When Physical Media Lets You Down

When Physical Media Lets You Down: My Disappointment with The Darkness CD Tour Edition

I’ve always stood up for physical media. Whether it’s vinyl, CDs, or box sets, I’ve long believed that owning music is more than just about the sound — it’s about the experience, the packaging, the tactile connection to the art. So when I reviewed Dreams On Toast by The Darkness on vinyl back in April, I gave it a glowing review. The album was — and still is — phenomenal. I’ve played it constantly. So much so, I thought I’d double-dip and get the CD version too.

I spotted a “Tour Edition” CD on Amazon, complete with bonus live tracks recorded at Rough Trade. That was enough to tempt me. A Tour Edition! A CD for under £8? A bargain, surely? And it said it would take two months to arrive. That must mean it’s in high demand or waiting on a re-press. Right?

Wrong.

What turned up felt like a cheap afterthought. A throwaway. Something you’d get free on the front of a Sunday newspaper. No credits. No booklet. No artwork inside. No jewel case. No spine. Just a thin card sleeve with the track names printed on the back — and that’s being generous. If you blinked, you’d miss it in the packaging. In fact, I nearly threw it out thinking it was just filler from another delivery.

This is not how you treat an album that got to No.2 in the UK charts. This is not how you treat fans who care about music and invest in physical formats. And this certainly isn’t how you encourage new listeners to discover the magic of owning music in a tangible way.

To be honest, this just feels disrespectful — to the band, the fans, and the music itself.

I’ve collected many releases from Cooking Vinyl before. Some of them have been exquisite — like the Billy Bragg 40th Anniversary box set, or the Alan Parsons Project deluxe editions. So what happened here?

This isn’t a jab at the band — far from it. I remain a huge supporter of The Darkness and Dreams On Toast still has a proud place on my shelf… the vinyl version, that is. But this CD Tour Edition? I’ll be returning it.

For physical formats to survive and thrive, the packaging needs to matter. We’re not just paying for the sound — we’re paying for the experience, the story, the connection.

So, to anyone thinking of picking up this particular CD edition — buyer beware. And to the record label: we’re happy to pay more for a premium experience. Please don’t cut corners.

We’re music lovers. We care. Treat us like it.

Phil Aston | Now Spinning Magazine