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krj
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Music - Summer 2014
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Jul 1 16:03 UTC 2014 |
Just some quickie mentions of recent acquisitions and performances,
along with occasional notes on What's Left of the Music Business.
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| 76 responses total. |
krj
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response 1 of 76:
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Jul 1 16:03 UTC 2014 |
My happy discovery of recent weeks is blues guitarist Mary Flower,
who has a nice acoustic fingerpicking style which has been
really appealing to arabella & me. I just bought her
"Instrumental Breakdown" album, which compiles the instrumental-only
tunes from her early albums.
You can preview the whole album on the Bandcamp service, and
Bandcamp offers a great deal on both the CD and MP3 together.
http://maryflower.bandcamp.com/album/instrumental-breakdown
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krj
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response 2 of 76:
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Jul 1 16:10 UTC 2014 |
(( summer Agora #17 linked as Music #63 ))
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kentn
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response 3 of 76:
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Jul 1 17:09 UTC 2014 |
Thanks for the item, Ken!
The last CD I bought was a compilation album for Argent (Rod Argent's
group from the 70's).
I do still buy a CD every once in a while. I like that I can play it
without being connected to the internet. Although you can do the same
thing with an mp3 player, the sound isn't as good. I'm not always able
to listen to Youtube (which seems to be one modern replacement for
the record store turntable or radio in terms of finding out about new
music).
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walkman
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response 4 of 76:
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Jul 1 17:51 UTC 2014 |
The last CD I bought was Robyn Hitchcock's "Love From London" last year.
I don't buy CDs that often because I stream now. I do buy new releases
on Vinyl when availaible. The last Jimi Hendrix album and the last
Jello Biafra and the Guantanamo School Of Medicine album were available
on vinyl so they are in the collection. :)
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krj
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response 5 of 76:
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Jul 1 19:22 UTC 2014 |
Serious question for walkman: do you play the vinyl, or do you just
admire it? I just don't get the vinyl revival, and I'm speaking
from the experience of someone who acquired about 1500 LPs before
1990, and a handful of collectibles since then. I have not been able
to get my turntable up and running since 2000, in part because I have
not been able to make a clean decision about getting a new cartridge.
An owner of the used record store in East Lansing has told me that I
would be surprised at what they would buy from me, if I get around
to de-junking the vinyl collection down to about 750 keepers.
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tod
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response 6 of 76:
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Jul 1 20:56 UTC 2014 |
The latest from Ice T's Body Count (it's a cover of Suicidal
Tendencies' Institutionalized)
www.youtube.com/watch?v=fqIp3i1ZBzI
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walkman
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response 7 of 76:
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Jul 2 00:05 UTC 2014 |
#5 Yes, I actually do play vinyl. I also like making my own digital
backups and then using them over the "official" digital files.
I have a turntable within arm's distance to where I'm sitting. I keep
all my records in the other room because they do not fit where I'm at.
So when I am going to sit for a while, sometimes I gather a couple
records and bring them back to my desk area.
I also have about 3,000 CDs on a shelf within arms reach but I never
ever play those. All of my CD's were ripped to ALAC and can be readily
played through iTunes. The CD's are backup.
Summary: at my desk it's iTunes lossless for digital, turntable for
vinyl.
When I'm on the go, I generally use mp3s if I'm away from wifi and
streaming with wifi. I honestly don't use streaming as much as I should
to justify the cost. I have been known to carry around Minidisc players
and (big surprise) Sony Walkman cassette players (I prefer the Sports
models because they are high quality and low maintenance). I have sock
drawers full these things to my wife's dismay and a wall of tapes. LOL
Now, am I one of those "analog is better guys?" No. I do think analog is
more fun. I LOVE my tapes and I LOVE my records. It's hard to get
attached to a file. But digital is definitely superior in quality and
convenience. I know people can spend $80,000 and get analog to sound
better but that's not practical. My computer has a MODI DAC from Schiit
and one of their Magni headphone amps (combined $200) and it is a good
pairing for the ALAC library. Very affordable setup that will knock the
socks off of most analog setups. http://schiit.com/
#6 I torrented Body Count's old album (FLAC) with the Cop Killer song
and a few days later he was on Conan promoting a new album. Awesome
coincidence. I had that CD once when it was new and for some reason I
don't have it now. If i had to guess my brother stole it from me.
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walkman
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response 8 of 76:
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Jul 2 00:17 UTC 2014 |
#5 PS 1500 records is a very impressive collection! Check out the value
of some of those records. You will probably be surprised at how much
they are worth. I have many that are worth $80-100 all day long.
Also, if you replace your head shell, you can get a cheaper needle and
get great sound. I am now using a Shure M44-7 and I think the
replacement needles are like $30. I used to use Ortofon but I can
appreciate the fuller sound on the oldschool Shure. I discovered the
richness of Shure when I bought a jukebox that had a broken needle. I
ordered a replacement (totally shocked it was still in production) and
loved the sound so much I ordered another one for my turntable. I guess
DJ's swear by them too. Who knew?
http://www.amazon.com/Shure-M44-7-Standard-Turntable-
Cartridge/dp/B00008W2LW/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1404260121&sr=8-
1&keywords=m44-7
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walkman
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response 9 of 76:
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Jul 2 00:19 UTC 2014 |
(also, check out the reviews on that needle! 5 solid stars)
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walkman
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response 10 of 76:
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Jul 3 13:08 UTC 2014 |
I had an interesting conversation with the owner of Weirdsville Records
in Mount Clemens yesterday. We were talking about buying preferences of
people and the digital media vs everything else.
There are still people buying used records and books and the digital
does affect the bottom line of these stores but not to the extent that
they can't survive. There's a resurgence of book/record buyers. The
owner is expanding to a newer location. Will it last? Time will tell.
There are still a lot of people who just can't get into a book on a
kindle or a phone. I respect that choice even though I am against
collecting things (after struggling with having "things" and the vast
amount of storage space such collections take up). The best thing to me
is to sell the book to a used book store instead of keeping it around
and getting something new. Keep it fluid.
I don't feel the same way about music because I play it again and again.
I am happy to make room for more records.
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tod
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response 11 of 76:
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Jul 4 05:25 UTC 2014 |
I have large amounts of books but I also make sure my local library has
copies - which I offer if they don't.
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bellstar
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response 12 of 76:
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Jul 4 07:23 UTC 2014 |
Physical media--books, discs, and so on--is a waste of resources. Good if
someone wants to restrict access, though. Been reading and listening at
desktop computers for years now. No dead-tree books, no plastic discs. With
hypertext regular book text feels even inefficient...
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tod
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response 13 of 76:
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Jul 4 13:59 UTC 2014 |
If I could get all of my books in audio format, I would. I'm lazy like
that.
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keesan
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response 14 of 76:
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Jul 4 15:29 UTC 2014 |
I find it much quicker to read print than to listen to it.
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bellstar
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response 15 of 76:
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Jul 4 18:30 UTC 2014 |
Ditto #14. I also need to be able to reread sentences without the distraction
of rewinding to an unknown place in the audio file. Text--of digital sort--has
all that. (In my case, listening referred to music, not audio books.)
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walkman
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response 16 of 76:
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Jul 4 23:21 UTC 2014 |
#12 I understand that angle as well. However, if the power goes out or
government seizes control of the internet, the physical book is a
dangerous info weapon than can be shared. I like that angle quite a bit.
#13 Same here! I admire people who read books. I'm so ADD when it comes
to that. I can read lots of articles online or comic books because the
subject is changed frequently. Reading a book with one theme, one story
makes me kind of crazy. It's to my detriment.
#14 Cindy can't read this but: Easy for you to say. You have all the
time in the world. The rest of us have to work.
#15 Have you tried software where you can read one word at a time? I
have and it's amazing. You can FLY through articles and books. But it
makes me kind of crazy after a few minutes seeing words flashing
rapidly.
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tod
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response 17 of 76:
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Jul 5 02:57 UTC 2014 |
re #15
I also need to be able to reread sentences without the distraction
of rewinding to an unknown place
That's what I do - I go to the print version on the parts which have
particular interest. For the most part, I read my books but if a full
audio is available then I go for it.
I have a tendency to fall asleep during the times I have available for
reading - but audio I can do on my commutes.
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bellstar
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response 18 of 76:
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Jul 5 05:26 UTC 2014 |
Re #16:
I agree that there's a point to physical media spread and stashed in all
places, as a sort of record that cannot be easily erased or modified. I'd say
the physics of generating electricity with handcracked dynamos won't get lost
that easily. Digital copies are easier to make, too. Got a book that must be
read by more people? Copy it over for everyone and ask them to pass it on.
In a major technological setback where digital media becomes unavailable no
overreaching governments will be left either. Still, governments may decide
to impose restrictions on computing hardware that makes digital copies harder
or impossible to make. That's a fair consideration.
Have tried such software (and linked one on an earlier Agora). Not good for
me. Still prefer 2D text and being able to follow and rewind it effortlessly
with the eyes. Paragraph skimming is very useful, too.
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Re #17:
People vary, of course. That's understood. Making a commute more useful is
also admirable.
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tod
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response 19 of 76:
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Jul 5 07:26 UTC 2014 |
I've often wondered what the original Anarchist Cookbook contained and if
it was a honeypot from the very start.
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bellstar
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response 20 of 76:
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Jul 5 07:42 UTC 2014 |
Someone somewhere probably has a collection of versions arrived at from
different routes.
Want to try my honey to feel young and "dangerous" again by reading "illegal
banned books?"
-- https://www.sendspace.com/file/294ji4
+
-- https://pastee.org/pmqff
Meant only for eyes with top-secret clearance. Totally.
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tod
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response 21 of 76:
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Jul 5 13:27 UTC 2014 |
re #20
So much drug material
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walkman
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response 22 of 76:
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Jul 5 14:17 UTC 2014 |
"Now I know!"
"And knowing is half the battle."
~ Tagline from G.I. Joe cartoon
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bellstar
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response 23 of 76:
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Jul 5 15:13 UTC 2014 |
Re #21:
Can't be helped. People either want to murder or want to get high. Are there
even other options?
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tod
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response 24 of 76:
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Jul 5 18:23 UTC 2014 |
re #22
Thanks Godzilla!
re #23
how to adjust one's 401k portfolio in the 9th inning of baseball?
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