These guys were not on my radar during the ‘90s- and after two albums, the lead singer died of a drug overdose in the band’s tour bus outside a venue. Vinyl releases of the first album were extremely limited, and are now very costly. Music on Vinyl (“MOV”) has done a reissue worth buying. That label, which presses through the old CBS plant in the Netherlands, is a prolific reissue house, but source material is often digital files, making it less desirable than other, more “audiophile” reissue labels that promise full analog reissues. (Though astute readers are aware that “from the original analog tapes” begs the question).
The quality of the plastic itself is quite good in this case. The original UK vinyl was mastered by the late George Marino, a very well-known “audiophile” mastering hand. The MOV site describes the record this way:
“…Blind Melon‘s production is marked by the use of outdated amplifiers and other antiquated studio technology. Modern studio effects were not used in its production as the band wanted to create a pure and intimate sounding record.”
Perhaps “antiquated studio technology” means tape. Who knows?
With all these qualifications, why am I bothering to write about this record? Because the band is very good, the original lead singer –Shannon Hoon- had a unique voice and the sound- psych, retro hard rock with a trace of Pearl Jam (whose producer helmed this Blind Lemon debut) grows on you with repeated plays. The MOV reissue is relatively inexpensive and the surfaces on my copy were great. Worth a listen.