In purely audio terms, dynamic range plays a huge part in this. Modern mastering has turned everything into one loud block, there's no room for anything to brea

In purely audio terms, dynamic range plays a huge part in this. Modern mastering has turned everything into one loud block, there's no room for anything to breathe. In music, I always found it interesting that it was "Smells Like Teen Spirit" that ushered in a pop music revolution - as it had "quiet-loud-quiet" dynamic.