I really like the new Bjork album. But I have one major qualm with her latest release – the packaging. Instead of going the typical jewel case route, which is what most sane artists do, everyone’s favorite Icelandic crooner created a case almost as intricate and experimental as her music. The CD case looks normal from the outside, a red background with a shot of Bjork wearing her typical bizzare garb. Closer inspecton, however, reveals something.

Bjork is a sticker.

Peel the sticker off, and two flaps shoot up to the side. A center panel pulls back to reveal a colorful picture of the singer/songwriter, while the actual CD sits in a tray flanked by all these flaps. Now, why is it so annoying? It is impossible to close the case completely – the two initial flaps always are slightly open, revealing the innards of the packaging. Plus, the lyric sheet is wedged between one of the panels, and getting it out feels like a biggie-sized game of Operation.

Why can’t artists just stick with the basic jewel case design? Now, I understand they are entitiled to their artistic freedom, and sometimes packaging can be really cool. But it can also be just plain annoying to the listener. My first run in with pathetic packaging was back in junior year of high school, when I ordered a copy of The Microphones The Glow Pt. 2 off Amazon (so indie!). Unaware of how the disc was packaged, I did what I usually do to get that annoying plastic wrap off the case – starting jabbing at it like I was committing a capital offense. Little did I know the CD was tucked away in a cover to the side facing the wrong way, meaning my keys left a couple scratches in my beloved disc. I’ve been hesitant of packaging since.

Now, I’ve gotten over a couple techniques. I know longer despise the style where the case is put inside another paper cover, like Arcade Fire’s Neon Bible. But some really still bug me. The Unicorn’s debut album seemed normal enough, until you opened the thing up and realized the CD was in an envelope that was stuffed between a panel. One of the most annoying albums to ever open up. Same goes for Sleater-Kinney’s farewell album The Woods, which did the same thing. At least I didn’t live through Public Image Ltd’s 1979 release Metal Box, which came packaged in an actual film canister.

But Bjork’s newest takes the complicated cake. The thing will never close!!! Plus, it lacks the really cool cover art (Bjork dressed up like a rainbow pear, or something), and just a red background. Note to all musicians – be as pretentious as you want on the CD, just don’t carry it over to the actual packaging.