Do you prefer to buy an album or download certain songs?

Question

I was talking to one of my friends who was telling me that they have never bought a CD; they download everything they want from LimeWire.

I just love the whole experience of getting a new CD; because I'm young my parents pay for everything that I need, so apart from gifts and clothes the only thing I pay for is music. The album is so much better if you can go out hunting between a few different shops for the best price, then bring it home and carefully remove the plastic on the outside before opening the cover and going through all of the album artwork slowly, then putting it in your CD player and listening to it.

I do only buy albums I really want, and spend heaps of time deliberating on whether or not to buy it before I actually do, but I love the whole process. I also love knowing that I have a copy of the album that can't be deleted accidentally.

So, do you prefer to download only the songs you like, or buy the album?

(I download occasionally too, to sample a new band.)

I burn and download as well (my local library has a very good CD section *sheepish look*), but I usually do this to check out something my friends recommend or something I heard on the radio.

Wishinstonez, that is kind of like what I do; I'll burn it, listen to it, then if I like it I'll buy it.

I understand what everyone is saying about buying a CD and only liking 2-3 songs; I've done this so many times it's impossible to count! But I still love the feeling of a new CD.

Wow, lots of answers! Thanks a lot guys, I'm gonna really struggle to pick a best..

Answer 1

AMEN.

Thank God for people like you.

I love to buy albums for all the reasons you listed... I HATE it when people download from limewire so some other virus-infested sh!tty website just so they can get their stupid hipster music.

Bands are not the only ones who are involved in making the album!

Having the physical CD is the best.

I love what you wrote =)

Answer 2

I prefer to by a cd of an artist or band that I like. My belief is that nothing is for free and so is music. I'd rather go through the process of buying a cd from a music store or ordering it online than downloading it on the internet. Also downloading songs on the internet is a lazy way. I hate all these excuses that people give saying that they can't afford the money to buy a cd and they are overpriced and also that music should be for free.

Answer 3

I think it's all up to how far you appreciate music. Some people prefer songs and instant gratification so it's fine for them to just download songs. But to others, who appreciate the full experience of an album.... we buy CDs or Vinyl. I personally appreciate the way an album is mixed, the sound or theme through-out the album, and the message they're trying to convey. Just one song of an album to me is like watching 30 minutes of a movie. It might be the best part but it's not nearly as significant if you haven't watched the whole thing to get the bigger picture.

Answer 4

I'm guilty of downloading music from other sources, but only to make sure that I like the song, and then I'll go out and buy the album. Always. but I personally like downloading my music from itunes, it saves me a trip to the store and thus I can automatically transfer the songs to my ipod without any problems that limewire causes. I also like itunes because I can buy an album in bits and pieces until I can actually afford to buy the whole album ,it's very cost effective for me that way.

I rarely buy Cd's anymore because all my music is digital. The last album I bought was Paramore's riot a few months back.

Answer 5

With you on the idea of the whole album, but not so much on the process of buying it. I hate the jewel case and the packaging, and CDs are so easily scratched - more of a risk to me than an accidental deletion that normally can be replaced.
That being said, an album that flows together or especially an album with a theme or that tells a story is to me a much better masterpiece than the three minute single. Pink Floyd and Gorillaz are notable for this.

Answer 6

I download or borrow from friends when it's just one of those "Ohhh! I love that new song!" or "Oh, I like that band!".

But if I really like the artist, and I find that I like most the songs and not just a one off then I'll buy the CD. Even if I already borrowed the CD and have all the songs, I want my own copy because I like the artist.

So usually I sample a few songs or the CD and if I like a majority of the songs then I'll delete them off my computer and buy the CD. On rare cases I won't even sample the songs because I'm confident in the artist.


^__^

Answer 7

Like you, I get some songs to sample a band. If I like it, then I'll buy the CD. I'm not going to just buy a CD without knowing anything. I won't buy one until I find some reviews and listen to a song or two from it. Albums are great.

Answer 8

I download music and burn CDs (cuz I just lost my iPod...). I think it's much more better because you could just select the songs you like more than having to buy an music artist's CD and not like some of their songs. I think it's also cheaper like that. Buying CDs is a good thing though if you are a huge fan of a singer or a band.

Answer 9

If it's an artist I really like, I'll usually go out and buy the cd. I like having the literal cd with the little booklet with pictures and yeah, I love to read the "thank you's". Although I download alot of my songs from iTunes, I still like getting an actual cd. Somehow it's more exciting.

Answer 10

Well, i prefer downloading from limewire, i got the pro version so its definetly more conveinent,(if you want to know how to get it for free download it from the basic lol) anyways yeh, thats just my thing for one, it can be by more than one artist/song/band also you dont have to worry about it being edited or scratched, and you can take it on the go and you dont have to pay a cent, cause if you want one album and only a few songs off of it, theres no sense in buying a whole 20-40 dollar cd if your only going to listen to like 3 songs for instance, And this way you can get all of your favorite songs from every album onto one cd if you dont have all the albums, occasionlly i might by a cd, depending on where its from like hastings, not wal mart because they are all edited and scratch easily, anyways that is my opinion.