7. This Is What iTunes Used to Look Like
Though really nostalgic, this was definitely the most delicate of all music libraries. Unquestionably, you would never know whether you were going to run into a roadblock just to have your whole music library reduced to a heap of broken disks. But there was simply something so entertaining about turning through the countless pages until finally you came upon one CD you simply had to listen to while driving.
Once upon a time, music libraries were simply a large collection of CDs we could still carry about regardless of weight. These CD cases were like treasure vaults, each disc opening an own universe of music. Think back to the delightful click of opening a CD case, the careful procedure of removing the disk without damaging it, and the excitement you felt sliding the disc into the player? Every album committed itself; there was no easy skipping or shifting of tunes. You listened to the artist’s vision from beginning to end, therefore experiencing the music as it was meant. The experience was much enhanced by the artwork and liner notes, which supplied lyrics, credits, and even secret messages or artwork. Not to mention the custom of compiling the ideal mix CD for road trips or crushes, painstakingly choosing every tune and fussing over the sequence. Digital libraries provide convenience, but they cannot match the tactile pleasure of a real music collection. These CD covers reflected our personality, our musical travels, and our readiness to carry about tons of plastic for the love of music.
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