At Least Update The Mastering!

Surely Univeral can do a better job than this! Once again Tears For Fears get an updated hits collection - an exclusive UK 2005 reissue. This time Universal decides to add a bonus disc of remixes onto the already best-selling 'Tears Roll Down (Greatest Hits 82-92)' 1992 release. I ordered this collection mainly for the rare "Head Over Heels (Dave Bascombe 7" N. Mix)." I'm disappointed. The audio quality isn't what I expected it to be. In fact, I can hear some popping/clicking noises in the track. For 2005 technology I feel like I've gone back 20 years to when this originally came out and am listening to it on vinyl. Did they pull it from the original 1985 vinyl pressing? The least the label could have done for this collection is give it a proper remastering treatment from the original masters. Instead, we are fed yet another reissue with an updated packaging, a few new remixes, and little regard to audio quality.



On a more positive note, it's nice to have a disc of bonus remixes. Some of the tracks really shine in terms of the mastering quality, mainly those new mixes exclusive to this collection. However, tracks like "Pale Shelter (New Extended Version)" sound flat and dull in comparison to the more modern mastering job on the latter remixes. "Head Over Heels" sounds like a major step down coming after the new remix of "Change." It's like the producer of this compilation just threw tracks onto a disc without any care to the overall mastering level. Again, Universal is slacking!



One of the highlights here, nonetheless, is "Mad World (Afterlife Remix)." The song is taken down a notch in comparison to the original 1983 album version and given a more mellow production (probably inspired by the the Michael Andrews | Gary Jules 2003 UK #1 remake). It sounds great. The new remix of "Everybody Wants To Rule The World" is a bit shaky in the intro but makes up for it with the pounding beat joining in, making it a club highlight for '05.



Despite the major flaws in mastering, it's nice to have for the number of good remixes here. But, if you are worried about mastering you may wish to skip this compilation until Universal can properly put a Tears For Fears product together.