[uosdwis]

I was hesitant to get the £40 box because I had my suspicions, seeing as how the last two Radiohead albums were absolutely obliterated in mastering. So instead I paid for the MP3s (a first for me, but hey their business model deserved my vote) and indeed they were pretty badly clipped. I was hoping that this was just a lo-fi version of the album.

Last night I spent some time with my friend who got the boxed set. And my suspicions were confirmed: to my utter disappointment the CDs are mastered just as loud. I really enjoy the songs and the production but I find the clipping and lack of dynamics extremely fatiguing. So yeah, it's great when I'm in the other room or washing dishes, but not for serious listening.

The solution obviously is to get the box for the vinyls alone and yes, I considered it. But it struck me as utterly absurd having to go to those extremes (and in the wrong direction; I'd be much more willing to get an SACD player or whatever). Apparently it doesn't get much better than the MP3s so I'm thinking I'm not even going to get the CD (the data-reduction doesn't bother me when I'm washing dishes).

Those of you who have listened to the vinyls, are they everything the CD should have been?

And is this the future of high fidelity? Are serious music listeners going to have to forced into a cumbersome and expensive (and, to me, sonically inferior) format like vinyl just to be able to listen to the music without suffering a migraine attack?

As for the mastering job itself, I'm guessing they want it this way. Regardless of who actually turned the knobs, it's the only reasonable explanation, right? Seems to me they've made a really interesting album almost unlistenable. The whole thing just makes me sad.

I'll include a snapshot of the square turd that is 'Bodysnatchers', the second track. Not that it says anything about the sound, but you get the picture. And besides, otherwise this may just get instantly moved to The Moan Zone (it certainly does qualify).

Sorry about the rant and thanks for your time.