With the proliferation of easily downloadable music in digital form becoming “the norm” nowadays, we’re seeing less and less of the hard copy compact disc. Record shops are closing, consumer buying habits continue to evolve, and artists must fight harder than ever to get their packaged works into the hands of music fans – while still earning some coin.
While we don’t entirely shun the mp3 (buying songs in digital form is a great way to preview new artists, and give a band a “test-drive”), there are many reasons why I still prefer to purchase full-length albums on CD (and we’ll leave vinyl out of the discussion for now as there is a whole’nother litany of reasons why vinyl still kicks ass, too).
Ten Reasons Why the CD Still Kicks Ass
1.) Album inserts rule
If you bought Social Distortion’s new album on CD, you know what I’m talking about here. There is a killer fold-out poster of the band in there on the album insert. Priceless. Can’t get that on .mp3.
Plus…you get all the lyrics, the killer liner notes, lessons in history, recording info., shout-outs, stories and quotes from the band members, and more details about the album.
Seeeriously.
2.) Cover art
When you go .mp3, you miss out on all the killer album art-work, photography, designs, and graphical nuggets of pure rock and roll fury.
Tool’s Salival album package is a great example.
So is this one —>
3.) Technology sucks sometimes
Ever tried to convert a song file from .wav or .wma to .mp3 or .mp54 or whatever it is nowadays?
Do some songs play fine on your iPod, but not on other playback devices? Has a song file ever become corrupt or gotten lost in your media player of choice? Can’t share a favorite song with a friend due to playback restrictions?
Screw all that mess.
4.) It’s like Christmas in a jewel-case
Although many labels are now [thankfully] packaging CDs in a nice streamlined card-board like casing, there’s nothing like un-wrapping a new album you just bought, right?
Come on…you’ve been waiting on that new release Tuesday for months…you get to the record store, grab that sucker faster than quick stick, and you’ve probably already got that thing torn open before the cashier asks “credit or debit.”
The glorious touch of a new CD from your favorite band. The smell of the packaging leading your ears to heaven. The sounds of crackling plastic and the “click” you get when you “pop” that disc out of its holder…
For some reason, downloading the album just isn’t quite as fun.
5.) Posterity
Over this past holiday, we begged our father to dig out some of his old vinyl LPs. We must’ve spent an entire evening talking and reminiscing over old Cat Stevens records, Beatles albums, the Allman Brothers, etc. etc.
It was probably the darn coolest evening of “going back in time” with my father that I’ve spent with him recently.
Think about it…20 or 30 years from now…when your children and grand-children want to know what the hell you were listening to back then…something tells me sharing those moments with them over stacks of hard copy (versus a Windows Explorer menu full of folder icons) will be a lot more fun.
6.) It’s all on the shelf
Stop reading this post right now and do me a favor…
Go have a look at your CD shelf/bookcase/rack (wherever they live), and take a moment of admiration.
Come on…I know you’re feeling a sense of pride, nostalgia, and emotion about that awesome collection you’ve built up over the years, no? It’s like a trophy case of sorts, right? It’s like “a part of you” almost.
Isn’t it way more fun to show-off that prized collection of rock music madness live in the physical (i.e. non-digital) flesh?
I bet you have a story to tell about every last one of those albums on that shelf. Show that sucker off! It probably looks way cooler in your house than that iTunes library does on your PC.
7.) Bonus material and “hidden” songs
Many bands and labels include some cool extras in the hard-copy CD package. You’ve probably seen stickers, flyers/ads for similar bands on the same label, maybe even coupons included.
But often times, the packaged CD will also include bonus (sometimes hidden) tracks at the end, interactive CD-ROM features, and/or maybe even live DVD footage on video, and other special extras.
Can’t get all that extra goodness with .mp3s.
8.) Sound quality
If sound quality is important to you, there are many cases where the CD is still king. Hardcore audiophiles know the difference. But depending on the actual type of digital audio file format you’re using, you may experience some sound loss and/or degradation in overall quality.
Not to mention…if you’ve ever tried to hook-up your iPod or mp3 player to your home theater stereo system, for example…you know it’s just not the same.
Sometimes you have to fool and fidget with the player’s sound settings, adjust your tuner’s settings, you might have to plug-in extra cords and cables, worry about things like USB ports and such, etc. And even after all of that, you likely still won’t get the same sound playback quality as you would if you just stuck the CD in an old-fashioned disc player and let it rip.
9.) Technology sucks sometimes
A few years ago, I did the un-thinkable, and I still don’t think I’ve forgiven myself. Yep…I started selling some of my hard copy CDs after I had ripped them to my computer’s hard drive.
I don’t know…I must’ve been thinking I was doing myself some kind of favor, trying to scale-down with some crazy “less is more” lifestyle experiment.
Now…I have nothing against scaling down and minimizing waste. Except that there are just certain things in life that you just have to hold-on to.
I’m reminded every single time I go to an album on my computer that didn’t rip quite right (the song skips, playback is fouled-up, audio isn’t quite the same), that I WAS A TOTAL MORON to have sold the hard copy!!!
Damm you sucky crappy ripper crapper.
10.) It’s just easier
Depending on your listening habits and preferences, the CD is still just easier to deal with.
When I have a mean hankerin’ for a certain album, I know right where to find it on my CD shelf. I grab it, stick it in the player, and I’m done. Happy.
No messin’ around surfin’ through huge folder libraries; no worrying about hooking-up computers and iPods and adapters and whatever else; no fussin’ around with software and phones and apps and whatever new wiz bang stuff I need just to play the damb music.
I just grab the CD, put it in the player, and we’re off to the races. Simple and easy.
I like that.
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{ 1 comment… read it below or add one }
Just discovered the site and am LOVING it. We are on the same wavelength on so many things (and you are saying and presenting it much, much better than I). That said, this one especially hit home as I am so in love with my CDs that I must confess some real emotion at the prospect of their eventual disappearance in favor of stuff in the “cloud.” My first experiences with CDs are as important to my memory as first car, first girlfriend and more (posted my own at http://gogmagogical.blogspot.com/2011/04/first-cd-four-years-late-and-three.html). Thanks for an awesome post, an incredible site. Looking forward to following regularly.