Music plays a significant role in my life. I’m obsessed with it, more or less. Often I can’t think of work because I have this song on my mind or because I’m planning my next album purchase. My wife and kids suffer because of it - I may spend some time with them, and then suddenly I get this blank stare in my eyes, and my attention is lost to some minor detail over a lyric or a riff I heard earlier on the day.

Sometimes it’s a pain in the ass to constantly be in this state, but mostly it’s just a pure joy. And it’s a good thing that my family is into music as well. Any other arrangement would have been doomed from the start. My wife understands me, if not perfectly, but most of the time she accepts my addiction.

There’s been one big, black cloud, though. I’ve been longing for the opportunity to download DRM-free MP3s badly for a long time now. I’ve been sitting right here waiting, credit card in hand, but the music business just haven’t been willing to oblige.

I’d heard about eMusic, and I read a little bit about it here and there. But my impression judging from the comments I came across somehow led me to believe it was some second-rate mp3-site loaded with pretentious amateur musicians submitting their demos hoping to cash in a few bucks.

I don’t know how that misinterpretation came about, and why I haven’t bothered to check out their catalog until now. I spend most of my waking hours in front of a computer, and I’m always on the lookout for good music. I can’t comprehend how it’s been possible that I didn’t come to visit their site until this week. And the things I’ve missed!

Real artists. Real music. And so cheap! It’s a brilliant site. I instantly found dozens of albums I’d gladly pay full price for. Great jazz with John Coltrane, Modern Jazz Quartet, Miles Davis, plenty of 70s soft rock, a virtual library of cool alternative rock. It’s all I need. And what a liberating experience to avoid the standard celeb gloss style on entering a music site - no Christinas, Britneys or Shakiras to be seen anywhere!

I immediately signed up for the $19.99/month deal for 75 downloads. No cons, really - the simplest choice I’ve ever made. I’m a happy man. If you’re a hopelessly silly music freak like I am, and still haven’t discovered the pleasures of eMusic, go there, NOW! I genuinely and warmly recommend this excellent site for all music lovers.

And yes, I know I’m late for the party. That happens to me sometimes.