Sorry everyone, I'm going to be really insufferable with my music posting this year because any journal I keep will inevitably transform into an ad hoc music thoughts channel.
Anyway I figured I'd make some posts about my purchases whenever I do a little record shop raid. I had forgotten to post about this at the time, but in the last days of our Finland Christmas trip (which was really lovely, thank you very much) I popped by my old local music/entertainment shop, as is my tradition. They're not a very good record shop anymore because a physical music shop in a small town just isn't as crucial as it used to be, but they do have a really nice cheapo section full of discount wares which I scout for random, ad hoc purchases I probably wouldn't buy if the price tag wasn't < €5.
And so this is what ended up in my bag this time:
Suzanne Vega - Tried & True: The Best of Suzanne Vega
I used to borrow a handful of Vega's albums from my local library in the same home town when I was young (that library was such an integral part of my musical upbringing) and I know I like her music, but I've never ended up buying anything. So, a cheap best of is a good addition to my collection. Remember when compilation albums like these were an important, integral part of an artist's discography and often the first point of call when discovering music? Playlists just don't have the same feel... [mumbles in luddite]
V/A - Suomipoppia 3
"Finn-Pop 3", basically a NOW!-style radio hits compilation featuring a number of Finnish hits from ca. 2003. Has some nostalgic jams I remember fondly and other artists which'll do neatly for a little memory lane trip.
Zen Café - Idiootti
Zen Café are a band who I enjoy but aren't too fussed about: they're a decent band, got a few great songs here and there, but they repeat the same sound throughout their discography with barely any deviations, and normally in such cases I'd end up getting only the best iteration of that sound (it's Helvetisti järkeä for them, btw). But because pretty much everything of theirs is usually around €2 in that record shop, I usually find myself leaving Finland with yet another part of their back catalogue in my suitcase.