diff --git a/utils/rip_background.py b/utils/rip_background.py
index 7b98467..6b29058 100644
--- a/utils/rip_background.py
+++ b/utils/rip_background.py
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ import random
 import os
 import tarfile
 import uuid
+import subprocess
 import shutil
 import re
 from pathlib import Path
@@ -72,15 +73,30 @@ def sanitize_filename(name: str) -> str:
     # Reasonable length cap
     return name[:180] or "Unknown"
 
-
 def ensure_unique_path(p: Path) -> Path:
-    """Always append a short UUID fragment before the extension."""
-    stem, suffix = p.stem, p.suffix
+    """
+    Ensure the given file or directory path is unique.
+    If a conflict exists, append (2), (3), ... until it's unique.
+    """
     parent = p.parent
+    stem, suffix = p.stem, p.suffix
 
-    short_id = uuid.uuid4().hex[:8]
-    return parent / f"{stem}_{short_id}{suffix}"
+    # If suffix is empty → directory case
+    if p.is_dir() or suffix == "":
+        candidate = parent / stem
+        counter = 2
+        while candidate.exists():
+            candidate = parent / f"{stem} ({counter})"
+            counter += 1
+        return candidate
 
+    # File case
+    candidate = parent / f"{stem}{suffix}"
+    counter = 2
+    while candidate.exists():
+        candidate = parent / f"{stem} ({counter}){suffix}"
+        counter += 1
+    return candidate
 
 # ---------- Job ----------
 def bulk_download(track_list: list, quality: str = "FLAC"):
@@ -168,10 +184,13 @@ def bulk_download(track_list: list, quality: str = "FLAC"):
 
                         all_artists.add(artist)
 
-                        # 5) Final path
-                        final_dir = ROOT_DIR / artist / album
-                        final_dir.mkdir(parents=True, exist_ok=True)
-                        final_file = ensure_unique_path(final_dir / f"{title}{ext}")
+                      # 5) Final path
+                        artist_dir = ROOT_DIR / artist
+                        album_dir = artist_dir / album
+                        album_dir.mkdir(parents=True, exist_ok=True)
+
+                        # Only ensure uniqueness at the file level
+                        final_file = ensure_unique_path(album_dir / f"{title}{ext}")
 
                         tmp_file.rename(final_file)
                         tmp_file = None  # consumed
@@ -265,17 +284,34 @@ def bulk_download(track_list: list, quality: str = "FLAC"):
 
         # Run blocking tar creation in background thread
         def _create_tar_sync():
-            with tarfile.open(staged_tarball, "w:gz") as tar:
+            try:
+                subprocess.run(
+                    [
+                        "tar", "-I", "pigz -9", "-cf", str(staged_tarball),
+                        "-C", str(ROOT_DIR)
+                    ] + [str(f.relative_to(ROOT_DIR)) for f in all_final_files],
+                    check=True
+                )
+                # cleanup files after successful tar
                 for f in all_final_files:
-                    try:
-                        arcname = f.relative_to(ROOT_DIR)
-                    except ValueError:
-                        arcname = f.name
-                    tar.add(f, arcname=str(arcname))
                     try:
                         os.remove(f)
                     except Exception:
                         pass
+            except FileNotFoundError:
+                # pigz or tar not available → fallback to Python tarfile
+                logging.warning("pigz not available, falling back to tarfile (slower).")
+                with tarfile.open(staged_tarball, "w:gz") as tar:
+                    for f in all_final_files:
+                        try:
+                            arcname = f.relative_to(ROOT_DIR)
+                        except ValueError:
+                            arcname = f.name
+                        tar.add(f, arcname=str(arcname))
+                        try:
+                            os.remove(f)
+                        except Exception:
+                            pass
 
         await asyncio.to_thread(_create_tar_sync)