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Posted by: Spencer // December 18 2009
Music lovers can be tough to buy for; it’s such a subjective and sensorial area, that many music gifts end up being hit or miss. But the thing about music is that there’s always something new that will surprise and excite even the biggest fan. Here are a few ideas*:
1. Elliott Smith (Hardcover) $20
Elliott Smith was one of the best, if not the best, artists of the past 10 years. Unfortunately his life was too short, so his fans covet anything that bears his name. Some items are crap, but this book by Autumn de Wilde isn’t. Hundreds of photos by de Wilde and passages from friends make this a must-have. The live cd that’s included makes this golden. Of course, any similar book for a fan of any artist or band would also be a good idea. Available at Amazon
2. Motorokr S305 Bluetooth Headphones $40
If you’re an iPhone owner, these headphones are fantastic. Great sound, no wires. If you’re like me and earbuds never fit your ears, these are even better. Did I mention no wires? These headphones also have a built in microphone so as you cruise around the city listening to tunes, you can answer any calls you receive along the way. Available at Amazon
3. Apple Airport Express $99
Have a ton of music on your computer but can only listen to it when you’re at your desk? The Apple Airport Express allows you to stream music from iTunes to a home stereo. It has a 3.5 mm stereo jack that allows you to connect to your stereo (with the addition of a $5 cable available at your local Best Buy or Radio Shack). The sound quality is pretty good, and and works with Windows as well as Macs. At a cost that’s hundreds of dollars less than similar solutions from Sony and Bose, it’s very sly. Available at Amazon
4. The Pixies Minotaur Box Set (Deluxe $207/Limited Edition $630)
A ton of money, but worth it. 5 CDs + 6-Blu-ray + 6-DVD + 54 Page Book. The DVD and Blu-ray are encoded in Dolby 5.1 stereo. The set includes all five Pixies studio albums, as well as newly done artwork. There’s also a live concert on DVD included in the mix. The limited edition also includes the albums on vinyl, is signed, and includes a 72 page hardback book. I know it’s a lot of money, and at over $600 for the limited edition doesn’t seem sly – but weighing in at 17 discs, the deluxe edition is a completist’s dream. Available at Amazon
5. The Beatles Box Set on USB ($230)
This apple-shaped USB drive is loaded with the entire re-mastered audio for The Beatles' 14 stereo titles, as well as all of the re-mastered CDs visual elements, 13 mini-documentary films about the studio albums, replicated original album art, rare photos, and expanded liner notes. Worried about sound quality? The files are provided on the 16GB drive in FLAC (44.1 Khz 24 bit) as well as in MP3 (320 Kbps) formats, and is fully compatible with PC and Mac. Available at Amazon
*All links are Amazon affiliate links.
