Pick Up Review
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With The Beatles [SHM-CD] [Limited Edition] [Cardboard Sleeve (mini LP)]The BeatlesI'll Alweays Be With The BeatlesWhat a wonderful reissue collection. I appreciate everything CD Japan does to provide excellent editions any Beatle fan would be pleased to own.
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Depois Do Fim [SHM-CD] [Cardboard Sleeve (mini LP)]BacamarteBelleClassic belle antique packaging as mini lp, progressive rock gem. Album stand along with best of Sagrado.
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Cupid & Psyche 85 (Remastered Deluxe Edition)Scritti PolittiCupidCame in a trifold cardboard packaging. Sound is very fine and album itself is one of best from mod 80's.
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Woodface (Deluxe Edition) [SHM-CD]Crowded HouseLove albumEven tough I love album and Crowded House I'm not happy with album packaging in a dvd size. Sound is ok.
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Christopher Cross [Cardboard Sleeve (mini LP)] [SHM-CD] [Limited Release]Christopher Crosschris crossFantastic edition of fantastic album from seventies. Great packaging as a mini lp with famous cover. No fillers in album.
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Headlines And Deadlines The Hits Of A-Ha [SHM-CD]a-haNorvegian bestFor small amount you get greatest selection of songs from pop icons in shm. Songs flow very easily one after another.
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Led Zeppelin IV Deluxe EditionLed ZeppelinNever Sounded Better Than This Version!Seriously now! I have purchased every CD version of Led Zeppelin IV since it first came out in America in 1985. It’s been endlessly remastered., But nothing sounds as good, as clear, not to mention as thunderous as this Japanese remaster from CDJapan! Even if you have to pay proxy fees for it, if you can get your hands on a copy, DO IT!
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Reconstrukction Of Light SHM-CD Legacy Collection 1980 [SHM-CD]King CrimsonA true rebirth of the albumThis release offers a refreshed perspective on the band's most controversial record. It utilizes Don Gunn’s 2019 stereo mix featuring newly tracked acoustic drums by Pat Mastelotto. On this CD, the industrial math-rock sounds monumental; the old plastic digital harshness is gone, allowing riffs on “FraKctured” and “Larks' Tongues IV” to hit twice as hard.
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Epitaph Vol.1 & 2 SHM-CD Edition [SHM-CD] [Limited Release][Cardboard Sleeve (mini LP)]King CrimsonThis is so greatThis release of the 1969 archival recordings is an invaluable artifact for collectors. The double album “Epitaph” chronicles the live performances of the band's original lineup. Thanks to high-quality Japanese pressing, the sound from these archival sources (soundboards and radio broadcasts) is pushed to its absolute limit. The raw power of “21st Century Schizoid Man” and the haunting tragedy of “Epitaph” featuring Ian McDonald and Greg Lake sound spectacular. This is living history of progressive rock, beautifully packaged, and a mandatory addition to the shelf of any early King Crimson devotee.
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Live In Toronto 2015 SHM-CD Edition [SHM-CD] [Limited Release] [Cardboard Sleeve (mini LP)]King CrimsonMusically, it is 5-star performanceIt's an audiophile showcase, capturing the band’s legendary 2015 Canadian performance with staggering definition. The high-fidelity SHM-CD formulation handles the three-drummer wall of sound (Mastelotto, Harrison, Rieflin) with surgical precision, keeping the dense polyrhythms from cluttering. Reimagined catalog staples like “The Court of the Crimson King” hit with immense dynamic punch and physical weight. This pressing offers an unmatched stereo soundstage, making it a definitive chronicle of the modern Crimson era.
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Beat SHM-CD Legacy Collection 1980 [SHM-CD]King CrimsonInfinitely interesting workMost atmospheric and often overlooked album of the decade. Heavily inspired by the Beat Generation of Kerouac and Ginsberg, this CD delivers a remarkably warm yet punchy presentation. The intricate sonic textures of “Sartori in Tangier” and Fripp’s lush guitar synth work on “Waiting Man” are rendered with stunning transparency. It is a deep, hypnotic, and wonderfully moody facet of Crimson's geometric rock.
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Three Of A Oerfect Pair SHM-CD Legacy Collection 1980 [SHM-CD]King CrimsonOriginal, excellentThis album completes the 80s trilogy, demonstrating a striking balance between pop accessibility and edgy avant-garde. The album’s famous split between the accessible "Left Side" and experimental "Right Side" sounds phenomenal. The melodic title track and the driving groove of “Sleepless” pop with a tight, visceral pulse from Tony Levin's bass, while the industrial terror of “Industry” boasts an impressive, three-dimensional depth. This Japanese pressing maximizes the dynamic range, turning the final curtain of the quartet's landmark era into a true audiophile celebration.
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Thrak SHM-CD Legacy Collection 1980 [SHM-CD]King CrimsonErratic, off the wall, bizarre...Monumental album “THRAK” represents the ultimate realization of the "double trio" format. On this CD, the polyphonic chaos of a six-piece band turns into a flawless audiophile showcase. The sheer weight of crushing tracks like “Dinosaur” and the dystopian noise of the title cut are balanced by the shimmering, crystal-clear acoustic space of “Walking on Air”. Dense, aggressive, and masterfully defined, this CD is the definitive way to experience 90s progressive metal.
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Starless And Bible Black SHM-CD Legacy Collection 1980 [SHM-CD]King CrimsonTerribly good, Fripp you're genius!The Japanese reissue of “Starless and Bible Black” (1974) is a stellar continuation of the trilogy. This record uniquely blurs the lines between studio production and raw live improvisations captured on European stages. The jagged heavy riffs of “The Great Deceiver” hit with immense punch, while the ambient title track unfolds in all its dark, melancholic beauty. The Japanese mastering perfectly separates John Wetton's driving bass lines and David Cross's fierce violin textures, delivering a wide and hauntingly realistic soundstage that is essential for any audiophile.
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USA SHM-CD Legacy Collection 1980 [SHM-CD]King CrimsonVery good KC live albumThis record stands as a blistering document of the final days of the legendary Wetton-Bruford lineup. On this CD pressing, the historically raw and dense mix is granted extraordinary audiophile breathing room. Exploding tracks like “Asbury Park” and the ferocious “21st Century Schizoid Man” punch through with stunning stereo separation. John Wetton’s growling, overdriven bass lines and David Cross’s searing violin work are perfectly isolated, cleaning up the old sonic clutter. It is the ultimate presentation of one of progressive rock's most aggressive live documents.
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Lizard SHM-CD Legacy Collection 1980 [SHM-CD]King CrimsonHighly recommendCrimson's most baroque and complex jazz-rock effort receives a massive audiophile upgrade. The mastering masterfully separates the chaotic polyphony of woodwinds, jagged keyboard motifs, and Jon Anderson’s guest vocals on “Prince Rupert Awakes.” It completely untangles the historically dense and challenging mix.
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Earthbound SHM-CD Legacy Collection 1980 [SHM-CD]King CrimsonThe performance is greatDocumenting the American tour of the short-lived Boz Burrell, Mel Collins, and Ian Wallace lineup, this release was historically notorious for its lo-fi, "garage-band" sound quality. However, the Japanese mastering works wonders here, shaping that raw, distorted cassette source into a cohesive, ferocious wall of sound. The dirty, blues-rock engine of “21st Century Schizoid Man” and the manic funk jamming on “Groon” sound incredibly visceral on this disc, perfectly capturing the primal chaos of a band breaking apart at the seams.
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DESTROYS ANAHEIM `76 [SHM-CD] [Limited Release]KISSThe best in yearsThis is real Kiss. Recorded when they were unbeatable and before R&R excess habits crept in. High energy rock and roll as it should be. An essential purchase.
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Music Is Our Friend In SHM-CD Artwork Magnet [SHM-CD]King CrimsonSwan song for the three-drummer eraThis double SHM-CD beautifully chronicles the final stops of the 2021 US tour, serving as a powerful swan song for the three-drummer era. The intricate polyrhythmic wall delivered by Harrison, Mastelotto, and Stacey is captured with stunning structural clarity and zero dynamic clutter. Crushing mechanical weight on tracks like “Level Five” coexists perfectly with Mel Collins' shimmering woodwind textures. The mastering effortlessly balances the expansive frequency range of a massive eight-piece lineup, delivering an immersive, front-row audio experience.
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1974 Penn State University in SHM-CD [SHM-CD] [Cardboard Sleeve]King CrimsonPeak 1974 Heavy Progressive Rock LiveFeaturing the powerhouse lineup of Robert Fripp, John Wetton, Bill Bruford, and David Cross, this multi-track recording showcases the group at their heaviest and most intense. This edition delivers raw, uncompromising progressive rock mastery from the final weeks of this historic lineup's touring career.
