15/06/04
20Its finally here.. (or is it?)
“I’m off to liberate my bank balance. See you next week…”
Such brave words I spoke on Tuesday. As Jeremy, Richard and Tom all found out, bankruptcy need not be feared. It would seem that UK Music store is a little understocked with music. That Apple and the Independent labels couldn’t clinch the deal hasn’t helped. After much searching, I did find some back-catalogue Starflyer 59 albums that I wanted, and for that I’m really grateful.
While I love the speed and convenience of downloaded music, I really miss the packaging. I have a fetish for scrutinising liner notes while listening to the album, and enjoying the time put into the booklets design. For the last 2 Radiohead albums, I’ve spent extra to get the special edition cloth bound book versions. Hail to the Thief came with a large map with their trademark random notes, and they feel like special things.
Ideally, as well as the cover art being downloaded into iTunes, you could at least get a pdf of the CD’s booklet. Or am I alone in this compulsive need to know who did mixing desk duties?
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Paul Airy said 1576 days ago:
Well, Jon. It’s finally here – and about time too! As you say, it is sadly lacking in some of the more obscure areas of the music industry. I had a look for some Sebadoh, but no joy. It does, however, feature some P. J. Harvey and Pixies so it’s not all bad.paul haine said 1576 days ago:
I noticed the lack of music as well – lots of empty placeholder pages and the like, it was all very disappointing, and had the feel of a shop closing down rather than opening up.I don’t see myself using the iTunes store as a full-time replacement for buying CDs though; maybe for just buying the odd single here and there. I’d miss having the physical media, the sleeve notes, the covers – then there’s bonus tracks, bonus videos, and sometimes (such as Franz Ferdinand’s and The Zutons’ debuts) extra CDs, containing reworkings or live tracks.
You can buy an album via iTunes and yes, you can burn it to a CD, but what do you want your music collection sat in your lounge to look like? A tatty collection of CDRs with titles written in permanent marker?
Richard Earney said 1576 days ago:
I agree with cover art. Radiohead always go the extra mile and I wouldn’t want to lose that!Richard Rutter said 1576 days ago:
bq. Or am I alone in this compulsive need to know who did mixing desk duties?Absolutely not. I don’t think I’ll ever buy much from the iTunes store. I like record shops and I like the tangibility of CDs and vinyl. Yes vinyl – I still buy loads (25% of music probably) because many artists make a lot of effort nowadays.
For your money, you usually get a fantastic sounding double-vinyl pressing in gatefold packaging. It just feels like you’re getting a lot for your money and I’m a sucker for all that.
Buying a 10 song album at 79p a track is not really a bargain IMO, but I suppose that’s not really what the store is designed for, more for one track impulse purchases.
swimp said 1576 days ago:
Calling a three country release for a “European” version of iTunes Music Store is a joke in itself…cedmond said 1576 days ago:
Hey, it’s not sadly lacking if your into American pop. :) Maybe now that the store is open to you European folk maybe we yanks will get a little more flavor in the selections. I know that I would welcome it.Also, I am definately one of those people who will miss the liner notes. I think a PDF download or special web version is in order.
Jason Santa Maria said 1576 days ago:
I agree, the missing artwork is the biggest thing keeping me from buying music online. Apple should really find a way to jump on this too. A few years ago I grabbed an internet exclusive They Might Be Giants album called Long Tall Weekend from eMusic.com and they were kind enough to provide a pdf download of the album artwork. That was the first and last time I have experienced such a treat.It just makes sense. I am surprised artists don’t put up a stink about this, there is usually so much in the album notes directly from them (thankyou’s, lyrics, etc.)
Ben Poole said 1576 days ago:
I’m a liner note geek too, so you’re not alone. Cherished albums still have to come on CD for me,. What I like the iTunes store is that it allows me to buy the odd song here and there, usually those where I have no need for the full album.For example, I love the tune used in the UK KFC ads (!),—“California Soul”—and now, thanks to iTMS, I have it on my computer. Ditto a couple of hoary ole’ tracks from vinyl albums I used to own, but don’t necessarily want to replace on CD.
With regards the range of choons available, blame the record companies I suppose, although I hope the lines will expand as time goes on.
Jeff Clark said 1576 days ago:
I’m not sure if I’m missing something or what, but if the European iTunes is bad/lacking selection, why can’t you just buy from the U.S. iTunes store?Regardless, I totally agree with the need for cover art. I love trying to figure out what they were thinking while putting the whole thing together and then how they did it. Viva la CD art!
bennion said 1576 days ago:
When iTunes came out i bought a few songs that i didn’t necessarily want the the whole cd from which is great in for those instances. And last night when my 7yr daughter wanted a particular hilary duff song i was more than tickled to buy it for $.99! of course i pushed her to tmbg and a few old go-go’s tunes as well. but i’m still a sucker for cover art and that sweet plastic/print smell you get with a cd or vinyl. oh and hey hicks… if you ever want to do some iTunes swapping for stuff you can’t find there and stuff i can’t find here let me know ;-). apparently iTunes knows i’m not in Britian.Jon Hicks said 1576 days ago:
Jeff – becuase we’re not allowed!! Otherwise we’d be using it all the time, and taking advantage of free tracks.If you tried to log in a big sign saying “no limeys!” would appear ;o)
Chris J. Davis said 1576 days ago:
Wow, another SF 59 fan. That is kinda crazy. I don’t suppose you are a fan of Poor Old Lu, Model Engine (aka Black Eyed Sceva) or Phatasmic?If you haven’t heard any of the above bands, please find them and take a listen, especially Model Engine.
Paul D said 1576 days ago:
I’ve heard that selection would be a problem, since Brits and Europeans listen to a lot more independent music than Americans.I know it’s not as cool as Apple’s store, but try AllofMP3.com if you can’t find what you’re looking for elsewhere. They’re an inexpensive Russian site with a huge catalog, and yes they pay royalties to the artists. Most music can be encoded realtime to whatever format you want – MP3, AAC, OGG, whatever.
Having a lossy digital-only copy will always take backseat to owning a physical CD with the liner notes, cover artwork, and other cool stuff, though!
Josh Bryant said 1576 days ago:
Jon, you are not alone.This is precisely why I do not buy music online. I don’t care how cheap it is, having an album is more than just the files, its the experience.
I love sitting back and looking through the booklet. I enjoy not only the content of said booklet, but the design also. I find some of the most amazing art and design within CD’s.
I also prefer having the raw audio as opposed to some lossy codec. Not that its THAT big of deal, but it is an added bonus.
Still though I promote online music stores. iTunes has had a few iTunes only EP’s out that I love to download.
I usually do my music browsing through bit-torrent. Take a gander at a CD, if I like it, write it down, if not, the trash can it goes. Then my weekly music run consists of getting everything on my list.
I am a musician myself, so I am probably more obsessive about this than most, but I am definitely with you.
A PDF would be nice, and I might consider it more, but there is something about the actual physical CD. I own it, its mine. I don’t have to input a password to use it on another CD player than the one I first played it on, I can play it anywhere, encode it to anything and have it for eternity… (well almost).
Peter Zignego said 1576 days ago:
Even a PDF of the artwork wouldn’t really do it for me. I like being able to hold the case in my hands, open it up, page through the booklet, admire the design on the CD, etc. And if it’s a good CD, then whenever I see the case lying around my room I think, “Oh yeah, good CD, glad I bought that.” The physicall-ness and the actual buying of the CD is important to me.nik taylor said 1575 days ago:
I understand where you are coming from. I remember in the 70’s a vinyl album by a welsh bunch of weirdos called Man. The album was not as good as the packaging, which comprised of a fold out map of Wales, four times the size of the cover. It was a bugger to fold but great to look at. Its somewhere in my garage.I have looked at the Apple store but will continue to shop at Bleep. Apple have yet again let Europe down with the quality of the site.
Colly said 1575 days ago:
They’ve got lots of PJ Harvey on there – I’d like to download Polly Harvey herself, nevermind the artwork.I have to say I’ve only dared download a couple of tracks so far (due to lack of choice), but the actual process and registration, through to actually buying a track is very Apple, very smooth.
I too enjoy using Bleep, but then there’s only so much music that sounds like warring kitchen appliances that I can stand…
Maura said 1574 days ago:
On the American store, anyway, they do give you the cover art (though JPG form I believe), and the ability to print out a tracklisting (again, not the actual liner notes). For me, iTunes is about buying iTunes exclusives, random pop singles, and perhaps a song or two here and there to see if I want to spend money on the actual album. But to concur with everyone else, I’m still buying the actual CD most of the time.Ben Haldenby said 1570 days ago:
I think the move from the vinyl sleeves of old (esp. gatefold vinyl, mmm) to those crappy little CD jewel cases, already made CDs far less desirable. No matter how good the inlay card is, it’s still packaged in this rubbish, brittle plastic case which inevitably snaps and cracks at some point.In contrast I do like the card sleeves that some CDs are released in, The Three EPs by Beta Band is a good example. They feel more substantial and less ephemeral. In this sense I reckon the future of music distribution (digital downloads) can improve upon the crappy jewel cases by providing interactive liner notes. QuickTime movies or modest Director presentations or little interactive Flash movies which fulfill the job of the liner notes of old but take it that step further with interactivity and function. Oh and you’d be able to download them from ITMS and play with them on your new colour screen iPod :)
anne-marie said 1570 days ago:
bq. Or am I alone in this compulsive need to know who did mixing desk duties?you’re not the only one dear!
being students under-16, me and my friends find it hard to put together the money to buy things, let alone CDs. when sharing the copied copies of CDs that they have, i often get a bit frustration with the lacking of a booklet because if i want to sing along or something, i have to go through an awful a lot of trouble to find lyrics!
i quite like the satisfaction of going into hmv and just walking around in the store looking for music myself, rather than have a slow computer with a 21000bps connection speed look for a track. it’s all very well paying a nice amount for a pretty mp3 download, but at the end of the day, it just makes my CD rack look more empty than it already is! who cares if the jewel case cracks after a few trips in a schoolbag or backpack – it’ll be fun while it lasts.