Trading Or Selling Copies

This is bound to sound self-righteous, and I'm sorry for that. I don't think I'm better than anyone else just because I have a few rare CDs that people want to get a copy of. There was a time I didn't think copying music was a big deal, but after thinking about it and talking to many artists over the years I've developed some scruples.

If you want good music you need to support good artists. You do that by buying their music from them. If you contact me about trading or buying CD-R copies this is the response you will get:

• I collect original CDs, not CD-R copies.
  
• I NEVER sell copies of anything I have.
  
• I may trade or sell an original CD for a fair market value if I don't plan to listen to it again. Items I have for sale are listed here and here.
  

I will RARELY trade copies under the following circumstances:

• After extensive research and watching online resources, neither of us have been able to locate the CD we wish to trade for an affordable price.
• We will both continue trying to obtain an original of the CDs we trade.
• The trade is for equally rare or valuable items.
• Traded material is a direct copy or in a lossless format such as FLAC. Source material was never an MP3 or other lossy format.
• You have a current list of your CD collection I can browse that is not littered with MP3s.
  

Many great CDs are difficult to locate. I try to mention resources in my reviews to make it easier for my readers and listeners to find the stuff I'm recommending. Here are some other general suggestions for locating obscure music:

• Check the artist's and label's web sites for a direct purchase option.
  
• Contact the artist directly for a purchase. I've had some great success obtaining old stock, used copies, and CD-R copies of out-of-print CDs this way.
• Be sure your eBay searches have the 'worldwide' location enabled. Don't forget to check Half.com.
• Check the other regional Amazon.com sites such as Amazon.co.uk, Amazon.de, and Amazon.ca.
  
• On the side bar I link to all my favorite resources for hard to find stuff, as well as links to stuff I'm currently selling.
  

It's miraculous that any good music ever reaches our ears through the glut of crap that big companies shovel into all popular media outlets. You'll notice that most of the artists I discuss here don't have a giant corporation with giant marketing budgets and giant distribution networks. They don't fly home on their private jet every few days during their stadium tour. Many have families and day jobs. Many are under extreme pressure to compromise their creative vision to appeal to a broad market of music imbeciles. Many run their own labels, web sites, and participate directly in their discussion forums and mail lists. Many drop out of the industry for more lucrative work or sell their creative souls for increased sales.

Music is a passion I hope to share with as many people as I can, but pissing out copies to anyone who asks is no way to make the world a better place musically.

Contact Me

Time for a change.

Before I bitch bitch bitch about it, the positive side is that Salt Lake is ripe for change. Enough people are ready for different music that it is bound to happen. Look forward to something good.

Looking back, I used to love dancing. Out with friends, a pleasant sociable buzz, hopping around to song after song... There has been a gradual change. Now whenever there is momentum among friends for an evening out it must be accompanied by preparation for disappointment. Most Salt Lake dance clubs are predictably mundane and even the best ones are only sporadicly acceptable.

I was out the other night with a friend. As expected the music was awful. Some patrons were drunk enough that the music was of no consequence. Some sincerely liked the music since it was basically the same as what they had liked for the last ten years. Some of us grew bored and left, or wisely didn't bother to come in the first place. On the way to the car my friend asked, "when are you going to get some DJ work?"

My response: "Hah. My technical skills suck. That guy could mix ten times better than I can. I'd get laughed out of this place if I tried to get a gig here."

"You do pretty good, but the main thing is I'm sick of nights like this. I want good music when I go dancing. You should find some place to play."

She was right. I may as well give it a try. I already spend so much time on my music hobby I may as well find some outlets to share it. I don't think my dog and cat are ever going to thank me for the enlightening musical experiences they are subjected to in my basement.

So here is my plan: I will pursue DJ'ing for one year. I will pursue some regular gigs at galleries, parties, and clubs. At the end of that year I want to play a big holiday gig: New Year's 2009. At that gig I want people to hear what they're missing and see what's happening. I want them to demand more from their clubs and DJ's.

I want to make one point: The world is full of incredible music and we can move beyond the same shit that's been plugging our ears for the last 20 years.

If 2008 goes well then maybe I'll continue. Hopefully somebody more capable will step up and we can all have a good time when we feel like a night of dancing.

djderivative.com on the way

I registered djderivative.com and the website should be online soon. This blog will be my primary webpage, but I'll link to djderivative.com for file downloads like DJ sets.

Mission Statement And Manifesto

It is the intention of the Disgruntled DJ Collective to support and create local music opportunities beyond the typical.

Music should be:

• Celebration
• Meditation
• Dynamic
• Moving at instinctive and intellectual levels
  

We reject:

• Songs, clubs, and DJ's that all sound the same
  
• Pigeon-holing music and listeners
  
• Dance clubs advertising like strip clubs
• Prerequisite intoxication
  

We respect:

• Creativity
• Complexity
• Originality
• Global Influence
• Open minds

Contribute your momentum.

Music Recommendations For Nobody.

Nobody is looking for a new listening experience. Nobody is sick of radio, MTV, and XM. Poeple just want to hear more of the same stuff they already like. I tuned out popular radio ages ago and now my ears bleed if I'm forced to listen. I'm qualified to make music recommendations to nobody. I'll continue two series of recommendations. One series will be on obscure, possibly expensive, but essential music. The other series will be on music that is probably still obscure to most, but a great value; Stuff so good and easy to afford you'd be an idiot not to buy it.