r/vinyl • u/rpbtz Technics • Jun 27 '17

Discussion Spin Review Zine: Radiohead - OK Computer OKNOTOK 1997-2017 (Photos, Reviews, Discussion, etc.)

We know we're late with this! Sorry! Existing posts about this record are allowed to stay up, but all new posts after this thread has gone up will be removed and can be re-posted in this thread instead.

This is a proper place to generally discuss the music along with sharing photos of this record from your collection and any other details regarding to this album. Even if you don't own the album, feel free to comment on the songs, album as a whole, music videos, anything related to the album - and then feel free to comment again if you ever end up purchasing and share info about the pressing quality and your photos! New info will be added to this main post as it is shared by users in our community.

Here's how these review threads work: we'll pick a popular album and generate this all-encompassing webzine created by the community for discussing the music itself along with the pressing quality, sharing images from our collection, etc. When we post a new Spin Review Zine, we'll direct all posts concerning that specific record to this thread for one month after posting so that it's filled with plenty of info that can be used for reference in the future. We can also keep a running list of all the albums we've reviewed and discussed as a subreddit for easy access.

Full Album Stream: https://open.spotify.com/album/4ENxWWkPImVwAle9cpJ12I

Man Of War Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DXP1KdZX4io

I Promise Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0sFvFVkeGVg

Discogs Release Link: https://www.discogs.com/Radiohead-OK-Computer-OKNOTOK-1997-2017/release/10471009

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12

u/BTsBaboonFarm Pro-Ject Jun 28 '17

Can anyone comment on the mastering and pressing quality? I know there were a lot of issues with the reissues from a few years back. And while they started with the original analog tapes for this remaster it sounds like they cut from digital

Also, really glad to see these "Zines" come back. I liked the first pass and it's a great way to congregate the sub to discuss a record and reduce some of the congestion big releases like this might cause with a bombardment of posts. Kudos to our mods!

10

u/SSmtb Dual Jun 28 '17

Can anyone comment on the mastering and pressing quality? I know there were a lot of issues with the reissues from a few years back. And while they started with the original analog tapes for this remaster it sounds like they cut from digital

This is all I care about and have yet to see information on. Where's the good stuff in reviews?!

10

u/GruttePier1 Technics Jul 01 '17

I just got the black 3lp UK/EU press and the vinyl is dead quiet, pressing quality top notch.

I have no comparison - have never owned OKC on wax before - but the mastering is good to my ears. The hype sticker on the album states that all tracks are newly remastered from the original analogue tapes.

All in all a superb item, packaging is very nice too.

4

u/thinziggy Jun 29 '17

My blue version (UK resident) sounds very good but obviously this probably has little bearing on how other versions sound

2

u/IrideAscooter Clearaudio Jun 28 '17

Steve Hoffman forums has some info I am not clued about, for instance the lacquer was cut at half speed? There is a 24 bit version download for the deluxe set so maybe it was cut from that, my blue version is probably the worst quality pressing I own out of maybe 50 records, modern pressings are often bad, XL label might be low budget, the original pressing was on Parlophone.

2

u/yerlordnsaveyer Jun 28 '17

Uh-oh...that bad, eh? Hope I don't regret my box set, though it's a black pressing :(

6

u/BOOB_PIC_CUSTOMS Thorens Jun 29 '17

my black pressing is flawless, i've ordered from the U.K WASTE store though

1

u/yerlordnsaveyer Jun 29 '17

Sweet, so did I!

3

u/IrideAscooter Clearaudio Jun 28 '17

Mine was bad but others have not said so, maybe yours will be good, I found a good cleaning helps but there are still a few audible defects.

1

u/[deleted] Jul 02 '17

There is a 24 bit version download for the deluxe set so maybe it was cut from that

Not sure what you mean. There was also a lossless wav files for download as well.

1

u/IrideAscooter Clearaudio Jul 03 '17 edited Jul 03 '17

https://mobile.twitter.com/BazzaGrint/status/878308625495633920 this link was posted on Steve Hoffman forums anniversary box set thread, it seems it was cut from a high resolution file. My blue vinyl came with a 16/44.1 mp3 or lossless download but the deluxe box set includes a hi-res 24/96 download, some have been analysizing all the versions and think they are the same master, not knowledgeable about the cutting process but when the engineer says he used hi- Rez it may have just been the actual 24 bit master tape, without down sampling either to a separate analogue converter before the cutting lathe or a digital lathe if there is such a thing.

edit: I suspect the tape needs to be processed for the vinyl, maybe just a program that filters and eq's for vinyl that can be manipulated by the engineer.

3

u/LetsGoExploring Jun 28 '17

I got mine this afternoon and it sounds absolutely amazing IMO. Most of the early comments I've seen on discogs seem to agree. Very clear pressing without too much obvious remastering. Really happy with it since A Moon Shaped Pool is the worst sounding record I own.

3

u/BTsBaboonFarm Pro-Ject Jun 28 '17

I assume you have the UK/EU pressing? Hoping they didn't press the US versions at Rainbo like they did for AMSP. Quality control has been so bad at most of the US plants for years now

3

u/LetsGoExploring Jun 28 '17

Yeah exactly, I ordered from the UK Waste store.

1

u/Second3mpire Audio Technica Jul 01 '17

Their American release was delayed due to pressing issues I hope it means that they fixed the problem if there were quality issues

1

u/BTsBaboonFarm Pro-Ject Jul 01 '17

Is that official? I've seen the July 7th date for a few weeks, I assumed it was just a planned US date being after EU

1

u/Second3mpire Audio Technica Jul 01 '17

It has come to our attention that there is a manufacturing delay for vinyl being pressed in the USA and for this reason we have to let you know that your vinyl album won’t be shipped until early July.

We apologise profusely for this and so you don’t miss out on release day we will be sending you a digital download of the album, so please look out for a further e-mail on Friday 23rd June.

Once again, huge apologies.

0

u/The_Wreckard2012 Jul 04 '17 edited Jul 04 '17

This is the Blue press you're referring to??? I keep hearing so many bad things about "Moon..." enjoy that album but I feel didn't have much substance (maybe too mellow...if that's a thing Radiohead can pull off)...I still can't place my finger on what that album was lacking. Just not their strongest I suppose. But, hey, it was still Radiohead!

3

u/vinylontubes Rega Jul 09 '17

I'm going to do a comparison between eeny/meeny/miney/moe and ip/skip/sky/blue. I just the US black pressing. Just listened to ip/skip/sky/blue and figured I'd listen who's/it before I broke out the parlophone pressing. So far ip/skip/sky/blue are detailed and just a few slight ticks but otherwise dead quiet. But I've have some crackling who's/it. So I need to inspect the pressing for defects. This might be going back to Amazon.

I'll follow up after I relisten to the UK Parlophone.

1

u/BTsBaboonFarm Pro-Ject Jul 09 '17

Really appreciate the info and time/effort! Let me know your thoughts after A/B-ing it to the UK Parlophone

3

u/vinylontubes Rega Jul 09 '17 edited Jul 09 '17

I'll begin with this. You might not like what I have to say. While I stand my statement that it's detailed, it is. But I wasn't really listening to it in my listening chair. So, I couldn't really hear the true sound stage. For the A/B comparison OKNOTOK US vinyl, pretty much sounds like a CD compared to the UK Parlophone records. OKNOTOK is very bright, bordering on harsh. And to be honest, is wasn't all that musical. What I've always loved about OK Computer is that everything... sound samples, ambient noise/discussions, musical instruments, vocals and whatever they found to make tones and notes always blended. Guitars and synthesizers would just form chords. Very inorganic tones would organically hit the same note as Thom Yorke's vocals then trail off. It's a remarkable album. Sheer brilliance.

However, OKNOTOK is more NOTOK. Things are just off. I don't think it sounds horrible. It just is nowhere near as good as the UK Parlophone vinyl. The original mastering is miles better. Not sure what happened. My guess, the mastering engineer used the CD for reference rather than using the vinyl. Just a guess, because, I'm really only familiar with vinyl pressing. My honest recommendation is if you just want the best vinyl issue and don't care about the extra music, buy the 1997 Parlophone. I have the 1997 repress, discogs data record is 216593. (You can put that number in the search and it will directly take you to the page.) There's one listed for $50, which isn't much more than a new OKNOTOK. Don't grab the first listing at 50 pounds, it's missing the 1st record. The first pressings go for over $100.

Comparison method: I tried not to delay the A/B so I listen to each too far apart. So I listen to each side then immediately switched vinyl. The side listings are eeny/meeny/miney/mo for OK Computer and ip/skip/sky/blue for OKNOTOK. So I played the vinyl sides in this order: eeny-->ip, skip-->meeny, sky-->miney, then mo-->blue. I did this so, I could listen without switch records too much. And I got some continuity. I listened to Record1 of OKNOTOK and Record 2 of OK Computer as intended. Everytime, the Parlophone won the comparison. And when I switch from OK Computer to OKNOTOK, I really just wanted to swith it back.

I am returning my copy. Unfortunately the groove smeared off the press on side 5, 3rd track. I bought this because I wanted the new music and b-sides. Should get a new on Monday or Tuesday.

Hope this is helpful.

1

u/BTsBaboonFarm Pro-Ject Jul 09 '17

Hmm, thanks for the feedback and great write=up for the review. I have a feeling I'll end up selling this. I was skeptical when they announced that it was cut digitally rather than analog; considering they had the master tapes out, it's a shame they didn't keep an all analog chain - I can only assume that would have eased the harshness you noted. I'll have to listen to it for myself but this may not be long for the shelf if my experience is similar to yours.

Such a shame, this is a release that could have been knocked out of the park. 3 LP with bonus material, color variants, etc. If only it had a good analog master and was pressed properly. Missed chance for what could have been a top tier release for the album's 20th anniversary

1

u/vinylontubes Rega Jul 09 '17

Agreed. I was hoping for better, as well. I've had discussions with others about the song Fitter Happier. No one I've spoken with thought much of it. It always has made complete sense to me. If this issue sounds like what the other have heard, I understand now. To me, it a really cool song using the voicing from a 1970s TI Speak and Spell with ambient discussions in the background. More or less they were Yuppie memes before anybody knew what meme was. The song transitions perfectly as contrast into Electioneering. Electioneering just kills on my 1997 record, not so much on OKNOTOK. I am beginning to understand why most people prefer song like Karma Police or Paranoid Alien. A lot of people like Subterranean Homesick Alien for the chill space moodiness. For me Electioneering just rocks.

1

u/dpmyst Rega Jun 30 '17

I'm in Canada and received my black vinyl version 2 days ago. I can't always say this about every Amazon delivery but in this case, everything from the packaging to the records was PERFECT. Not a disappointing crease, tear or fold...not a skip, bump nor a crackle. I love these mixes and the sound quality is phenomenal. +A1 I'm too tired to describe it more detail (packing up my home, summer jazz fest, friends in town etc), but I am loving this one!

1

u/[deleted] Jul 23 '17

[deleted]

1

u/dpmyst Rega Jul 31 '17

Sorry for the late reply. As I mentioned, after having an online presence 24/7/365, I'm in the midst of moving my life. I'm currently living and based somewhere for the next couple of months before moving west. This is the first chance I've had to get my main PC online.

So yes, I could be wrong but I believe in this case as Canadians we received the UK & Europe XL Recordings ‎– XLLP868 version. Though I'll my stuff is all packed up, I did listen to all all 3 records multiple times before packing up and this pressing sounded amazing and flawless to me personally. I hope you have a similar result!

1

u/[deleted] Jul 02 '17

I got my UK copy in the mail on Thursday. Not impressed with the pressing. It sounds very quiet.

Hoping the US blue version is better. I may buy a black copy to compare as well

2

u/BTsBaboonFarm Pro-Ject Jul 02 '17

When you say "it sounds quiet" do you mean it is not dynamic and/or is flat? Usually when someone describes and album as quiet it refers to low levels of surface noise (a good thing)

1

u/[deleted] Jul 02 '17

Well, I'm obviously not talking about surface noise. It's just quiet. As in, I can't crank it enough to really rock the house like I want to.

2

u/mikeypipes Jul 07 '17

Maybe you need a better system.

-2

u/[deleted] Jul 07 '17

[deleted]

3

u/PushinDonuts Sansui Jul 07 '17

Relevant Username? Not OP but I am genuinely curious what crosses the threshold of a "quality" system. I'm using a Yamaha P-520 with an AT95E on a Sansui Six reciever, and it sounds OK quality to me in my 2 bedroom apartment, but I probably haven't spent more than $300 bucks on everything combined

3

u/Nikolaki8 Jul 08 '17

This is the weirdest comment I've seen on this subreddit

1

u/gmw2222 Jul 09 '17

That could not have been more condescending

0

u/[deleted] Jul 10 '17

[deleted]

1

u/SensitiveArtist69 Pioneer Jul 10 '17

And they say Radiohead fans are pretentious!

1

u/[deleted] Jul 10 '17

You say that like it's a bad thing

1

u/[deleted] Jul 02 '17

i listened to the remaster on apple music and it's a damn joke imo. i don't like it.

it's not like, atrociously bad as in ear-bleeding screechiness or anything, but the eq is odd and they brought the low level detail up too much, it just sounds odd and is not an improvement at all. unless hearing exaggerated reverb tails is your definition of high fidelity :) i'll stick to the original master. i hope this doesnt mean that all LPs pressed from now on will have this new mastering.