It’s been quite some time since I’ve bought a CD or DVD. Despite what RIAA would have you believe, it isn’t because I’ve been pirating like a madman. My CD collection stands (and has stood for a couple of years) at about 500 CDs, and I used to buy new releases religiously.

Pricing and politics aside, a lot of ‘new’ music doesn’t fly with me. People tell me I’m missing out, and that may well be true. I’m not ignorant towards new music — there’s lot that I do like — but finding original, creative artists on a major label is a task these days. It wasn’t always like this.

Having said that, I decided it was time to visit a music store to update my collection. So, on a frigid Friday afternoon I willingly parted with nearly $180 for the following:

  • Neil Young / Neil Young in Berlin DVD
  • Miles Davis / Sketches of Spain
  • Miles Davis / Love Songs
  • Carlos del Junco / Up and At ‘Em
  • Sloan / Pretty Together

The store manager may have been trying to butter me up, but she paid me the following compliment: “You’ve got strange taste in music.”

…Please make me even more strange by carrying lesser-known, original artists. Maybe I’ll have another accident.