5 things makes a post

[sideways]

1) "Waiting six months to move into my unit isn't so bad" was a valid thought four months ago. I am antsy. I want it to be done. Every now and then I am hit with the absurd fear that I will move in and then within months have to sell and move again, barely experiencing the place at all.

2) Cute article in the news about a cartoon I remember fondly from childhood, Li'l Elvis Jones and the Truckstoppers! Punchlined by the less cute but undeniably true observation that the arts in Australia is in a pitiable state, sigh. Do not ever get M started on the subject. (What was it about 90s Aussie kid shows that lead to the absolute catchiest theme songs? Round the Twist? Lift-Off?)

3) Autumn rain! Out of season but enthusiastically welcomed all the same. If it rains out my event in two weeks, however, Zeus is getting it in the neck with a blunt pencil.

4) Been pondering on and off about the fact that if Spotify vanishes tomorrow I will have pumped hundreds of dollars into a music collection to no lasting effect. The problem with rebuilding my harder copy collection is I used to just buy everything through itunes back in the day and now I barely know where to start finding and organising files. Bandcamps and Soundclouds, probably? No point buying CDs, I don't own a laptop with a disc drive anymore. I know monopolies are a terrible thing but the craving for simplicity is real.

5) Relatedly, a bunch of friends traded our 'personal' playlists and I was reminded I'm really quite fond of my own. It's grown well-rounded over the years.

Comments

[finch]

I tend to think of Spotify as paying for a service, like listening to the radio without ads. I do buy on Bandcamp but there are so many artists that aren't on there.

I do still have a cd-rom, so I can buy CDs at secondhand shops and rip them, but that doesn't do me much good for modern stuff. Though it does remind me that I need to see if I can find the hard drive with my old music on it for my new computer. If you DO find any good options for organizing files or buying music, please share!

[sideways]

Oh same, I grok it from a service perspective and it's been absolutely invaluable as a tool to find new music and artists. I've just been terrible at actually purchasing music at all these last few years, and that seems like setting myself up for disappointment :|a I have music in my hardcopy archives that can't be found anywhere else anymore - am I letting acquisition windows pass me by right now for some of my favourite songs? Etc etc.

[silverflight8]

I wonder the same about spotify sometimes. Like I think I'm getting my money's worth generally because I listen to it a LOT especially on the go, but yeah, they'll just vanish.

For CDs you can get external players that plug in via usb. But you have to make sure your CDs don't like decay or anything (or whatever storage media you choose).

[sideways]

Yeah, I haven't been able to make myself break with Spotify because I probably use it the most of any streaming media! It's one of my best investments, flawed as it is.

The impermanence of pretty much any form of storage haunts me ToT

[silverflight8]

I feel that! Ugh. The internet isn't really forever.

[lebateleur]

if Spotify vanishes tomorrow I will have pumped hundreds of dollars into a music collection to no lasting effect.

I am not a fan of the rent-to-never-own model for precisely this reason. FWIW you can get a USB CD-ROM drive for 20 or so dollars here; I imagine they're pretty cheap elsewhere too. As a bonus, I can pass CDs on to friends after I've ripped them.

[sideways]

In some ways I'd really rather go back to reliable, cheap rental options than all this streaming. It's not like I'm watching most of what's on Netflix anyway, yanno.

All the CDs I currently own have been copied over long ago, so I'm not too put out there. Honestly it was rare I found a CD where I liked all the songs anyway >> I don't mind the selectivity. But thanks for the info!

[syntheid]

Like others said, I didn't really feel like I was putting money into a music collection with Spotify, just like, paying for things like being able to use it offline, convenience of cloud storage, music recs, etc. It already has ended up a few times where things I really liked got pulled off Spotify or never have been available, too, so even with paying for the service it's been... mixed? But I quit paying after the whole sponsoring an ignorance-mongering menace, and my plan is to just start self-hosting a cloud service at some point.

Far as buying things go, yeah I think Bandcamp is still decent. iTunes still has stuff to buy I think? And then you can (or at least used to) be able to de-DRM their files so you aren't reliant on their goodwill or continued existence. But seconding the person who suggested picking up a USB CD drive. You can use it to at least rip CDs if you have them then.

[sideways]

I just remember being like hmm, would it be a better use of some $144 a year to put that into buying music that, yes, won't spontaneously disappear on me? Though I still grudgingly appreciate Spotify's services so, pooh.

Bloody DRMs I swear.

[unavee]

A 'personal' playlist is interesting; I've never made one but now I want to! I'll have to think about what to put in it, and add to it over time. Thanks for linking yours. I'm listening to it now, and I know a few of the songs and artists but most of it is new to me.

[sideways]

I think it started years ago when a bunch of us on a forum with a focus on personality typing naturally began trading ideas for theme songs for types and ourselves. Some friends like to split it into uplifting self philosophies and 'vent' songs; I just think it's fun to try and build a musical self-portrait! You'll have to link yours if you get around to making one, I love seeing how distinct everyone's 'sound' ends up being.

[unavee]

I went on a nostalgia trip of music I remember listening to but realized that's not quite what I want in a personal soundtrack. Theme songs and a musical self-portrait are inspiring, though. I can see the appeal of vent songs or music to get lost in, too. I don't think mine will be too deep; it'll just be sounds that are pleasant inside my head, with some nostalgia thrown in. If I finish it, I'll link it!