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Wall St. Journal article

Anyone see the WSJ Thursday 9/25 about Metallica's latest cd "Death Magnetic" and how it was mastered for ipod's and was the loudest recording ever? The band wanted it to sound loud through earbuds. The mastering engineer was embarrassed to be associated with the project because we all know that by compressing levels at the mastering stage, the dynamics are completely lost. No subtle cymbals, no strumming guitars. No surprising nuances for audiophiles.Now I realize that Metallica is not exactly marketing to the audiophile set. However, Springsteen's latest cd "Magic" used the same strategy and I thought it sounded like crap.The recordings are designed for low end reproduction and not bringing out the best performance by the artist. If I want a wall of sound, I will crank up my maggies. Comments?
maxnewid
rdylan
11 posts
 
Listen to the last 30 seconds of "The day that never comes". I think it's great music, one of their best, but quality is just so bad. There is a version floating around the internet, taken from the Guitar Hero video game that sounds way better than the cd.
ben_campbell
1,164 posts
 
I listened today and whilst I took a while to adjust (I've not been listening to my main system very much)and it is compressed.Also as stated above Magic by Springsteen is the same, there is no real dynamics and everything is very central.
The contrast when I put on the last Ryan Adam's CD was very clear.In comparison there is very clear seperation and space with a much wider soundstage.
Needless to say neither Springsteen nor Metallica are very relaxing to listen to.
Shame as the music on the new Metallica sounds promising and Magic is a good record
wireless200
415 posts
 
Finally heard a song off the new Metallica album today. In a word the production was TERRIBLE. As I listened I instantly knew exactly what people were referring to when they said it was too loud. If the volume was up enough to get it to the appropriate level, it was annoying. Turn it down and it just kind of faded away. Painful.

I noticed the drums had the same problem as on their St Anger album. That snare drum with the constant beat. Just annoying. I was sitting there asking myself how the drummer Lars could be such a crap drummer. After all he's the drummer for *Metallica*. Go figure.

The bass was barely audible and the guitar was part and parcel of that annoying over loudness. Shame was it sounded like it could be a good song much like their old stuff especially the guitar; the old songwriting was back. But unlistenable. I can see why people are complaining about this boosted up turkey.
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