I've owned an iPod for years, but I have yet to buy a song from the iTunes Music Store.  There have been times that I've wanted to get a new song or album from a group I've either heard on the radio or had mentioned to me by friends, but I just can't get past the closed limiting system that is DRM.  I have several computers/devices that I listen to media on: My iPod, my Desktop at home (Windows Media), my laptop (iTunes), my kids computer (Windows Media/iTunes), and my Cell Phone (Windows Mobile).  I cannot justify buying a song that I can only play on a couple (up to 3) of those, and only ones that are iTunes enabled.  I refuse to put iTunes on my main desktop at home after seeing what havoc it's caused on my Windows based laptop. There are other services out there that offer DRM based music for windows devices as well, but that would lock me out of listening on my iPod. 

So what's a poor boy to do.  I'm a firm believer of paying for what I listen to (and, NO I don't use AllOfMp3 or other shady download sites), so I mostly go out and purchase the physical CD.  It's silly because I've got a stacks and stacks of CDs that I NEVER take out of their cases as all my music listening is digital.  I most often just rip the CD to my iPod and away I go.

Well, CD purchases may be a thing of the past for me.  Amazon has introduced a MP3 download catalog that supposedly has 2 million+ songs from 180,000 artists and 20,000 labels.  The songs will be priced from $0.89 to $0.99 which at or below iTunes DRM based options and albums priced at $5.99 to $9.99 which is usually cheaper than the CDs.   Here's a review from tidbits.com if you want to get an unbiased first look.  I haven't tried the service yet, and based on the review, it does have some kinks.  But ultimately, I don't care about the convenience of iTunes and as far as I see it, this will be much easier than ripping the CDs.  I think I've found a new home for my music shopping.

The only bummer, is that I don't know any new good albums to target as my first purchase.  I have very eclectic tastes but lately I'm primarily into modern Alternative rock. You know, I just watched a special on KISS last night on cable and I don't have any KISS albums in my collection.  Any suggestions on their best album?  Any other suggestions on the Alternative Rock front?

BTW, Thank you Amazon!

-Joe