Akina Nakamori - Cruise FLAC

For those of us that had no luck in acquiring the original 1989 LP release of Cruise due to scarcity (not many numbers were pressed due to the CD format takeover) and expensive prices, this newly 180-gram reissue will have to do. This release retains the original jacket, obi and label design although the print quality probably isn't as great as the original copy. The sound quality of the album is taken from the 2012 96khz/24-bit remasters. It's a pretty well-sounding album for what it is. Part of what makes the complete Japanese LP experience are the Japanese-made firm and flexible records stored in plastic round-bottom inner sleeves. That experience gets abruptly cut off here. The records for this release, although the lacquers were cut in Japan, were outsourced to the EU to be manufactured, probably because Japan had no experience in manufacturing 180g records themselves. This is also evident at the fact that the records are stored in poly-lined UK style sleeves and can be hard to store into its respective Japanese-printed jackets. This can be a turn off to some if they expected an already familiar experience not to mention if they also expected a full analog sounding record. For everyone else, vinyl collectors, Akina fans, those of us that has given up on ever acquiring an original pressing, or settled for a CD copy, this new reissue is the answer. The minor setbacks shouldn't deter from enjoying Cruise on newly pressed vinyl and at for about $35 I think you are better off getting the reissue than trying to pay extraordinary prices for a scarcity pressed copy that shows up on sale every blue moon. Happy listening.