Queens Of The Stone Age – Queens Of The Stone Age

Very impressed with this mastercut, very in your face and dynamic and properly pressed by Optimal. Not too muddy in the low end which I like, plenty punch on my Transrotor/Mcintosh pre/power amp w/B&W 802ds to satisfy both the casual listener as well and audiophiles. Recommended.

sounds great to my ears. this album is no audiophile hifi thing. if you want that, listen to something else. in my opinion, this pressing slaps and that's everything i need. color looks cool too and the obi strip and artwork is a slay.

New reissue is out, spread over 2LPs, it sounds good and has all the bonus tracks, buy that instead.

it sounds okay, which is totally fine! this album is a gem and it's nice to have a reissue of it. Definitely recommend buying it if you see it when you're out and about. Great album, first track is unbelievable. 9/10 album. 7/10 pressing.

Horrible distortion/sibilance throughout especially during Mexicola, which is my absolute favourite from the album. I know this record perfectly, have been listening to it non stop for more than 15 years, and IT IS NOT supposed to be this trebly., This is returning to my local record store, first time I ever do it.
Any ideas if the black has the same problems?

sounds good to me. i can see how maybe there’s a little extra “sssss”sibilance, but overall i like what i hear.

I am possibly just easily pleased, but I rate my copy a solid 5/5. No issues from my perspective. Sounds very good to my ears. I am unsure why I had waited so long to listen to QOTSA’s first album, as I regularly listened to Songs For The Deaf when it was first released 20 years ago. Nevertheless, I am enjoying it now.

Too much bright, some sibilance problems, I never experienced this with my ATVM95ML, so its a mastering thing. Its detailed, but not really dynamic, but thats the way the record is, but i think that the treble its too much for the nature of the album. Also I dont like the artwork treatment. I a little deisapointed to be honest, but beyond that, this album Its pretty strighforward and if you are in the mood for the record you will enjoy it for what it is.

I'm happy to have a copy of this reissue, but buyer beware:
1/ There's a lot of content in just one disc, so it was never going to be high quality.
2/ Mastering isn't anything to write home about. Everyone seems to agree. Dynamics are quite flat. Also limited by the first point.
3/ Reviews seem to be mixed with some complaining about surface noise and some not. My copy has surface noise in places and in others it's pretty quiet. I had to clean my disc as there were leftovers from the vinyl cut on it.
4/ It's a beautiful edition to have in the collection so there's that.

Yes, this record is mixed quietly. But I experience no pops or crackles and when I turn the volume up I am very satisfied without any bad experiences. I cannot imagine the CD sounds better than this.