jdryyz

I finally got my copy of Awake from ETR. As someone else mentioned regarding the Images and Words artwork, the same is true here. It looks like a blow-up of the artwork made for the CD. I see this happening with a lot with vinyl re-issues from someone other than the original company. Is it that the artwork does not exist in higher quality or that better artwork is not licensed out? You would think if a good source for the music is provided, the artwork is too. I also do not care of paper inner sleves. As a result, there was a lot of debris I had to clean up first. Oh, and I somehow thought this was going to be 180g vinyl, but nope. Onto the good news-- this sure the heck is a mastered-for-vinyl release and it is free of surface noise (at least my copy is). Very well done!

Thanks for the info!

So what's the verdict on the Brookvale Awake? A must buy??

That's true on the lack of gatefold packaging. My one complaint. It also isn't thrilling to hear that digital hi-res sources are being used. That could have been true for the two I have as well. While original analog sources are best (if available), I am still very happy with the sound quality of MOV's Train of Thought and Images and Words.

Like I mentioned earlier in this thread, I am very pleased with my MOV DT releases. I have yet to own anything from Brookvale to compare, though. I'm glad to hear MOV will be releasing Awake also.

Nevermind. I see a link to the black vinyl was posted on Brookvale's FB page.

Is the Awake black vinyl no longer available? All I see is multicolor: http://brookvalerecords.bigcartel.com/product/dream-theater-awake-multicolor-vinyl Am I missing something?

No, I do not work for them. I do not know how you arrive at the word "misleading". That's a intentional act to deceive and nothing could be further from the truth. Just sharing my opinion on the two Music on Vinyl releases that I have compared to other DT on vinyl. I haven't heard the Brooksvale release of Images and Words. I am pleased to know that it sounds good too, but the Music on Vinyl copy that I have sounds great! I only have the CD to compare to so assuming the source is the same, I prefer the vinyl. As I said with the Dramatic Turn of Events, it was a used copy. Outside of the pops that occur too frequently and seem very resistant to removal, it is a fine release. It could have been a manufacturing flaw or something much simpler. I own the self-titled on three formats: FLAC from HD Tracks, FLAC (CD quality) and the vinyl. Yes, I agree the vinyl is from a different master. It is just lacking something on the high-end to me. That's okay, though. I usually solve that problem by cranking it up.

Well that was quick. SFAM 2nd pressing already sold out??

Glad to hear about the SFAM repress! Better still, I'm thrilled to hear of the Awake release coming up! I would also like to chime-in on the two Music on Vinyl releases I have so far (Images and Words and Train of Thought). Compared to two others I have from Roadrunner, I am very pleased with the former. Unfortunately, I have found the 2013 "Dream Theater" album to be rather on the muddy side. A Dramatic Turn of Events has some pops on two of the four sides that cannot be removed with simple cleaning. I suspect it could be a bad pressing. I did buy it used, so there's that. I may do a re-buy of a sealed item in the near future.