Music!
Two big albums landed in our laps this month: Metallica’s Death Magnetic and TV on the Radio’s Dear Science, and they’re as different as their album names suggest…
First SlapClap contributor Marty Cassidy weighs in on Death Magnetic and the mastering controversy that surrounds the new record then I offer some first thoughts on Dear Science which, as far as I can tell, was engineered by elves.
Tags: marty cassidy
October 2nd, 2008 at 11:02 am
I hear you loud and clear, Enter Soundman. Everything has sounded like pots and pans since Scotty Moore blew a tube on Mystery Train. You can’t even hear the words, these freaking kids!
October 3rd, 2008 at 11:30 pm
Progress is a better sounding recording, progress is more dynamics, progress is SACD and DVD-A, loud, in your face and crystal clear, stirring, dynamic, amazing. Digital compression is a bad thing, when playing live there are softer and louder moments. Brick Walling sound to the point of digital distortion is not progress, it’s a step backward. We made progress getting rid of the scratching sound of vinyl or the warbling of curling magnetic tape recordings. We are moving backwards from audio reproduction perfection and forward to noise and distortion.
October 4th, 2008 at 1:27 am
“All this machinery making modern music can still be open-hearted.”
Neil Peart.
I think that statement is something everyone should take into consideration when recording/ mixing/ mastering music. Considering Neil played on Vapor Trails, the irony of my using his words (in this context) does not escape me.
Death Magnetic - After the mostly great songs it contains, I think of it as a tragic statement on the state of today’s recording industry.
I wonder if future generations will come to ‘get off’ on the sound of white noise alone?
October 15th, 2008 at 3:09 am
[...] Dear Science album review [...]