And Now For Something which isn't an album of the month ... 


Despite the universal love and attention my album of the month posts are receiving, I do occasionally want to write about other things (in fact, I have the next major topic all lined up, just calculated it might involve more than 25 albums...), so ... 

Music. And how we consume it. (With our ears...) . I have been pondering this ...




I recently mentioned that 'I don't do vinyl'. I used to. I sold off my vinyl when I moved to Italy in 1998. It simply wasn't practical - I moved with a single suitcase - so I took only CDs.  In those days (it was all fields round here), vinyl was a cheap alternative to CDs, especially second hand. I remember paying 3 or 4 quid for Viva Hate, while the CD stared at me from the shelf with a 11.99 price tag on it ... 

I personally don't think vinyl sounds better. I think nostalgia plays a big part. I can understand the big is better attitude especially for nice artwork, with gatefold sleeves etc but I don't have the room to store my CD collection, never mind the larger records. 

besides, wax cylinders are the real deal ... (sips his pumpkin-spiced coffee, and strokes his hipster facial hair)


 

What I do understand is the physical versus digital argument. Its why I still buy a lot of CDs. Its the process, of flipping (I used to be an expert flipper, in records shops ... not sure if my fingers still have it...) between the various tempting items, pulling one out, puttting it on, reading the lyrics/insert slip, smelling it (just me?)  etc ...  and some of the packaging is delightful , especially deluxe editions. I get why people want something in their hands ... The Edsel Wedding Present deluxe CDs were beautiful, as were the Pavement ones (still waiting on Twilight Terror...) 


Digital is in a weird place right now ... I don't generally subscribe to a streaming service. Partly because they suck for artists, partly because I can't adjust my mentality (which I have managed with things like Netflix).

Financially I should (I mean, access to everything, and if you alternatively buy on average one album a month, you are spending more), but I listen to a lot of music while working on my pc, and there is plenty of streaming with ads for that, and I have so much music to properly listen to that I have on CDs, I don't need more ever, and I like to buy music! 

Buying downloads seems weird now, Google-play store has gone (transferred to YouTube music which I not so keen on, and which doesn't seem to sell downloads) , aside from bandcamp fridays when sometimes I think the extra delivery cost gets to the point its double the cost of the digital, and its debatable, but if its a quid or two more for CD versus digital, physical wins ... even if my house is too full...

I'm on a 4 month Tidal trial for 99p. After that, I think I have a month of YouTube music to claim, another month of Apple music to 'come back to' ... yes, I am tight, and I make full use of the special offers ...  I get that sticking with one service might be better, for setting up playlists etc ... I want my own playlists, and have them on YouTube Music with the songs I uploaded, my music  - I don't want someone else's playlist, thats like listening to the RADIO and why the hell do I want to do that? its like watching tv and giving someone else the remote control ... 

I don't know why I am going with this now ... stream for free to try out new music, buy it on CD if you like , on Vinyl if you can afford 24.99 for an album  ... What do you think, comment dear reader (singular, because will anyone get this far... )

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