Five Iron Frenzy is Better on Vinyl
342565
I picked up this album in slightly used condition - but it felt like new. The corners were ever so slightly bent, which isn't much of a problem for me as the description stated that, and frankly, a bent corner doesn't change the quality of the vinyl itself. The actual disc was in perfect condition and plays perfectly. Also, the poster was still included in the sleeve, which was a nice little surprise that I wasn't expecting.

On the music side of things, this is not the definitive Five Iron Frenzy record. Rather, it is a continuation of the path that they are on as people and as a band. If you liked the sounds of Electric Boogaloo and The End Is Near, you'll enjoy this album. Scott Kerr returns as the band's primary songwriter and absolutely knocks it out of the park on this release. In fact, it's definitely worth picking up the Between Pavement and Stars EP that was released after this album just so you can hear more songs that sound like this.

Favorite tracks: We Own the Skies, I Am Jack's Smirking Revenge, To Build A Fire, Blizzards and Bygones
2257590
Great live . I've got the vinyl witch it sounds great, specialy 2nd vinyl witch invluded electronic beats .
352296
when five iron frenzy got back together I was more excited than words can describe. The uniqueness of their sound, their intelligent and funny lyrics, their just over-all positive feel and vibe. And then they release THIS..... a cookie cutter rock and roll [yes not ska] album that made me, in one day, hate a band I have loved since I was little.
1193741
This is a review of the 180g vinyl release of this album. I would state that it's just OK, but at this point this release it getting over priced. I will not go into the content. It's one of the best records ever made and should be in everyone's collection. As far as sound goes, the vinyl is quiet. The mastering is just a little better than the original asylum releases from back in the day. Which is to say, it's just OK, but probably what you should buy if you have to own it on vinyl.

The best copy I own is vinyl DCC release mastered by Steve Hoffman. While I'm not a huge fan of Mr. Hoffman, he does get some of his work done exceptionally well. And in the case of Hotel California, he knocks it out of the park. The cost of used DCC copies now range over $300, so they aren't affordable for most people. The DCC Gold CD however, with the decline of physical digital media, has become similarly priced to the 180g vinyl pricing. I haven't heard this CD, but I would go that route over the new 180g version. I recommend getting the Gold CD over the new vinyl just because Hoffman mastered both analog and digital versions. You can do your own research on DCC release, but, Hoffman in essence corrected the mastering to sound better on YOUR speakers. Apparently, Hoffman found out during his remastering that the original album mastering sounded awful unless you matched the playback onto specific JBL monitors that were used on the original mastering. He corrected the mastering to match the sound he heard coming out of JBLs studio monitors to the sound output of home speakers with his remaster. And it sounds completely different from the original mastering and much more refined, at least on my speakers. The drums, don't sound as boomy as they do on the Asylum masters. They asylum masters just sound over produced compared to DCC releases. So consider the Gold CD, if you can find one at a price close to the 180g price, I think your money will be much better spent.

In case, you're interested I also own the Japanese SACD, which is just OK as well, but no much better than the old Asylum vinyl copies and about the same as the 180g vinyl. The sound is clear to the point where it's a bit sterile. The SACD also has a 5.1 mix, which I find interesting. But I also think multi-channel music is about as interesting as 3D TV. It sounds like a cool idea, but, it turns out, it isn't really worth the bother. If you've never heard multi-channel mixes, it's weird. If you turn your head, the sound stage shifts. This doesn't happen with movies, because you keep your face toward the screen. But unless you're an audiophile who is more interested in listening to gear over enjoying great music, you aren't going to just stare at space in between your speakers for the length of and entire album. Just my take.

I don't normally recommend CDs over analog copies. Most of my collection is vinyl, but this is an exception. If you ever find a DCC vinyl Hotel California, buy it. I can't recommend it more, it's just really rare and just stupidly priced. The order I would place the copies I own are as follows:
DCC Vinyl
SACD
180g new vinyl
Original vinyl mastering
Original CD mastering

I would suspect the DCC Gold CD sounds better than the SACD, but it might sound better than the vinyl. Probably not, but more probable is that it will sound way better than new 180g vinyl. Most people don't think Hotel California actually sounds all that great despite including some of the best songs ever recorded, but those people also have never heard the DCC remasters.
1353501
Too much kneeling to Mr. Page. The 2014 reissues are compressed, not as much as some, but compressed none the less. Use Audacity and look at the 90s stuff and particularly at any Vinyl rips. Only Pink Floyd, King Crimson and Jethro Tull reissues can be trusted. The Rain Song should be nice and quiet but it is just LOUD.
4449650
When Classic Records releases a new title on vinyl, it's always special. But when that title is the mono version of Jim Hendrix's classic Axis Bold as Love, it's an event. Original mono pressings of this album (if you can find them) go for as much as $2000. Several of the songs are noticeably different than the stereo versions most of us know and love. In general, the 180g vinyl pressing has considerably more bass than its CD counterpart, although the sound on the CD is clearer in several places. The album was mastered from the original mono masters by Eddie Kramer--the original engineer on the sessions. Let's talk about the specifics...
"EXP" is almost 40 seconds shorter on the vinyl, and the vocals by `Paul Caruso' are louder. The difference on the stereo version is extended feedback at the end. "Spanish Castle Magic" and "Wait Until Tomorrow" boast a much better low end than the CD. On the latter tune, the first note is too loud on CD. The volume is corrected on the LP, but the song fades up to full volume, as opposed to maintaining a consistent level throughout the track. One of the other problems with the CD is audible tape hiss. The false ending on "Ain't No Telling" is louder on the CD. The vinyl is much warmer on "Little Wing" and the end solo is more up front.
"If 6 Was 9" doesn't have near as much high end as the CD, and the bass is slightly muddy. Although the song's highs are much brighter on the CD, it also has considerable tape hiss that isn't heard on the vinyl. "You Got Me Floatin'" is missing the intro on the LP. "Castles Made of Sand" has a cleaner intro on the CD; the vinyl is slightly muddy in comparison, but features a different vocal performance. "One Rainy Wish" has much more bass on LP and a slightly different ending. The title track, "Bold as Love" is the one instance where the CD is superior. Without the channel panning, the song is clearly missing something.
The burning question here is: which one sounds better? It really depends on your personal preferences. The analog aficionados will no doubt pick the vinyl. It's much warmer than the CD and the bass will literally shake the room. Digi-fans will be more than happy with the sound on the CD (even if they need to crank up the bass a bit), and the booklet is excellent. It's a shame that it's not included in the vinyl pressing. On a positive note, the vinyl is on the Track label, plus when you consider that the mono version has been out of print ever since the original pressing hit the stores, this is the perfect addition for the Hendrix collectors out there. The choice is yours.
1089266
Great album with a good/ok vinyl mastering, and only on 140 gram vinyl. Which makes me think that this was re-released without much thought to it. Whether or not you believe that a heavier weighted album sounds better is up for debate. I usually prefer the heavier vinyl. Usually because the high weight is a better quality product, meaning they are usually special editions that represent better mastering and manufacturing process. They can tend to be more durable and the weight can provide a more stable platform for your stylus/cantilever. And to me, the weight feels more substantial and better in your hands. But, if you love Crazy Horse like I do, then this is likely a must have.
3887754
All the hype is well deserved.  The Dead Weather may turn out to be a one-off, but they sure don't sound like it.  You'd swear they had been together for years, not months.  I won't compare them to their members' other bands, or any other bands for that matter, because their sound is their own.  This one's essential.

However, I regret buying the vinyl version of this album from Amazon.  Here's why: some, if not all, of Amazon's fulfillment centers do not have album shipping boxes.  Instead, they throw them in a general-purpose box that is too large.  Unless you like your album jackets dog-eared or bent, you'll do better by purchasing it from a dealer who knows how to ship vinyl.
3358729
If ever an album needed re-mastering this was it. Needless to say, the music is terrific but the vinyl singles of some of these songs always sounded so much better than they did on the original CD issue. Also, the volume discrepancies between the tracks (particularly the first two) always irritated me. The re-master sounds terrific and finally does this underrated masterpiece justice. I know some reviewers suggest that it is not up to the standard of Karl and his chums' other albums but I disagree. Its just not as commercial as the ones that followed. And hey, it has Ship of Fools on it  one of the greatest singles of all time. That alone is worth the cost. Go on, treat yourself. But make sure you get the 2006 enhanced edition which not only has the improved sound but also some fun videos included.
1052948
I may have gotten a lemon here.  i have the 180 gram vinyl bought new in shrink wrap at a local store.

obviously the music is 5 stars, but the review is for the vinyl version.

i think this is one bad pressing by fat possum:
there are an assortment of CONSTANT background noise on a NEW vinyl.  enough to be (very) distracting.
the highs sound very shrill and rough on the ears.

i'd be very curious to hear if other people have this problem.  hopefully it's just me, i'm returning the album tomorrow, and will buy somewhere else if most people have a clean copy.
395920
The music is great, and it's even better on vinyl!
4233000
Definitely my favorite album but the vinyl has some pops in it.
2859491
This is my first Primus album and i really enjoyed it, all great songs with a sound that reseblmes King Crimson tough wih their own particular style. But i'm a bit disappointed with the vinyl edition because it doesn't sound loud enough and equalization is not the best. I hope we get a remastered edition some day.
3098921
The version I got from Amazon was the Interscope Records, Aftermath Records, Shady Records repressing. The top left of the sleeve came with a crease in it. The vinyls themselves are also out of spec, but they sound fine for 12 dollars. The center hole is slightly too small and needs material removed to comfortably sit on the vinyl player peg. The diameter of the vinyl is also out of spec, and so wide that it prevents me from closing the top plastic cover on my Project Debut Carbon when the vinyl is sitting on the platter. This said, the vinyl itself sounds fine. This definitely isn't the definitive LP version of the album though. I recommend going after an original pressing or wait for a anniversary edition repressing.
1340422
I give a good 5 stars for the music, Arcade Fire second album is one of their best. BUT the vinyl release is poorly made. The vinyl is very noisy, also the gatefold sleeve is too small so the 2 LP set get scratch because of the paper inner sleeve. Merge record use the only one vinyl record plant in the canada who still manufacturing vinyl and the company is call RIP-V and based in Montreal city. Sadly their quality is a hit and miss. Some of their releases are good and other ones are bad. I don't know if it's because they use cheap vinyl or because the control of the quality is poor or because some bands order cheaper vinyl insistead of good one but the result is a 2 LP set full of surface noises even if I use a high-fi turntable with a grado cartridge.

Amazon offer a replacement and I get it but the sound was the same on the replacement so I assume it's a bad batch of records...
3737865
Good music. Nice album art. The vinyl comes in a matte gatefold jacket and glossy paper inner sleeve. Lyrics are printed on the inner sleeve and there's a nice picture inside the gatefold.

The vinyl quality, however, is not great. Several noticeable crackles, pops, and scratches. I exchanged it for another copy which is no better. It's listenable but I expect a factory-sealed record to be 99% perfect. This one is more like 80%.
3737289
It was in pretty good shape for the age of the record.  Some pops but I don't mind.  I miss hearing that on vinyl.