Help me spend some money at the iTunes store

Posted on December 28, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

So one of the Christmas presents I got this year was a $15 gift card for the iTunes store. Now in the old days, back when I was walking uphill in the snow to school every day, fifteen smackers bought me a CD. Needless to say, that’s so 20th century. I want to be a modern music consumer and just buy me a few individual songs, like the cool kids do. Problem is, I don’t have a very good feel for what tunes are out there that I simply need to have. And so I turn to you, my readers and your collective intelligence. If you had $15 to spend on iTunes, what song or songs would be on your must-have list? Please leave your suggestions, along with any relevant info about why I should have these songs and why I’m a cretin for not already having them, in the comments. Thanks very much.

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9 Responses to Help me spend some money at the iTunes store

  1. Michael says:
    December 28, 2007 at 11:21 am

    I tend to get iTunes exclusives or things that are only otherwise available on compilations.

    We recently got a 5 song iTunes exclusive Styx EP for $5. The Spankers have songs on iTunes, including I’m My Own Grandpa and Hard Headed Woman.

    Sadly, they don’t have The Judy’s. Them you have to get through Wasted Talent

  2. owlsfan says:
    December 28, 2007 at 12:44 pm

    Kuff:

    One of the great things about i-tunes is that you can create a playlist (I call mine “wishlist”) and put songs from the music store in there. It prevents me from being impulsive and buying every song that I may think I want. Then you can go back to the wishlist playlist and hear the 30 second samples etc. and buy what you want.

    Also, in i-tunes I love looking at the celebrity playlists – you find some great stuff there.

  3. Ginger Stampley says:
    December 28, 2007 at 5:15 pm

    Just because you’re buying singles doesn’t mean you have to buy new stuff. I suggest looking at the Billboard hits for the 80s, or some of the essential series. Look for links off the music page in the iTunes store.

    I also recommend checking out the iTunes exclusives of your favorite artists.

  4. Marie says:
    December 28, 2007 at 5:53 pm

    Can’t go wrong with Michael Buble.

  5. Justin says:
    December 28, 2007 at 7:09 pm

    I tend to acquire pieces I enjoyed in the History of Rock Music class I took at UT such as “Got My Mojo Working” by Muddy Waters, and “Choo Choo Ch’Boogie” by Louis Jordan.

    I try to avoid the iTunes Store in favor of CD’s, so I can enjoy lossless music.

  7. Steph says:
    December 28, 2007 at 9:57 pm

    I am fond of music that I am not burnt out on.

    I like just about anything from the Brand New Heavies.

    A cool album that is oft overlooked is “Black Tie, White Noise” by Bowie. It was odd when I first bought it, but it grows on you–sound very modern:

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_Tie_White_Noise

    Just a couple of ideas.

  8. Mark Bankston says:
    December 29, 2007 at 3:06 am

    Well Kuff, there’s a good chance that I’m in the top 10% of the youngest, hippest people you know online, and that’s really rather sad considering I’m pushing 30…We really need some youth in the blogohexagon.

    Anyway, here’s some new hip junk. Preview it on YouTube, and then splurge on ITunes.

    The two obvious big records of 2007 are the new Radiohead release and that pretty little album by The Arcade Fire, who are the new darlings of college radio.

    Last year Bob Dylan put out a record, “Modern Times”, and it’s worth a listen.

    If you don’t own some White Stripes, now would be the time. Check out the YouTube vids for “Seven Nation Army”, “Hardest Button to Button”, and “Fell In Love with a Girl”. Also, if you’re digging country, check out Loretta Lynn’s “Van Lear Rose”, which was produced by Jack White of the White Stripes.

    Gorillaz – The weird cartoon pretend-band created by Blur front man Damon Alburn is about the coolest, most impressive music of the decade. Check out “Feel Good Inc.”, and anything else with their name on it.

    If you want to venture into hip hop, check out MF Doom. Heady, smart, poetic, post-modern, silly, and profound.

    Bjork. Period.

    U2’s “How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb” proves they are still the preeminent rock band they’ve always been.

    REM. Period.

    The newest Depeche Mode record is shockingly good.

    Brian Wilson’s comeback record “SMILE” is both depressing and life-affirming.

    Electronic: Boards of Canada for relaxing, Chemical Brothers for energy. Kraftwerk for nostalgia.

    Stereolab is good for impressing people like me.

    Lilly Allen’s song “LDN” will definitely make you smile. So will will her song “Everybody’s Changing”, but you’ll also feel the sting of melancholy.

    That should keep you busy…And next time I see you, you can tell me how far off the mark I was.

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