R.E.M. Accelerate - LP or CD?

Tvad,

My wife picked up the CD a couple of weeks ago. I am a huge fan of REM and found it disappointing on first listen. Loud and compressed, way beyond any previous REM release.

I'll have to listen again (might have just been in the wrong mood), but if I'm right about the CD, I hope the LP is better.

Jim S.

Guess I got a bit carried away, just frustrated how hard it can be sometimes to do something without a digital link in the chain. And how fast digital can seem to move to swallow everything up in its path.

The 45s could be cool.

Just picked up a pair of 35th row center tix for the R.E.M. Hollywood Bowl show with Modest Mouse. Never seen them, so I'm looking forward to it!

I have not heard the LP, but CD sound quality is pretty bad. Great music though.

Analog from hi rez digital is actually very good. Mastering is now done in hi rez formats like 24/192 and the masters are 1-bit DSD, up to 5.6mHz. I've got a great analog system and a great digital front end and the differences between SACD, DVD-A and vinyl is incredibly small. (Most systems will not reveal a difference). OTOH, Red Book CD is pretty far behind, only edging out mp3.

BTW, I own this album in vinyl. It's very good in that format, but not exceptional. I haven't heard the CD, but the vinyl still shows some signs of compression, but not bad at all.

Dave