From: Kevin.J.Feury@dartmouth.edu (Kevin J. Feury)
Newsgroups: alt.rock-n-roll.metal.metallica
Subject: Re: sheep
Date: 10 Apr 92 02:16:00 GMT
 <1992Apr7.222103.15016@dartvax.dartmouth.edu>  
 <1992Apr9.172201.16708@noose.ecn.purdue.edu>
Organization: Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH

In article <1992Apr9.172201.16708@noose.ecn.purdue.edu>
redfreak@softcopy.ecn.purdue.edu (Thomas Lobonc) writes:

> 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.

that would be interesting to hear, i agree. however this album was
recorded primarily for cd distribution. there was a slight bit of
original analog recording on the album, but most of it was done
digitally to feed today's growing cd market. i haven't noticed the
things you've said, though i have heard the single (on record form) of
'sandman' and 'the unforgiven' maybe i was just lucky, but we were
playing it on our radio station playback through the recording board. i
thought it sounded pretty good.

> >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)

agreed about the mixing problems. up until this album, that was one of
the plagues of metallica albums. this time howver, the band are truly
happy with the final product. it's the sound they've wanted for a
while. regardless, i still respet the fact that you don't like it. fine
with me.
 
> >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 wish i had a recording that sounded like that. it almost sounds
interesting to listen to.

> 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) 

about 'garage days', do yo mean that you like that sound or not? i
think it's pretty neat, even though the production is minimal.

-kev.