Random Purchases = Cool Accidents

  • back
    Random Purchases = Cool Accidents
    POSTED

     

    I admit it - I have been a fairly late adapter to this whole "streaming" thing. As someone who has a house (and sadly, attic) full of literally thousands of CD's and records and who listens to music all day and every day for work and pleasure I have been a bit of a stick in the mud. I think it’s a combination of being terrified that a lifetime of collecting records may be seen as redundant as well as still actually liking to hold a record and read liner notes etc. As well as being old and cantankerous and wanting to make sure artists get paid for my purchase even if it is a pittance. Bah Humbug screw the kids and their newfangled ideas. You get the drill.

    So in the last 12 months I have become a fairly regular user of Spotify, and have been digging using it a lot. I guess once I found out I could actually download the records and that most things I wanted were on there I got busy with it. I still use it mainly as a taste test though, using playlists to make sure I am across what new music those damn kids are listening too and making sure that I am not completely ignorant, and also listening to new records and if I like them buying them on vinyl. I’ve also disappeared down a few musical wormholes which is easier and more fun to do with a streaming service than climbing into the attic and going through badly labelled boxes of CD’s and records. All good, welcome to 2010 grandad you elitist Luddite idiot next on your list a Myspace profile perhaps….

    It’s been great, it’s the future, it’s saving music for all of us etc etc, but there is one thing that is just leaving me unsettled that the internet and all its wonders can never provide, and why your surly local record store will always need to be there. The joy of the random purchase. That’s right. I don’t care how much you extol the virtues of streaming, downloading, shazaming, and whatever other platform is working for you and your preferred style of musical research – nothing beats a record where you put down some of your hard earned on a whim, and by chance more than design come up with a bunch of absolutely cracking tunes.

    Simply put – it’s a record that you would not have bought under any other circumstance, it’s the lucky dip of listening and if you are anything like me its probably quite likely the chances of it being a good record are significantly reduced given the type of aesthetic you are attracted to, and I am saying that as a 42 year old man who owns (and it’s in the shelves not in a box) a mint copy of the “Take that Job and Shove It” soundtrack…

    I proffer these examples..

     

    Death - For the Whole World to See

    Frankly I bought this purely because it looked like an awesome punk rock or metal record and when I flipped the record over it was a photo of cool looking young black dudes and I thought “bugger it, there is a story here take my money”. The record is raw and awesome and kick ass and not only was there a story – there is a documentary well worth checking out HERE. 

     

    Mama Rock

    C’mon how can you go wrong with that cover. I was scared it was going to be a bit of a lounge or tiki record (snooooooore!!!) but its totally rockin. I’ve worn the damn thing out.

     

    Guess What - Al-Khawwarizmi

    So I am at the independent labels market in London and I pick this thing up thinking “what a cool cover” then read the story on the back which basically explains that it’s a concept album based on the equations and algorithms of an obscure Iraqi mathematician. I was pretty sold on that then the guy behind the counter tells me he played bass on the record. 10 pounds later and I have a pretty wacky middle eastern jazz record that is more than a little “mathy” yes totally awesome with what I like to call “dusty” production. I don’t like the chances of that popping up on my suggested listening tiles iTunes!

     

    VA - Australian TV’s Greatest Hits

    I regard this record as a win even though I have never listened to it...

     

    Streaming - I love it but it's never going to beat finding that weird box of crap in the back of a second hand shop, or just taking a shot at something strange looking in a store and finding pure gold. I rest my case.

     

    -Heath B

     

     

    146641
    Tags:
    vinyl, digging in the crates, i like your old stuff,
Submitted by Site Factory admin on


 

I admit it - I have been a fairly late adapter to this whole "streaming" thing. As someone who has a house (and sadly, attic) full of literally thousands of CD's and records and who listens to music all day and every day for work and pleasure I have been a bit of a stick in the mud. I think it’s a combination of being terrified that a lifetime of collecting records may be seen as redundant as well as still actually liking to hold a record and read liner notes etc. As well as being old and cantankerous and wanting to make sure artists get paid for my purchase even if it is a pittance. Bah Humbug screw the kids and their newfangled ideas. You get the drill.

So in the last 12 months I have become a fairly regular user of Spotify, and have been digging using it a lot. I guess once I found out I could actually download the records and that most things I wanted were on there I got busy with it. I still use it mainly as a taste test though, using playlists to make sure I am across what new music those damn kids are listening too and making sure that I am not completely ignorant, and also listening to new records and if I like them buying them on vinyl. I’ve also disappeared down a few musical wormholes which is easier and more fun to do with a streaming service than climbing into the attic and going through badly labelled boxes of CD’s and records. All good, welcome to 2010 grandad you elitist Luddite idiot next on your list a Myspace profile perhaps….

It’s been great, it’s the future, it’s saving music for all of us etc etc, but there is one thing that is just leaving me unsettled that the internet and all its wonders can never provide, and why your surly local record store will always need to be there. The joy of the random purchase. That’s right. I don’t care how much you extol the virtues of streaming, downloading, shazaming, and whatever other platform is working for you and your preferred style of musical research – nothing beats a record where you put down some of your hard earned on a whim, and by chance more than design come up with a bunch of absolutely cracking tunes.

Simply put – it’s a record that you would not have bought under any other circumstance, it’s the lucky dip of listening and if you are anything like me its probably quite likely the chances of it being a good record are significantly reduced given the type of aesthetic you are attracted to, and I am saying that as a 42 year old man who owns (and it’s in the shelves not in a box) a mint copy of the “Take that Job and Shove It” soundtrack…

I proffer these examples..

 

Death - For the Whole World to See

Frankly I bought this purely because it looked like an awesome punk rock or metal record and when I flipped the record over it was a photo of cool looking young black dudes and I thought “bugger it, there is a story here take my money”. The record is raw and awesome and kick ass and not only was there a story – there is a documentary well worth checking out HERE. 

 

Mama Rock

C’mon how can you go wrong with that cover. I was scared it was going to be a bit of a lounge or tiki record (snooooooore!!!) but its totally rockin. I’ve worn the damn thing out.

 

Guess What - Al-Khawwarizmi

So I am at the independent labels market in London and I pick this thing up thinking “what a cool cover” then read the story on the back which basically explains that it’s a concept album based on the equations and algorithms of an obscure Iraqi mathematician. I was pretty sold on that then the guy behind the counter tells me he played bass on the record. 10 pounds later and I have a pretty wacky middle eastern jazz record that is more than a little “mathy” yes totally awesome with what I like to call “dusty” production. I don’t like the chances of that popping up on my suggested listening tiles iTunes!

 

VA - Australian TV’s Greatest Hits

I regard this record as a win even though I have never listened to it...

 

Streaming - I love it but it's never going to beat finding that weird box of crap in the back of a second hand shop, or just taking a shot at something strange looking in a store and finding pure gold. I rest my case.

 

-Heath B

 

 

Tags Tier 2
vinyl
digging in the crates
i like your old stuff
News id
74661
Blog Thumbnail
Random Purchases = Cool Accidents
Slug URL
random-purchases
Show in home news block?
Off

SIGN UP FOR OUR EMAILS

Be the first to know about new music, competitions, events and more.

terms

By submitting my information, I agree to receive personalized updates and marketing messages about Cool Accidents based on my information, interests, activities, website visits and device data and in accordance with the Privacy Policy. I understand that I can opt-out at any time by emailing privacypolicy@wmg.com.

Thank you!
x

Welcome to Cool Accidents' mailing list.

Customize your notifications for tour dates near your hometown, birthday wishes, or special discounts in our online store!

terms

By submitting my information, I agree to receive personalized updates and marketing messages about Cool Accidents based on my information, interests, activities, website visits and device data and in accordance with the Privacy Policy. In addition, if I have checked the box above, I agree to receive such updates and messages about similar artists, products and offers. I understand that I can opt-out from messages at any time by emailing privacypolicy@wmg.com.