I have the MFSL verstion, and it is a good recording, and a good pressing. Unfortunately, I never owned the standard (non-MFSL) version to compare it against.
(In case you're wondering why I haven't heard the standard version to compare it against, it is because I was introduced to this album when I bought (cheaply, I might add), the old (silver, not gold) MFSL CD version. I liked it enough to search out the vinyl version, which is somewhat better than the CD.)
My advice is to find a near mint copy of the standard version cheap, and just buy it, (unless you have it already of course). Then, if you really love this album, (and it is a good album), then watch Ebay for a near mint copy to pop up and pick it up then. (I seem to recall that is exactly how I bought my copy, and I don't remember it being too expensive. I probably paid less than $30 for it.)
Good Luck!
PS The American Beauty album is pretty good on MFSL vinyl too.
(In case you're wondering why I haven't heard the standard version to compare it against, it is because I was introduced to this album when I bought (cheaply, I might add), the old (silver, not gold) MFSL CD version. I liked it enough to search out the vinyl version, which is somewhat better than the CD.)
My advice is to find a near mint copy of the standard version cheap, and just buy it, (unless you have it already of course). Then, if you really love this album, (and it is a good album), then watch Ebay for a near mint copy to pop up and pick it up then. (I seem to recall that is exactly how I bought my copy, and I don't remember it being too expensive. I probably paid less than $30 for it.)
Good Luck!
PS The American Beauty album is pretty good on MFSL vinyl too.