Mastering engineer, Ian Shepard, has made some interesting discoveries recently by looking at the loudness of albums.
Upon analyzing a handful of album releases from the last few decades, it appears that a lot of modern-day albums are having their volumes cranked right up to try to stand out from the crowd.
Taylor Swift’s 1989 for example clocks in at a DR6 rating compared to Motorhead’s Ace Of Spades at DR11 and it even beats Metallica’s Black Album at DR11. Taylor’s album is nearly twice as loud!
Even the Oasis smash What’s The Story Morning Glory (DR6) is louder than Public Enemy’s It Takes A Nation Of Millions (DR13) and The Sex Pistols’s Never Mind The Bollocks (DR11) albums. Other’s high up the list included Nicki Minaj’s The Re-up at DR5 and Skrillex’s Recess at DR4.
Metal still took the crown overall though with Metallica’s Death Magnetic taking a DR3 rating and topping the list.
Despite all this, chances are you will never even notice the volume difference due to most online players normalizing the sound to provide a more consistent listener experience. At least you can now fight back against any old metal heads who mock your love for T Swizzle but knowing that truthfully she is probably louder that whatever they are listening to!
Crank some Taylor up loud and check out the whole list here.
