On the Bottom Half

Hi-Fi

"Hi, I was wondering if you could check for a specific CD in your stock." This was going to be an interesting evening. I'd been into three different music stores in the shopping centre and had been wholly unsuccessful in each.

"Yeah mate, no problem," replied the slightly harried looking shop assistant. It has been a few months since I've been in a major shopping centre. The car park was alarmingly full for a Thursday evening and the thought that this scene was being repeated at all shopping centres across the city and around the western world weighed heavily on my consumerism.

"I'm looking for the Thin Red Line Soundtrack."

"Okay, let me check," his words trailing behind him down the organised aisles of entertainment.

I don't think I've ever experienced such overstimulation in a retail environment before. It occurred to me that I rarely go shopping for anything these days, and the harsh, blue-tinged, overhead fluorescent lighting made my head feel a bit funny. It's not even Christmas and everyone's buying everything in sight. And, everyone is just so... so fashionable. When did he fashion train arrive in station and how did I miss it?

"Sorry mate, but the computer is showing 'deleted' which is a bad thing. I've checked all our other stores and none have it in stock and the supplier is showing as 'deleted'. It's not looking good. You might have to wait until some other manufacturer picks up the album and publishes it again."

"Oh, thanks. That's interesting," I reply. You know that you're maturing when your music tastes are firstly not in stock, and secondly when they aren't manufactured any more.

posted by Kyle @ 17:44