New Mini-Review and Mark Linett Comments On The Box Set - TapeOp Magazine

[guitarfool2002]

It's brief but worth noting, click and enlarge if the image is too small to read.

What's interesting is the comment on the use of "convolution reverb". It brings up a few interesting points to consider on the whole process of remixing classic tracks with such a tool at your disposal. Basically, it sets up a situation where you could have a track originally recorded at, say, Western #3 in 1966 but where you could now create a mix using the echo chamber from Gold Star if it was a better choice sonically.

I guess I considered that kind of sampled room technology more as a tool to go back in time when recording and mixing new tracks, more than having such an almost unlimited sonic palette on hand when doing a remix or remaster of a classic track. Very interesting to see this in relation to the Beach Boys, especially where Brian Wilson for one was a producer who was very involved with using specific studios and specific "rooms" for certain sounds. Of course all of that came to fruition on Good Vibrations...

...but imagine having such a tool available in 1966 where a producer like Brian could dial up on demand the sound of any room or any specific echo chamber he wanted to hear, no matter where he was physically working on the tracks. Pretty amazing in that context.

[Andrew G. Doe]

The 1993 box won a Grammy ? News to me, and also I suspect to the Grammy organisation.

[Don Malcolm]

The 1993 box won a Grammy ? News to me, and also I suspect to the Grammy organisation.

Possibly Jeff Slate's ghostwriter is (ca ching!) Jack Rieley??? 

[silodweller]

Hm, interesting review.  For all his talk about "plug-ins", etc. and that he'd rather go with "does it sound good?", I still think a lot of this new box set has moments that just shouldn't be there in terms of what they've done with the overall sound.  Despite everyone raving about how good "do it again" sounds, I remain unimpressed, and as for the Good Vibrations box set being assembled in the early days of digital transfers, I much prefer the overall sound of that set in comparison to MIC.  Don't get me wrong, I am happy that MIC is available to us, I just think it sometimes sounds a little "artificial"...  for want of a better word. 

[Gregg]

I think the remasters on MIC sound great, but I really don't care for about half of the new re-mixes. There is a homogeneous quality to many of the re-mixes, or a lack of spatial depth in the sound, due, in general, to too much reverb being applied to vocals and instruments. It sounds like voices and instruments all get pushed back to the same point in space. And this results in the loss of that "classic" Beach Boys sound, where the vocals are up front and very intimate sounding.

Other things that bug me........

Carl's vocal on "Brian's Back" was pulled way back in this new re-mix compared to the '93 box mix. And Carl's vocal on that tune is by far the stand out feature, IMO.

The background vocals on "It's OK" lose all their "oomph" or power in this new re-mix. I always thought this particular blend of voices, with, I believe, Marilyn and maybe another female joining in on the big chorus of ahhs, was especially full and powerful-sounding. This mix washes that chorus of voices in reverb, essentially pushing it back in the mix, making it rather anemic-sounding.

Maybe this homogeneous approach is a more modern style of mixing. I don't know. I just know I find myself wanting to hear the vocals with more clarity and more up front in the aural landscape.

[DonnyL]

The background vocals on "It's OK" lose all their "oomph" or power in this new re-mix. I always thought this particular blend of voices, with, I believe, Marilyn and maybe another female joining in on the big chorus of ahhs, was especially full and powerful-sounding. This mix washes that chorus of voices in reverb, essentially pushing it back in the mix, making it rather anemic-sounding.

Maybe this homogeneous approach is a more modern style of mixing. I don't know. I just know I find myself wanting to hear the vocals with more clarity and more up front in the aural landscape.

"It's OK" is not a new remix.

[mikeddonn]

I didn't enjoy DIA as much as some of the fan remixes.  Sounds better with headphones on.  Some of the added reverb on the live tracks is bad enough but there's no way they should have messed with the studio vocals.  I think far to much artistic license has been taken with previously released or mixed stuff.  Shame as some of the mixes were good apart from the added reverb.  And also the Paramount Stuff sounds better than the released Sail on Sailor on the box.  Surely there must be an official CD with that stuff in future if it wasn't represented on the box?

[Wirestone]

Carl's vocal on "Brian's Back" was pulled way back in this new re-mix compared to the '93 box mix. And Carl's vocal on that tune is by far the stand out feature, IMO.

"Brian's Back" was not on the '93 box.

[Gregg]

"It's OK" is not a new remix.

Well it's new to this release. OK, so after checking the liner notes again I see it says "1976 Alternate Mix". I just saw "Alternate Mix" beside the title and assumed it was a new remix. Like all the other "Alternate" mixes on the set.

"Brian's Back" was not on the '93 box.

Oops, I meant "Endless Harmony".

Man, you guys are good!