Yup... and it's a little disappointing (although honestly not surprising) that more people aren't posting in this thread to express their dismay
Maybe they were scared off by your earlier claim that the Blu-ray mixes are just as loud as the CD?
But I'm happy to hear that is not actually the case. Though it's a real headscratcher that they have a more dynamic master lying around and didn't use it for the HDtracks release.
Aww, cut me some slack... I was somewhat inebriated while in charge of a keyboard when I posted that
(Also, I meant only to refer to the 5.1 version!)
The rip I created from the stereo tracks on the blu-ray does sound much better and I'm really rather happy about that. Which is brilliant because the album deserves it. I feel sorry for people who've splashed out on the so-called HD tracks. It's pretty poor that there is a demonstrably better source available.
I do sit and wonder why an artist would- ...bah, been here a thousand times and it invariably goes nowhere good.