We've pouring one out for the local record store for awhile now. The systematic death of these businesses as we once knew them -- prolific, independent, crucial to building a sweet collection, and full of solid (or contentious) new release picks from the types behind the raised counter -- isn't new news. It still stinks; it's just not new. So, rather than dwelling again on the sickness, Michael Gerbrandt digs into the sweetness. Over at Popmatters, he suggests that what we're losing, besides the stores themselves, is tactile quality and pride of purchase, two things common to the record store experience that barely surface with in a conversation that involves terms like "streaming music" and "digital download." "In years to come," Gerbrandt writes, "I don’t expect my kids to go through my CD collection band by band listening to everything. But perhaps when they find a Throwing Muses CD beside a Conway Twitty disc, something will hopefully spark in them to listen to both. It’s a combination of music I’m pretty sure Last.fm won’t be coming up with anytime soon." [Via LHB]
Popmatters remembers the dearly departed record collection
We've pouring one out for the local record store for awhile now. The systematic death of these businesses as we once knew them -- prolific, independent, crucial to building a sweet collection, and full of solid (or contentious) new release picks from the types behind the raised counter -- isn't new news. It still stinks; it's just not new. So, rather than dwelling again on the sickness, Michael Gerbrandt digs into the sweetness. Over at Popmatters, he suggests that what we're losing, besides the stores themselves, is tactile quality and pride of purchase, two things common to the record store experience that barely surface with in a conversation that involves terms like "streaming music" and "digital download." "In years to come," Gerbrandt writes, "I don’t expect my kids to go through my CD collection band by band listening to everything. But perhaps when they find a Throwing Muses CD beside a Conway Twitty disc, something will hopefully spark in them to listen to both. It’s a combination of music I’m pretty sure Last.fm won’t be coming up with anytime soon." [Via LHB]
Posted in:
VINYL
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3 Responses
October 1, 2008 at 3:57 p.m.
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In fairness, I do think once recommendation technology gets strong enough, the thrill of searching for records will be transmitted online. I think worshipping looking through CD's is a bit ridiculous, because as recently as 20 years ago vinyl advocates were calling the CD the downfall of music. If the music industry had seen its demise as often as it was predicted, it would have ended in 1938. But still, there is a certain thrill to the vibe of a store. I think in 10 years, however, people in their 20s will barely remember that vibe. |
October 1, 2008 at 5:11 p.m.
| IkeTurnerHitsHard |
I worked at pretty dope music store in Charlotte, NC, for a while. It was independent and we could order items from even the smallest labels imaginable. I crushed paychecks there just so I could have a sick-ass music collection. The guys that worked in the Used section, where they buy records and cd's, those guys got exposed to A LOT of different stuff. If it wasn't for that store, my 8 yr. old niece would have NEVER asked me to listen to Boards of Canada, Yesterday's New Quintet, or Shonen Knife. Sadly, that store got bought out. I was used to seeing stuff from Diplo, The Finches, and Flaming Lips showcased on the New Releases. Last time I went in there, Avril Lavigne posters were everywhere and they were having a dvd "blowout." A good record store always has tales to tell. I miss that stuff. |
This is exactly what my master's thesis (i know, i know) was about! It's nice to see that other people still really care about these issues as well.