Enjoy this beautiful day

I consider myself lucky to have known what it was like to live in a world where you would save up your allowance, get one of your parents (or your friend’s cool parent) to drive you to the local record shop where you could spend hours looking and holding music packaging that someone actually spent time designing. What was the real kicker was to find an album where the imagery actually had something to do with the music and you could stare and study it while the record was spinning. Yes, I feel old right now, but it’s part of what made me want to go into design.

Fast forward to 2010. Now I am not one to hide under a rock when it comes to technology. I love gadgets. Lots and lots of gadgets. I think the iPod is an amazing piece of electronics. I like the convenience of being able to preview an album before buying it. I love that I can make a mix CD. That being said, there is an emptiness when it feels like only part of the story is being told. Where’s the visuals? Where’s the tactile pleasure of holding the music? Where’s the weight?

In 2007 a small record label in Minneapolis was started and answers all of these challenges: Taiga Records. Taiga’s commitment to music is amazing. They choose music that is outside the box, they only print high quality vinyl using the best methods, and their packaging is nothing short of excellent. Every single one of their releases is a story amongst itself. Now I should be upfront and say chances are you won’t find yourself humming a chorus, but if you can carve out a bit of time and let yourself get involved, the payoff is worth it. Do yourself a favor and check out some of their offerings:
http://www.taigarecords.com/