Kill City arrived today!!!

Got my copy of the remaster today and it's pretty fucking great. Johanna has saxes and Consolation Prizes has synths. Kill City is the one from A Million in Prizes. Most of the other songs (so far - I'm playing it for the first time) are different versions than what is on the original release - different vocals,etc. - I can't even remember what the differences are but they are different. It sounds so good. I know this album inside and out and this is a remaster for the ages. I haven't even listened to all of side 2 yet and I can't stop smiling. This sounds amazing.

I'm on my way out the door to get to a concert so I'll get back later with a full report.

Kill City rocks!

It's true. It's terrific. And timeless. And wild. And poignant.

can't believe the vocals are diferent

Vocal differences are slight. It may be that because I know this album backwards and forwards and have listened to it thousands of times and dissected it and now it's part of my DNA that I'm noticing slight differences. They aren't huge and I can't imagine that they will take away from the enjoyment of this new remaster.

I've listened to it again this morning and I have to say that this may be my favorite remaster project ever. I can't remember a remaster/remix that made a record sound this much better. The separation of the instruments within the field of sound is incredible. It sometimes sounds as if the piano is in the room with you. It sounds like a band now. The looseness and, I don't now, sloppiness (for lack of a better word) all make sense. It has taken on even more of an Exile on Main Street vibe and I consider that a good thing.

Many of the versions are different from what you are used to. They used Johanna with the sax but it sounds so much better that I really don't care. Songs have different endings - where they once faded they now go on a bit longer, you can hear harmonicas and horn parts, for instance, that weren't there or just couldn't be heard properly before. It is a revelation. This album, unlike the various attempts over the years to improve the sound of Raw Power, is a vast improvement. It just sounds superb.

I can't wait for others to get their copies to see what reactions will be. As for me; I love it. One of my favorite albums just got way better.

I can't wait!! Mine should be here any day now.

Larry Fine is dead on correct. Kill City = then sublimeness...

Larry and Perdu are both right. This absolutely rules. And the booklet has the lyrics!

Perdu wrote:

Larry Fine is dead on correct. Kill City = then sublimeness...

Just got it today!!!!!!!!!!!

This sounds SO much better! Wow!! Like someone else said the instruments just POP out and sound like they are in the room with you.

I agree, it sounds incredible! It almost sounds too good, it will take a little time to get used to it. Remixing is a funny thing, you are used to hearing something for over 30 years and now it sounds different, definitely better but still different.

Studioguy, since you are a studio guy, would you agree that some of these creative arts share a trait with fashion-design/tailoring? It's supposed to look like the same individual, but now they look better for some reason you can't quite fathom.

The expertise here is that we now can hear the best of what was going on in a legendarily difficult set of sessions. I for one am intrigued with the interplay between the guitar and keyboard parts complimenting one another so on the slower songs with such sympatico.
The very sympathetic mix and clarity overall more than make up for the absence of a few favorite former outtake lyrics like "blown-out brains."

I turned off the "inner engineer" in me the 1st time through to just enjoy it. 2nd time through I a/b it with the original to see the differences.

The main things are: The stereo field is way wider, they put some of the keyboards and percussion farther right or left, the drums sounded sort of "boxy" on some tracks and now they don't, some of the guitars sounded harsh before and now they are smoother, they selectively added or removed parts or whole tracks, overall smoothing of the EQ with more top end and better bass and less effects on Iggy's voice.

Before it sounded like what a mid-twenties year old guitar player would mix like, mixing himself (guitar heavy) but the magic is in the interplay between the other instruments and the guitar and vocals.

If I remember right, when James did the remix, he posted on Facebook that his plan was to co-mix with Ed Cherney, but once there, he happily was just an observer and a coffee getter (basically his own words). I think they did this full analog as well, straight from tape.

You're a suede daddy on the boulevard
That's boy's no nelly, he'll break your nose and steal your car...

Whatever they did in the re-mix it's now perfect and it was so damn close before!! I've listened all the way through three times now and keep hearing new things every time! James and Iggy have got to be proud as hell with the results!!

Still waiting for the Vinyl to arrive but a kind friend helped me out with the CD version (thanks )

First of all: I fully join in in all the praise the remix version gets!

Further observations:

Kill City - I don't have that million prizes comp but are you sure it is the exact same version?
But anyway, it's good, clear and rocking.

Sell Your Love - misses the crappy hihat in the beginning, stronger James-E-Guitar. Even though
I did like the boxy reverb on Iggy's voice in the old version.

Beyond The Law - Great drum sound. Clever, James! It seems he used a different vocal take and
edited a "second voice" together. The fast sax parts are ping-pong-stereoed slightly to make the effect stronger.
Love extra seconds and the new screamy ending.

I Got Nothing - Overall sound balance not too different, which is a good thing. Acoustic guitar
is now audible, electric guitar in the chorusses is stronger now to underline the contrast
between it and the "Knocking On Heaven's Door"-parts.

Johanna - Much clearer electric guitar, drums SO much better, there now is a bass drum with
actual low-end and a hihat that was barely there in the old version. Sax even more screaming (good thing),
love the extended ending that leaves you waitng for a final beat.

Night Theme(s) - I doubt these are remixed, even though it sounds slightly better. It propably would
have been hard to try to recreate those backwards drums for the reprise part. Anyway, it does not bother me.

Consolation Prizes - As already pointed out, partly different lyrics. I personally miss the
wannabe-sun-records reverb on the vocals. But then again clarity is nice, too. I think some
keyboard parts have been also left out. And we still have the even heavier "Original Punks" version.

No Sense Of Crime - Now featuring slide guitar, overall sweeter guitar sound. And the drums don't
sound like an 8th-grade student's band anymore. And no fade out is always good.

Lucky Monkeys - Different guitar parts, again no sun-records reverb but James kept the vocal distortion,
good for the bluesy song. There is some severe tape-hiss on this track, they could have reduced it before using a
compressor over it, now the hiss becomes quite audible in the silent parts - not my idea of restoring.
But overall the song is much easier to listen to now.

Master Charge - I have to quote Rory: "...sounds like a sci-fi based 70s porn soundtrack".
I don't know many sci-fi based 70s porn soundtracks but I guess you all can imagine the looks of the film
for this soundtrack . The keyboard effects on this are much louder in the remix version, makes it a bit
less boring, and a few extra seconds that make a real ending.


The CD mastering is very loud and it provides quite a lot digital clipping, not that much
that it's bad or really audible though, but still avoidable. They obviously let the digital 0db
line do the (very)hard-limiting job

But I guess the LP master will be just fine. Once the LP arrived I will provide an LP rip for
you Stooges people

So, I really like the album, always did. But much more now. Bravo to James and great work
from BOMP RECORDS that made it all happen so quickly. This reissue shows Sony and Rhino how it's done right!

Master Charge - I have to quote Rory: "...sounds like a sci-fi based 70s porn soundtrack".
Didn't James work in a porn theatre around about this time

An interesting sidenote Master Charge is that it's now credited to Scott Thurston only - wheras, the previous 3 versions of Kill City I've owned (original LP, CD Print from 90's, 10" version with Night Theme deleted) all listed the song credit as Thurston/Williamson.

As Zickafuce said - the tape hiss on Lucky Monkeys is kinda annoying - I think it's the vocal track that's producing it.

Personally - I dislike the double-tracked vocals on Beyond The Law, it's a little distracting to my ears - maybe just me though.

Also - the conga "solo" is gone from Sense of Crime which I don't miss - but the flourishes mid song are mostly gone too - which I kinda miss.

As for Consolation Prizes - I've never heard the 'Original Punks' version - but I have heard the Motor City's Burnin' Vol. 2 release that has the different vocal. I think Iggy sings
'Teen Magazines won't let me be' then he screams 'No They Won't'. Is this the same as the Original Punks version?

This may be the definitive version of Johanna for me - the sax is toned down, bar-room piano more present, guitar turned up and nastier than ever.

Overall - fucking stunning. I'm not sure it replaces the original - I think I prefer some of the vocal versions from the original LP - but the instruments (guitar especially) sound SO much better.

I hope the use Ed Cherny to mix the new album - the guy seems to really understand their sound.

"As for Consolation Prizes - I've never heard the 'Original Punks' version - but I have heard the Motor City's Burnin' Vol. 2 release that has the different vocal. I think Iggy sings
'Teen Magazines won't let me be' then he screams 'No They Won't'. Is this the same as the Original Punks version?"

Yes, can someone PLEASE verify that one, one way or another...I am the sort of person who will buy something for one slightly different track, but I would rather ONLY do that in this case if the track is a unique version (now that the new version of Kill City is out, and Original Punks...), as I have checked around for this [Motor City's Burnin' Vol. 2] CD, and although the price from the U.S. isn't bad, it's still a lot for one track (and yes, I know about iTunes, 'free downloading' etc etc but I don't like to bother with that for favourite artists except in extreme circumstances).

thanks for any help.

The best version of Johanna is on the Bomp Year of the Iguana CD,NO SAX,and much heavier and more pissed off! It even sounds a little heavy metal!! love it!
Cant wait for my new Kill City,I always found this CD an acquired taste,the unobvious tracks anyway,It grows on you,but the first time I heard it I wasnt sure about it,about 5 times later it ranked among my favorites.

It'll grow immediately on you this time, it's about the songs, delivery and performances with these new mixes. I'll be curious to read your take once you hear it.

just ordered mine yesterday and the iguana poster mine was beat! cant wait to review KC!

my copy was sent yesterday, I'm dying to hear it!!! Still waiting for the popped one...
very good year for all the stooges fans!!!!

Yayyy!!!! I got mine too.
only took a week to get to the UK which seem pretty good to me.
thanks bompstore.com!

These new mixes sound really good. I didnt have Kill City before - but had the Penetration and Original Punks versions so to me its quite a difference.
I probably prefer the non sax johanna to be honest but i enjoy having this version too.

this really sounds great on my headphones!!!

did anyone notice that Ed Cherney worked on Brick by Brick also?

Great stuff - as someone wrote here reccently, it's like hearing a new album. Williamson, the folks at Bomp/ Alive should be congratualated on a fine job.

But the real surprise for me is the lyrics. I had no ideas what the Igg was actually singing before! Was I alone? I mean consolation prizes, bloody hell!

; -)

Ian

ianianian wrote:

Great stuff - as someone wrote here reccently, it's like hearing a new album. Williamson, the folks at Bomp/ Alive should be congratualated on a fine job.

But the real surprise for me is the lyrics. I had no ideas what the Igg was actually singing before! Was I alone? I mean consolation prizes, bloody hell!

; -)

Ian

no, the lyrics are a revelation. Bloody hell, indeed

Thanks Larry and everyone for their reviews! I loved the original Kill City and the remix is even better. I am going to order this today.