What do you do after you've been in the seminal punk band and have been in the headlines of every newspaper and magazine in the land. You do pretty much whatever the hell you want.

Johnny Lydon formed the post punk Public Image Limited and released this, their second an best album in 1979. Its a sonic collision of noise, screaming guitars, Johnny's tesnsion filled wailing and Jah Wobble's deep deep bass.

There's a paradoxical mix of cold electronic synthenisers and organic emotional violin.Lydon's lyrics are strangely touching and depressing. Perhaps in a way, this was a precursor to the equally bleak OK Computer by Radiohead.

Its a crazy no hold barred assault on our ears and yet emminently danceable. Renowned for its sound fidelity 4MWB promise to improve the sound on this recent rerelease.

Well against my better judgement I picked up a copy of the new 4 Men With Beards pressing of Metal Box (since they had it at a local Coconuts that carries vinyl for $30.99).

I played the new vinyl version today and also did a detailed comparison of sides 1 and 2 with the original vinyl version which I own.

1) "Remasterd for better sound than the 1979 version". Yeah right. Not by a mile. The original version had a very analog, smooth sound... with downright earthshaking bass (which we all know about) and a nice smooth high end. The new version sounded to me like it was mastered from a digital source. Yes there was nice low bass, but it was not as low or smooth as the original. The high end was a tad bright (in comparison) with a very "digital" quality to the sound. Both, as you might already know, were cut at 45rpm.

2) "Swan Lake", the last song on side 2, which on the original vinyl had a locked groove, which would repeat over and over until you lifted the stylus from the record. Well the new version does not have the locked groove - instead it sounds like it is going to go into a repeat loop, but then the song just fades out before going into the runoff groove of side 2 on the new version. Not good (and also why I believe it was mastered from the digital masters made for the compact disc release).

3) On an extremely positive note the new vinyl version was very quiet, and all six sides were flat as a board (no warps). Then again, my original vinyl version is very quiet and flat.

4) I did notice that due to whatever EQ choices and/or master they used to create the new vinyl version, there was a bit more "clarity" that allowed a few things I never remember hearing, buried deep in the mix, to be audible. Yet, that did not make the new version any more "listenable" than the old vinyl version. The old vinyl version was much perferred by my ears over the new version.

Anyone planning on getting the new Metal Box vinyl if you already have the old Metal Box vinyl can think again (unless you want to be like me and go ahead and do so anyway).

I have no regrets about purchasing the new vinyl version (which I understand thay pressed up 5000 copies of), as it does sound good - yet the 1979 vinyl version just sounds that much better.

NB : We are not aware if a digital or analogue master was used. If anyone is aware perhaps theycould contact us.