Homer's Travels: The *New* Music In My Head

Friday, January 25, 2008

The *New* Music In My Head

Back in December I talked about buying some music with the gift card I got for Christmas. I'd looked at the Godson's list and some suggestions from Just A Girl. I looked at Amazon and listened to a bunch of music. I looked at other people's best of 2007 lists. Here is the list that I ended up buying. The list is in rough order of how much I like the music. I say rough order because there is some variation in the music I bought and how much I like it varies with what I'm doing while I listening to it. My taste in music changes as my mood changes.
  1. Juno Soundtrack : A really quirky collection of good, and sometimes strange, music.

  2. Dan Wilson - Free Life : I like the music though I'm not sure about the guy's singing voice. It seems a little too high but the music won me over quickly (Thanks to the Godson for the recommendation)

  3. Arcade Fire - Neon Bible : I wasn't sure about this one. The Wife didn't like it too much when she heard it. I have to say that it's growing on me to the point that I've put it at number three.

  4. Mark Knopfler - Kill To Get Crimson : I have always liked Mark Knopfler. I liked him in Dire Straits. I liked him in the Knotting Hillbillies. I liked him with Emmylou Harris. I like him solo.

  5. The National - Boxer : OK, it reminds me of Mark Knopfler a little. Not sure why but, since I like Mark Knopfler, I like The National.

  6. The Watson Twins - Southern Manners : I liked Jenny Lewis and the Watson Twins. Now I like The Watson Twins with Jenny Lewis. But I prefer more Jenny Lewis. Having said that, they're pretty good on their own.

  7. The Weepies - Say I Am You : One of Just A Girls suggestions. I like it. It fits right in with my other music tastes. A little mellow. Nice lyrics. Good stuff. (Thanks JaG!)

  8. Radiohead - In Rainbows : This was on a lot of peoples top ten lists last year. I consider it good but not great. Not sure what everyone is seeing, err ... hearing, here.

  9. LCD Soundsystem - Sound Of Silver : This one was on a lot of people's top ten and at first I thought I'd made a mistake. I've listened to it a few times now and I'm changing my mind. It's different from what I usually listen to. It's growing on me and, who knows, it may move up the list.

  10. Annie Lennox - Songs Of Mass Destruction : I really liked Lennox's Bare. This one, while good, doesn't grab me as much. I have a feeling if I listen to it a few more times it will get better (most music does that for me - doubtful at first but better with familiarity).

  11. Burial - Untrue : This one is a stretch for me. Again, on many top tens but it's genre is a little on the fringe of what I usually go for. I've listened to it a few times and it really isn't too bad. It never hurts to stretch your genre comfort zone every now and then. Who knows, you might find something you never expected.
I like everything I bought. This is not always the case but it helps that you can listen to samples before you buy. Things sure have changed in the last 20 years. No more buying a CD with only one good song.

This music purchase marks a milestone for me. Of the eleven albums, only three were actual compact disks. The other eight were downloads. I have bought MP3 downloads before but most of the time I have bought the CDs and ripped them. Now that Amazon is selling MP3s without
DRM this may be the method of choice for me from now on. One reason is the convenience (I listen to most music at the computer or on my MP3 player - No iPod for me yet, just an old Archos that feels like a brick.). Another is the cost. I averaged $9.23 per album - not too bad. I remember the days of $15 albums.

4 comments:

  1. Nice list. I love new music.

    I just picked Juno up today; $9.99 on CD. I like being able to touch my music. :)

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  2. JaG: Have you seen Juno yet? What did you think?

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  3. I did and I loved its quirkiness. Plus the ending wasn't what I expected so I really liked that.

    As with anything filmed here I also liked trying to figure out where they were at.

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  4. JaG: I liked the writing and acting. Very well done and very entertaining.

    I'll have to visit up there someday - it looks just like the U.S. ... only better!

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