and now let me join the 21st century

I think I mentioned a few days ago that I just got my first iPod (please note that my father had an mp3 player before I did, but only by a couple of weeks).  And that the only reason I now have an iPod in my possession is because someone I know got a new cell phone that has an mp3 player, and gifted me their old iPod Shuffle.  It's blue, I like it:

So, this new iPod also meant getting iTunes, and downloading music.  The first hurdle of the iPod that I came across is that my laptop does not have a cd drive on it so I was stumped as to how to get the music I have already paid for on the thing (the computer was also a hand me down.  I love free stuff).  I needed some form of instant gratification, so I downloaded $30 worth of songs from iTunes to hold me over (one album and 20 random songs, in case you're wondering).  After I hit that limit, I cut myselff off because I could probably spend all my money on downloading music (and I feel too guilty to try and find them for free), and I was dangerously close to purchasing cds online that I had already bought and that's just not right.


In discussing this very serious problem with my younger brother, he had the genius idea to rip the cds I own onto a computer that DOES have a cd drive, and then transfer them to a flash drive that I can plug into my laptop and retrieve the music.  Obviously this is a lot more steps, but it doesn't involve me having to buy a new computer or an external cd drive, so it works for me.

My trial run is today.  I brought three cds into work with me, ripped them all onto my computer, transferred them to the flash drive, and deleted them from the computer (which doesn't have speakers so having music on it does me no good).  Here's hoping that this works and doesn't make my poor little laptop have heart failure (it is a senior citizen as far as computers go).

And now I will give you all a chance to judge the music I like.  It's only right as I listened to and judged the music of the person who gave me the iPod for a good week before I got a docking station and replaced it with my own.  Please note that I am completely ignorant about new music because I don't have a car anymore so I don't listen to the radio and I just got my first iPod two weeks ago so I have not been kept in the loop with iTunes.  Much like how some people get married and never update their style again,  I gave up a car and never updated my music again.



My three trial run cds are the Once soundtrack, Dixie Chicks' Taking the Long Way, and Kelly Clarkson's Breakaway.  The first one I picked because it's soothing which is important for the train, and the other two I picked were because they have the highest number of sing along songs and I listen to them all the time in my apartment when I'm cleaning (though I try my very best not to actually sing along when I'm out in public).


On Monday I downloaded a Guster album and several super cheesy songs that either remind me of movies or I like to sing along to.  A couple Journey songs, some Beyonce, Alicia Keys, James Taylor, The Righteous Brothers, 'Moon River', 'Bittersweet Symphony', 'Ain't No Sunshine', things like that.


If this whole transfer of music works, the next on my list are Johnny Cash, Neil Diamond and Stevie Wonder.  You are now free to judge as you so choose.



I'm willing to take suggestions on what other people listen to that I might like, to further my musical education.