[Undertoad]

I like this Maroon 5 ever since I figured out that the thing I hated about them was the audio processing on the guy's voice on their "hit" song, and the rest of the record was not so heavily processed.

I listened to their first album on Rhapsody, and decided to investigate it at Amazon. I wanted to buy it, because although I enjoy using Rhapsody to find out more about acts, I prefer a stronger form of ownership for music that I care about, and one in which I can hear the horror of the processing in great detail. Rhapsody had their all-acoustic album there, and also an extra three acoustic tracks only available on Rhapsody. (The guy's voice and performance is much better on the acoustic versions. It's almost like the band is trying to make a point...)

Then I decided that I wanted to find out who produced the album. But Amazon didn't have that information.

So I went to Allmusic, which listed the producers as Mark Endert and/or Matt Wallace. Faced with two names, I felt like the whole idea of remembering who the producer was, was probably not the most productive use of my brainspace.

But so thankful to Allmusic for giving me the information that oracle Amazon couldn't! Allmusic is free! Could I repay them in some way? Maybe buy something from their partner, in return for being such a great site? Then I noticed - they are re-releasing the great "Kite" by Kirsty MacColl, remastered and with bonus tracks! It's in Allmusic's new release list! Here's a chance to help out the great free information of Allmusic by purchasing through their partner... (click)

...which is Barnes & Noble, it turns out. Well OK, that's cool, I'll just --

This title is not available
for ordering. It may be
available at a later date.

Aw, fuck me! Back to Amazon, where they say

Kite [UK Bonus Tracks] [IMPORT] [ORIGINAL RECORDING REMASTERED]
$16.99
Original Release Date: April 5, 2005

Oh gawd yes! This is what I said! But then:

Availability: Usually ships within 3 to 5 weeks

Fuuuuuck me!

No, no wait a minute, this is the INTARWEB and nothing, absolutely nothing, is "usually" 3 to 5 weeks away. Hmm, where is it NOT an [IMPORT]?

Off to amazon.co.uk, where searching for "Maccoll" turns up not only Kirsty but her dad Ewan MacColl. (OK geeks, have at that name!) (And where the last item on the list is a "Later with Jules Holland" Hootenanny, the review of which sounds like it's the entertainment specifically made for me in 1992 and which I missed out on because I was too busy being completely and totally unaware of it.)

Amazon.co.uk has "Kite" for £6.99 and

Availability: usually dispatched within 24 hours.

Fine, and then after they've dispatched it, how long to me:

Choose a delivery option:
[x] Air Mail (5-7 business days)
[ ] Priority Express (1-2 business days)

Order Total: £9.03

I paused for a moment to remember the USA Amazon's inability to manage my desires. Should I reward their British wing? But yes. Yes. At least they HAVE the fuckin' thing, and it's in stock. Let MasterCard/EuroCard duke it out for how much that will be out of my account.