Mastodon – Crack The Skye

Finally broke down and spent the money to own this as I had the single disc and was disappointed in it. I’m still disappointed. These mixes are just too dense. There’s detail (maybe too much, I’m not a huge fan of hearing the ride getting slapped all the time) but there’s just no swings in level. Just one chunk of compression. It’s too bad.

4/5 Finally broke down and paid the money for this! Awesome record. "The Baron" sounds absolutely incredible on here. I'd give it a 5/5 but the surface noise was a lot, and the soundstage on side A/B sounded kinda muddy. Def need to spin clean this thing because after receiving it extremely dirty (like how do you even get that much fuzz and lint on a vinyl record?), I only had time to brush clean it. I'm sure it'll sound even better and get that 5/5 after it's fully cleaned

Superb! I flew beyond the sun before it was time.

I don’t even know how they can fit all of this greatness on a single LP! This belongs on Double LP cut @ 45RPM. You won’t regret it!

Side D, The Last Baron, on this is an absolute beast! I don't break this record out much, but holy business, it's killer! The 45RPM is the only way to go, let's face it! Outstanding album and equally amazing pressing. Doesn't hurt to have two either! ;)

I am shocked at how much better this record sounds than every other version of the album I have heard. Guitar parts that blend together on the others are clearly separate. The bass is distinct, with every note audible. Little touches that I had missed can be heard. Everything comes together perfectly, making an already fantastic record even better. And it sounds GREAT loud. It makes me want to get 2x45 versions of any record I can find.

I had this some years ago and expected it to be the pressing this album absolutely deserves, but unfortunately it was a huge letdown. The music is verrry quiet, and the noise-floor was LOUD (not rice-krispies, just a constant muffled "air.") So when you turn the album way up to get a good level, anywhere even near big & loud, the noise floor is obnoxiously right there inside everything!!! Not to mention although the mastered music within is absolutely better/more detailed than all of the horrific-sounding single-LP pressings, it still just sounds like the cd but with a hi-cut, taming the bite on this whole album. Extreme disappointment! I also played it on 2 stereo systems with different flavors to check make sure I wasn't imagining this. One medium-end, warm sounding system & one high-end system with tons of treble extension. Same result both times: The cd absolutely destroys this vinyl pressing :(
Just a fair warning to everyone: If a cool, heavyweight overpriced double-LP for just displaying purposes is your thing then go ahead and get this. But if you want to listen to & crank this album (as you should!) then the ol' CD is still the only option really worth getting.

Sounds absolutely amazing! Like hearing the album for the first time. I have the 33 as well and this sounds much fuller with a lot more background detail.

There were 2500 of these made.... why the heck are people spending a ridiculous amount of money for the 45rpm version when there are that many in the wild?