The loudness wars are something we've complained about here occasionally at the Corner. Here is a YouTube clip that demonstrates the maximization and compression I've mentioned in the past that ruins many modern recordings and remasters:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Gmex_4hreQ
Most new "popular" CDs are mastered using a "brick wall" digital compression that sucks even more life out of the music, similar to the example in this clip.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Gmex_4hreQ
Most new "popular" CDs are mastered using a "brick wall" digital compression that sucks even more life out of the music, similar to the example in this clip.