nz mp3s and albums. cheap.

The nz mp3 site I do a bit of work for - amplifier.co.nz has recently dropped its mp3 prices. Each track now costs NZ$1.99 (about US$1.25), down from NZ$2.50 per track, and the minimum purchase amount is NZ$5 (down from NZ$10), or, in other words, at least three tracks. So, this compares pretty well with what's probably considered the 'market leader' in paid mp3 downloads - iTunes - who charge US$0.99 per download. The iTunes downloads have various DRM measures in place, however, that restricts the number of times you can burn a track off, or move it from computer to computer - the amplifier tracks are just old fashioned no-security-measures-at-alll mp3s, which makes them slightly more user-friendly in the long run, and probably worth that extra 25 cents.

The day will come, I'm sure, that all these prices will come down again. As I've pointed out before, if you wanted to download an album's worth of mp3s from either iTunes or amplifier, you'd end up paying more than you would if you just popped down to the shop and bought the CD (and get all the packaging to boot). Of course, that's not really the philosophy behind the online stores, which generally rely on the 'no filler! only get the tracks you want!' attitude, which works fine when you're after the latest hits from some major label artist (who is doubtless guilty of the 'three hits-seven filler tunes' album that has become so prevalent over the last couple of decades), but, increasingly, good indie artists are releasing albums in the old-school sense, releases with an overall feel and, dare one say, vibe, in which the entire album needs to be listened to from start to finish to be fully appreciated. Local acts are increasingly of this ilk: this year the Phoenix Foundation, the Tokey Tones (times two, even) and the Nudie Suits put out decent 'albums', as opposed to a bunch of individual tracks.

Perhaps an mp3 album discount might be in order.

Having said that, amplifier does actually sell albums online as well, at excellent prices - so it may just be a case of paying a little bit more for individual tracks (a la the old 'singles'), or going the whole hog to get your hands on the bona fide physical album. If the latter appeals, I highly recommend these albums for your christmas stockings: Songbook by the Nudie Suits (only NZ$24.95 = US$16.12), Holding Hands, Feeding Ducks by the Brunettes (NZ$22.50/US$14.50), Horse Power by the Phoenix Foundation (NZ$29.95/US$19.35), and Catepillar and/or Butterfly by the Tokey Tones (both NZ$27.95/US$18).
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