The Residents – Meet The Residents

This collection is really good, and the mono mix is great, in my opinion the superior option. I don't understand what these other reviews here are on about.

There are distortions because that is how they were recorded, remastering cannot magically remove inherent tape distortions without completely changing the sound. The mono mix sounds 'horrible' because that is how it was made! Yes, the mono mix was obviously made on a tape machine running at a slightly different speed to the stereo remix, but not nearly enough to be problematic, unless perhaps you suffer the curse of extreme perfect pitch, in which case I don't know how you can listen to this album at all anyway!

RE 'Smelly Tongues', one reviewer says that the mono mix of this track is just a fold-down of the stereo, but it can't be as it runs at the same speed and has the same EQ as the rest of the mono tracks. If they could go to all the trouble of faking a mono mix that runs at the same speed as the rest of the mono album, why not fix the speed of the entire mono mix to match the stereo? Basically I seriously doubt that the mono version presented is anything other than the mono mix as originally made.

Finally, having visually examined the waveforms I can tell there has not been any 'heavy brickwall limiting' applied, there is still plenty of internal dynamics. The people here complaining about loudness wars etc, I'm not sure they know what they're talking about. This collection is great, buy with confidence.

Stereo disc is a really good remaster and the outtakes are interesting BUT the mono disc is seriously horrible.

Shouldn't pREServed edition, recordings to be saved for the future, be on HDCD High Definition CD? A standard CD can, after all, only hold a very limited amount of information.

This sucks. The mono version is at the wrong speed to the point where it is extremely noticeable, ESPECIALLY on songs like "Rest Aria" where its mostly keys. The bonus stuff is the only reason to get this, very happy they even released all that...but really, is it that hard to make a remaster of this album that isn't completely butchered? "Smelly Tongues" is the stereo version mixed to mono, which seems to be the same on every release that isn't the 1st pressing. Not sure what happened there, but that's nothing compared to how off this entire thing sounds. Stick with the 1988 Torso CD/Vinyl, only really pick this up if you're a die hard fan or want the unreleased stuff. That's the only reason I'll ever be picking this up honestly.

Tom Waits fans will love the original album's final three tracks but personally I'm underwhelmed by this album ... It may be "important" historically, but listening to it today it's not the most impressive avantgarde or experimental album, imho. Moondog's older work sound far fresher instead.
Also, sad to see The Residents - Meet The Residents album sampler hasn't been included in this 76'26" + 69'42" 2cd set. Surely, there was room to include the flexi on disc two ? And sorry for calling anyone Shirley !

Well this was always a lo-fi album with distorted sound and this is the clearest version of the stereo mix I've heard. Yes, it's the loudest as well but you can lower the volume anytime you want to...
I bought the Duck Stab pREServed version as well and it has a beautiful clean sound compared to this or any other previous releases. I guess Meet the Residents SHOULD sound like shit. Thats part of the fun.

Contrary to others I am quite happy with the new mastering of the mono and stereo versions. There are so many details never heard before. But it is true, the new mastering is very loud and reveals the distortions of the original tape. If you don't like it this way adjust the treble. I compared CD2 (stereo remaster) with the 1998 Euro Ralph CD (mastered by Master & Servant / Hamburg) and the 1977 Ralph Records vinyl stereo LP. Well, the LP sounded best, less distorted, more warm bass frequencies and there is also a significant amount of added reverb not found on both CD versions. On the Euro Ralph CD you can clearly hear artifacts from noise reduction software. My conclusion: Unless you don’t have the LP, go for the 2018 remaster with all the nice bonus tracks and adjust bass and treble on your stereo amp. Don't blame The Residents or the different mastering studios, distortion on the original tapes is difficult to handle. There might be distortion reduction software solutions in the future, who knows. Keep in mind, this was recorded on home equipment at the beginning of the 70's and not at Abbey Road Studio.

The bonus material is a real treat. As others have noted the actual album sounds really bright and painful. Not sure if I'm just not used to hearing it this clearly since I am hearing little sounds and whatnot that I've never noticed before, but it's really harsh

the first listen i had was in the car, and thought nothing of it because everything sounds the same in the car. but after playing this on my hi-fi . i'm so fucking pissed off

all those extras , great art work. great packaging but the sound quality is just unbearable . almost unlistenable so tinny and harsh. ive also pre ordered duck stab and fingerprince, but if its the same deal, i'm asking for money back.

the effort gone into getting these tracks from wherever they dwelled in residents world has been completely ruined by the shittiest mastering i have ever heard in my life.

Bonus tracks are mostly interesting but, my god, the sound on this is truly horrific. Awful example of the loudness wars nonsense. Tragic.