R.E.M. – Fables Of The Reconstruction / Reconstruction Of The Fables

BTW I have ripped samples of my 3 different vinyl copies:
1985 MCA on non-Quiex vinyl
1985 RCA Music Service club edition on Quiex vinyl
This 2024 vinyl Made In Canada

Ripped on my Technics 1500C with AT-VM95ML

I have posted some general findings along with link to my samples over at Hoffman forum:

https://forums.stevehoffman.tv/threads/reissue-of-r-e-m-s-fables-of-the-reconstruction-out-now.1202860/page-4#post-34626952

On the first spin of a sealed M copy (don't be jealous), I was blown away by the sonics, especially after just listening to the '24 reissue. Wider, more dynamic, and just an aural treasure unearthed from a 40-year time capsule. :)

How does this version sound compared to an original copy?

Not wild about this release--the more I turn it up, the harsher it gets, which makes me suspect it's a digital source. My OG 1985 US pressing slays this pressing by a lot of miles.

This pressing is outstanding. Clean, lush, no pops or crackles.

Some people may just need to clean their records when they take them out the first time....

Great R.E.M. sound. Album sounds fantastic and full of that iconic sound.

My copy has a gold promo stamp on it and notice the front cover is upside down and sideways to the back! 😏

✌🏻

My copy was a little dish warped but Mike Mills’ bass just SINGS with this mastering! Really reinforces the power of the R.E.M. rhythm section set against those jangly guitars! Love it

I also posted this on the USA 2024 vinyl page:
The Europe 2024 was pressed at GZ (Made in Czech Republic). I would assume the Europe GZ pressed 2024 is the same CUT as the USA 2024. The USA was pressed by Precision in Canada, but it was CUT by GZ (278929E). If the Europe press also has 278929E in runout, then we could know it's the same cut. No one has submitted the Europe runout yet. Going by the liner notes, the master source for this cut was made by Ron McMaster in 2010 at Capitol Mastering (probably digital file for this cut). Neither the Europe nor USA say MASTERED BY CAPITOL in the runout because Capitol did not cut these, nor make any metal parts for these releases (GZ cut, GZ press and Precision press). BTW, that 2010 work by Ron McMaster was a RE-master, so it should probably say remaster in the release descriptions for both these.
Also I assume these are DMM cut as that is standard practice for GZ and the runout area is much wider than on the original vinyl releases of this album

The Europe 2024 was pressed at GZ (Made in Czech Republic). I would assume the Europe GZ pressed 2024 is the same CUT as the USA 2024. The USA was pressed by Precision in Canada, but it was CUT by GZ (278929E). If the Europe press also has 278929E in runout, then we could know it's the same cut. No one has submitted the Europe runout yet. Going by the liner notes, the master source for this cut was made by Ron McMaster in 2010 at Capitol Mastering (probably digital file for this cut). Neither the Europe nor USA say MASTERED BY CAPITOL in the runout because Capitol did not cut these, nor make any metal parts for these releases (GZ cut, GZ press and Precision press). BTW, that 2010 work by Ron McMaster was a RE-master, so it should probably say remaster in the release descriptions for both these.
Also I assume these are DMM cut as that is standard practice for GZ and the runout area is much wider than on the original vinyl releases of this album.

Noisy pressing between tracks and on quiet outros, also they messed up the album sleeve. On the OG pressing the record goes into the left side (not traditional right side as this pressing changes it to) and the back cover art has been turned 90 degrees so doesn’t replicate the original sleeve’s layout.

The mix sounds decent, although quieter and slightly less high end than the OG. Overall, it’s perfectly acceptable but for anyone who is a big fan of this album I’d recommend waiting for an OG copy at a decent price.