CD Connections

I don't think I've ever had that sort of association, but I have noticed the same old CDs in the same old spots at the same old record stores I frequent every month / day. I couldn't tell you the name of the band nor of the actual disc, but I always recognize them (even underneath the 15 price stickers smothering the jewel box), and I'd miss them if they ever left. ("I miss the Sneetches!") ("Someone bought the Veldt!") They're the life buoys that keep me afloat in the ever-shifting sea of mindless consumption.

Of course, if these discs do disappear, I know it probably wasn't due to some philanthropic sort of savior, but I can't come to grips with this cold, harsh fact. Hold me, please.

When I firstjoined in the Groove Farm, I always used to look to see if shops stocked our records - if they had them, they were always next to the Groundhogs...who we ended up supporting around a year later, a real coincidence seeing as you couldn't find two more different bands if you tried.

Gong albs when looking for Gone albs (or vice versa)

same old things in same old spots: this is totally what i'm talking about dave you sexy mf: by definition you don't buy them, they just kind of taunt you with their presence

a similar temptatiopn happens to me all the time, but in the jazz/import bin -- actually it's a new foreign/import bin more generally, usually full of hat [[art]] leo eremite o.o. okka etc. etc. etc. type labels that are foreign expensive intiguing [etc.] -- ie musician 'x' I like playing with 'y' and 'z' musicians or appearing on same session as fave muso 'a' and boring been there done that muso 'b'

this is an ancient temptation/threat to the jazz consumers' bank balances and always part of the long unfolding big picture -- and with jazz favourites you just can't get to the essence of the cd by soundchecking it in the store

and now it's happening lot's more in 'popular music' -- just an obvious example, and i don't know why this has taken so long, sonic youth invite members of borbetomagus to appear on a 'proper' or 'for the masses' sonic youth release, which will be one of the main reasons i buy it given NYCG&F (oh ok 'murray st' is a topical release in the worst way from a band i feel i thought i knew well and so i'm real curious to see what sonic youth say about nyc _and_ the rest of the world, because manhattan isn't an island)

perhaps I should mention o'rourke ? i don't know if i want him there - - ok it's a new band i don't know well at all with him suddenly 'permanent' -- probably a reason to buy sonic youth for some new people -- so do i need another installment of sonic youth ? -- too many cds and not enough money or time as ever

okay george but what you're talking about (familiar artists popping up on an exotic release) is the exact opposite of what the thread is about (unfamiliar artists popping up like clockwork next to something you know very well --> this is how a love of sonic youth can lead to a love of the squirrel nut zippers)

(or at least a kind of tense awareness of them)

the dry mechanics of the system forcing associations on you you never would have made yourself rather than tastemakers assembling dream combos

i'm imagining a mammoth tour where everyone must play on the same bill as the person directly next to them in the bins