anyway about this possible thread.. I usually go to a recordstore and buy
from people who more or less know what kind of music I like and ask them to
recommend me things and then listen to them. I usually "skim" throught the
records. the beginning, middle and end give a pretty good picture of the
style and flow of the track.
I also receive a new-release list from GAP (biggest distributors/wholesaler
for Europe) every week by email and select tunes which look interesting
(they give some reference and rating), print them out and try to find and
listen to them in the stores. I read the Soundin' Off section and top 10
section of Straight No Chaser and sometimes other music magazines in the
library.
I look for record labels or artists who have brought out good things in the
past and I ask friends what they spin.
Another good thing here in Rotterdam is that there is a rent-a-disc centre
where they get all new cds on a weekly basis and where you can listen and
rent them for a very fair price.
and of course I try to read and listen to the members of the allknowing
aj-list. Big respect goes out to Erik Boralv for putting up with us for all
this time!
The money matter is a more difficult problem :) Especially while I'm a
student with a small income. I have to be very critical about the stuff I
buy and I try to buy as much stuff when it's on sale, from second-hand
stores, especially for old jazz and funk records, don't buy them for
ridiculous prices as you'll always find them somewhere for a low price,
check the hardrock and metal stores in your area as they usually don't know
jack shit about jazz or funk. I also try to buy the new stuff in one place,
this way you build a relationship with a certain recordstore and they'll
often sell you records for a lower price because you are a regular customer.
Also if you see a çlassic record that you know is worth something pick it up
even you already have it and exchange it with someone else for things you
don't have. During a hype wait for the storm to calm down (it's dfficult, I
know) as these things will usually be: for sale for a long time, for sale
for a lower price after a while.
As you probably know I also put my vinyls on cd-r and sell them to
listmembers to almost cost-price so that more people can enjoy the stuff I
like and try to exchange them for mixtapes/vinyl/cds
That's the way I do it...pfew sorry to rant but I think it's a nice topic.
Cheers,
J.