Meet The Residents: Preserved Edition

I was a fan of the Residents back in the day, and I recently picked up this album as a blast-from-the-past experience. It didn't disappoint. Despite what you may have heard, this really _is_ music (there are melodies and everything!) but it's really strange. It's a lot like what I imagine listening to normal music would be like when under the influence of powerful psychedelic drugs (not that I've ever done that). The Residents have no regard for normal concepts of song structure, harmony, or even intonation. Nevertheless, it's not just noise or weirdness; there is something oddly compelling about it. The music has its own inner logic, and if you're open-minded enough you'll be able to appreciate it. Certainly, anyone who can handle avant-garde jazz should be able to deal with this. In addition to the musical strangeness, there is a strong streak of satire that runs throughout the record (and indeed, through everything the Residents have ever done); the first song is a demented cover of Nancy Sinatra's "These Boots Are Made For Walking", and there is also an equally weird cover of the Human Beinz' "Nobody But Me" (the Residents explored 60s covers much more thoroughly on their album "The Third Reich And Roll"). Personally, I prefer the original numbers such as "Skratz", "Smelly Tongues" and "Rest Aria", but there's nothing bad on the record. Of all the Residents' records, I would say that this is the best. In fact, I'm not a fan of anything they did after "Duck Stab/Buster and Glen", but this and their other early work is well worth listening to. Just be sure that you're in the right mental state to handle it.

I used to be a mild fan of The Residents, rarely digging much deeper than their most accessible works (hello, The Commercial Album!), and my interest quickly waned in the mid-90's. Honestly, I didn't think I would ever buy another Residents CD. But then these newly expanded pREServed editions of their first two albums reignited my interest. And I am glad they did. After countless reissues of these albums, with bonus tracks alternately appearing and disappearing between re-re-releases, these finally deliver definitive editions. Each tri-fold digipak holds two discs and a thick booklet. This is a surprisingly informative booklet--for a band whose primary claim to fame is their anonymity. Each CD is in its own protective sleeve (nice touch, that) and overflowing with bonus tracks. In addition to extensively remastered mono and stereo versions of the album (Is there another album with as many differences between the mono and stereo mixes?), you get the Santa Dog EP and additional outtakes and related recordings. There are an overwhelming 13 bonus tracks on each discs, many of which are more intriguing than what has been previously released from this period. Heck, not like I'm knocking the album, but I would even gladly swap some of the album tracks with these "ephemera". OK--I confess, "N-ER-GEE" can take a hike. The bonus tracks reveal so many detours and paths not taken by a group that was learning what they wanted to do musically and even what constitutes a "band". In reappraising the album itself, I was amazed by how a set that is so often described as "off-putting" and "extreme" is largely a collection of pretty straight-forward tunes, played with standard instruments and usually in 4/4 time. This may be a challenging listen even today (I'm still looking at you, "N-ER-GEE"), but it is an intriguing glimpse into the development of an embryonic band that grew into a big, faceless baby.

Unimaginably delightful! The richness of this music was never fully revealed until this remastering of the original mono recordings was done. If like me you've been listening to the Residents for decades, you will be thrilled by how much more of the music is revealed by these discs. I also feel compelled to point out that similarly treated remasterings of much other avant garde and progressive music from this time period are MUCH more expensive. All of the pReserved editions are BARGAINS! BUY or DYE!

Having only heard Meet the Residents on CD and streaming, I didn’t know what this was until I did research. This one I ordered from this order page-vinyl-is the original unedited mono pressing. Being that said, it’s horribly loud, noisy and amazing. It’s the closest I’ll ever be to being there as it happened; I guess if they dropped something on the floor or made unintentional racket, it was let be lol. I now prefer this brutal assault of a release over the stereo version I heard on CD. Call this one the grunge version if you will. If you are a newb-start here. If you are a casual fan, set yourself back the few bucks and enjoy-it’s addicting.

This is where the Residents began. Out of this world composition. As a musician some people won’t understand or appreciate listening to this. I listen to this to expand my imagination.

These discs are A LITTLE TOO LOUD. They should have turned the volume knob down a little bit when remastering, but alas, this seems to be the way of reissues these days. In any event, it's great to have the album in both mono and stereo versions, and the bonus tracks are essential for Residents fans. Highly recommended.

This is the first Residents album I've ever owned. It won't be the last. This has 2 versions of the album, one mono one stereo, but that is not where the differences end. Amazing weirdness, great packaging.

This the last remaster of this underground classic you will ever need. You get both the original mono mix and the 1977 stereo remix, the Santa Dog '72 EPs ,plus a plethora of bonus tracks. I'll still hold onto my older versions of this CD, but this one is by sure the keeper.

Pochette légèrement plus petite qu’une pochette traditionnelle 33T. Mais arrivé en super état. Je recommande cet album culte.

問題なっかた。問題なっかた。問題なっかた。問題なっかた。問題なっかた。問題なっかた。問題なっかた。

A great start for those that hasn't met the Residents yet. In both mono and stereo, and a full disc of extras. This is a labour of love. The re-mix shows a lot of detail. A low-fi record turned hi-fi.

Avantgardistischer Wahnsinn in Vollendung. Abgefahren, völlig crazy, fremdartig und absolut genial. Klangmanipulationen überall. Manchmal klingt die Musik als würde sie aus den zwanziger Jahren des letzten Jahrhunderts stammen, dann wieder nach den goldenen Siebzigern. Es ist sehr schwer diese Musik wirklich zu beschreiben, wie das allgemein bei den Residents der Fall ist. Ich brauchte damals einige Zeit und einige Hördurchgänge, bis sich mir die Genialität dieser Musik erschlossen hatte. Tipp : Man sollte diese Platte an einem Stück hören, es macht keinen Sinn sich irgendeinen einzelnen Titel herauszusuchen, nur so eröffnet sich einem der Zugang zu diesem Meisterwerk, zumal die Tracks ohnehin ineinander übergehen. Fazit : Sehr hörenswert !!!

El disco vino sin ningún defecto y en el tiempo propuesto. Una gran edición para un gran álbum, de los más raros que tengo en mi colección. Recomendado :)