If you are selecting a CD from a new band

Long tracks, group composition and date of release (preferably the early 70's) but their early discography also.

One thing I have learned throughout my long career of record buying is to check out the early albums first because later albums ........ are deceiving.

mirco wrote: A banjo, a violin, and a Cowboy hat. No, wait, that will be country music...

You could hope it is Bela Fleck & The Flecktones with Jon Anderson guesting on vocals..........................

I usually go off the recommendations of other people.I never buy an album based on seeing the product on display.

If you are talking from the point of view that of you have made the decision to buy something by the band already then I usually know what I want through recommmendation.I never buy anything new without listening to it first anyway,so I dont buy off the internet "on spec".

Metropolis wrote: I usually look at the track lengths, i know intellectually that this is not a good indicator of quality, but I just can't help it

Got it in one Metro, totally illogical, but exactly what i do!

I found some interesting bands just by their cover.

I found Pendragon's window of life in a record store, and the cover appealed to me, then I looked at the track lengths, 6 songs in just under the hour, 1 song of 14:40. I never heard of the band, or any of the band-players till then, I listened it in the record-store, already intending to buy it. it helped the sales lady said the music was somewhat similar to Marillion's.

Same goes for my first Arena album, I saw the cover of Pride, then saw on the back the names Pointer/Nolan as writters, and the length of the songs, I emmediatly knew I wanted that album.

Those were two very impulsive purchases that I thank God for every day, two of the best albums in my collection