:: The Blurst of Times ::

:: 8.30.2004 ::

Thrill of the Hunt

So I have these two passions in my life: literature and music. Alright, that sounds a bit pretentious. It’s more like I really like to read and I really love to be immersed in music. But my passion for these two things goes beyond just experiencing them - I love to have them, to increase my collection of each. My dream is that some day I have a massive library of books and albums, spanning all genres, styles, qualities, and scenes. So, logically, I love to buy books and albums. And because I am constantly on the lookout for what I’m going to love next, I keep this great big huge list of stuff that has been recommended to me (or I have recommended to myself [don’t ask me how that works]) with me at all times. And whenever I go into a bookstore or music store, I whip out this big huge list and start trying to match titles on the shelf with the titles on my list.

But the list has no organization. And, because of my tendency to especially frequent used book and used music stores, the shelf-stock also has very little organization, or predictability for that matter. So the searching process is usually a long and arduous venture, which is alright if I have all the time in the world, but I never do. I’m always trying to do this over my lunch hour, or before a store closes, or in between errands, or what have you.

On the plus side - when I find something I’ve been looking for, it’s great. Nothing beats that feeling of randomly stopping at some ‘used records’ bin and flipping to some Jawbreaker album that’s been on the list for two years. But again, my time isn’t infinite, and it’s getting tough to bear with the drudgery of flipping past 38 random ‘No Hope’ albums looking for that last remaining NoFX album.

I could solve this problem. I could buy everything online. I’ve found most of it. There’s no browsing. The prices can be a lot better. I never have to leave me chair.

But I cannot bring myself to resort to this. It seems vile and vulgar. These people go to all the trouble (and passion of their own) to have these wonderfully dank, basement or attic or backroom stores that always smell the same way whether you’re in Manhattan, KS or Seattle, WA. I love these people and I love their stores, so it kills me when I feel like I have to abandon the search for something and just go straight online with it. But a guy can go weeks without finding a thing on his list (or maybe it’s right there in front of you, just tucked a little behind that old copy of War and Peace) and when you’re not bringing it home it just isn’t the same.

I guess the plan is just to keep looking. Maybe I need to have a bigger list, or be willing to risk more on bad stuff to be surprised when I find a true gem. But as it is, I’ve had to go to Hot Topic, in the mall, to find the last two albums that were on my list that I bought. [And speaking of which, the new Cypress Hill album ‘Til Death do Us Part’ is excellent, though not at all for the song done with Tim Armstrong].

“Yes, we’re battle tested. With the time and the emotion and the money invested...”

:: Freddy F. at 11:03 PM [+] ::