Modern Music, Mardi Gras, & Streetwalkers
I just downloaded Best Of Gloucester County and once again started to think about how ridiculous music acquiring has become.
Before the internet was allowing kids in Burns, OR to locate/download/listen to Fela Kuti's entire discography for free, I was blowing through a hundred plus albums a year. I bought mostly at chained electronic stores and early into college graduated to Salem's east side Borders. I rarely spent more than ten bones for a CD. I used coupons and always took advantage of student 20% off discounts. I never frequented local record stores - probably the lack of discounts and higher cost. Plus, some scary ladies always seemed to be entering or leaving.
I bought mostly older stuff (new stuff generally cost more). And minus Hejira by Joni Mitchell, worth the investment. I wanted to hear as much as I could. If it was cheap, it found itself in my stereo. If it was $15, I waited. Sometimes years. It sounds crazy, but I prided myself not just on my collection, but on not blowing my life savings to obtain it.
Now, enter modern day. Think about housing 300+ albums each year with little financial investment!? I don't have an exact number, but since I was directed (thanks Gabe!) to mediafire (about 20 months ago) I have easily dumped 600+ albums on my wife's hard drive (I'm still working on listening to everything). I'm very aware this freedom/ability/choice has changed my musical direction for life. The stuff I've been exposed to in the past twenty months would have taken 50 years to aquire. How many times did I frown at needing a twenty spot to walk home with Different Trains? I may not be able to hold it, but I've experienced it now. Maybe not to its fullest, but nonetheless I've heard it. This is both refreshing and dangerous. Refreshing, because I can finally hear everything I've wanted to listen to. Dangerous, because the throwaway quality 'free' music holds sits on my throat and continues to weigh me down. I don't have enough time in my day to tackle every Current 93 release while balancing work, being a father, and husband. I also have little vested into a free download. If it sounds like whales mating I can dump it or just let it sit in my digital jungle (which kinda stresses me out). But if I spend $10 on something...and I hate it...I'd want a refund, and those can be messy or not accepted (i.e. open it, can't return it). Imagine buying something by John Wiese prior to hearing it first. True, buying on a whim can be fun, especially if the price is right...but when is free ever going to be the wrong price?
In 2004, I saw a large increase in my collection when I broke down and started purchasing 'used' music (when you find Cat Power, Elliot Smith, and Mercury Rev at the GW it's pretty easy to give in). Since then, I rarely buy new music. And most the stuff I buy I get at thrift stores, library book/music sales, or in discount bins at the back of Ranch Records or Everyday Music. So, even with free downloads, I still buy a healthy amount of used music (100 CD's a year), but I spend a fraction of what I use to.
So, where does my money go? Thrift stores aren't sending royality checks to Jonathan Richman every time I score a CD by him. True independent stores are able to use the money they receive from the discounted CD's to buy other music, both new and used...but most of this money probably stays in their store. Richman doesn't collect it. Is it possible my prior (and current) spending was (is) not assisting the musicians I was (am) raving about?
My interest in file sharing was all curiosity to start. My list of wanted albums was so large and many of them were out of print. So, I figured I'd give it a shot. Most of the time computer stuff failed me anyway, but when it worked - it was like discovering a new fossil. Dinosaur bone after dinosaur bone I realized I could never go back. My collection and musical palette became as colorful as Saigon streetwalker during Mardi Gras thanks to file sharing.
I use to frequent the local library weekly for music. That stopped overnight. I cut the middleman. I still visit the library from time to time - usually when I want something to read (ha!) or a CD to listen to in the car - but c'mon, how can you compete with a free download the day after something is released (or a month before)?
Truth: I would never drop $20 on a record I want.
Reason: I want too many records.
So, I gladly settle for 'free' digital files until I can find La Monte Young's Dream House 78' 17" in the discount bin.
Before the internet was allowing kids in Burns, OR to locate/download/listen to Fela Kuti's entire discography for free, I was blowing through a hundred plus albums a year. I bought mostly at chained electronic stores and early into college graduated to Salem's east side Borders. I rarely spent more than ten bones for a CD. I used coupons and always took advantage of student 20% off discounts. I never frequented local record stores - probably the lack of discounts and higher cost. Plus, some scary ladies always seemed to be entering or leaving.
I bought mostly older stuff (new stuff generally cost more). And minus Hejira by Joni Mitchell, worth the investment. I wanted to hear as much as I could. If it was cheap, it found itself in my stereo. If it was $15, I waited. Sometimes years. It sounds crazy, but I prided myself not just on my collection, but on not blowing my life savings to obtain it.
Now, enter modern day. Think about housing 300+ albums each year with little financial investment!? I don't have an exact number, but since I was directed (thanks Gabe!) to mediafire (about 20 months ago) I have easily dumped 600+ albums on my wife's hard drive (I'm still working on listening to everything). I'm very aware this freedom/ability/choice has changed my musical direction for life. The stuff I've been exposed to in the past twenty months would have taken 50 years to aquire. How many times did I frown at needing a twenty spot to walk home with Different Trains? I may not be able to hold it, but I've experienced it now. Maybe not to its fullest, but nonetheless I've heard it. This is both refreshing and dangerous. Refreshing, because I can finally hear everything I've wanted to listen to. Dangerous, because the throwaway quality 'free' music holds sits on my throat and continues to weigh me down. I don't have enough time in my day to tackle every Current 93 release while balancing work, being a father, and husband. I also have little vested into a free download. If it sounds like whales mating I can dump it or just let it sit in my digital jungle (which kinda stresses me out). But if I spend $10 on something...and I hate it...I'd want a refund, and those can be messy or not accepted (i.e. open it, can't return it). Imagine buying something by John Wiese prior to hearing it first. True, buying on a whim can be fun, especially if the price is right...but when is free ever going to be the wrong price?
In 2004, I saw a large increase in my collection when I broke down and started purchasing 'used' music (when you find Cat Power, Elliot Smith, and Mercury Rev at the GW it's pretty easy to give in). Since then, I rarely buy new music. And most the stuff I buy I get at thrift stores, library book/music sales, or in discount bins at the back of Ranch Records or Everyday Music. So, even with free downloads, I still buy a healthy amount of used music (100 CD's a year), but I spend a fraction of what I use to.
So, where does my money go? Thrift stores aren't sending royality checks to Jonathan Richman every time I score a CD by him. True independent stores are able to use the money they receive from the discounted CD's to buy other music, both new and used...but most of this money probably stays in their store. Richman doesn't collect it. Is it possible my prior (and current) spending was (is) not assisting the musicians I was (am) raving about?
My interest in file sharing was all curiosity to start. My list of wanted albums was so large and many of them were out of print. So, I figured I'd give it a shot. Most of the time computer stuff failed me anyway, but when it worked - it was like discovering a new fossil. Dinosaur bone after dinosaur bone I realized I could never go back. My collection and musical palette became as colorful as Saigon streetwalker during Mardi Gras thanks to file sharing.
I use to frequent the local library weekly for music. That stopped overnight. I cut the middleman. I still visit the library from time to time - usually when I want something to read (ha!) or a CD to listen to in the car - but c'mon, how can you compete with a free download the day after something is released (or a month before)?
Truth: I would never drop $20 on a record I want.
Reason: I want too many records.
So, I gladly settle for 'free' digital files until I can find La Monte Young's Dream House 78' 17" in the discount bin.
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