New reissue of Exile on Main Street

I just received the super deluxe edition and have been listening to it. Initial impressions are that the CDs have been cleaned up quite a bit. The guitars pop and Mick and Keith’s vocals are clearly out in front. They aren’t as murky as the Virgin remasters. Whether that’s a good thing or not is subject to debate. Bob Ludwig did the Virgin remasters, and I GREATLY prefer them to the latest batch of remasters from Universal, which are totally compressed and bright beyond belief. What a disappointment! But this “Exile” is different. It doesn’t sound really compressed, just cleaned up. Personally, I think the Ludwig remaster comes closest to the original intent, but this one allows you to see the instrumental interplay to a greater degree.

I also liked the bonus tracks. Not essential, certainly, but interesting nonetheless. The packaging of the super deluxe box is also really nice. I had to have it, as "Exile" is in my top five of best albums of all time.

Lousy Recording. No real improvement with the remaster.

I am enjoying it on my sun deck looking over the Pacific, while being deeply opiated. The scarf around my neck is a nice touch. In a word: scuzzy genius.

B-fury, Does the "opium" come with the music because I believe that under an influence it's the only way the reissue will sound much worth the price?

I'm listening to side two of the '94 Ludwig remaster now. Like Sit, I think this is a lousy, lousy recording. Some of us seem to find the murk and grunge appealing in a weird way, I just think it sounds crappy. I'm not the kind of listener that whines about "less than audiophile" recordings as a rule, but early Stone's recordings leave me so frustrated. Such great music, such crummy sound. Every remaster I've ever heard sounds like an exercise in polishing sonic t*rds I'm afraid.