and 3, except for the 5.1 version of Lucky Man on the DVD-A. Finally a decent stereo version! Like the other reviewer, the SACD sounds better than the DVD-A just because it has better bass management. I don't agree with some of the sloppy mixing decisions in the 5.1 mix, it disappoints with 'happy panning' that is just irritating. There are snippets of beauty then something stupid bounces around. Again, the money is worth having the great 35th Anniversary stereo mixes! A masterpeice of progressive rock, full of its pompous bombastic self.

Ignoring all of the rampaging about the sound quality, the versions need explanation instead. The supposed different versions on the album aren't really different. Only nugget I found to be interesting was Karn Evil 9 Third Impression backing track where you hear all the moog intricacies along with some added echo. The rest has been all heard before in some form or another. The hidden track isn't anything special either. It's just a few minute mix of regular BSS song snippets where it was probably taken off of a final mix acetate in 1973 where again nothing is revealed or different.

Apart from Amazon being a great Online retailer, they have dropped the ball when it comes to accuracy in CD Label/Version detail and UPC identification. Case-In-Point: I have attempted to enlighten Amazon by submitting description updates only to find them rejected. At one time, a dispute over whether the item was Newly Remastered; I pointed out as proof that the printing on the CD in question itself said "Digitally Remastered" and that Amazon of Canada, listed it as such. But the description update request still was rejected.

For all who are wondering what happen to the K2 HD remastered 35th Anniversary reissues of ELP, this CD (Amazon, ASIN: B000AMZ20Q) is the UPC:4988002489909 for Brain Salad Surgery; K2-HD, 35th Anniversary Remaster, Japan-Victor 9/28/2005

I consider the Limited Edition, K2-HD 24bit Digital Remaster's to be one of the best series to date.

Why so many versions? The answer isn't that Keith Emerson, Lake and Palmer (or others) are out to build a massive retirement fund. Technology has vastly improved and the quest for that perfect remastered reissue prevails. Sometimes, a remastering house project may fall short of expectations and the artist may need to shop around again for a better manufacturer for his work (ever had your car's new paint job botched, now having to repaint the car again by someone more talented). Sometimes it involves record label contracts and the need to wait-out the contract in order to get it remastered by someone else.

Either way, the effort of most to remaster ones life's work is more about quality, not quantity.

See Album Details at: amazon.ca (and) amazon.co.jp

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