Street Corner Music

Used CD shops may be dying out, but until that day, $27 can still go a long way at one:

Sunny Day Real Estate "Live" (1999) - $4.99: I got into SDRE in 2000 during their reunion era when I picked up "The Rising Tide". I was fortunate enough to see them live that summer and my to-do list has included picking up their back catalogue ever since. Seven years later, I've taken the first step.

R.E.M. "Reveal" (2001) - $2.99: Not their best work, especially as a follow up to 1998's overlooked "Up", but worth the upgrade from my six year old CDR copy.

Ivy "Apartment Life" (1997) - $4.99: A college radio staple during my sophmore year that, like R.E.M., was worth the CDR upgrade for the liner photos alone.

Radiohead "Anyone Can Play Guitar - Austrailian Tour Souvenir 5 Track EP" (1993) - $3.99: I snag Radiohead singles and EPs whenever I find them. Especially when this title is currently going for $129 through Amazon Marketplace. $129!

311 "From Chaos" (2001) - $3.99: 311 in the 2000s is only a curiosity since their glory days of "Grassroots" is long behind them. Still, this is a cheap disc that makes for good summer music - as long as you can get past lyrics like "the freaks can't handle this".

Pink Floyd "The Division Bell" (1994) - $4.99: My CD collection has for far too long included only a few titles from Pink Floyd. I picked up their first album "Piper at the Gates of Dawn" a few weeks ago and now I've got their last. Both should give "Pulse" and "Echoes" some company.