Hans Zimmer & Benjamin Wallfisch – Blade Runner 2049 (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)

What a piss-take leaving off the Elvis and Sinatra numbers, but making space for that godawful last song that sounds exactly like every other modern pop song. Embarrassingly bad.

The major downside is the sleeve: it should have been a gatefold. After a quick clean the records don't sound bad at all: some mild noise during quiet parts but dynamically they are very good.

I’m playing on a Technics SL-1400 with Signet TK7SU cartridge. Sansui 881 receiver and B&W DM601 S3 speakers.

I’ve started writing some reviews on records here on Discogs. And I don’t hold back. I’m getting sick and tired of off-centered records and low quality vinyl. Especially at the prices we are paying today.

Record companies and manufacturers need to be called out. When was the last time a person in Germany said “I’d really love the import pressing from the USA”? Exactly….NEVER!!!

I almost didn’t buy this pressing due to the reviews. But I did. So, here goes….

Packaging sucks. For a double record at $40, make it a gatefold. It is not. Sleeves are ok. Colorful. But I would rather have a couple of colorful inserts and the records placed in archive quality inner sleeves. It’s nowhere near as bad as putting in plain paper sleeves. So, it’s ok what they did. Just a gripe. But at least, it should have been a gatefold.

On to the quality of the records. Now, I usually give a new record a quick clean with some spray and a rub down. Then use anti-static gun or brush before dropping the needle.

I’m shocked. Especially after reading all the negative reviews.

This sounds fantastic!!
Every side was cut nicely. Not off-centered at all. Excellent. Every side was quiet!! No background noise. No crackles and barely a pop. If this album was noisy, I would be ripping it apart. But it wasn’t. Sonically, wow!!! It was a pleasure to listen to.

Did I find the needle in the haystack? Maybe? I don’t know. I’m honestly not sure why there are so many negative reviews. Maybe I got lucky. But from my perspective, I’ll give it top marks.

Quality of records gets a grade of “A”
Packaging gets a grade of “C”

Going by comments here I was luckier than some. Disc 2 is a bit wonky, but it all sounds pretty great other than the odd crackle.

Terrible press, at least the one I picked up, but it seems to be in line with most other comments. Returned it after listening to Side A and B.

With an ambient recording like this one, where a lot relies on dynamics, every pop and click is one too many, but this pressing should have never found its way into the hands of customers, just an overall ridiculously cheap and low-effort product. A shame for a score as wonderful as this one.

Three copies already, the first two severely warped and with pops and clicks.

I surrendered with the third (only pops and clicks), will try to have it cleaned with ultrasound or something.

It is shameful that a beautiful score like this is pressed so poorly.

Pressing was total crap returned it quick fast.

Music itself little more than a mix of Doom and Mass Effect videogames and nowhere near the original films emotive tracks. Zimmer has done far better with Inception, Interstellar and Last Samurai

Could really do without the mega pop tune on side d, kinda takes away from the Blade Runner vibe a bit. Mediocre pressing, but the Zimmer/Wallfisch movements are fantastic with a few nods to Vangelis.

I finally went for this in the hope that I would get a good quality pressing. Alas, it had to be returned to the shop due to excessive noise on 2 of 4 sides. Disappointing.

My records sound good, yes there are very few pops but hardly anything to think about. And I got the download code inside. The only thing that bothers me is the last song Almost Human, it's an AWFUL song that has NOTHING to do with Blade Runner and doesn't fit the rest of the soundtrack. It's HORRIBLE. I wish I could remove it from my otherwise flawless record.