Let's Actually Listen to the Album: Pearl Jam

[tragabigzanda]

pearl jam sucks now

[EJ]

Cool, thanks trab!

I've only been through it once, and didn't find it drastically transformed, just a few subtleties here and there. There's still some of that obnxious shrill with some of the guitars - but, I guess you can't completely polish a turd. That being said, I wasn't close to suffering a migraine after listening to this new mix.

I'll give it some more listens. I applaud the effort to try to tame this beast.

[epilogue]

Listen on headphones. It's remarkable how much easier it is on the ears.

[EJ]

Listen on headphones. It's remarkable how much easier it is on the ears.

Oh, I did. Its definitely easier on the ears, I think I was just expecting much more.

[epilogue]

Listen on headphones. It's remarkable how much easier it is on the ears.

Oh, I did. Its definitely easier on the ears, I think I was just expecting much more.

Gotcha.

It sounded remarkably different to me. I mean, for as limited as this kind of thing can be. I don't feel the songs in my fillings anymore.

[hlniv]

what is the technique behind this magical transformation?

The end of big wave into gone is actually a highlight of the album now, I used to have to tense up my brain muscles to avoid not vomiting during the intro to
Gone.

[Jorge]

Cool, thanks trab!

I've only been through it once, and didn't find it drastically transformed, just a few subtleties here and there. There's still some of that obnxious shrill with some of the guitars - but, I guess you can't completely polish a turd. That being said, I wasn't close to suffering a migraine after listening to this new mix.

I'll give it some more listens. I applaud the effort to try to tame this beast.

Yeah, my main takeaway from listening to this "remaster" is that I just don't really like most of these songs

[XWayne]

what is the technique behind this magical transformation?

The end of big wave into gone is actually a highlight of the album now, I used to have to tense up my brain muscles to avoid not vomiting during the intro to
Gone.

I was wondering the same thing: is it possible to correct a commercial release, or has BrickwallHater managed to get the unmastered tracks? Also, is there an artefact / sound glitch at the very end of Inside Job for everyone?

I rediscover the Avocado with this release, and it feels like the mastering had ruined the album for me, there is more depth and subtleties than just a RAWK sound stuck in the red.

[ridleybradout]

what is the technique behind this magical transformation?

The end of big wave into gone is actually a highlight of the album now, I used to have to tense up my brain muscles to avoid not vomiting during the intro to
Gone.

I was wondering the same thing: is it possible to correct a commercial release, or has BrickwallHater managed to get the unmastered tracks? Also, is there an artefact / sound glitch at the very end of Inside Job for everyone?

Short answer - yes, he has corrected the commercial release to increase the dynamic range.

And yes, there is an unfortunate glitch at the end of Inside Job (and the 'hidden' instrumental bit has been removed).

[McParadigm]

Longer answer: no. Dynamic loss is not "hidden" somewhere in a brick walled file. It's lost. You need the original audio to work with. But there are very powerful tools for mimicking it.

[LetMeSleep]

There are no tools to take the egg out of a baked cake.

I eagerly await a reissue and hope that the band do the right thing with the remaster. In fact I'd be happier with a another mixing session overall.

[William Bloke]

I think AR, WWS, and Parachutes benefit the most from this

Parachutes would best benefit by being left off entirely.

[hlniv]

I think AR, WWS, and Parachutes benefit the most from this

Parachutes would best benefit by being left off entirely.

Meaning the album would be better without it? Or that it would be perceived better without all the shitty songs around it on the same album?

Because, this has always been a highlight of the album for me...

[XWayne]

Slightly off-topic: BrickwallHater has recently released a remaster of the Ten Remix. It can now be listened on the same level as the original issue of Ten.

Code: Select all

foobar2000 1.3.8 / Dynamic Range Meter 1.1.1
log date: 2015-07-27 12:56:37

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Analyzed: Pearl Jam / Ten Remix
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

DR         Peak         RMS     Duration Track
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
DR6        0.00 dB    -7.87 dB      3:52 01-Once (2008 Brendan O'Brien Mix)
DR7        0.00 dB    -7.30 dB      4:53 02-Even Flow (2008 Brendan O'Brien Mix)
DR6        0.00 dB    -7.28 dB      5:41 03-Alive (2008 Brendan O'Brien Mix)
DR6        0.00 dB    -6.60 dB      3:19 04-Why Go (2008 Brendan O'Brien Mix)
DR6        0.00 dB    -7.19 dB      5:39 05-Black (2008 Brendan O'Brien Mix)
DR6        0.00 dB    -7.18 dB      5:17 06-Jeremy (2008 Brendan O'Brien Mix)
DR7        0.00 dB    -8.45 dB      2:41 07-Oceans (2008 Brendan O'Brien Mix)
DR6        0.00 dB    -6.94 dB      3:30 08-Porch (2008 Brendan O'Brien Mix)
DR6        0.00 dB    -7.79 dB      4:58 09-Garden (2008 Brendan O'Brien Mix)
DR6        0.00 dB    -7.10 dB      4:18 10-Deep (2008 Brendan O'Brien Mix)
DR6        0.00 dB   -10.00 dB      8:59 11-Release (2008 Brendan O'Brien Mix)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Number of tracks:  11
Official DR value: DR6

Samplerate:        44100 Hz
Channels:          2
Bits per sample:   16
Bitrate:           862 kbps
Codec:             FLAC
================================================================================

Code: Select all

foobar2000 1.3.8 / Dynamic Range Meter 1.1.1
log date: 2015-07-27 12:57:15

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Analyzed: Pearl Jam / Ten Remix (BrickwallHater Remaster)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

DR         Peak         RMS     Duration Track
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
DR12      -1.52 dB   -16.05 dB      3:52 01-01 - Once (2008 Brendan O'Brien Mix)
DR12      -2.49 dB   -15.17 dB      4:53 02-02 - Even Flow (2008 Brendan O'Brien Mix)
DR12      -1.86 dB   -15.43 dB      5:41 03-03 - Alive (2008 Brendan O'Brien Mix)
DR13      -0.36 dB   -14.28 dB      3:19 04-04 - Why Go (2008 Brendan O'Brien Mix)
DR13      -0.36 dB   -15.26 dB      5:39 05-05 - Black (2008 Brendan O'Brien Mix)
DR13      -0.36 dB   -15.02 dB      5:17 06-06 - Jeremy (2008 Brendan O'Brien Mix)
DR11      -3.93 dB   -16.92 dB      2:41 07-07 - Oceans (2008 Brendan O'Brien Mix)
DR13      -0.36 dB   -15.08 dB      3:30 08-08 - Porch (2008 Brendan O'Brien Mix)
DR13      -0.36 dB   -15.85 dB      4:58 09-09 - Garden (2008 Brendan O'Brien Mix)
DR13      -0.75 dB   -15.18 dB      4:18 10-10 - Deep (2008 Brendan O'Brien Mix)
DR12      -2.10 dB   -18.33 dB      8:59 11-11 - Release (2008 Brendan O'Brien Mix)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Number of tracks:  11
Official DR value: DR12

Samplerate:        44100 Hz
Channels:          2
Bits per sample:   16
Bitrate:           740 kbps
Codec:             FLAC
================================================================================

[LetMeSleep]

I think AR, WWS, and Parachutes benefit the most from this

Parachutes would best benefit by being left off entirely.

I'll keep sending the frogs until you change your tune, V.

[evenslow]

Slightly off-topic: BrickwallHater has recently released a remaster of the Ten Remix. It can now be listened on the same level as the original issue of Ten.

Code: Select all

foobar2000 1.3.8 / Dynamic Range Meter 1.1.1
log date: 2015-07-27 12:56:37

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Analyzed: Pearl Jam / Ten Remix
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

DR         Peak         RMS     Duration Track
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
DR6        0.00 dB    -7.87 dB      3:52 01-Once (2008 Brendan O'Brien Mix)
DR7        0.00 dB    -7.30 dB      4:53 02-Even Flow (2008 Brendan O'Brien Mix)
DR6        0.00 dB    -7.28 dB      5:41 03-Alive (2008 Brendan O'Brien Mix)
DR6        0.00 dB    -6.60 dB      3:19 04-Why Go (2008 Brendan O'Brien Mix)
DR6        0.00 dB    -7.19 dB      5:39 05-Black (2008 Brendan O'Brien Mix)
DR6        0.00 dB    -7.18 dB      5:17 06-Jeremy (2008 Brendan O'Brien Mix)
DR7        0.00 dB    -8.45 dB      2:41 07-Oceans (2008 Brendan O'Brien Mix)
DR6        0.00 dB    -6.94 dB      3:30 08-Porch (2008 Brendan O'Brien Mix)
DR6        0.00 dB    -7.79 dB      4:58 09-Garden (2008 Brendan O'Brien Mix)
DR6        0.00 dB    -7.10 dB      4:18 10-Deep (2008 Brendan O'Brien Mix)
DR6        0.00 dB   -10.00 dB      8:59 11-Release (2008 Brendan O'Brien Mix)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Number of tracks:  11
Official DR value: DR6

Samplerate:        44100 Hz
Channels:          2
Bits per sample:   16
Bitrate:           862 kbps
Codec:             FLAC
================================================================================

Code: Select all

foobar2000 1.3.8 / Dynamic Range Meter 1.1.1
log date: 2015-07-27 12:57:15

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Analyzed: Pearl Jam / Ten Remix (BrickwallHater Remaster)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

DR         Peak         RMS     Duration Track
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
DR12      -1.52 dB   -16.05 dB      3:52 01-01 - Once (2008 Brendan O'Brien Mix)
DR12      -2.49 dB   -15.17 dB      4:53 02-02 - Even Flow (2008 Brendan O'Brien Mix)
DR12      -1.86 dB   -15.43 dB      5:41 03-03 - Alive (2008 Brendan O'Brien Mix)
DR13      -0.36 dB   -14.28 dB      3:19 04-04 - Why Go (2008 Brendan O'Brien Mix)
DR13      -0.36 dB   -15.26 dB      5:39 05-05 - Black (2008 Brendan O'Brien Mix)
DR13      -0.36 dB   -15.02 dB      5:17 06-06 - Jeremy (2008 Brendan O'Brien Mix)
DR11      -3.93 dB   -16.92 dB      2:41 07-07 - Oceans (2008 Brendan O'Brien Mix)
DR13      -0.36 dB   -15.08 dB      3:30 08-08 - Porch (2008 Brendan O'Brien Mix)
DR13      -0.36 dB   -15.85 dB      4:58 09-09 - Garden (2008 Brendan O'Brien Mix)
DR13      -0.75 dB   -15.18 dB      4:18 10-10 - Deep (2008 Brendan O'Brien Mix)
DR12      -2.10 dB   -18.33 dB      8:59 11-11 - Release (2008 Brendan O'Brien Mix)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Number of tracks:  11
Official DR value: DR12

Samplerate:        44100 Hz
Channels:          2
Bits per sample:   16
Bitrate:           740 kbps
Codec:             FLAC
================================================================================

Any discernible difference, good or bad?

[Kevin Davis]

Why would one "unremaster" an album that is already available in its original, unremastered form?

I admire this guy's mission statement but his work does not interest me. Just seems like the sort of thing you couldn't begin to do correctly without access to the masters.

[evenslow]

Why would one "unremaster" an album that is already available in its original, unremastered form?

I admire this guy's mission statement but his work does not interest me. Just seems like the sort of thing you couldn't begin to do correctly without access to the masters.

I'm guessing it's more like he took away the "brickwall" effect from Brendan O'Brien's remix. So, you would get the benefit of the lack of reverb without all the brickwalling.

Or I could be totally wrong.

[Norah]

I admire this guy's mission statement but his work does not interest me. Just seems like the sort of thing you couldn't begin to do correctly without access to the masters.

Pretty much how I feel about all this.

[Kevin Davis]

Why would one "unremaster" an album that is already available in its original, unremastered form?

I admire this guy's mission statement but his work does not interest me. Just seems like the sort of thing you couldn't begin to do correctly without access to the masters.

I'm guessing it's more like he took away the "brickwall" effect from Brendan O'Brien's remix. So, you would get the benefit of the lack of reverb without all the brickwalling.

Or I could be totally wrong.

Oh, gotcha -- I had missed that it was the remixed version.