I'm a little surprised not more people here were already familiar with more of the tracks in the box set. As I've mentioned earlier, about 80 of the 100 tracks have been reissued before. Anyway, I recently had the chance to check out the box set myself and wasn't impressed at all. I totally agree with Jeff regarding the sound quality. Many tracks sounded less good compared to what they do on earlier reissue comps. A few of the songs even sounded like heavily compressed mp3s!?! Also, I found the layout in many cases to feel uninspired and too modern looking for a set devoted to early surf music. And did anyone else being annoyed by the home made totally out of place graphic of a flushing toilet taking up half a side "illustrating" the effect used on "Jet Stream"? Did they run out of images or what? The guitar volume knob graphic idea for the four discs was cool but why use a crappy looking low-res image they found on the internet? Considering all of the above, together with that I already have a vast majority of the tracks as well as many of the images appearing in the book part, I'm glad I never bought the box set myself.

T H E ✠ S U R F I T E S

I personally love this box set...layout, sound quality....honestly, I enjoy a little lo-fi sound when listening to first wave instrumentals...and nothing beats the pop and hiss of vinyl...I dunno, beauty is in the 'ears' of the beholder...
Just my opinion, but I'm diggin' it!

I compared a few songs from this comp that I already had on other releases, such as Crash and Unknown, both released not too long ago on the two Birth of the Surf comps on Ace, and they did sound better there. But I don't know... Most of the tracks on Surf Nuggets are clearly lo-fi to start with, so does it really matter? I personally don't really think so. It doesn't bother me.

Ivan
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Since this is being discussed now.
I feel a little less afraid to discuss it.

Half the songs are in MP3 format.
Sounds like being played thru a transistor radio
As opposed to a home stereo.
I know that most people now days listen to
Music on iPods or computers with bad speakers.
I always listen to music on LP or cd on the home stereo first.
And never transfer anything to a mp3.

A friend looked at the file size of the songs
On this box set. He said I had very good ears.
And that I was correct in saying half the songs were mp3s.

I'm just taking a guess here, but I think that the guy that put this out.
Didn't have all of these songs, and had somebody email the songs to him.
Unfortunately as MP3s.

I find that releasing this box set with this poor quality sound
Is just unacceptable.

I think that it is still a must have release.
But he should have done anything possible to not
Have these songs sound so crappy.

Just a note, I am not talking about them being from vinyl.
I'm talking about a compressed, digital squashing of the music.
Especially noticeable on the cymbals and hi-hats.

Jeff(bigtikidude)

Last edited: Apr 07, 2013 14:53:09

what baron shivers said.so much of this stuff was lo-fi in the first place. i think this collection is GOLD and i am SO stoked to have it!
one of the best surf comps EVER!
rocketh!

First off, I already bought it.
Would buy it again, and think that everybody
That is a surf fan should buy it.
I was reluctant to talk about this at first,
As it could hurt sales. But I feel strongly about it,
And since it came up, I'm not going to bite my tongue
Anymore.
Secondly, I knew you would mis-understand what
I was referring to regarding the sound.
I'm not referring to the quality of the vinyl the music is on.
Nor am I talking about the quality of the original recording
Of the song, Weather is Lo-FI or not.
I'm saying that it seems like the guy that put this out,
Got half of these songs in MP3 format.
And mastered and pressed the cds from what he had.
Sad, and unacceptable.
But as I am learning,
Many people can't tell the difference between
Regular wave audio files, and MP3s.
First off a cd is only 1/2 to 5/8ths the quality
Of a song on vinyl. A MP3 is only half of that of a cd.
So that's about 1/4 of what you should be hearing.

My Audio system at home is far from top o the line.
But it's not a boom box either.
I've grown up playing records on a fairly nice system.
And am not a fan of cutting corners when it comes to sound.

Thirdly,
Keep any and all mustard, American or foo foo
French stuff away from my food please.
I'm a ketchup guy.

Jeff(bigtikidude)

Last edited: Apr 07, 2013 19:25:30

I want hot dog n fries.
But I want it to sound like
Fresh hot dog n fries.
Not left overs that got thrown in the dumpster
At the end of the shift.

Listen to the wishy washy sound of the cymbals n hi hat
On the songs on disc one.
Also listen to the soundstage drastically
go from wide to narrow on the mp3 songs

Jeff(bigtikidude)

Last edited: Apr 07, 2013 19:36:19

I've been listening to this on my phone and they all sound like mp3's:-€

http://blueruins.bandcamp.com

blueruins wrote:

I've been listening to this on my phone and they all sound like mp3's:-€

Woohaa! Seriously! That's the modern age for ya!

BOSS FINK "R.P.M." available now from DOUBLE CROWN RECORDS!
www.facebook.com/BossFink
www.doublecrownrecords.com

I like turkey and chicken dogs too! YUMMMMMM.

BOSS FINK "R.P.M." available now from DOUBLE CROWN RECORDS!
www.facebook.com/BossFink
www.doublecrownrecords.com