New and improved

Posted on January 22, 2007 by David

So for the third and final time, my 2004 40B ipod died, this time with no semblance of a warranty or care plan.  But they’ve got me where they need me, what else can I do with an entire collection on itunes proprietary, encypted software, but go blow some more money that way.  So off to the local Radio Shack where I learn that nowadays video is mandatory, and its either 30 or 60 GB, no middle ground.  Don’t mess with the latter, they insist, go for the 12 hours of battery time instead.  I’m easily swayed.

So the task of the evening became choosing 6800 of the 8400, and, I must say, it took much less time than I feared, and ultimately for the better–1 in 5 times on the subway shuffle always results in a skip in any event, so I’m really just cutting out the middle man here.

There were some broadstrokes (who was I kidding to ever dabble in classical?), some broadstrokes with limited exceptions (all my 90′s rave music save a few chemical brothers & prodigy tracks), and some outright arbitrary cuts.  Here is some of the arbitrariness:

  • Erykah Badu, yes, Donnie Hathaway, no: from my wife’s more inclusive R&B selections, I knew little of either until a few years back.   I can’t think of anyone who’s inspired more look-and-skip as opposed to a mere skip, than Mr. Hathaway.  No more looking.
  • Tribe, yes, Busta, no:  I’ll concede I probably just bought the wrong album, but ELE was all BMG had to offer but not into stupid skits and no noteworthy songs seemed worth salvaging
  • Pretenders, yes, Abba, no:  My wife also has more of the 70′s / 80′s stuff that I’d've never bought, but gotta respect the Pretenders
  • Leonard Cohen, yes, Carole King, no:  See Pretenders/Abba
  • Keith, yes, Brent, no:  No brainer, really, why listen to anything post-Blues For Allah?
  • Soulive, yes, Medeski, no:  I realized I’d seen these guys live in 4 different states (also geographically speaking), but the 90′s have come and gone and other than Bubblehouse, I’m just not feeling it these days.
  • Pere Ubu, yes, Palominos, no:  I blame Pitchfork for this Amazon indulgence.  Scouring their Pinback reviews I saw references to both bands as post-punk influences, so I figured, what the hell.  I don’t see it.  In fact, with Golden Palominos, I’m convinced it was a practical joke.
  • Bloody Valentine, yes, Siouxsie, no:  This Amazon binge will be a credit to Launchcast.  They played a song by each at the right time at work, with just the right caffeine buzz.  When I came down, Siouxsie did too.

 

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Comments

2 Responses to “New and improved”

  1. Stubby Clappers on January 22nd, 2007 11:02 am

    which Palaminos do you have? I have to say, I do love Pere Ubu, but GP is one of the all-timers for me. I blame Michael Stipe.

  2. Tito on January 22nd, 2007 12:00 pm

    re: Carol King – always a soft spot here, but to misquote chris rock.. I understand

    re: Busta Rhymes – by ELE he’d already begun his descent into washed up. for my money, he was best when sharing the spotlight (as much as he hated it) with Leaders of the New School. (their ‘future without a past’ is on my holy grail shopping list — twas stolen from the parking lot of a grocery store in Kansas when I foolishly, failingly tried to buy vodka on a Sunday. admittedly this record may sound a little dated, but sophomore year of high shool it was top five).when disaster strikes was okay. Tribe is always a solid choice, as long as you steer clear away from anything after midnight marauders.

    I blame Michael Stipe for everything. (like when the dog farts)

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