Album Reviews

As promised in the original Starz vinyl report, I got the standard edition to compare to the disappointing glow-in-the-dark 2LP.

This standard version is on green (LP1) and black (LP2) vinyl, with the packaging reserved to merely the gatefold jacket and printed inner sleeves. Both pressings are from the same 45rpm lacquer cut by Dave Turner (with Playboi Carti’s “Yayo” verse intact), pressed at the same anonymous (supposedly) Swedish plant. I compared “Acid at 7/11” and “Low” on both copies, the difference noticeable but minor. Eliminating the glow-in-the-dark vinyl’s surface hiss provides more clarity, although the standard vinyl still sounds excessively smooth and dry (maybe it’s a plating issue, who knows). The green disc (LP1) is somewhat noisy; from experience, green seems to be one of the doomed vinyl colors. Since the regular 2LP lacks the webstore deluxe’s booklet and poster, unless you’re a completist or care about the standard version’s alternately printed PVC outer, there’s little reason to buy it. Get the limited glow vinyl to look at and the CD to actually play. A shame, especially since the album’s stunning production was so carefully handled.

(Malachi Lui is an AnalogPlanet contributing editor, music lover, record collector, and highly opinionated sneaker enthusiast. Follow Malachi on Twitter @MalachiLui and Instagram @malachi__lui.)