What music have you been buying? Old or new?

Hey Nrchy- I am a younger member here(22 years old) and have purchased 417 cd's year to date(I keep track, don't ask why) including SACD's. About 80 of them would be cd's that came out this year(not including remasters, etc...), so even though I am a snot nosed young punk and am a pretty good hip hop dancer(I have taken many, many lessons, yet still only own about 4 hip hop cds!). With my current numbers that puts me at around 5% of new music purchased came out this year; that number may be lower by years end; I may be closer if not exceeding 500 cds(ytd) and only a few more(if any) will be 2003 releases.

I can't say I blame you for not being into new music however there are some good things happening. With music from The White Stripes, Beth Orton, Peter Gabriel, Steve Earle, Rosanne Cash, among many other's coming out this year its hard to say its all garbage and that's just "Pop" music not getting into Simon Rattles recordings of Beethoven, or any other classical releases from this year. These are obviously rare exceptions and like you said most music coming out these days is pretty poor.

I have been buying old and new music lately. Old artists with new releases. Jonny Lang's just released CD "Long Time Coming," Lyle Lovett "My Baby Don't Tolerate," (on vinyl) and then I found an old Ben Webster "Soulville" on Verve. I'm not much of a Hip Hop fan but it does have its place. I just don't go there.

Old. 99% is old. Near current is a PJ Harvey LP. Everything else is like Mono shaded dog, six eye Columbia... Some rock from the eighties, more from the seventies, classical from the 50's through the 70's. Jazz 40's (on LP) to 60's
And I ask: WHAT new music? that stuff is music? hah ha.
(I see flames... but that IS my opinion.)
getting near 4000 LPs since June.

Jeff Larsen
Widespread Panic
Bernie Williams

I buy a lot of both.
This has been a great year for remasters/re-releases-I will nearer the end of the year post lists covering both.
On the Remaster front-we've had the 17 Dylan remasters (already covered in detail by me on a seperate post),Echo& The Bunnymen,Yes the next 4 in the series,Miles Davis The Complete Jack Johnson Box Set,Neil Young's classic On The Beach,Television's Marquee Moon(truly tremendous).
Japan,Led Zep and Kevin Ayres.
Without exception these are all the best sounding CD versions available of these records,if indeed they were available on CD before.
As regards new music,I'm not convinced it's been a classic year nor indeed am I sure at this stage sure what I would pick as my favourite record but there have been some worthwhile releases.
Blur-Think Tank-good mix of art pop/rock

Radiohead-Hail To The Thief-usual left field take on Rock

The Mars Volta-De-loused In The Crematorium-heavy Prog-rock form main members of alt-metal band At The Drive In.

David Sylvian-Blemish--excellent in parts art rock/avant pop

Steely Dan-Everything Must Go-good album

The Strokes-Room On Fire-peeters out but some great tracks.

Nick Cave-Nocturama--good if not great album

David Bowie-Reality-Another very strong release as Bowie continues his return to form.

Jane's Addiction-Strays-reasonably strong come back from pioneering left field heavy rock outfit.

Zwan-Mary Star Of The Sea-great power pop from Billy Corgan.

Ryan Adams-the enfant terrible of modern songwriting but undoubtly the most talented new songwriter about adds new genres to his already impressive high quality magpie status.

Ryan Adams-Rock n'Roll-80's style power pop/rock-imagine The Smiths meets early U2!
Patchy but worthwhile effort-too long but contains 4 or 5 great songs.

Ryan Adams-Love Is Hell Part 1-the first part of the record his record company would not release.
8 fantastic downbeat mostly piano based songs evoking Jeff Bucley,Wilco-simply great music.

If I've learned anything on Audiogon and I don't mean to be rude,a lot of members have switched their interest from reading about music to reading about equipment.
There's always music about-new and old-the lists above don't even touch on the music I've discovered this year that wasn't released this year-seek and ye shall find.