For what it's worth...
Now that Radiohead has opened the floodgates by offering its new album, "In Rainbows," to fans on a "pay what you like" basis, it seems fitting to scan the Billboard top 10 albums with a similar ethos in mind. What is each one of these albums worth? If given a choice in the matter, what would you pay? I'm basing my list on the projected top sellers for the week beginning this coming Monday, October 8th, according to Billboard's web site. Please write in with your own "what's it worth?" comments.
1) Bruce Springsteen, Magic: Billboard projected this morning that Springsteen and the E Street Band's new effort will debut at #1 on Monday, after selling in the area of 100,000 copies its first week. I paid $15 for the disc on its day of release. I also bought a vinyl copy, for $14. I feel quite certain I got my money's worth, and then some.
2) Keyshia Cole (shown at left), Just Like You: I received a promo copy of this album for review. I've only listened to it once. I'd pay $5 for it, no more.
3) Foo Fighters, Echoes, Silence, Patience & Grace: Strong record. $10.
4) Jill Scott, The Real Thing: This record's worth the asking price. Scott's got an amazing voice.
5) Kanye West, Graduation: I dumped three tracks from this onto my iPod. I guess that makes it worth $2.97 to me.
6) High School Musical 2, Soundtrack: This stuff drives me up the wall, but my 7 year-old son likes it. When I was around that age, the "Grease" soundtrack was out. I think I paid in the area of $8 for the vinyl copy of that album. So I'd pay the same for this one, as a gift for my kid.
7) Jagged Edge, Baby Makin' Project: I've never heard this record. My consumer's intuition tells me to stay away, based solely on the album title. I'm not willing to take the risk. I've been burned in the past!
8) 50 Cent, Curtis: I'd pay him what his stage name suggests I should. I dumped one tune onto my iPod, which is worth about .50 cents to me.
9) Reba McEntire, Duets: I'm not dropping a dime for this one. Duets albums are usually dreadful. I'd have to hear it first.
10) Kenny Chesney (shown at right), Just Who I Am: Haven't heard it yet, but if I was a Chesney fan, I'd take the risk. He's been consistent in his offerings.
Jeff Miers has been The Buffalo News' Pop Music Critic since 2001. Prior to that date, he
served as editor in chief of one alternative news weekly, and music editor of another.
Can someone give me $10 to take the lousy Bruce album off their hands?
I wouldn't pay a dime for that junk.
Posted by: Tricky Dick | October 08, 2007 at 12:13 AM
The last album I purchased was the latest offering from Grace Potter and the Nocturnals, titled "This Is Somewhere."
I ended up purchasing 2 copies, and ended up paying around $27 for both. Totally worth it, and in fact, I would've payed that much for just a single disc.
They play Tuesday in Rochester, and open for Gov't Mule on Wednesday at UB.
Posted by: dgodwin | October 06, 2007 at 02:28 PM
Paid $9.97 for Springsteen's thru Amazon.com, but would have paid $20 for it. It's amazing.
Posted by: Little Steven's Wig | October 05, 2007 at 09:03 PM
i just got amos lee's "supply and demand". this guy is going to be a legend. his self-titled disc from '05 was amazing also. i'd paid whatever for it.
Posted by: NowhereMan | October 05, 2007 at 06:51 PM
I received Reba's Duets album as a gift and it is her best work yet.
Posted by: Denise | October 05, 2007 at 06:08 PM