Thievery Corporation: Sounds From The Thievery Hi-Fi Vinyl 2LP

Bittersweet review here. I was VERY EXCITED to see that ESL decided to re-issue bunch of their old albums on vinyl. I have bought 3 of them so far and have kept two of them (Richest Man in Babylon & Mirror Conspiracy) and I have to say I am not impressed with the quality of pressings - this was the album that I had to return. It broke my heart because it was their first album and it has a special place in my heart - it is up their as my favorite too. These three albums are all double albums in gatefold jackets (part of the problem). Here are the issues: WARPING! I bought this album FOUR times and all FOUR times side A/B - A side is so badly warped that it causes my tonearm to bounce like crazy and ultimately skip. It happens predictably on the second song 2001 Spliff Oydessy. Part of the problem is that the gatefold jacket pinches the record along with the shrink wrap and warp the record. The other two albums I noted above have the same problem and I returned them as well only to be met with the same warping problems but was able to get slightly better copies.The other thing is that they are not quality audio re-issues. I have to turn the volume up considerably on my receiver in comparison to most of my vinyl library to get good listening levels. Fair amount of pops and clicks too for new vinyl. Overall, I give 5 stars for this and all of their albums but I give this vinyl pressing 2.5 stars for audio and warping issues. At this point, I do not have this album because I had to return it all 4 times that I bought it due to the above issues. VERY DISAPPOINTED...this is not Amazon's problem to be clear. It is a engineering and packaging issue. Seems ESL came up short with at least these three albums. I see Radio Retaliation, Cosmic Game, and Culture of Fear have also been reissued but I am not looking forward to the unboxing and return process I am most likely going to have to endure to get tolerable listening copies.

The Mirror Conspiracy may have more tracks people know, but this album is stacked, start to finish, with incredible music. It's less a trip than K&D sessions (and not as long) but also has the woozyness of genuine Dub sensibilities and always stays true to the tenets Thievery Corporation pioneered in Eighteenth Street Lounge.If you're not familiar with the Thievery Corporation catalog, here's as good a place to start as any. If you're well invested, here's the origins. If you're a huge fan, like I am, feel the warm embrace of pre-activism Thievery Corporation in its more lounge roots before wandering through the rest of the incredible works these two have amassed.

The album was delivered in perfect condition, as expected. Thank you!

This is where it all begins, a new form of music conceived of by mixing the old up in new ways. Fans of sixties lounge music will find something here, as well as new listeners of modern DJ Rob Garza. This album exists in various versions, I bought the "European" release which has some nice alternate tracks. Whichever, play this on a quality sound system and dissolve into the sound of Thievery Corporation. When you can, catch them at the ESL lounge in D.C., or somewhere on tour in a state near you.

Its Okay I guess I like the newer stuff

This is a really great album. The low review is not reflective of the music. This pressing has a defect towards the end of side B (during The Glass Bead Game) where the needle cannot proceed and skips. Unfortunately it skips backwards and not forwards, so is stuck on an endless loop until you move the needle inward a few mm. I ordered a replacement copy, and the 2nd one had the exact same defect at the same point. So the pressing appears to have the defect. Really a shame, because this is a great album.

You can't go wrong with Thievery Corporation. Every album they make is awesome with great production value.

First of all any LP which comes in a paper sleeve instantly losses 3 stars from me regardless of its other qualities. IMO Paper sleeve are destructive to LPs and have no place in modern media. IMO ANY production company which uses paper record sleeves does a gross injustice to the art of music, and the artist who labored to produce it. Secondly, my LP came with a severe defect in the form of a crack. How such a obvious fault slipped passed QC is beyond me. So...the LP losses another 3 stars. Finally, both of my LPs are incredibly noisy (pops, clicks, and thumps), sounding more like a 40 year old record bought at a garage sale after being used as a drip pan under an old Buick, rather than a brand new LP I paid over $20 for. So...it losses another 3 stars. Thus this double LP gets a well earned NEGATIVE 4 stars from me.

The interplay between the deep clear bass and the light haunting Indian instruments and tones gives this recording real life enhanced by the excellent sound quality.I have not set out to write reviews of the music content as “beauty is in the ears of the listener”. These reviews are about the quality (or not) of the recorded sound. To read about how the reviews are done please see my profile. • Clarity – excellent, no muddiness • Channel separation - excellent • Channel balance – excellent used in an innovative and unusual way, especially regarding the use of reverb which travels between the channels yet does not feel or sound artificial. • Sound Stage – good, but not the broadest as primarily all in the centre. However the sound stage is exceptionally detailed. • Distortion – non audible • Compression – very good dynamic range, highs and lows do not sound limited or muted. • Atmosphere – excellent, very much the laid back club lounge sound and feel that Thievery Corporation made their own. • Bass – low frequencies - excellent, very detailed with the ability to “slam”. Bass guitar “thrums” away in the background whilst the drums have a good realistic presence. The kick drum sound is outstanding. The bass really powers away in the background. • Treble – high frequencies – very good and interesting especially when the Indian sub continent elements come into play perfectly counter balancing the superb drum beats. The Indian tones add a subtle delicacy to this recording. • Vocals – detailed, varied, haunting on occasion really add a sense of presence.As a general rule of thumb recordings from the 1960’s, 70’s and 80’s are nearly always better on the original vinyl. Remasters often fail to please as it’s just not possible to make a silk purse from a sows ear, i.e. the original recording lacks the necessary detail to be processed digitally and show an audible improvement. Indeed such processing can make the sound worse.Modern recordings which have been processed digitally from start to finish can be as good as vinyl. CD’s are often unfairly criticised for being poor quality. This is not the case, it is the original recording or the process which is to blame. Modern “remasters” can both enhance and degrade a recording. The statement GIGO (Garbage In Garbage Out) is the limiting factor. Ignore this at your cost.

This first TC album is awesome. This edition from esl has more tracks and the design is close to the vinyl edition. Do not miss it!!!

Good album music wise, poor pressing quality

This has to be one of their best albums, the licks are laid back, the vibe is very Saturday afternoon following a big night out on the Friday....if there's no real sunshine to be had, the sunshine generated from these tunes will suffice :)

Brilliant service. Just what I wanted. I listen to it