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Is music quality moving away from the "audiophile"

I recently read an interesting post on the production of the new Metallica album and how its sound has been catered to the Ipod generation. Formatting the sound of the album toward the ipod itself. With computer downloads, mp3's etc, etc. it seems that "compression" over quality is becoming the norm.

In the Metallica example, I have been a fan since 84. Now, i know they are not a good example for the so called "audiophile", but that being said the production on this album is terrible. Actually, worse than their previous album St. Anger. Who makes the call on this? The band, engineer, record company? A combination of all?
zigonht
phasecorrect's avatar
phasecorrect
2,013 posts
 
I wouldnt judge the state of recordings on the current Metallica offering...they are what they are...a huge metal band...so naturally they are going to gear their product to their base(mainstream) audience....this is no slam on the band...it is what is folks...
shadorne's avatar
shadorne
7,477 posts
 
Ben,

Thanks that was interesting and refreshing - very catchy stuff. Makes me think of Razorlight - another modern band that brings back that period in the late 70's early 80's but with a new variation on the sound (rather than covers)
bongofury
1,160 posts
 
Ben

Vampire Weekend is definitely a great new band which mixes it up like the Talking Heads from 1979.

You will probably like Santogold as well--fuses ska to hip hop--a little like M.I.A. I also like the new TV on the Radio album "Dear Science."
gawdbless's avatar
gawdbless
1,235 posts
 
I personally think maybe its the other way around in that hi-fi equipment mainly loudspeakers most of which are are very expensive and quite a lot are more than the price of a house (not a present but when the housing market is at a decent level) do not do the 'lesser engineered' cd justice in playback. If any cd sounds awful through ones multi dollar speakers, then I think its the fault of the equipment rather than the cd.
If one has a cd that is unbearable to play because it sounds bad, but sounds acceptable through a ghetto blaster for instance, then surely something is amiss when the big boys have their turn and you grab the remote quickly turn it down or off? IMHO, naturally.
I am not a huge fan of Metallica, but I will try and purloin
a copy of their latest cd to have a listen to see if the quality is that bad on playback through hi-fi grade speakers, maybe the RMAF will be the place to take it?
shadorne's avatar
shadorne
7,477 posts
 
I was browsing HMV during lunch when I felt a chill and a shadow passed by the window. Suddenly a Vampire Weekend CD appeared wedged between The Undertakers "Unearthed" and The Wraiths. Currently Vampire Weekend is in my pocket and I looking forward to listening tonight and hoping strange things will happen! Is it like a mandrake - do you put it under the bed?
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