Blank CDs dude.

I'm a music pirate without a doubt. The last album I actually bought was My Morning Jacket's Z. And that was over 3 years ago.

A healthy combination of both.

There's something about having a physical copy of my music that puts me at ease.

^true that. it feels great to look at a shelve full of albums and to say "I own them".

I also like the proper artwork.
Now you're gonna suggest printing the artwork out
I have you pirates sussed ;)

I'll usually download, then buy. If I really like it, I owe it to the artist as someone else said to buy it.

If I think it's average, I won't waste money on it.

I used to be one of the few people on this site who actually bought all their music via itunes music store. Until I lost most of it and started using 'free' downloads. Now most of the time I wont pay, but if a band I like comes out with a new album I'll download it from the itunes music store. If it's a band I love I'll probably get the new album on vinyl or if I cant find it on vinyl I'll settle for a CD. But the whole CD marketing is quickly dying who uses CD's when an mp3's are much more convenient.

I'm a big fan of the physical product. After all, there was no internet when I first started listening to and collecting music. I'm proud of my collection.

However these days, partly due to the internet and a wealth of information at my fingertips, I am discovering more stuff than ever and just can't buy a physical copy of everything I'm interested in. Back in the day, you'd hear about stuff on TV, the radio, through friends, or by browsing around the record store. Now, it's all that plus online forums, online stores, online reviews, etc. and everything links to more similar stuff and the discoveries are just endless. It's really overwhelming as a music addict. I have 20 pages in my Amazon wishlist of stuff "to check out", meaning I haven't heard them yet and need to check out samples.

So basically I may download something to screen it, and buy it on CD (eventually?) if I dig it. If I really dig it, it'll get purchased on CD rather quickly. Also if I'm checking out a new discovery and the CD is available used online for really cheap, I may just purchase it right off the bat if I'm interested enough. If it's a band I love and will buy unconditionally, I will buy on or shortly after release date, and will not spoil it by downloading it first. I want the full old school album experience of holding and examining the physical album while listening to it for the first time. :cool:

^^^

Exactly this. Spot on. Cassettes were our internet back in t'day. You would have to wind the electricity meter and eat coal and everything back in those days.

^don't forget walking ten miles in the snow without shoes and broken glass on the roads, that's if you were lucky enough to have roads.

I always buy things I really want but if its something I kinda want or its way too expensive I download. I like buying more because I can listen to it on my good speakers and its really nice to have a collection. I also like to buy cds more because I tend to listen to the music more than when I download it. I sometimes will download something and Ill never get th3e chance to really listen to it. I also buy cds cause I live in S.F where the best cd store in the world Is "amoeba".

This thread also reeks of Cory
but... i do both but i only buy the album if its something i really really want. i only download it if i want it but i think its over priced for overall quality. example: Bon Iver's Blood Bank costing $10 when there's four songs in total and one is some weird electronic a cappella song ("Woods")