Just some quickie mentions of recent acquisitions and performances, 
along with occasional notes on What's Left of the Music Business.

76 responses total.

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

  (( summer Agora #17 linked as Music #63 ))

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).

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. :)

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.

The latest from Ice T's Body Count (it's a cover of Suicidal 
Tendencies' Institutionalized)
www.youtube.com/watch?v=fqIp3i1ZBzI

#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. 

#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

(also, check out the reviews on that needle! 5 solid stars)

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.

I have large amounts of books but I also make sure my local library has
copies - which I offer if they don't.

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...

If I could get all of my books in audio format, I would.  I'm lazy like
that.

I find it much quicker to read print than to listen to it.

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.)

#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.

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.

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.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Re #17:

People vary, of course. That's understood. Making a commute more useful is
also admirable.

I've often wondered what the original Anarchist Cookbook contained and if
it was a honeypot from the very start.

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.

re #20
So much drug material

"Now I know!" 
"And knowing is half the battle."

~ Tagline from G.I. Joe cartoon

Re #21:

Can't be helped. People either want to murder or want to get high. Are there
even other options?

re #22
Thanks Godzilla!

re #23
how to adjust one's 401k portfolio in the 9th inning of baseball?

Re #24:

Two birds with one stone. I mean, murder and getting high.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=ah7HP6d42m8

back to walkman in resp:8 ::   1500 LPs isn't that many, I collected
them from about 1968-1990.  Probably 1 a week when I was a kid, and 2-3
per week after I went to college.

The cartridge trap I am in is:  Shure stopped making stylii for their
V-15 line of cartridges, which is what I have mounted in my turntable. 
So, either I go with one of the third-party stylii makers for the V-15
line via eBay -- reviews have been mixed on those -- or I go in another
direction.  Unless I'm willing to mount & align the cartridge myself,
which I have not done in 35 years, I'd have to limit myself to the low
end of the Rega line, which is all that a dealer in town will install.

There was a dealer in Grand Rapids, Audio Advisor, who was willing to
sell & install current-era Shure, Audio-Technica and other mid-market
brands.  But before I got around to driving out to GR, that store went
totally high-end audiophile.

I suppose I could re-learn how to do the cartridge alignment myself, but
it's something I just don't have time for.

-----

Last time I was looking at used LPs prices, I found that a fair number
of my 1970s UK folk LPs were worth $50-$100, especially the ones which
never got reissued on CD.   But, of course, those are the ones I most
want to keep.   A lot of what I am willing to part with is mainstream
60s & 70s rock stuff, which appears to be priced by the pound  :-)  as
it sold in huge quantities.    I'm also willing to jettison most of my
LP classical collection except for a few sentimental favorites, as I'd
rather listen to most classical music on CD.

re #27
Why not get 3 types of V-15 and test them on one of your priced X pound
albums?

My jukebox has one of the fake Shure needles and it's great FWIW.
I agree with #78.
It might sound odd but I never adjusted a stylii. I just attach it and
start  playing records. I do adjust the arm however so the tracking is
proper.

Tracking weight 

I tape a nickel to the top so the saphire needle I bought at Big Lots
gives more clarity. 

*this is the last time I tell you to get off my lawn*

http://www.ebay.com/itm/231272155707

Glen Matlock & Iggy Pop
www.youtube.com/watch?v=HHjUl4YrBDo
(missing the guitarist Steve New from half the album because he
punched Bowie in the face)

One of my favs from one of my favorite albums.

I used to have a tape of the MC5 live at Freedom Hill and one of the
songs was "Farmer John" but I've never been able to find a bootleg
copy...

Testify
http://www.whitehousepost.com/editors/roommates/greg-snider/documentary-
reel/mc5-mc5-a-true-testimonial/

(could not find anything on MC5 playing Farmer John)

re #37
 (could not find anything on MC5 playing Farmer John)

WABX aired it in the early 80's and we put a mono cassette deck next to it
and recorded.  If Peter Werbe is still alive, he might have a copy.

On another note, somewhere there may still be a copy of my father's
signature underwriting the MC5's insurance for rental equipment.  My
dad sold insurance in the big D at one time.

Too bad those awesome record stores of the past are now gone. I will ask
 the folks at Wierdsville if they have a source. They might. The owners
are  very cool and they get some really choice stuff. Did you see the 2
Stones  records (Mono) I picked up last week? *sigh* It's a time/money
thing but  music is my life. Getting two records that good for under $12
was a real  score.

- Backtalk version 1.3.30 - Copyright 1996-2006, Jan Wolter and Steve Weiss