Sorry to hijack this thread - as it might not be a problem of badly recorded music - it was just a suggestion of mine.
However, CD Loudness and audio compression of music or simply put crap music is a MUCH bigger issue than most people realize.
Here is a short list of
badly mastered CDs....classic bands like Police, Pink Floyd, Dire Straits and many others appear on this list of shamefully badly clipped music.
Has anyone tried this software (see below) on some of their badly compressed stuff?
Declip ProIt might be a way to enjoy some of those old favorites that just sound too harsh on the latest remastered CD.
No wonder people think digital sounds harsh and vinyl is better. I certainly think it is one of the reasons some people find Vinyl much less fatiguing.
There are however exceptions, I own two versions of the Duran Duran Rio CD....the 2002 version is significantly better than the 1994 Rio CD - the latest sounds closest to how I remember my old 1982 Japanese Vinyl pressing. There may be hope yet....perhaps after selling us all a bunch of crap for over ten years - the major labels can make even more money by selling us again the same thing but re-mastered properly!
Frankly given that clipping at these levels is "illegal" or outside the CD redbook capability - the major labels really ought to give us refunds on what are faulty products!