Insurgentes regular CD edition
A lot of people are asking what will be included in the regular retail CD edition of Insurgentes, and the truth is that no decision has been made on this yet (so by all means voice your opinions). Of course the album, and possibly some of all of the bonus material too, but certainly not all. Though we will try to make the standard CD version of the album as beautifully packaged as we can (given the restrictions of keeping it affordable), the deluxe versions are the definitive editions of Insurgentes. Music is Art and it should be presented as such, not as a set of compressed computer files or a basic disc in a disposable crystal case. It’s this way of thinking that forms one of the main themes running through Lasse Hoile’s film “Insurgentes”, which is why you will see SW destroying so many iPods in the movie!
I have to agree, music is art and should be treated as such. Apparently it is only artists and labels that think like this that are seeing their income and profits rise, the rest are in steady decline. But I also have to admit I do rip my CDs to computer and download them to an MP3 player for the convenience of listening on the move.
I also use an iPod…I have to wonder what Steven does? I don’t think it’s practical to have a turntable and hi-fi system everywhere, or even a CD player and small system. I look forward to seeing the movie so I can hear his views on this whole anti-iPod thing.
I hate sounding critical but have to be honest here. I’m disappointed with the whole affair.
One one hand, I agree 100% about music and the album as art – digital mp3s are a pathetic substitute for the hardcopy, and the artwork and visuals add to the whole thing immensely.
On the other… as yet there’s still no package other than the jewel case that adequately protects the disc itself (which is kind of the point, no?). I don’t want a case that’ll get scratched on the outside at the smallest scuff, and which can’t be replaced or repaired. I don’t want a sleeve where merely sliding the discs will scratch them in the process. And as great as the other stuff is – well, omitting the 5.1 which is just superfluous to me – it’s all about The Music. I want all of The Music, but I have very little space to store big hardbound books (pretty as they may be) and even less cash to plunk down for all those extras just to get to The Music. Should the ‘best’ package really be the only one? We can’t all afford a Picasso for our walls, but that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t be able to see his paintings at all.
It seems perfectly feasible to offer the big deluxe package to the people willing and able to pay for it, but also making all The Music available without the frills, so as not to shortchange the rest of us. I don’t see why The Music itself suffers any from being shared as a basic disc, or why a well-crafted jewel case insert can’t count as art just as much as a lavish hardcover.
If that’s too much to ask, what about a future EP of live recordings of the tracks we can’t get in the regular CD edition?