Elvis Costello & The Attractions – This Year's Model

COMPARISON TIME:

2015 Back To Black EU pressing
Vs
2021 UM Remaster EU pressing

First off.... sigh. Neither of these really sounds great. I would love to hear a NM UK original and a MoFi but im not inspired to seek either at the moment. Neither of these is an outright winner but imho the 2015 is the better overall. The bass is abit deeper. The treble is abit less dry. It stays consistent of clarity throughout. The newer 2021 is a little drier and leaner but counters with better image width and depth. They are not far apart but i feel this recording is presented on each as being a poor recording by default and the 2015 makes it sound less poor. Also the while the balance of the 2021 appears brighter at first, once id reached pump it up and beyond on side one, the 2021 has dulled off. Its got more baked in IGD which is abit odd as it does have wider grooves (less run out area) vs the 2015.

Pressing quality wise theres not much in it. Usually i would bank on the 2021's Record Industry plant vinyl to be far superior to the 2015's GZ Media produce. Its about evens tbh... the GZ has maybe abit more light noise but the RI has more groove roar below.

So.... two editions that could surely be better. This recording is deperate for a PROPER AAA remastering done at 45rpm over two discs. It would transform it. Someone, ideally AP or MoFi, make it happen pls!

COMPARISON TIME:

2015 Back To Black EU pressing
Vs
2021 UM Remaster EU pressing

First off.... sigh. Neither of these really sounds great. I would love to hear a NM UK original and a MoFi but im not inspired to seek either at the moment. Neither of these is an outright winner but imho the 2015 is the better overall. The bass is abit deeper. The treble is abit less dry. It stays consistent of clarity throughout. The newer 2021 is a little drier and leaner but counters with better image width and depth. They are not far apart but i feel this recording is presented on each as being a poor recording by default and the 2015 makes it sound less poor. Also the while the balance of the 2021 appears brighter at first, once id reached pump it up and beyond on side one, the 2021 has dulled off. Its got more baked in IGD which is abit odd as it does have wider grooves (less run out area) vs the 2015.

Pressing quality wise theres not much in it. Usually i would bank on the 2021's Record Industry plant vinyl to be far superior to the 2015's GZ Media produce. Its about evens tbh... the GZ has maybe abit more light noise but the RI has more groove roar below.

So.... two editions that could surely be better. This recording is deperate for a PROPER AAA remastering done at 45rpm over two discs. It would transform it. Someone, ideally AP or MoFi, make it happen pls!

Sounds fantastic indeed. And I scored a Mexican-made disc with no marks at all on the surface, really rare these days.

Analyzed folder: C:\Audio Work\This Year's Model\wav\
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
DR Peak RMS Filename
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

DR9 -4.22 dB -16.11 dB 01 Elvis Costello - No Action.wav
DR12 -2.92 dB -16.82 dB 02 Elvis Costello - This Year's Girl.wav
DR12 -2.17 dB -18.01 dB 03 Elvis Costello - The Beat.wav
DR12 -2.80 dB -16.14 dB 04 Elvis Costello - Pump It Up.wav
DR14 -2.27 dB -19.46 dB 05 Elvis Costello - Little Triggers.wav
DR15 -2.15 dB -19.19 dB 06 Elvis Costello - You Belong To Me.wav
DR13 -1.23 dB -17.23 dB 07 Elvis Costello - Hand In Hand.wav
DR13 -0.00 dB -16.01 dB 08 Elvis Costello - (I Don't Want To Go To) Chelsea.wav
DR13 -1.15 dB -16.20 dB 09 Elvis Costello - Lip Service.wav
DR13 -0.61 dB -16.67 dB 10 Elvis Costello - Living In Paradise.wav
DR12 -2.19 dB -17.48 dB 11 Elvis Costello - Lipstick Vogue.wav
DR10 -1.60 dB -16.02 dB 12 Elvis Costello - Night Rally.wav
DR12 -1.88 dB -16.50 dB 13 Elvis Costello - Big Tears.wav
DR11 -1.43 dB -15.95 dB 14 Elvis Costello - Radio, Radio.wav
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Number of files: 14
Official DR value: DR12

My copy of this pressing has a red circular sticker all around the circumference of the label, covering the CBS or Costello logos.
I have added a pic on this entry.

I’m really surprised by the sonically quality of this record. Quick bass response, clear, warm and quiet vinyl. Really like this one

This album kicks ass. Indie type music before Indy was indy. It took me 3 years to find this album in good shape. 💯

For a U.S. pressing of EC, this sounds pretty good, lots of low end punch, especially on Pump It Up.

Great pressing. Better than any digital copy I've ever heard/owned. The imaging, depth and soundstage are fantastic. If you find a copy of this pressing, pick it up. Recommended.

An excellent release/pressing. The sound is clear, crisp, coherent, dynamic and punchy.

Sped up ever so slightly. Night Rally fades out, too :(

Words, words, words…