Think of it like a punk rock show in a dive bar versus a punk rock show in a stadium. MP3s are the dive bar—fun, muddy, and drunk. FLAC is being the sound engineer at that dive bar. You hear the crackle of the amp, the rattle of the snare drum, the exact pitch of the feedback.
In the streaming era, where convenience trumps quality, seeking out the FLAC version of Brat is a rebellious act. It is, fittingly, the most brat thing you can do. charli xcx brat flac
For the casual fan, streaming is fine. But if you are a producer trying to steal AG Cook’s synth patches, a DJ needing clean stems for a remix, or a listener with a $500 pair of headphones, the FLAC is mandatory. Think of it like a punk rock show