Alabama Shakes

Recently purchased Alabama Shakes first album, Boys and Girls. I purchased this on iTunes right after it came out and just loved it. Gave me hope for the moribund state of rock and roll.

Now that I have an actual hi-fi system I'm buying CDs of my favorite music to replace the iTunes versions.

I'm researching the older music and getting the best CD recordings I can find. This has been VERY gratifying. So much good stuff out there. But with newer music there isn't much choice in terms of CDs recordings. Usually just one.

And I have to say this CD is a real disappointment. The SQ just isn't there. Very tinny. Her voice is way too out front of the music. Grates on my nerves. Volume is too high.....I guess its a loudness issue. At about 1/3 volume on my line stage it is as loud (decibel-wise) as my older (and better) CDs are at 1/2 volume....and nothing is gained by going higher.

This makes me wonder about Sound and Color, their second album. I do not like it as much as the first album but at least on iTunes it sounds like a very well produced album. I wonder if that CD is as bad is this one.

I know CDs are a dying if not dead media. I get that they don't account for much in the way of sales. So my question is this: Are CDs being produced for new music all low quality? Is anyone making high quality CD recordings of new music?