Los Lobos – Kiko

Sounds so nice, I played it twice! This is a wonderful, vivid, warm, intimate, detailed, beautifully mastered masterpiece. I've had KIKO on CD for decades, and I don't know how much of it's psychological, but I'll be damned if the CD sounds overly loud and compressed compared to this vinyl pressing. The guitars and drums have more room to breathe on the vinyl, whereas on the CD it's like they're fighting to be heard over each other. This is my first MoFi LP, and it's a banger. As far as the whole analog/digital thing goes, when it comes to albums from the 90's, I don't really give a rat's ass how it was recorded as long as it sounds good. Five stars and a happy face.

I have both the MoFi and this RSD versions, and today I spent some time comparing them. The RSD version is definitely more pronounced in the details and has more immediate energy overall. The bass has more weight, and at first one may feel it sounds more musical. The MoFi has a better soundstage size and definition, micro details and textures are clearer, which pulls me into the music more than the RSD version. If you like more forward sounding presentation, the RSD one is better, but if you like being allured by a more detailed soundstage and more beautiful details the MoFi will be the one. They are different, and in my view one is not better than the other. Any notion that one smokes the other is not justified.

Agreed a wonderful record; yes, this is one of MoFi’s digital clones however, the record is an absolute gem and played on a victorian gramophone it will still sound superb. If the price has dropped then pick up a copy.

My Desert Island Disc...well one of them....assuming you like everything about this album then don't hesitate as it's a gem. I have several versions from a collectability point of view including the MoFi of course but no comparisons have been made. Only to say that this release sounds superb in every way. My copy was not perfectly flat. The only downside for me is the third LP which is just unnecessary and contains nothing I need including the extra expense. Could have been a 2LP set with the extras on a CD version.

Lacquer Cut credit isn't quite right in the Liner Notes. Dave McNair did the master for this vinyl edition at Dave McNair Mastering, but the Lacquers were actually cutted by Nick Townsend at Townsend Mastering. One can confirm all the info and more detalis in the following article: https://trackingangle.com/music/los-lobos-s-kiko-gets-it-s-best-vinyl-reissue

Just got mine yesterday and I concur. Don't have this MOFI, tho I have many MOFI's...but I concur with all the positive posts along with all the superlative adjectives used. Actually used this post thread to pull the trigger on this one vs the MOFI.

My question now is, what process and sources were used to pull this one off? Would love to see everyone do it,...and LP's everywhere be this consistent and sound this good.

Stunningly good pressing, with nary a pop or tick within earshot. Be nice if all new vinyl releases were as high quality. Mastering is excellent as well--spreading this absolute classic across four sides is the way to go. My only complaint is that this is needlessly padded with an extra album of outtakes (Side E) and studio noodling (Side F) that add nothing to the party other than expense. A 2-LP set at about $40 would have been perfect.

There’s nothing I can add that elaborates much on the comments I’ve read here so far, so commenting just to add to the much deserved praise.

WOW!!!! This pressing/master sounds absolutely PHENOMENAL. Dead quiet, perfectly centered, flat, incredible extension, transparency, soundstage, separation, warmth, balance, etc. ALL of it. THIS is the one. No small task, It obliterates the MoFi pressing.

I echo others hear. This KILLS the Mofi pressing. And to me, the Mofi beat the original vinyl (which sounded pretty bad in my opinion--the cd always sounding quite good). Los Lobos fans need to grab this. Shouldn't be that hard to find right now.

Blown away by the quality of this pressing. Very dynamic, dead quiet, fantastic bass. Side one of the bonus disk is very good, side 2 is mostly the band noodling around in the studio.