Exceptions to the Rule

For my essay I was wanting to look at how the Vinyl record lost it's popularity due to loss of interest and necessity. One of the hypotheses I wanted to explore is that; as the market of music developed more to digital music, people had less of a need, and less of a demand for well designed tangible packaging.

I had already explored this idea in the previous post "Music Packaging–now". In that post I explained how I felt digital music made had very little link towards physical packing or even visible packaging; streaming services and music downloads use the artwork but don't display and promoted it up-front as it had previously been done.

Aside from this, there is a small margin of artists and labels producing high quality artwork; arguably driving the sales of vinyl and contributing to the modern era vinyl revival, these records are the exception that help prove the rule. As the idea that music packaging has lost it's soul and it's prevalence can only be truly proven by it's exception.

Beach House – Depression Cherry

A very modern and recent release, making what would likely be a very popular album for streaming, also interesting to purchase with the introduction of a red crushed velvet sleeve.

Blur – The Magic Whip

The Magic Whip was released last year, and with the standard LP, you were given a poster; a reflective rear of the sleeve, 2xLP's, inner art and a full stylised package (styled to look Japanese)
This was really a massive incentive to purchase the album. I didn't completely enjoy the album, but the quality of the packing has on many occasions almost-persuade me to purchase it.

Father John Misty – I love you Honeybear

With the deluxe version of Father John Misty's latest LP, you were given not only fantastic alternate illustrations but you also had an inner gatefold pop-up image, along with two random triple split LPs.
This is something very much of a special item, and once again making the idea of niche sales on the limited and special nature of specific records proving the rule.

This was a great idea, but unfortunately warped the two records making them completely useless; but still pretty. And that's the important bit!