For those of you who think I’m losing my mind, good news; this column won’t be too long. I’ve just spent the last hour and x amount of minutes trying to get back online, which resulted in my having to reinstall my online service. This of course comes on the heels of a day where I basically accomplished about 25% of what I set out to do. Basically I’m not in the best of moods.
Dual Discs?
I’ve been seeing commercials promoting the hell out of this new development in disc technology. Sure it looks like a regular disc but it’s not. One side is a full-length album, while the other is a DVD full of supplemental material. It’s like two discs in one!
Now, call me old fashioned but I really hate this idea. I think it really sucks. My complaint is that it is erasing the last vestiges of album art left in the medium.
I’m sure not everyone is old enough to remember when an actual record/album was the vehicle for music. I can barely remember it and my memories are limited to Sesame Street albums and Muppet soundtracks. But I remember how dope they were and how impressed I was.
Lest you think my fascination with record art was a folly of childhood, I would spend some quality time at The Soundgarden in Baltimore or Bookman’s in Tucson just flipping through the records, despite not having a turntable to listen to them on.
They truly were snapshots of a time, an era. Some were hilarious, while others were powerful and evocative. And after watching a documentary on the Blue Note label, I was amazed at how cool those albums looked, much less sounded.
But in the modern era we don’t have “cover art.” We have the inlay booklet. It can be informative, but more often than not it’s just standard. There are rare occasions when the inlay booklet rocks (QOTSA’s Songs for the Deaf comes to mind) or is creative (De La Soul’s The Grind Date), but it’s usually just basic information. And with it’s small size it can’t compare with epic sweeping scale of the album cover art.
However CD’s did have the actual disc itself. Records were rarely flashy. They were pretty much just black vinyl. And CD’s began as just silver. However they blossomed into color and eventually design.
Take for example Digable Planets Blowout Comb comb motif. Or the blood splattered debut of the Gravediggaz. Jurassic 5 incorporate their logo onto ever disc.
Who could forget the psychedelic freak out that is Outkast’s Stankonia? The Beatnuts (The Spot and numerous Gang Starr albums paid homage by actually having the CD art mimic the look of records. And those are just the examples from my Hip Hop collection.
Should Dual Disc’s become the dominant trend in the industry we would lose yet another creative aspect from the genre. And really, if I wanted to listen to music on a disc that looks plain, I’ll just download and burn as opposed to pay for my music.
The Great Nick Salemi
Nick hooked me up with a copy of his first 2005 mix and it’s a banger. It’s been on heavy rotation for a minute. Good look.
Yeah, that’s the column this week. Like I said, I’ve had a rough 24 hours. Next week will be better. But until then these quality reads will get you by;
Album Art
Everyone needs to read Shawn, unless you think I’m making a big deal about the whole Bananas incident. Shawn has his own opinion on that topic, among others.
Aaron has some actual feedback for me, in a weird hearsay type of way. He also manages to shoehorn Jalen’s stomach strength into the column.
Jeff has animal porn, a New Edition reunion, and plenty of other newsworthy items. He also manages to toss a thinly veiled jab at 50 Cent.
Gloomchen gets hatemail about a silly topic. She also gives props to Willie Nelson and gets deep inside the psyche of Iowan Cops.
Tom’s still not sold on the new Nine Inch Nails album.
(keep you’re eye out for the InsidePulse May Feature to be announced soon. It’s going to an amazing read.)
CD Art
Tayo gives me hope for the demise of the Black Eyed Peas and that Gorillaz might have an album of the year.
Ian is 100% right about Cold Roses. Sin City does indeed rock, and thanks for reminding me why I look forward to Oasis news.
MSD gets props for giving props to Beanie Sigel.
Five TV Theme Songs I Wish I Had
1. Electric Company
2. 3-2-1- Contact
3. Tom & Jerry
4. Tiny Toon Adventures
5. In Living Color
