Tatsuro Yamashita = 山下達郎* – For You

The pressing on this vinyl is really good, but I wish they'd done an AAA cut. It's quiet with no noise, but the mastering sounds flat and compressed, with that digital feel – I'm not really a fan. For such a major reissue, they really should have gone AAA, but Tatsuro Yamashita is just being cheap.

Sounds fantastic with minimal surface noise / pops. As another reviewer said it does start loud and trend a little quieter as you get closer to the inner tracks.

The included extras are neat too.

Damn good record, dead quiet noise floor, but the last track is cut way too hot. Tatsu-sama's voice just disintegrates during the final surge of 'Your Eyes'. The A-side closer, 'Futari,' doesn't exhibit this behavior on my copy, it maintains its integrity even during its loudest moments, smooth and with great dynamics. One of the best overall packages I've seen in a record this side of the 180-gram Reissue of Dire Straits' 'Brothers in Arms.' Good, thick and beautifully printed paperboard sleeve and a very nice insert with insight on the album's production.

Dang, this sounds so good. Recommended without reservation! No inner groove distortion with my OC9-XML cartridge either.

Copy is dead silent. Sound staging is great. A couple moments where the vocals are a bit muddled, but doesn't detract from this absolute masterpiece.

My copy sounds great. No complaints. Lovely music. Beautiful cover, wish the OBI was see thru but no big deal

I don't know if I just got a dud, but I find my copy to be distractingly harsh and distorted, extremely so towards the climax of the last songs on each side when the arrangement swells with his wall of vocals. Other parts of the record are better but cymbals are splashy throughout. Very little surface noise however and the softer passages are crystal clear. I don't have the nicest setup* but I don't tend to notice these problems as much on other records.

*Pro-ject Debut Carbon with AT-VM95E cartridge professionally aligned by a technician
Denon AVR-S760H home theater amp with built in phono pre-amp
ELAC Debut 2.0 B6.2 Bookshelf Speakers

This is a phenomenal pressing and a much needed reissue of an absolute classic! Very thankful that his catalog is getting repressed now that city pop is having a resurgence. Grab this if you find it!

Great pressing. I compared it to the original pressing. Both of them are great in their own way.
The 2023 mix sounds more like it’s recorded today.
The original pressing sounds a bit warmer but also got great dynamics. Can’t go wrong with both versions i think. 🤔

I will say that the For You reissue sounds good, but not quite as great as I might have hoped.
Its cut LOUD, especially for the intro track. But it cant maintain that level so theres a bit of manual adjusting needed which is annoying and while the tonality is overall a bit on the warm side theres still a harshness to some of the sound which doesnt make it so crankable either.
With the great vinyl being used here they should have cut at a quieter level because there is a bit of IGD towards the side ends even with my VM540ML as well.
Definetly not flawless but Im not sure how an original compares at all.
Im just glad to have a copy after so many years and the sleeve and inserts sure are great as always from Japan.

Equipment Used:
Technics SL-1210GR Turntable with ATVM540ML cartridge
iFi Zen Phono RIAA
Cyrus 2 Amplifier
Revel F35 Tower Speakers