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Do you still shop for records?

Posted at 8:58 PM on April 15, 2009 by Mark Wheat (5 Comments)

All week we're playing vinyl to help celebrate record stores, coming up on Saturday. Shops all over the world are trying desperately to stay alive. Rough Trade is one of my faves from the old country. But some journalists from the UK's NME are questionning the use for these shops now that we can distribute music in so many more efficient ways.

The Smiths "Headmaster's Ritual" was the newly re-issued 7" that we played tonight. They always did cool covers on their singles. That's one of the reasons I still like to collect records, do you? Post your fave reasons for shopping and celebrate on Saturday!

Comments (5)

I definitely still shop for records. I'm in Cheapo or Electric Fetus at least once every couple weeks. I'm not sure what I would do if they weren't there.

Posted by Nick | April 16, 2009 9:10 AM

Records are easily the best format. They carry more weight, more beauty and they simply sound the best. When I listen to records I usually sit and look at/read the cover/inner-sleeve. I rarely do that when I put on a CD. and, of course never with the sorely-lacking download. The process of thumbing through records at the store is also a huge part of the pleasure; even the dusty fingers one gets rifling through the used bins.

Posted by wellst | April 16, 2009 9:44 AM

I love vinyl! I found a lot of early Elvis Costello albums at Half Price Books in Maplewood a few years ago. I wish more albums were available in vinyl. I love hearing all the snap, crackle, and pops in the music. We get a bit too plugged into things and tune out the rest of the world. Vinyl is a nice way to slow down and get back our musical roots.

Posted by Amy | April 16, 2009 9:49 AM

I primarily purchase vinyl now. Most new artists are bundling an MP3 download or CD with the record, so it makes sense as an audiophile to purchase vinyl. Being a Gen Xer, our generation was really the last one that saw mass marketed mainstream vinyl in retail stores, so there is a sense of nostalgia in it for me.
I appreciate the sensory portion of vinyl, the large format of the sleeve, the art, the feel of the vinyl, and the warmth of the sound it produces. You really miss all of those aspects with a CD or music download. I feel more connected to the artist through vinyl. Best yet, no one questions whether you pirated it or not...it's vinyl!

Posted by Chris Goyette | April 16, 2009 12:44 PM

I finally found a record player this week! I have been searching high and low and found one at a thrift store. I have been collecting vinyls for a bit now, so I'm pretty excited that I can actually listen to them now. I find that Cheapo, Half Price Books, and thrift stores are the best places to find good vinyl.

Posted by Drew Gneiser | April 16, 2009 9:54 PM

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