Hello readers of Sputnik! Those who’ve been following along are aware that I’m in the midst of a deep dive into all things physically related to music – from CDs to apparel and random memorabilia – and right now I’m here to deliver the second installment within the CD category. If you missed it, Vol. 1 can be read here.

I’ve been trying to limit this series to CDs that (A) have a great deal of personal meaning to me, (B) have particularly alluring packaging/art, or both A & B. A lot of these check both boxes, so without any additional pointless stalling, here is the next batch of CDs that I view as treasure.

(1) David Bowie – Blackstar

The CD release for the legendary David Bowie’s final album does the music, and him, justice. There’s a dark/shadowy/reflective theme and color scheme that really sells the whole “black star” concept. This is one of my all-time favorite CDs to hold in-hand as I reflect upon his legacy. It’s a thick booklet, full of mysterious images with lots of layers to the art/conceptual meaning.

The man, the myth, the legend.

Ground control to Major Tom…

Notice the reflective quality of the images and words

Look up here, I’m in heaven…I’ve got scars that can’t be seen

Sue, I pushed you down beneath the weeds…Endless faith in hopeless deeds

Where the fuck did Monday go?

Shining through the words like the star he was

A fitting portrait for the last page. RIP to the legend.

(2) Fleet Foxes – Helplessness Blues

This package is mostly about the details. Helplessness Blues was a seminal folk record for a lot of people, and this CD feels the part. It’s a cardboard case as opposed to jewel, so it’s got that earthy feel. The color scheme is also all earth tones, giving the artwork an organic feel to match the music. It’s another thick booklet, and you’ll see why below. The poster/booklet inside is about five times larger than the unfolded/opened CD case, giving it plenty of space for arresting imagery.

That’s the inside sleeve unfolded into a poster, next to the CD case for a size comparison.

The lyrics are printed on the inside covers of the CD case, which allowed the booklet to be exclusively for artwork.

In the aeroplane over the…mountains?

The hands of God, something broken, a war.

The meek and hard-working

That bird’s joke must have been fucking hilarious

(3) My Chemical Romance – The Black Parade

Say what you will about MCR, but they sure know how to put on a show. The Black Parade was their theatrical peak, and all of that is reflected in this incredible CD. The artwork contains several allusions to death and the protagonist from the concept album who is dying from cancer. This is a superb accompanying piece to the music, and is a lot of fun to flip through as you listen to the album.

Don’t shoot the messenger!

Pretty cool CD itself. I like the cyclical design with the song titles and accompanying characters.

When I was…a young boy…my father…took me into the city…to see a marching band

A lot going on here, but I wanted to also spotlight the old-school newspaper theme for the lyrics.

The back side of the lyrics is a pretty damn badass poster, if I do say so myself.

(4) Coheed & Cambria – The Afterman: Ascension

It may be a bit of an unpopular opinion, but I think The Afterman: Ascension is one of Coheed & Cambria’s best LPs. The band has always been amazing in terms of crafting concepts/storylines, and that’s reflected by the out-of-this-world illustrations inside the CD booklet. I could page through this for hours without even listening to the music.

So much color and detail the second you open this thing up…

Don’t piss off Domino, he looks like the kind of dude you definitely don’t fuck with.

Not sure what’s happening here, but it looks neat!

Baby octopus alien holds glowing orb.

Sir, I asked for a Mountain Dew Code Red, not Satan’s aborted fetuses in a glass. Don’t sweat it, happens all the time!

Broken mirror-faced lady shoots up heroin or something?

Most badass pic of the CD goes to…VIC! THE BUTCHER!

This makes me uncomfortable for reasons I can’t pinpoint.

Not as cool as the rest of the booklet, but this song is a great closer!

(5) mewithoutYou – Ten Stories

Few musicians have better artwork than mewithoutYou, and Ten Stories might have been their peak in that regard. There’s this whole theme/story centered around a derailed circus train or something (I forget the precise details, but I’m sure they can be looked up) and the animals proceed to escape and wreak various havoc, ranging from Foxes on log flumes to Elephants getting judged and hung by an angry mob. The illustrator for all these pictures is Vasily Kafanov, so you can see more of his work here if you like what you see below.

Blue is my favorite color, so we’re off to a good start.

Awesome font style selection. Love the antiquated, tattered appearance of the lyrics.

A tiger and elephant in the headlights.

Jackrabbits are renowned for their card-playing ability

I dreamt of the rocks at the Asbury dunes / That you jumped from the top of the log flume

What would a derailed circus train be without a mummy?

As we rode in circles on our bicycles, we walked on balance beams / As the audience cheered for us, we burned like fevers under carriage hats