IT'S THE END OF CDS AS WE KNOW IT?

I have been both awe struck and perplexed by the succession of deluxe reissue/ collector's edition CDs that have been coming out lately at a breakneck speed. As a music fan this has been somewhat exhilarating as well as partially frustrating.

On a positive note I have been able to rekindle my relationship with some beloved classic albums that up until recently were only available on inferior CD incarnations (complete with poor sound quality and aesthetically questionable design and packaging to boot!).

Needless to say, the major record companies are well aware of my demographic and are happy to cater to folks like me who are willing to spend some of their dwindling disposable income on tangible music. Ultimately the promise of a few enticing extras to sweeten the deal is an appealing prospect.

Of course part and parcel with this recent reissue frenzy is the underlying sense that this all just one last gasp of air for the CD format as the music industry braces to redefine itself in the new digital landscape.In a recent review of the reissues of Radiohead's first three albums (Pablo Honey, The Bends, OK Computer) Scott Plagenhoef at Pitchfork makes the assertion that "the Beatles' September 9 remaster campaign is, arguably, the end of the CD era" and goes on to expand upon his willingness to scoop up many of the current CD reissues in the meantime, in so far as they are relevant.

This is fitting in some ways if this is indeed the case, as I remember it seeming like a huge paradigm shift the first time you could buy the entire Beatles catalogue on CD. Of course we now know just how incredibly awful and compressed these initial CDs sounded, not to mention the poor presentation of the art work and album concepts.

So if this is indeed close to the end of the CD as we know it, perhaps it is fitting to end it with what are arguably some of the most important and influential recordings of the 20th century (and I humbly beseech the music gods above to ensure that they get it right with these Beatles reissues).

The generational shift away from tangible music hit me a few years ago when I was visiting with my niece and two nephews in the small town where they live. Like any good visiting uncle would do I offered to take them out and let them pick out something from a store they like (in their case it was the local Best Buy).

I suggested they pick out a few CDs and I received a blank look of indifference from all three of them. Of course we ended up buying a few DVDs and a video game instead. It hit me instantly that tangible music wasn't a significant point of reference for them, as it might have been even 5 years earlier if I had made the same offer to kids of a similar age group.

Ultimately what will happen of course is that CDs won’t drop off the face of the earth, but will likely be available on a limited release basis (along with vinyl) at more boutique like places that cater to people who care about this sort of thing. This works for me, as I loathe having to buy my music in places that also sell household appliances.

The other side benefit of this is that as the music biz continues to go mostly digital, the CDs or records that do come out on a limited basis will likely be more interesting. Hopefully there will continue to be more attention paid to some of the more appealing design elements and content as they become less mass produced and more niche oriented.

Anyhow, I will likely be hitting one of my favourite record shops on April 18th to celebrate record store day and participate in the sacred browsing ritual that has been an integral part of my life for a few decades now. I hope to unearth a few musical treasures in the process.

It is one of those strangely comforting rituals that connects me to a part of myself that I need to remain in touch with - a sense of wonder and possibility as I browse the aisles for that one recording that might just change my life.