There was a time when I’d walk into a music store and walk out with four or five CDs every time. No more.

It’s not that I can’t find good music. I can. Lots of it. Tonight I looked at Nick Cave, Nick Drake, Townes Van Zandt, Elvis Costello, Dwight Yoakam, Big Star, Big Sandy and Tom Russell. I would have bought all of them if I won the lottery recently.

And it seems like that’s what you need to do if you want to buy music these days. I mean, $17.99 for a CD? Christ, I’ve heard of hookers who come cheaper.

Maybe I’m spoiled. I’m used to buying used LPs for a buck a piece, used CDs for no more than $8, Columbia House specials, Amazon sales and free review-copy albums. Put a price on a CD of more than $10 and you get me thinking about all the music I’ve got at home that I’ve already paid for — more good stuff than I have time to listen to as it is, and more free and low-price stuff floating in all the time.

I just won’t pay those kinds of prices any more. Especially when I can get something like this for only $12.60.