Hi-Res Downloads

96kHz/24-bit FLAC*, Epitaph/Warner (supplied by www.highresaudio.com)

This debut album outing from California’s This Wild Life sees the duo Kevin Jordan and Anthony Del Grosso recording with Aaron Marsh of Florida-based indie rock band Copeland, performing a collection of heartfelt and melodic ‘acoustic punk-rock’ songs described as a melding of punk and folk. Indeed the band describes itself as being able to successfully perform softer music while touring with heavier bands that play the sort of hardcore punk and metal they spent the formative years exploring. The sound quality throughout is slightly hard-edged and in-your-face, the production ‘crowded’ and subjectively forward. Lacking air and space between instruments and voices, it soon becomes fatiguing. If you like This Wild Life’s expressive sing-along songs buy Clouded on CD. The recording frankly doesn’t warrant it being in a 96kHz/24-bit container. JB

Sound Quality: 70%

Hi-Fi News Lab Report

I’m not entirely convinced by this 96kHz rendering, as a sample-by-sample analysis reveals evidence of brickwall filtering at 22kHz on some sections of tracks [concealed by the long-term averaging, above]. Are some tracks upsampled? PM