Smashing Pumpkins* – Pisces Iscariot

This sounds good to me, not as amazing as the 2022 Mellin collie reissue or the 2021 Gish US, but still great. There is some surface noise though, and Plume has the different vocal track on this pressing. Search up "plume alternate version" on youtube if you want to hear it for yourself, but I prefer the original version.

Sounds great especially considering that it's crammed onto a single LP. Bought still in shrink with hype sticker and $9.99 price tag. Happy to add to the collection especially since my 2012 2xLP copy uses a different vocal take on "Plume".

Great to see this album on vinyl. Presentation is great again, with lyrics and notes on where the songs came from. Songs like Plume sound incredible with great clarity. Unfortunately for me, some tracks could sound slightly better - such as Starla which sounds great except at the end there is a loud popping noise on my pressing.

Presentation: 4/5
Sound: 4/5
Sleeve: Anti-static Inners

Setup: AT-120XUSB, AT-VM95ML

Another great Pumpkins press. Only docked a point cause it had a really bad cosmetic blemish that wouldn’t go away despite numerous cleans. Probably just debris from the pressing plant! It does not affect playback luckily!

I bought this album from personal seller. Everything matches but noticed the matrix is really hard to read and sp1-1 masterdisk looks scribbled out? Anyone else’s copy looks like this?

Flat, quiet and dynamic. For an album of B-Sides and Outtakes this sounds really full and detailed. Just be aware that some of these tracks were recorded at different levels, while the mastering did a good job of trying to get the mix consistent there are some jumps in levels. The one confusing part is where it was pressed. It says Rainbo (closed 2019) but this a 2023 release so if anyone can provide some insight. Must have for a Smashing Pumpkins fan.

Setup
AT-LP1240
ATVM95ML
Bellari VP549
Bellari EQ570
Presonus Eris Studio 8 XT

So, apparently, the US pressings (not sure if it's the case for all 3) have the advantage in of cover (heavier jacket + colored cardboard inners) & vinyl weight (200gr for the US, 180 for the EU) BUT they potentially lose them when it comes to the pressing plants (Rainbo for the US, Optimal for the EU) which is way more critical to the music.

Mastering jobs are also different: Stan Getz II @A+R did the US ones, while Marko Kluge did the EU.

So, my question is simple: is there a clear winner here?
For those who have both pressings, did the infamous Rainbo QC ruined the US press? And, between the two, is there a better master?

So, apparently, the US pressings (not sure if it's the case for all 3) have the advantage in of cover (heavier jacket + colored cardboard inners) & vinyl weight (200gr for the US, 180 for the EU) BUT they potentially lose them when it comes to the pressing plants (Rainbo for the US, Optimal for the EU) which is way more critical to the music.

Mastering jobs are also different: Stan Getz II @A+R did the US ones, while Marko Kluge did the EU.

So, my question is simple: is there a clear winner here?
For those who have both pressings, did the infamous Rainbo QC ruined the US press? And, between the two, is there a better master?

So, apparently, the US pressings (not sure if it's the case for all 3) have the advantage in of cover (heavier jacket + colored cardboard inners) & vinyl weight (200gr for the US, 180 for the EU) BUT they potentially lose them when it comes to the pressing plants (Rainbo for the US, Optimal for the EU) which is way more critical to the music.

Mastering jobs are also different: Stan Getz II @A+R did the US ones, while Marko Kluge did the EU.

So, my question is simple: is there a clear winner here?
For those who have both pressings, did the infamous Rainbo QC ruined the US press? And, between the two, is there a better master?

Replacement J card and case for sale. J card in great shape. Case has bit of cracking. $10 shipped in the US.