Why `Smoke and Origination’ is in a DVD Case
For those who do not know, the latest CD `Smoke and Origination‘ comes in a DVD case. This was a practice that started with the limited run of the compilation `Abandoned In Situ.’ This type of packaging is not a limited feature to attract people to buy physical media; it’s a format that I like and will most likely continue with in the future.
I was going to write about this particular feature ages ago, but I figured in the end, it’s not that important to talk about. I mean c’mon, it’s a DVD case. It’s not an issue that will shake the foundations of the music industry or stop people from taking children to Jesus camps. But a recent review from Daniel Walker at ANTIMUSIC brought up the packaging in the review and cast the presentation in a somewhat negative light.
“You can hear gothic and industrial rock, metal, ambient, electronica, and doom metal in this creation, and the DVD case it arrives in amplifies its apparent ambition. When I first received this, I thought it was a DVD. When I found out that it wasn’t, I thought “What a pompous, bloated way to represent an album!”. I soon got over it.”
Thankfully our fearless writer got over it. But I’m sure others haven’t been so forgiving.
To perceive any packaging attempt that deviates from the standard jewel case as bloated or pompous is just retarded. Bands for the last 20 years have attempted to inject interest in the CD with all sorts of packaging. We’re talking about trying to dress up the same old tired whore (the CD) for the people to buy since no one in the Recording Industry has taken any bold steps forward to give consumers an exciting physical media to buy. I chose the DVD layout because the art looks infinitely cooler and bigger. And lastly, it was cheaper than going the CD Duplication route. Looks Cool + cheap = Bloated? That pesky imperial system you Americans have must be messing up your math.
I remember the days when I was in a band and I did the whole traditional CD replication route. I still have cases of that crap. The art was crap, the layout was crap. Everything about it was crap. Oh, it was swell back then, but it sure doesn’t hold up. And 10 years later, bands are still doing the same thing and TOLD even by some media outlets that that’s what they require.
“If you are not willing to put the money into your CD to get it pro pressed, why should we consider you professional?” -Some site I can’t remember at the moment.
So, if I spend a whole shitton of money into a physical product that I think looks terrible as well as outdated I can be reviewed by your publication? Awesome. Do you also teach Economics?
I know full well the perception of pretentiousness comes from the style of music I do and the image I might inadvertently project. I have made it abundantly clear through out the years that I enjoy the idea of attempting to explore new ideas than to revel in retro hipster masturbation. Cannibalizing the past is the new black, since we can’t seem to rip off the Black Culture properly anymore.
I’m not saying that the idea of using the DVD case was clever or innovative. It’s not, nor do I care. It works for me and it doesn’t rape my budget. But you seriously have issues if you can find either fault or some air of arrogance behind the use of them.
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Some other bullet points from the review that need some clarification: “The song titles here reek of blatant intellectualism that’s almost laughable in such tracks as “The Spaghetti Terrorist”. Anyone remember that one Guns N’ Roses album named The Spaghetti Incident?”Zuh? I don’t know why there was a correlation drawn with the GnR covers record. Is the word `Spaghetti’ taboo? There is no contrived intellectualism behind the name of that song. I use the term to describe the terrorist films Hollywood used to put out in the 80’s. Hence the term `Spaghetti’ and `Terrorist.’ Like `Spaghetti Western.’“For a reject of several Finnish metal bands, Christopher has done well for himself by focusing his quiet determination into a starkly beautiful and captivating record.”
It was just one band. Poisonblack. I had the gig as well. Sheesh, make it sound like I failed at life or something. Well, I did choose music for a vocation so he may be on to something.
Either way, I am grateful Daniel listened and I am glad he was able to provoke some thoughts/debate from me. I salute you sir.
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