From: redfreak@softcopy.ecn.purdue.edu (Thomas Lobonc)
Newsgroups: alt.rock-n-roll.metal.metallica
Subject: Re: sheep
Date: 9 Apr 92 17:22:01 GMT
Article-I.D.: noose.1992Apr9.172201.16708
Organization: Purdue University Engineering Computer Network

In article <1992Apr7.222103.15016@dartvax.dartmouth.edu> Kevin.J.Feury@dartmouth.edu (Kevin J. Feury) writes:
>In article <1992Apr6.212110.21424@noose.ecn.purdue.edu>
>redfreak@softcopy.ecn.purdue.edu (Thomas Lobonc) writes:
>
>> Does anyone else think the sound quality on the new album sucks (especially
>> compared to Master and Justice)?  I think we can blame Bob Cock (ooops, Rock)
>> for this. James sounds horribly spitty in some parts, and overall the sound
>> is overly bright. Fleming, please come back!!!!
>> The latest Megadeth and Slayer both sound much better.
>
>if you blame anyone, blame the band. they wrote the music, not him. the
>whole idea of using bob roack was to get a bright sound, don't you
>people ever get that through your bloody heads? fleming's production
>blows. he mutilated AJFA. the album sounds like shit. you can't even
>hera jason's bass parts. its way to drum dominated. the band didn't
>like that sound, so they switched to a different one whcih they (and i)
>think is far superior to the old sound (not style)
>
>-kev.

I guess I should elaborate on my comments concerning the sound. First,
I have NOT heard the CD, I have the LP.  There are still some of us out
there who know that the analog LP, with all its surface noise, sounds more
musical than the CD (or any digital). Neil Young has been quoted on this.
Note that this statement is based on comparing PROPERLY MADE LPs (which
many aren't/weren't) to CDs (which are perfect.. just ask Stereo Review)
on a REFERENCE QUALITY SYSTEM (ie. no mass market Japanese) which would
probably cost AT LEAST $4000.  Please, if you must flame me for this, do
it through e-mail.  A discussion on this subject does not belong in this
newsgroup. I provided this paragraph to back up my statements on the sound
quality.
Yes, I have heard CDs that sound better than LPs (Nuclear Assult), and there
are many horrid sounding LPs. It's too bad that most people never have and
never will hear just how good an LP can sound.

>if you blame anyone, blame the band. they wrote the music, not him. the
What? Who wrote the music has nothing to do with the sound quality.  
The screwup is caused by the producer and/or engineers mixing what the
band played incorrectly.  (something that happens far too often)

>hera jason's bass parts. its way to drum dominated. the band didn't

I agree here. I think the kick drums are overmixed, and Jason is drowned
out.  I don't think that the bass was ever really mixed right on any of
the earlier albums.  I also think that the sound on all albums before the
black one (with one exception: Garage Days Re-Re sounds AWESOME)
was a little dull, and needed to be brightened up, just not this
much.  The guitar sound is about the only thing that has improved.  The
cymbals and snare drum sound "digital" (harsh, edgy, unnatural, etc.)
Jamesssssss vocalsssssss ssssssound terrible anytime he ssssssings an ssssss
sssssssound.  This is caused by too hot of a mix.  Maybe that ssssssnake
on the cover is appropriate!  

I have talked to friends who have the CD, and they did not hear the problems
I did. It is known that the mix that will produce the best sound on CD will
NOT produce the best sound on LP.  With the limited LP market, it is possible
that they used the CD mix to make the LP master. This could be why James
sounds so spitty, etc.  I should note that my friends' systems are of low
quality, so some of the faults are probably masked.

Despite my complaints, I still think Metallica is the best band of the last
8 or 10 years (has it been that long?). I knew there was something that set
them above the rest when I first heard Metal Militia in 84, and I have been
a Metallihead ever since.
I just wish they could get their sound right (Garage Days) 

P. S. If anybody wants to know about Metallica or metal (not poser!) LP's
send e-mail.