Mike Mettler

Forty years ago this month in May 1985, the savior of the then-burgeoning compact disc format arrived in the name of Dire Straits’ fifth studio album Brothers in Arms, a career-defining release that became the first CD to ever sell a million copies. Read music editor Mike Mettler’s combo deep-dive review of the just-released BIA 40th Anniversary Edition 5LP and 3CD box sets and companion 1LP and 1BD editions, plus find out just how good BIA sounds in Dolby Atmos. . .

Has it really been 50 years since electro-pop pioneers Kraftwerk graced us with the sprawling techno-majesty of their fourth album, Autobahn? Mein Gott. Read music editor Mike Mettler’s in-depth review of the all-new Dolby Atmos mix of Autobahn to see if Kraftwerk’s timeless music soars anew in 360 degrees. . .

As Black History Month comes to a close, we wanted to put our final BHM aural spotlight on the always dynamic Tampa rapper Doechii. Not only did she perform a mightily charged set in New Orleans the night before Super Bowl LIX just 19 days ago, but on February 2, 2025, Doechii also won the Grammy for Best Rap Album for her powerful 2024 mixtape release, Alligator Bites Never Heal. Even better, all of Bites is available in Dolby Atmos. Read Mike Mettler’s review of a pair Alligator tracks — the self-analytical “Denial Is a River” and the knowingly defiant “Boiled Peanuts” — to find out just how Doechii has taken a serious bite out of the 360-degree apple. . .

Memphis rapper NLE Choppa is in the midst of celebrating Black History Month by releasing a new single each week here in February 2025. His first two BHM offerings— the hopeful confessional of “Crescent Moon,” and the anti-gun-violence hip-hop hymnal “Can We Live?”—both aspire to achieve loftier heights and goals in Dolby Atmos (albeit in slightly different ways). Read Mike Mettler’s review to find out if the Atmos mixes of these two uplifting tracks maximize their best 360-degree intentions. . .