Tool (2) ‎– Lateralus

Crackly through most of it, particularly the quiet parts. Side B skipped a bit. It's a picture disk. Otherwise, the mix sounds decent.

I have already listened to this CD several times on 3 different CD players. The same, frequent distortion in the upper frequencies and less often in the lower frequencies. Until the chills pass.
I do not like it.

Get it at Guitar Center for it's regular non-scalper price, don't overpay.

Picture disks have come a long way not just this picture disk

We I took a step into the dark with this record based on the previous reviews. I have heard extracts of the tracks and was saving it up for the arrival of the LP.

So SQ wise this record is surprisingly good considering it is a picture disk, I have a Benz Micro LP-S MM cartridge so any imperfections will be picked up. From a production and mixing point of view is has great headroom with lovely dynamics, bass is very well recorded but for once has not been pushed like so many LPs of this era. The is some very slight surface noises in very quiet places, but then I have my valve amp turned up and I am listening at 78dB at 3m so it is pretty acceptable.

As one to two others have said perhaps I got lucky and have a good pressing.

Musically it is superb!!!

Arguably the best rock album of all time on a horrible pressing (both versions). I've bought several because I wanted a good copy so bad. But they range from so much distortion to being unlistenable to straight out scratches everytime the needle grazes the picture. The people who are claiming they have a good copy are liars...they just want you to waste your money buying this vinyl like they did. Never underestimate how much misery loves company. I just use it for wall decoration now. It took Tool forever to even get on itunes so don't hold your breath waiting for them to re-release a better copy of this.

My copy has the same Mastering SID code and Matrix/Runout as the one listed here, but it has the misprint spelling of Lateralus on the outer sleeve. The picture shows the corrected spelling. I just bought this copy today (5/23/21)...Not a big deal to me, I just find it weird that the misprints are still showing up 20 years after the original release. 🤘

The cracks and pops that you get on picture disks are certainly present on this pressing. Though they weren't that loud, they are still quite annoying. Luckily, the louder parts of the album drown them out a bit. That being said, you're really getting this for the cover and disk art, which I think are pretty damn cool!

As others have said, it sounds better than nearly every picture disc I’ve ever heard. It’s decent. It doesn’t sound terrible. I’d bet the CB (Chris Bellman) reissue sounds better just based on his incredible work and reputation...but this will do until (hopefully) a proper non-pic disc pressing comes along. The biggest issue I’ve got is with surface noise. I’m usually the guy saying “clean your records! I’ve got zero surface noise and that’s probably your problem!” but here I’ve cleaned them properly and there’s still a considerable amount of crackles and pops. And no, that’s not how records are “supposed to sound”. That’s how dirty, scratched and/or inferior quality records are “supposed to sound”.

It’s not bad enough to never want to play it, but it’s definitely there in amounts I’d prefer it not be.

I think Lateralus is the best Tool album. Really love its cover design and I even got their album cover poster - looks amazing on the wall! (and trippy though :)
https://www.architeg-prints.com/product/tool-lateralus-album-cover-poster-print