User blog:Madi60517/How to By a CD!

I'm sure if you guys still even but music, you buy it online, but buying the CD version is awesome. So if you actually read this, here's how to buy a CD:


 * Know where you're going. Get aquatinted with the place. Is it a CD store? Is it just a general store that sells some CDs? Note that that store has less of a chance of having the CD you want!
 * Find the section you want. The genres they organize the CDs into are very general, usually (at a large store) reggae, country, soundtrack, compilation, rap, metal or hardcore, and rock and pop. It's pretty obvious where what you want will be, however sometimes you get confused. I went to a store the other day and spent like 5 minutes trying to find Pierce the Veil in the rock and pop but it was actually under hardcore! Oops.
 * Have an idea of what you want. Even if you don't know the exact artist or album, narrow it down.
 * If it's a band you don't know that well, take a copy of each album the store has and look at the track listings. Pick the one that has the most songs you know.
 * Remember that bands occasionally change genres. I don't suggest you buy an album you've never heard anything from before if you know the band. Maybe you like the band's old alternative sound but now they're more pop-rock.
 * Browse the shelves. Try and find the bands you wanna get CDs from. They're pretty easy to find because it's always alphabetical.
 * Look at the selection between all the bands. Maybe one of them has 3 CDs, one has 10, and another 6. Look at what they are. Do you know the songs? Do you want that album?
 * Pinpoint the one CD you want most out of all the CDs you've seen. Snatch it up! You might get indecisive and someone could grab it when you're on the other side of the row. See of they have it used. You might be reluctant, but trust me, getting the used CD is the BEST option. The CD is basically always in perfect condition, even if the case is beat up. These can be just 3 or 4 bucks, whereas new are usually $10-$15. Note that CDs released in the past year usually don't have used versions, and used versions are usually only sold at CD store, so don't count on there being one at Walmart.
 * Find stores that sell clean CDs, like Walmart. Or just buy online!
 * Start to narrow down the CDs you want. You can do this by asking which you want more: this one, or this one? Keep going until you have it down to one.
 * Pick out CDs until you run out of money. Keep in mind that you can't judge by how much you get from how much money you have. One time I went to a CD store with $47, and I got a whole STACK, because most of them were used. Then I went with $52 and I only got 4 because they were all new.
 * Make sure your parents are okay with what you buy! The last thing you need is to spend good money and time on a CD you really wanted only for your parents to say you can't listen to it.
 * Decide if you want to start a collection. If you're not allowed to listen to some songs by artists you like, and you want a collection, buy their CDs anyway! Just don't play them when you need to focus or you can't skip any songs for some reason.
 * Look at the features on things like deluxe editions, EPs, live albums, and imports. Usually deluxe editions have a couple of extra songs, EPs have maybe a new song or two, acoustic versions, demos, and live versions, live albums don't have any extras, and imports have posters. Deluxe editions cost a few more dollars, EPs only cost about $5 but are rather hard to find, live albums the same as normal albums, and imports maybe a few more bucks.
 * Keep an eye out for box sets! Box sets are AMAZING, and are usually sold for new CDs. They come with goodies like posters and merch. For example, My Chemical Romance's album Danger Days: The True Lives of the Fabulous Killjoys had a box set which came with Killjoy ray guns, which are no longer available.
 * Be VERY VERY careful opening the plastic new CDs are wrapped in! This is another reason to get used ones, usually it's just a little plastic case you can peel open. New CDs have a plastic wrap. You can probably pick it apart on the side where it meets, but if not, you probably have to use scissors which often cut the case.
 * Also be careful with the sticker on top. New CDs have a white sticker on top that say the band and the album, and it also sticks to the top of the front and back of the CD. You can't open it until you get it off, and this is difficult. Some have "peel here" spots, though.
 * Play used CDs ASAP, just in case there IS something wrong.
 * Put the CDs away as soon as you get home so you don't misplace them! I suggest putting them in alphabetical order. You could buy one of those plastic circles.