So Version

I wasn't much of a pop music fan in the 80s... I admit that. Some songs are good but the triggered drums of the 80s really irritate me now. This album is well engineered and sounds great on the turntable. These songs aren't really for me but Sledgehammer and Big Time were known songs and I liked them both (Sledgehammer more though).... maybe I'm more a fan of his vocals than his music... but I don't see myself putting this album on too many times in the future just because it's not my type of music... it does sound decent enough though.

I had purchased the cd, used, here on Amazon. It had a scratch that caused some skipping and it practically made my ears bleed. Loud, loud and louder. So I took a chance and ordered the half speed mastered 33 1/3. I’m very happy to say that it is one of the better sounding LPs I have. I have several records from analog productions, Mofi, etc. and this record holds its own with any of them. The bottom is rock solid and I heard none of the sibilance in vocals that were mentioned in other reviews. A very pleasant surprise! I had all the other albums of PG on vinyl and wondered why I never had SO as well….well now I do!

Edit: 7/27/2016Several people have suggested getting replacements for the albums I received. It seemed like a good idea, so that's what I did. The short review is this - WOW! Naturally, I was dubious, but hopeful, after playing the noisy pressings I first received, so when the needle dropped on the run-in, I held my breath...and there was just silence. And, then the music started. No pops, no hisses, no crackles, no noise. It was just glorious Gabriel. I am so glad I gave these another try. Both So and US were perfect pressings. The takeaway is simply this - make sure you get a good pressing of these reissues. If you happen to get a bad pressing, send it back, and keep sending them back, until you get a good one. You will be glad you did.Original Review -I have been pretty lucky to have a job that allows me to work from home. Not that I got much work done today as I kept looking out the window any time I heard a truck engine coming down the street. I knew eventually the sound would come from a big brown UPS truck. And eventually it did. I got the goods, the swag, the fresh pressings of two monstrous albums from Peter Gabriel, So and Us. After carefully unpacking the records, using a razor to surgically slit and remove the outer cellophane, I took the vinyl out and set them on a rack to be cleaned. They looked shiny, acceptably flat and without machine oils and dust that sometimes accompany a new record. I set the first disk of the So album in the Spin-Clean record cleaner and began to carefully rotate the album. That’s when I started to worry that things might not be as great as I had hoped. As the record spun, the section at the 12 o’clock position continued to hold water. My experience is that the water will drain quickly from that position with records that have deep grooves, and deep grooves tend to have better playback, articulation and sonic range – bass being especially effected. I kept my hopes up though.The plan was to A/B the new pressing with my original pressing of the album. Once the new album was washed and dried I put on side 1 of disc 1 and got ready for some Red Rain. The needle dropped on the run-in and that’s when my heart sunk. Noisy. So noisy. Noisy right into the song. Hisses and pops throughout the song. And that went for all the discs on both albums. What a let down. The originals were just much, much, much quieter.How does the music sound though? Well, to be honest, I wasn’t impressed. Maybe it was the disappointment of the poor pressing. I’ll give it some more listens. My overall impression was that it was OK. The notes were there, some of the more subtle background instruments were pulled more to the forefront, so that was interesting. I found it off putting though. Instead of harmonizing and supporting the vox and main instruments, the coloring instruments were now competing for attention. It made the tracks seem muddled somehow. The original compared to the reissue sounded a tad less refined (maybe controlled is the word) and articulate, but it had this urgency to it and seemed more vast (maybe this is where the shallow grooves failed the reissue?). The original also seemed grander somehow and more engaging. I went through comparing songs and even short phrases between the two. Every time, I preferred the original.My conclusion is this: These albums are great if you want to keep them in their shrink wrap and store away in your collection. If you want something to listen to, get a quality copy of the original pressing. So is still pretty easy to find; Us will be more difficult to acquire and much more expensive. These 2016 reissues though are absolutely NOT audiophile recordings regardless of the limited run, heavy weight vinyl and 45 rpm speed. If I had it to do over again, I would pass on these and just keep enjoying the copies (digital and analogue) I already had.The other issue to consider is this – unless you really, really, really enjoy the experience of vinyl, you might be better off just downloading a high-res digital copy or buying the CD. The thought there is this – I could not find any indication that analogue masters were used to remaster these records. If it is true that digital masters were used, it makes sense that listening to them in digital format will translate into a near 1:1 recording and a better noise free listening experience. Transferring to vinyl adds extra steps and potential human error and quality control issues to the process risking greater loss of fidelity. Something to think about.

If you know this album, you don't need a review of the work itself.The noise floor on this pressing is just about non-existent, and on a good turntable and cartridge combo with a quality preamp it's absolutely joyous to listen to.

I was very pleased with the experience of this purchase. The item arrived, packaged securely and in mint condition inside and out-exactly as listedThis is one of the greatest albums of all time, but I was floored when I put this half-speed remastered version in and hit play! Right from the beginning of Red Rain, the improvement is noticeable. All of this record has an immersive power and balance that has never been heard before from previous releases of this album. I recommend this version to anyone who wants to truly experience So as if it were for the first time. I never thought the likes or Red Rain, Don't Give Up and Big Time could sound better than before, but this version outdoes all of them. I honestly can't imagine them sounding better!Great album and great purchase experience from the seller-at a great price!

I've read other peoples reviews where they have had problems with their copies. Not so in my case. The pressing, sound quality and sleeve were immaculate. It's the best sounding version of this album yet and if this is one of your favourites then I'm sure that you will be glad that you brought it. As for the album, it's Peter Gabriels finest and it is a stunner.

Quality! This is better than any CD and shows what vinyl is capable of given a decent set up. Can't fault this release I will cherish this copy forever. PG never throws out rubbish music, every song a classic and sung with passion. Great pressing half speed master on 45 rpm for better sound and dynamic range which is not a con just pure quality. Don't Give Up track with Kate Bush shows this album to be a must.thanks PG!

A long time favourite of mine & I decided to get a new copy. When I discovered that this version was described as" The album has been Half-Speed Remastered and cut to lacquers at 45RPM, across 2x heavyweight LPs, to deliver maximum dynamic range in the sound" I could not not resist getting it.

Worth buying just to hear, Don't Give Up. Quality vinyl at its very best.

Stunning half speed mastered 45rpm discs. The quality of this series of re-issued Peter Gabriel albums is simply brilliant.I now have yet another version of this album, the 5th! This is far away the best to date and worth every single penny.