How do you decide on new music to buy?

Completely random, really. I pay a lot of attention to what folks talk about here, and will look deeper when something sounds interesting. More and more, I seem to be listening to music from friends, and friends of friends, or folks that friends are producing, etc. Living in NYC helps a lot, in that regard. Last night I saw two new folks that I had never heard before that I though were downright wonderful -- neither has recorded yet, but I talked to both of them, it's in the works, and I'll be among the first in line when they do. Another buddy of mine, one of the best trumpet players I've had the good fortune of hearing, just finished touring with Ani DiFranco (of all folks) and is playing tonight with a bunch of folks he produced lately at the Cutting Room -- for anyone in town, it's bound to be a great show. Finally, courtesy of a DJ friend of mine from down under, is the concept of the "one-for-one dinner party." Find someone who is passionate about music (most folks I know are wildly passionate about music, couldn't give a damn about fancy equiment, and think I'm nuts for sinking as much $ as I do into gear) and get together to simply trade off tunes. "You've heard this one a million times, but this is why you should hear it again for the first time..." to "...you haven't heard this one, but here is why you should give it a listen...," and everything in between. I try to talk music with just about everyone I meet, even complete strangers, and just keep trying to feel my way. Sometimes you get lucky, and it's those finds that make it all worth while.

I read a lot of music reviews from various music mags, such as Downbeat, Blues Review, Gramophone, TAS, Stereophile, TSS, etc. Then I usually go to a couple of Internet sites to see if I can find clips of the music to listen to. Tower Records often has sound clips for albums that it is selling -- they are only 30 second clips of various tracks, but they still give you a decent idea of the material and the performances.

Downbeat mag recently started a subscription service ($18.75 for 3 months) that allows you to access a number of recordings of all types: rock, jazz, blues, country, hiphop, folk, New Age, reggae, gospel and soul, etc., and then listen to and download entire songs. If the Downbeat site interests you, I made a post about it several weeks ago which contains more info and how to sign up. (The nice part of this service is that there are no "Napster" issues -- everything is licensed, so you get music fairly cheaply while the artists still get their piece of the pie.)

1) Reviews in various publications
2) Browsing in local record store, where they allow you to listen before you buy

I would recommend you go to www.knba.org and stream the radio station. They play eclectic and amazing stuff below the "radar" of commercial schlock. They also feature David Dye's World Cafe which I would recommend to anybody checking out new artists. I have been introduced to some fabulous artists such as Patti Griffith, Eliza Glickenstyn, Willy Porter, Anders Osborne, and Greg Brown just to name a very few. They also played David Gray like four years ago before he exploded with "white ladder". Happy Listening

I use many of the techniques noted above, but the last several months, I've been exchanging "sampler" CDRs w/ other A'Gon members and have really come up with some great new artists-- well, new to me. These include Allison Moorer, Alison Krauss, and Jacintha. Other A'gon members have gottem me started on Shirley Horn, Diana Krall and some I can't think of.

I mostly HATE to read music reviews unless they are very specific about the type of music they are taliking about. So often, the reviewer gets into some kind of $(*)%#@*(^%$# deep rooted-emotional-psychoanalysis of the singer/group, and in general write for themselves or other reviewers in a manner that leaves me wondering what the hell they said, or even what type of music they are talking about. Sorry, pet peeve of mine. Craig.