Whats up with that??

[kenshinbebop]

Is it just me, or do imported CD's seem nicer and more well done than any CD from the USA?

The booklet is a lot thicker, made of a more durable material...

I don't know, I've noticed minor to major differences that I feel the US should improve on.

Thoughts?

[Skyy Blu]

Hmmmm....I don't know what you mean? Are you talking about Import CD's that are Domestically released up here or just American made CD's?

[kenshinbebop]

As in Imported CD's in relation to American CD's...not necissarily the domestic release of a specific CD...American made CD's as a whole.

[Skyy Blu]

Na, I have a few Import CD's and I never really seen a difference between the packaging of the two. I do love how Import CD's smell though....

[Japhyl]

I think CDs from Japan are a lot better quality than American CDs. I think they look more professionally made.

[Cotmweasel]

I've seen bootleg (no I don't own them) versions that look better then the real ones....

Kind of sad really...

[Gibb]

I love importing CDs. The paper spine, the large booklets, the quality of the disc. With American albums, sometimes it seem like a 50/50 chance of getting a booklet at all, let alone one that has lyrics. I dont know if I've EVER seen an import music CD that didnt have the full lyrics in the booklet. I also love when the import CDs come with an outer box like my "the Indigo" albums or my latest album "Sincerely" by melody. I think the Japanese put alot more pride into their music industry, rather than just churning out piles of garbage then complaining when people pirate it from Limewire or something. The last American CD I bought was Switchfoot's latest album. I got the stupid Sony Rootkit on my computer by accident and was still unable to completely get rid of it using a removal tool.

[SonRyu]

It could be that there are less produced, so they can splurge on them more. A typical album when released in the US has millions upon millions produced and distributed for sale across the US. I can't imagine they make that many for any given anime/game OST. The quality is definitelt better though for domestic Japanese releases; they just care more I think.

[Onsokubatsu]

There's also the whole thing about first pressings and special boxsets and other stuff. There are indeed a lot of Japanese CDs that are packaged far better than any American CDs. But most are comprable to US CDs.

[kenshinbebop]

It could be that there are less produced, so they can splurge on them more. A typical album when released in the US has millions upon millions produced and distributed for sale across the US. I can't imagine they make that many for any given anime/game OST. The quality is definitelt better though for domestic Japanese releases; they just care more I think.


Then they should stop signing all these crappy bands these days, and put more money into the good ones. :P

[HSaabedra]

No real difference really. Record companies in Japan are just like the ones in the US in regards to number of groups signed, etc. The reason you see extravagant packaging or exclusive limited editions is for the purpose of promotion. It's more of a placebo effect really, but coming from a veteran collector there's no better feeling than finding a limited edition album from a favorite group. Japanese versions of commercial CD's usually include two or more tracks just for the aforementioned reason, as well as DVDs, posters, etc.

[kenshinbebop]

Yeah, I completely understand that. But I'm not talking about special editions, limited editions, anything special....from what I've seen, just a normal old CD has a better made booklet, etc. It just seems better made.

[Ninja337]

Japanese people like to collect little CD cases I've heard, while Americans usually just take the CD out and put it in their car's CD binder or immediately rip it and stick it on bittorent. Usually classics are put in really nice cases, to make old people reminisce about when they used to own the record.
Everything foreign always seems better, that's why so many people like anime.

[EternityOfPain]

You know, I have to agree that my imports look damn good compared to that of some US CDs I have seen (i dont collect american CDs but my brother does.) The quality just seems higher (or that could be just being bised who knows). Honesty does it matter? I like them better :P

[kenshinbebop]

Me too. It doesn't really matter to me, but I like it better the forign way. :)