An investment made in heaven?

At the moment I feel like I have consumed a bit too much downlaods if you know what I mean, and therefore it is interesting to read some shit about the music and the world that circulates music. That's to say, instead of simply downloading en masse (and listening to the music of course) which I have been doing for the past 2 years.

Here is one blog which you probably already seen but nevermind. Bidhardcore as the name suggests comments on eBay record collecting. Perhaps not as novel approach nowadays when all manner of Web 2.0 douchebagery have flooded the world. But amusing nonetheless so have a look.

Anyway, since day one on the internet (back in mid to late 1990s) I have had a constant eye on eBay. Sometimes just to marvel at records or curious paraphernilia such as CRASS coffee cups (hello??) or "autographed" Discharge singles (obviously fake but nevermind that). At first I pretty much bought records very recklessly for e.g. I bought some 50-60 or so Johnny Thunders live bootlegs. Then I after awhile I got slightly more serious in my choices...but I was never much of a serious collector.

I reckon I bought about 250 different records all in all (I bought only cheap shit like LPs for £1 that nobody was bidding on, back then eBay wasn't as popular as today when any of the records go for at least a few more £s added to what I bought). I should add that all this was funded by the generous Swedish Government grants for studying abroad (I owe them about £20,000 today, but I do hold a marvellous academic record in History, more particularly late period colonialism with focus on civil service transfers at end of empire - WELL WORTH THE MONEY HEY???? LOL).

Anyway, partly what I wanted to say with this post was that it since about a year ago or so I have noticed that the music that is being blogged about in our little community of punk blogs -as well as discussed in on forums etc- is suddenly appearing on eBay, at at great prices too! Now this is probably due coincidence and metaphysics (ha!) as well as me taking a closer interest in the same bands (i.e. perhaps I did not notice the auctions before). BUT, I think it is fairly reaasonable to state that YES in some contexts music blogging have indeed lead to increase in not only the interest and awareness of the music but there is also some direct (if circumstancial) evidence that people are buying more records as a consequence of blogging!

Personally, while I may have downloaded completist-style all that I could get hold off in the respective subgenres of punk (say perhaps around 100 gb all in all?) I have by no means stopped buying music, in fact I have probably started to buy music even more (and no, not so I can post it on my meagre blog either!). lately I have even started to buy CDs whereas I have previously NEVER really bought more than at tops 10 CDs in my life. For some reason I currently value CDs a bit more becuase when all is said and done its a convenient format to keep around at home, and also for the artwork (kind of hard to appreciate the artwork factor with mp3s, even if iTunes et al can have embedded artwork with mp3s.).

This is byway of saying, see image - lots of nice rarities there and by the close of them auctions I bet you there will be some happy but broke people around (no surprise then they walka round in rags, all patched up ha ha ha!).

Anyway, go forth and spend douche bags!

EDIT: Here's some amusing items for sale:

Sika Apara / Finn Records T-Shirt
Svart Parad Gig Poster
Discharge 1991 Tour T-shirt (according to the guy from Disgust / ex-drummer Discharge the band did very very few t-shirts, basically the 3 skulle one was the only official one, and of course the one linked here - the 1000s of auctions for socalled "official" Discharge t-shirts are NOT ofifical, this one is - and unused- but sadly XL)
AMEBIX Gig flier
AMEBIX Gig Flier 2
16 BUH demo (fran Sorling/Sodra Paraden blog)
And one more 16 BUH demo (rare as fuck and going cheaper than cheapshit)
GiSM??????
MISSBRUKARNA tape (rightly priced over $100+)
First Terveet KAdet 7" for $£325 only!!!