New Tunez

Got some new CDs yesterday:

Shango—Juno Reactor
Erotica—Madonna
Defenders of the Faith—Judas Priest

For me, getting music can be a little like some people describe buying porn or condoms. It’s OK if I have a few other items, but even then I’m a little nervous about people seeing what I have. Maybe it’s because I pride myself on my eclectic tastes, it just seems like if I go and buy some Madonna or Judas Priest (hell, even Juno Reactor—his stuff is all over the Matrix soundtracks. How much more mainstream can you get?). Which is why I don’t go to Tower very much. It’s not that I’m opposed to big disgusting corporate stores. I eat at Burger King sometimes, so BFD. No, it’s like there is nothing I can buy in those places that won’t peg me as a demographic.

«Oh, it’s an alterna-rocker»
«Oh, it’s an 80s metal poseur»
«Oh, it’s a pop music fan»
«Oh, he’s into electronica»

…and I’m imagining the eyes rolling with every item. If I can be categorized, I’m automatically lame. Even buying the Residents makes me some kind of art-skool parody of myself. So if I can help it, I’ll only let people catch me buying/listening to Conrad Schnitzler, Nash the Slash, or Sun Ra. Oh, and Nick Cave. If he can be unashamed about loving Jesus Christ when his entire fan base is nihilistic atheists, I can bring Nick Cave to the register. But that’s my only act of courage.

Even that makes me basically just a cartoon character. Look at that! If a musician hasn’t appeared in a Matt Howarth comic, I won’t listen to them.

I’m just another sheep. I just pretend that I have better taste in music than you.