Today’s Best of 2009 Blog Challenge prompt is…

“best packaging”

I’m going to write here about CD packaging, since my world is filled with CDs.

In 2008, I made that liberating (and sometimes regretful) decision to put all 600 or so of my CDs into binders, recycling the annoying jewel cases and uploading all (or most) of the music to my computer.  The only CDs I kept in their original packaging were the ones that came in digipaks.  The only exception being:  if I played on a CD that was manufactured in a jewel case, I’d keep it on the shelf.

Why did I do this?

Because I hate jewel cases!

Yes.  I hate jewel cases and I love digipaks.

Digipaks are like mini vinyl albums. The cardboard gets worn out the more you listen to it.  Jewel cases just get cracked, dirty and ugly over time.

I still love vinyl, and I’m excited that there is a trend developing where new albums are offered as an instant download + vinyl. I really hope that we keep moving in this direction.  This year, I bought the new album from David Byrne & Brian Eno as an instant download + vinyl….for $20!  That’s awesome.

Also, this year I played on my first vinyl released album…

Amy Millan’s Masters Of The Burial

There’s something so satisfying about holding a piece of vinyl with your music on it.

More so than a CD, anyway.

It’s more tangible, or just official.

2 beautiful CD packages

Here are 2 beautiful CD packages that are sitting on my desk right now.  Both of these packages perfectly capture the mood and feeling of the music.

Both feel like mini vinyl albums to me.

THOMAS – Self Help (2009)

Andrew Downing – Silents (2009)

(click on the pics to see up close)

I highly recommend that you check out these albums, not just for the nice packaging, but for the brilliant music they contain.