Very, very frustrating.

Does anyone know if the LP is similarly compressed? Are new LPs usually compressed like the CDs are?

EDIT: It looks like the LP and CD are both about as compressed as you can get. Apparently, the best version can be had on Guitar Hero:

http://blog.wired.com/music/2008/09/does-metallicas.html

Fascinating.

Thanks, guys

Not exactly scientific, but here's a YouTube video comparing the Guitar Hero version (lower compression) to the CD. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DRyIACDCc1I&fmt=18

Lars Uhlrich is one of the first and most vocal proponents of DRM, music companies coming down on "stealing" customers, and sounds like an all around ass. While not a fan, I respect their music- who he is, and his attitude towards those fans who made him welathy, not so much.

As a long-time fan, I want to like them very much. But, unfortunately, dbowker, your assessment is accurate. I had almost grown to accept their a-hole attitude toward DRM and such. If their position was based, in part, on the lower quality of digital music files, then I would have a bit more respect for their reluctance to release their music in the format. But THIS... This really shows they have little respect for their fans, and are not concerned with how good their music sounds. Moreover, it is even a bad business decision (although they may think otherwise).

This is all the more disappointing because their latest album, musically, is a HUGE step up from their previous several releases.

Judicata, I bought the new album on vinyl the day it was released. It does sound very compressed. I was totally disappointed and never played the record again.

Quote:
Judicata, I bought the new album on vinyl the day it was released. It does sound very compressed. I was totally disappointed and never played the record again.

I really had my hopes up since the re-releases sounded pretty good.