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As promised I just gave Amazon’s MP3 Download store a run. I wanted to purchase The New Pornographers Challengers. Here was the steps I had to go through to purchase it:

1. After arriving at the web site I found the album

2. I downloaded Amazon’s Downloader. It’s nothing more than a download manager application. Doesn’t do anything fancy

3. On the album I clicked the “Buy MP3 Album with 1-Click”. Although I am not an avid 1-click user it appeared to be the only option for purchasing the full album.

4. I was prompted to verify my purchase, which I did. I was then given an error message which indicated that payment could not be processed. It didn’t surprise me since I probably didn’t have my Amazon.com 1-click settings configured.

5. I configured my Amazon.com 1-click settings and proceeded back through the same checkout process.

6. I received a different checkout error indicating that I needed to update my credit card settings.

7. I went back into my account and removed any old credit cards. As a bonus I also cleared out all old shipping addresses.

8. I proceeded back through the same checkout process. I was given the same checkout error indicating my credit card settings were wrong.

9. Getting pretty fed up, I went into my Amazon.com 1-click settings and turned it off.

10. I marched through the checkout process again. This time because my 1-click settings were off I was given the option to choose a credit card to bill to. I selected the only one on the list (a valid one mind you) and was able to successfully complete my purchase.

The only option for purchasing a full album is a button on the site called “Buy MP3 Album with 1-Click”. But I was able to purchase an album without using the 1-click settings. It seems a little confusing to me.

The download process was seamless. A file is sent from the browser to the Amazon Downloader application which aptly handles the downloading of the files. A nice touch is the automatic import into iTunes. The downloader adds the songs to your iTunes library automatically.

The MP3 quality is 256kbps which sounds good. I have the track Myriad Harbour in both Mp3 and AAC . From what I can hear the songs are identical.

All in all, to save a few bucks and get the tracks without DRM I think the initial headaches of Amazon will fade. The interface is so-so for the Amazon store. It similar to the rest of Amazon, functional but not aesthetically pleasing.

UPDATE: Upon purchasing a second album the checkout process was only a 2-step process of clickin ghte “Buy MP3 Album with 1-Click” and then verifying the purchase. It would appear that after the first purchase 1-click is automatically set up.

I recently gave up on CDs. I have been a staunch supporter of my local music shops for many years. But I finally became fed up after struggling to find even local music at the local Cheapo. I would pack up Riles and hop in the car on a Sunday and drive to Cheapo to just be let down when they didn’t have the music I came looking for.

So, instead of CDs we converted to buying online at iTunes. The DRM issue has always kept me at arms length with Apple. But the convenience of having music at the push of a button overrode my fear. I also hoped the switch would help me spend my money a little more wiser. In the past I’ve bought a flurry of bad albums. There has always been at least one good song on every album I bought, but sometimes it was *just* one. While 99 cents may not be the perfect price for a track, I realized using the old school route I was spending way more than that for just one song.

About once a week Courtney and I hop online to spend a few bucks on music. One night after a racking up the tracks Courtney said, “Oh, I better stop. I’m spending too much money.” In reality she had only purchased 8 tracks costing us much less than if she had bought every album for just the single track.

Amazon launched their MP3 store today. I’m a little torn now. I can get my music without the DRM for a little bit less than what I pay at iTunes….but then I wouldn’t be using iTunes. Half of the ease of online music purchasing is due to iTunes. There’s also this feeling of betrayal. We’ve come to love our iTunes shopping sprees. Will Amazon be the same?

So tonight Courtney and I will probably give Amazon a whirl. See how it works. See if we get the same satisfaction from it as we do from iTunes.

p.s. – The love of Apple carries over to Amazon. As of this writing Fiest’s song 1234 is Amazon’s #1 track for today.

I found this via Digg: Last.fm Mainstream-O-meter. It’s a website that uses your Last.fm playlist information to determine how mainstream your music taste is. I came in at a strong 54% mainstream, which is what I would have thought. Finally, the validation I so deserve for my elite music tastes!

Incidentally, I just started using Last.fm with my iPod a few days ago. I struggled with Last.fm for a long time. I didn’t understand why I would want a music player that randomly plays music close to what I want to listen to. If I want to listen to We Are Scientists, then dammit, that’s what I want to listen to. Last.fm plays stuff like We Are Scientists, but not the actual artist. Then I finally figured out the iScroggler, an application that sends recently played tracks from my iPod to Last.fm. Once on Last.fm, it rates, ranks, charts, displays, and ultimately creates a custom radio station for me. The more data Last.fm has the better the radio station. So now I’m psyched to use it. Now I will finally figure out just how cool I am.

I dub The Decemberists latest album The Crane Wife my favorite album for December. Specifically, the last track on the album Sons and Daughters is worthy of multiple spins during the day.

And if you weren’t aware, Stephen Colbert has accused the Decemberists of riding his coattails after the band issued a green-screen challenge, a homage to Colbert’s original green screen challenge.

The Decemberists retort? A guitar solo counter-challenge.

Pure genius on both parts.

Last night Court and I went to watch our friends play in Minneapolis. It’s the second time we’ve seen them own the stage at Lee’s Liqour Lounge. Every time I see them I am in awe of their raw talent. I’ve tried so hard over the years to figure out how to play music. I understand rhythm, I can read sheet music, and I know the fingerings, but I have always lacked something. Watching them play as if it were a simple extention of their being was simply amazing.

The Pixies were in town last night for a show at Roy Wilkins. It was a phenomenal show. They played every great song I knew by them and they played them well. Both Black Francis and Kim Deal sounded great, as if 14 years hadn’t passed. I’ve never seen anyone scream so effortlessly as did Frank Black. He made it look easy. For 2 hours they rocked us with all the favorites: Gouge Away, Is She Wierd, Hey, La La Love You, Nimrod’s Son, Caribou, Crackity Jones, Here Comes Your Man, Got Something Against You, Where is My Mind?…The list goes on and on.

I can now die a happy man after seeing the Pixies in concert. I remember picking up their album in the mid 90s thinking that I’d never be able to see them live. I’d be surprised if the Pixies don’t tour again. They put on a great live show.

Friday evening we ventured once again to see the wonderful and fabulous Deuces Wild show. The word had gotten out about how sweet these two guys are because the place was packed by 7:30, 2 hours before the show started. We had to watch them from the back of bar for the first half of the show. We were lucky to score some closer seats to enjoy the end of it. I don’t remember much, again, but I did manage to remember to bring my camera this time.

Mike announced that he has signed with ATO Records, Dave Matthews label. A Skittish/Rockity Roll double album release may be imminent by year’s end. w00t!

I would just like to say that I’m glad Ashlee Simpson was exposed for being the imposter that she is. That’s what she gets for concentrating on being famous instead of making good music.