New Wave Outpost Forum

Out in August in Japan, the complete B-52's with Ricky Wilson in mini-lp paper sleeves.

The B-52's
Wild Planet
Party Mix!
Mesopotamia
Whammy!
Bouncing Off The Satellites

I wonder if Whammy! will included Don't Worry and which mixes of Mesopotamia we'll get. These have never been upgraded since the original CDs appeared in the 80s, I do hope they are new masterings.

from CD Japan: Cardboard sleeve reissue release from The B-52's featuring SHM-CD format. Available as mini LP for the first time. The mini LP faithfully replicates its UK first pressing LP design, including an inner sleeve. Includes an obi replicating its Japan first pressing LP design. Features 2017 remastering, using the UK original master tapes. Comes with lyrics and a description. This series features the following titles: "The B-52's," "Wild Planet," "Party Mix! EP," "Mesopotamia EP," "Whammy!," and "Bouncing Off The Satellites."

I will wait until someone can confirm whether or not these are brickwalled. Master tapes is nice but they can easily ruin that opportunity with some heavy handed compression.

Arent Japanees cds usually pretty good quality?

SHM-CD is a gimmick either way, but the quality is always from the mastering. Japan CD's have also been a victim of brickwalling. I've heard the Devo box from a few years back was extremely squashed, and I've seen similar in other titles as well. For me it will be wait and see.

Hey there,
Certainly agree w waiting...you never know. Some labels get it and don't squish the heck out of the music and others just tear it up. I do think that most arenas are starting to get the message (except perhaps hard rock/heavy metal..but that's another story all together...) and are going for a cleaner/straight transfer approach with just a tiny bit of leveling used to bring up the volume a tad. Nevertheless, waiting can be prudent...Of course, they are limited edition and once they go the only way you will be able to get them is second had expensive... I personally really like the Japan mini sleeve replicas and typically find them to be well done.

One other quick note...the discs in the This is Devo box set were not all bad. Duty Now, Freedom of Choice, and Oh No sound wonderful. In particular Duty Now and FOC are terrific. Freedom of Choice was originally mixed very thin and to get a good mix of it is quite an accomplishment.
On the bad side is the first album though which is super bright and borderline unlistenable. I actually prefer the original WB CD release of this one. As everyone knows the master tapes for New Traditionalists have had probs so not sure if that one can even be judged. I think the Japan version might be the best sounding one overall though.

I'm interested in these but will take a "wait and see" approach as others have noted.

I've noted this here before, but in the '00s there was a DVD-Audio of Cosmic Thing in 5.1 on the release schedule forever; it eventually got pulled.

presale already happening: http://www.cdjapan.co.jp/product/UICY-78475

I asked one of the Japanese sellers. Whammy does not have "Don't Worry", it has "Moon 83" yet again. So I am passing on it.

The next question, then, will be which mix is used for Mesopotamia. I suspect it will be the one that has always been on cd outside the US, which is the mix that was originally on the US LP, but I'd like to know for sure before spending that much on an ep.

From CD Japan: Cardboard sleeve reissue release from The B-52's featuring SHM-CD format. Available as mini LP for the first time. The mini LP faithfully replicates its UK first pressing LP design. Includes an obi replicating its Japan first pressing LP design. Features 2017 remastering, using the UK original master tapes. Comes with lyrics and a description. This series features the following titles: "The B-52's," "Wild Planet," "Party Mix! EP," "Mesopotamia EP," "Whammy!," and "Bouncing Off The Satellites."

These will be interesting to hear. The albums have never been remastered before, and desperately needed re-mastering. I hope they do a great job with them, I will be buying them for sure

Received 'Mesopotamia' and 'Party Mix' today - 'Mesopotamia' contains the same versions that were previously available on cd, which, to be honest, I always preferred to the original UK version. They are newly remastered (by Kenji Yoshino, if that means anything to anyone) and aren't at all compressed. There isn't a HUGE difference on 'Mesopotamia' but it sounds brighter and crisper than the existing cd version, which sounds too loud and bass-heavy in comparison, but 'Party Mix' sounds fantastic, especially 'Give Me Back My Man', although I can only compare this to the vinyl version as 'Party Mix' is the only B-52's album I don't own on cd. My speakers are Pioneer S-DJ05-W with built in amp. I shall post my thoughts on the other reissues as they arrive, but, so far, I'm really glad I bought them.

Carl - is Mesopotamia the same 1990 remix that was used on the US CD (on the twofer with Party Mix) or the original US vinyl mix?

The same version as the original US album - it's definitely an improvement, as I said, not a huge difference but it's got no distortion when played loud whereas the existing cd version is too bass-y to my ears.