One of the main problems with the mp3 revolution in music is the death of album art. I’m not just talking the making of a cool cover – that is still happening about as much as it used to. I am talking about the layout of the whole package – how you design the credits, how many panels there are, how they fold up, how they connect, etc. Cassettes began a trend towards killing album art, CDs revived the art a bit (on a smaller level), but mp3s really just started to nail the coffin shut.
I don’t necessarily hate mp3s – they are really convenient and easy to store, they don’t skip or scratch, and – if you get them at a good enough quality – they sound great. But they are just not much to look at while you are listening. Sure, some bands include digital booklets – but those are few and far between.
But has anyone else looked at those digital booklets and thought “with all that technology has to offer, this is all that we get?”
Maybe the iPad will bring in something new here. The New York Times recently took a look at how labels and musicians are starting to enhance their albums for the iPad. There are some interesting ideas in this article that could maybe take the album art to the next level by adding apps, video, and social networking. Some of it may sound real gimmicky, but this is a new area that may take a few swings before it hits a home run.
Personally, I love to actually hold albums – especially vinyl ones – in my hands. But if I HAVE to give that up, I at least better get something like this to take its place.
So bands, this might be something to keep an eye on – your next album may actually be an app.
