The CD comes with the bonus animated videoclip for 'AMay' in a big high-res window, and of course offers the highest quality audio and full artwork experience. Also, read my aside at the bottom of this page about The Loudness War
You can:
_ Buy the CD in Australia (online order) from Waterfront Records
_ Buy the CD internationally (online order) from CDBaby where you can also preview the first two minutes of all tracks
_ Buy Hold R1 mp3s at the iTunes store. iTunes lets you preview the second 30 seconds of all tracks
The Loudness War
90% of contemporary music doesn't make
use of the dynamic range and potential quality offered by
the CD format. In pop, rock and electronica, signals are
distortedly crushed against a finite digital ceiling out of
deranged interest in making tracks 'competitively loud' for
radio. Playing this kind of stuff on a CD in hopes of
hearing something exciting can be a waste of time. No part
of the music is louder or quieter than the other. You turn
it up hoping the drums might punch through, but they can't.
You might as well just go listen to the mp3 or use a $10
Kmart ghetto blaster as your stereo.
My Aeriae recordings are mastered with strong dynamic
range. Play the CD through a quality amp and good speakers
and you will appreciate the wallop, clarity and detail
largely absent from today's music.
You can learn more about the Loudness War and the sliding
quality of recorded music at wikipedia