Bad Brains – I Against I

Killer sound on this press! I was moved to pull this one off the shelf after reading this great post by musician Nabihah Iqbal:
"I Against I" by Bad Brains is my current favourite album and I can't stop listening to it! It's a masterpiece that seems to ebb and flow between different styles of heavy guitar music, straddling punk, heavy metal, prog rock, the kinda 80s power guitar sound and then also dub and funk and maybe a tiny tiny hint of... disco?!! I'm open to debate on that last one haha. They released it 1986 and it was their third album and I love listening to it in the context of the first two (which are also both amazing) and hearing the artistic development of the band. It's like they distilled their sound and also got to a point in their musical journey where they opened up from the puritan punk / hardcore sound into the wider world of epic guitar sound and they did it in the most beautiful, succinct and authentic way ❤️ Also the production (by Ron St. Germain) is elite level 👌🏽 It has the kind of crispness and wide open space that you hear on MJ / Quincy Jones productions, where you can feel the air between the different musicians and instruments. The drum sound is PERFECT and the album steers away from the compression overkill sound that a lot of guitar-heavy music seems to fall victim to. I love the vocals (or "throat" of H. R.) and the way they go through so many styles so effortlessly. The guitar effects on the intro of Secret 77 remind me of The Cure or The Cult and the way the bass comes in... ooooh! But my FAVOURITE track is "She's Calling You" 🤘🏽🩷👌🏽 wow! I feel like I could hear an more synthy version of this by Kool and the Gang or 52nd Street... the arrangement feels like an 80s funk track but Bad Brains do it with a metal guitar sound and it's just the perfect meeting of worlds!!!! Who else loves this album?! P. S. There's an amazing cover version of "I Against I" by Jeff Buckley on youtube 😱 I highly recommend 🤓

Wow, this mastering sounds great. Really packs a punch. WOuldnt think a repress would sound better than my original Bad Brains pressings. Must be the Bob Ludwig magic.

Awesome press, good dynamic and loud. No poster or insert. Simple as a f…k

It took me this long to realize how similar they and the Ramones and the Clash sound at times. And then, of course there are other times when they are Bad Brains and Bad Brains only.
I personally think that they are the best of the three bands mentioned. Because they are just so blisteringly present & improvisatory in their songwriting & performance. The other two are going down a slalom. These guys are free-forming down a freshly fallen snowy mountain…

I bought this SST repress direct to the label, I think late nineties, and it came without insert, too. And paper sleeve. I suspect there's no insert in this version. Anyone with it could it?

Haven't listened to any of the ORG versions, but just the fact that the band appears to be in control of this album and isn't merely a licensed reissue from SST is keeping alive the flicker of hope that one day we'll get actual remasters of the Hüsker Dü catalog.

Dead quiet vinyl, good press, amazing rice paper sleeve, but the good stop there. Unfortunately the remaster leaves a lot to be desired. Insane clarity and instrument seperation but at the expense of bass frequencies and presence, and a terrible job at the kick drum. Doesn't feel full or warm at all. Will be looking for an SST OG.

Does the new 2024 remastered vinyl or CD come with a /digital code?

This shit is quiet as my blue note tone poet records. Great master as well, rich dynamics. Go for it.

Punk Note sleeve is great, record looks cool and sounds good. No one has mentioned that the labels are SIDE A & SIDE 1 (instead of SIDE B).