Oh, Mercy!
5 Stars
Posted
Thursday, November 1, 2007
by
Sckott
Two things about this issue of Tres Hombres:
One, the original "as intended" mix is used just like the original London LP once was. When CD-time came, Bill Ham flogged everything with disco-style remixing. Unless you had that original London LP (which is soaked in compression) this is the one and only way to hear what the band first approved.
And what's there is/was absolutely beautiful.
Two, it's entirely convincing (between style and the fact the package is so well done) this album could have been released this year. Timeless as much of the material is, would it be so difficult to think "Waiting For The Bus" seems dated next to a modern White Stripes record?
The "natural" idea in music is coming back to fashion and so is Steve Hoffman's approach to mastering. However, nothing can come close to his complexity of dedication and simplicity of technical approach.
The proof is there. The album was better than you think. You will be amazed.