Death of Magnetic Tape
Go ahead; click on that picture up there and get the full-size treatment. I really want you to see and understand what it’s all about.
What you’re seeing is a waveform representing the second song off the new Metallica album, Death Magnetic. What you’re seeing is bullshit.
Check out this Wired article to really have it outlined, but the gist of the new album is that before the album was even mixed the individual tracks were already compressed beyond normal listening levels. See, in the last several years music producers have been compressing songs (taking out the high and low points of a song to create a more consistent, louder sound) to make them sound louder on radio. The theory is that if a song is louder than the ones before and after it it will be more memorable, creating a false connection for the listener.
What that means for Metallica’s album is that (according to some analysts) the clipping of the high and low ends has created an audible distortion that is constantly present in every song. Every song sounds overdriven, listeners say, and the dynamic range of previous albums has disappeared. Interestingly, there are reports that the overblown mix was the basis for the vinyl pressings of the album, including a ridiculous 5xLP, 45 rpm, 180 gram version. So you’re getting the best possible sound quality of a shitty-sounding record.
Somewhat ironic are reports that the version of the album released for the latest Guitar Hero video game (featuring extended soloing from the band’s guitarists) features a more standard mix without the intense clipping. The band that tried to kill Napster (and sort of succeeded) is now whoring itself off to the latest alternative media venue…and giving it a better product.
Beatallica - ...and Justice For All My Loving [1:53m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download Bear vs Shark - Out Loud Hey Hey [1:38m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download Ratatat - Loud Pipes [3:47m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download Ninja Gun - Life Is Loud [4:04m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download None More Black - I'll Buy You The Fucking Single [2:42m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | DownloadDon’t buy Metallica stuff. Seriously, it’s so unnecessary.
I steal Metallica just out of principle. I don’t listen to it, I just want Lars et al. to know how unworthy I think they are.