Thanks so much for getting the word out. My husband and his best friend run a record store, and while they do have a loyal following of clients, the big box stores and deals made between artists and certain outlets have really hurt...no way to compete. But there are thousands of albums, and c.d.'s that those stores will never even know about, and many local bands our store helps support.

Record Store Day!!!! I love it. Yes, places I do hang out at. The beauty of it is that vinyl will remain, and is making a comeback! The CD may lose out to downloading, but vinyl is the superior audio quality. Shall never die.

rock on,
DM

Thanks for recognizing National Record Store Day Mark. I cut my musical teeth in retail, managing a number of local record stores in the eighties and nineties, before finally opening my own shop in the late nineties. Unfortunately, a combination of the big box retailers, low margins, and the internet pretty much doomed it to failure.

If you love music, get out and support your local indie record store today. Hell, do it every day. Because every day should be National Record Store Day.

Thanx again for this Mark.

-Glen

Thanks for the reminder, Mark. Way back when I stumbled into working in and running record stores, (music and records being a personal passion that, along with books later on, translated into the only kind retail work I could fathom doing)-- I would've never thought there could be a subsitute for the sheer physicality of handling records and browsing in a store and, as you mention, the communal nature between other customers and clerks.

Happy Record Store Day!

Keep fighting the good fight!

I still frequent my local record store, but the big box guys and the internet is still just too tempting. Days like this remind you to support the underdogs.

*Walks into Saleski's Vinyl Shop*

I miss'em too(record shops)... Some new music news:

Check out Blind Melon's latest

The new singer is pretty damn good & they seem to have gained an interesting retro-like edge.

the Record Store must remain. It would be much the same as not having live music venues anymore. Record Stores are a point of scene creation and scene activity.

The internet does not cut it on that level. You see, everyone is all thinking that the future is in downloading. Don't worry. In time it will become the most boring, anti-substance way to listen to music.

Give it time. The downloading world cannot live too long as is. It is lacking too many of the instrumnts needed for social movement. That is what art/music scenes are all about.

Record stores. It is your job to create a scene. One thing here in Seattle (your town also)is the 'in store' performances by artists you would think are too big for that. anyway, give people a reason to hang out at your store.

That is something big box stores or the internet cannot do. Record stores are basically a form of art gallery and art museum. Can't sell a painting without a gallery. Sure, try that on the internet! Unless you are into hotel paintings overstock....

DM

Here we go again...

The internet does not cut it on that level. You see, everyone is all thinking that the future is in downloading. Don't worry. In time it will
become the most boring, anti-substance way to listen to music.

So, let me ask you this:
With Internet 2 on the horizon with blazing speeds that will allow you to download(roughly)4.5Gb in about 5 minutes and the fact that people can compress music(flac,ape)without losing information(quality)thus exceeding what the physical medium,CD, has done for the music industry along with the possibilty of actually recording at the spectrum of analog,digitally and all of this while being connected with the world instantly as opposed to just your neighborhood not mentioning the fact that computers will soon be used without keyboards and a mouse leaving all the work to your body & vocal language of choice thus making it easier to communicate via A/V with someone in Japan,again, Instantaneously ..

-How are you going to be able to cover these growing needs with brick & mortar?

-Why should concert venues with their ridiculous over-pricing stay in business?

-Why should I pay exorbitant prices for CDs along with either a convenience mark-up(CD Shops) or shipping to my home just to find out that the CD sucks & I cannot return it?

Ultimately, your POV is out of date. Grasping on for dear life because you are afraid of real progress & change (unlike the f*cking useless change that our presidential candidates blow hot air about). No one needs to waste time,energy & money (except at the gym) to find the entertainment that really suits their wants & needs....

*one more thing*- I remember when people used to say the same thing about Fiber Optics & High Definition TV...

Brian, nice try again, the very basic point of it all overlooked. I guess that is the nature of the overhyped technically obsessive brain.

Music? Art is being sold. Comment #9 you quoted a significant point. Yet it does not register in a mind like yours. I guess your brain does not have matching software. We are Devo....

Change, schmange. It is all the same deal. The internet is merely another way to spend money. And right now the artists (and business) are in a position to get ripped off big time by it all. that is why the industry is in restructuring right now.

You can speak of all these technological advancements, but so what? Technological advancements have always existed in the music industry before the computer even existed. It is just a case of channeling things to the advantage of the artists.

Anyway, you seem to be missing the point of why it all exists.

DM

For some of us, there was a time when the buying part of getting new music was an enjoyable part of the experience. Maybe it's an outdated, romantic notion but it did exist for some of us.

There are a lot of new ways to acquire music these days and I like some of them. I love my iPod. I love some of the advantages of digital. I like the cheap prices of the Big Box retailers. I like the generally reasonable prices and great selection of some of the online establishments. For me -- and I think what some of these other folks are saying -- is none of them delivery the same level of enjoyment for us that the "old" way did.

Brian, you're free not to participate or agree. Don't mind us anti-progress folks. It's probably best you don't follow us to the indie store. I think you'd get impatient with the clerk when he totals up the bill using his abacus.

i don't have any problem with music via the internet. it's just that for me the transaction is lacking.

online browsing, which is how i've acquired a significant percentage of my collection, leave a lot to be desired.

also well away of the high rez/higher bandwidth issues...just don't really care.

Brian is right - once the issues of bandwidth are cleared up, most real music fans' issues with downloading will also be cleared up, aside from the pesky issue of how to download the tangibility of actual records and CDs. But will the infrastructure to distribute the good stuff we all look for exist, or will it have been crushed and destroyed by what's going on now with the music business?

That said, I sadly couldn't make it out to any stores on Record Store Day, being laid up with my stupid foot and all. Couldn't risk getting stepped on, which would have been a serious gamble. I've made sure to support locals once a week or so prior to this, however, and will resume supporting them in a few weeks when I'm back on my feet (and able to drive myself to one - the first lady seriously does not enjoy my extended browsing sessions, so they're out until I'm independent again.) I'm already suffering the serious "browsing joneses" after one week. I can't imagine what this is going to be like in, say, a few more weeks. I may not make it. Say some prayers for me, everyone.

if anybody's interested, i also wrote a bit about this topic for jazz.com

I enjoyed this story thoroughly. I've watched as nearly every local music shop has gone out of business over the past several years (although, in New Orleans, Hurricane Katrina had a lot to do with that). There's still two stores around putting up a fight, but I won't be surprised if they're not open in a few years.

My point made a lot more sense before I hacked it all in trying to make it more concise. I apologize - I'll make my point again in a much better way: the sonics of downloads have always been the issue, and, yes, once the download speeds are no longer a part of the problem, that will be cleared up, but that's only one part of the equation for most of us. I wouldn't have five big racks of CDs if all I cared about was how nice music sounded. I want the physical media - CDs, the booklets of credits, liner notes, artwork, etc. - that goes along with them. Yes, it's a obsession of some kind, I guess - but what isn't? Somehow it's okay to obsess about sports or politics now, even film, but not music. I don't get it, and I'll never submit to the reasoning that being a music lover is somehow childish while dudes get upset over other dudes who chase balls.

Downloads are pretty depressing - files with . . . what? Audio with no reference materials, or maybe a PDF file or URL? That does not interest me (save for live material as from DGM Live. Live stuff doesn't need all that, never has because of the bootleg culture.) We're seeing a kind of an art come to an end here, and an entire way of life around it. I don't get the appeal of a life filled with files. And I don't get why people are so excited and happy to proclaim physical media dead. How happy will everyone be when they finally figure out just how crappy those 99 cent Itunes files sound on their big surround systems . . . and that's all they have? I'll be fine here - I'll have my CDs that I can go back to for good source material.

Anyway, you seem to be missing the point of why it all exists.

Oh..The Great DM, please explain why the advances in computer technology have progressed so fast. PLEASE?! Because I just don't seem to grasp the underlying meaning to "it" all...

If you're saying that the internet & computers progressed in the name of the RIAA then you are way off...

How happy will everyone be when they finally figure out just how crappy those 99 cent Itunes files sound on their big surround systems . . . and that's all they have? I'll be fine here - I'll have my CDs that I can go back to for good source material.

Tom, it doesn't take Internet 2 to d/l flac or ape files. And, musicians are starting to offer their material in those formats. So, I can understand why you want the hardcopy because I still purchase the "hard to find" music on CD but anybody with a real working sense of the internet & a true love for music isn't d/l'ing sh!t from iTunes anymore.

I guess I never had the attachment to purchasing physical materials. It's just so much easier working with CD quality music (and higher) on my computer & Zune.

It's probably best you don't follow us to the indie store. I think you'd get impatient with the clerk when he totals up the bill using his abacus.

I wouldn't mind soo much if that "Indie" dude had a clue about the latest in metal from Norway & didn't want to charge me $17.99 because it was an import. I remember those "Indie" dudes from my day..."What? You don't want the new Nirvana album, Man, Metal is Dead"...*HaHa! Kurt NoBrain is Dead! F*cking Jerkoffs!

Actually, I'd be quite impressed if that brain dead a$$clown knew what an abacus was never mind how to use one efficiently.

Abacus? Isn't that some Genesis album?

-Glen

Brian, if everyone was downloading FLACs there would be a tremendous problem with the internet, and especially if non-lossy hi-rez and surround formats were introduced into mainstream downloads, most, if not all, cable systems would come to a screeching halt.

As to the rest of "the music experience," let me put it to you a different way, Brian: you can have huge, beautiful scans of artworks at tremendous resolutions to view on your computer, TV, whatever, or you can have beautiful prints on expensive papers in nice frames that you can admire upon your wall. They both achieve the same purpose - you can see the artwork - but one is distinctly different from the other. You can appreciate both for their artistic qualities and yet . . . the physical print is going to have that something extra. There's going to be an attachment to the beautiful framed print that the file is not going to have for people. Do you get what I mean?

Don't take me for being anti-internet. I'm not - I buy a lot of stuff off the internet. And I will be interested when high-quality material all we have to purchase in terms of downloads (when mp3s and others of their ilk are not even a choice) and I'm sure I'll be a customer. But it won't be the same. There isn't a day that goes by that I don't pick up a CD and thumb through the the book. I've done the equivalent online and it's just devoid of enjoyment - it's just research, rather than involving myself in the full aspect of the album. Maybe that's a distinction only those of us who lived with music in this format make, maybe younger people who are living with downloads as their norm are never going to get it. But I can bet that someday, years from now, kids will be looking at CD and vinyl collections like many of those above me have and wishing that they'd gotten to experience that. I know from the little vinyl buying I've done that opening that big package is pretty damned cool - a CD is nothing like that 12" square of cardboard with all the liner notes, artwork, etc. Imagine what it's going to be like for kids who grew up on simple files?

You're not attached to the physical, and that's fine, but I think you're also on a different level, which is something I've noticed from musicians - they seem to view things differently when they're on the other end, which is unfortunate. A lot of them either forgot or never knew what it was like to simply be a fan. Maybe try not to look at everything with such jaded cynicism and see why people get swept up in the physical part of music.

dominque sez:
There's still two stores around putting up a fight, but I won't be surprised if they're not open in a few years.

so dominique is probably the only person in this conversation young enough to have the angle about whether kids will care about the lousy sound of mp3s.

do think it'll happen dominique?

Tom... Your comment says alot about what you don't know. Unfortunately,the problem here in the US even going back to the days of vinyl is that the supposed "music fan" cares more about the look & the packaging then about the music & it's even more evident in today's mainstream. I used to love looking at record covers & CD booklets(especially Maiden - trying to find the artist's symbol on every "Eddie" drawing) but what started happening was that I began learning more about composition & instruments. I eventually started to play drums when I was 10y/o.
I also learned that 80%(imo)of the population doesn't analyze music past the "entertainment" factor. I also realize that what sold people on CD technology doesn't really matter to that 80%(again,imo). So, to keep this comment within bounds of a reply to your comment, I will say this:

Holding onto the physical aspect of art or music as a "fan" does not make the experience any better or any worse. It just does not matter! Simple files won't be so simple when all of this supposedly matters by your standards. Kids won't be listening to Mp3(lame) or viewing little pdf's at the resolution of a 16-bit nintendo. The mere fact that you think the internet would freeze due to lossless file d/l'ing shows you're not educated about the technology at hand especially with faster bit-rate packages coming down in price. Try these artists/sites:

www.nugs.net
www.livemetallica.com
ghosts.nin.com/main/home
mindawn.com/index.php

Ultimately, the audio experience is what's important! I'm not jaded... I'm just tired of the uneducated & untalented hacks that are in control of the industry here in the US!! AND..Even if they are educated about the future of the music industry their only concern is making a buck!

Holding onto the physical aspect of art or music as a "fan" does not make the experience any better or any worse. It just does not matter!

to you. it matters to some of us.

and as far as audio quality goes, most people just dont' care, if they ever did at all.

to you. it matters to some of us.

and as far as audio quality goes, most people just dont' care, if they ever did at all.

If that was the case ,Mark, then we'd still have 12" Vinyl in mass production & the CD would have never existed. DVD-A & SACD would've never been fathomable and A/V Electronic companies would not invent better & more precise speaker & component technology. The fact of the matter is, artwork on any cover whether it be CD,Cassette or Vinyl is not the main focus nor really that important...Period

more vinyl was sold last year that sacd.

sacd never took off because only a tiny portion of the buy public cares about good sound.

and let's be clear here...i'm not saying that i don't care about sound, just that folks who do are in the minority.

I love the idea of independent record shops, but I have to admit I don't really frequent them.

When I was in high school there was this great little shop I used to go to all the time. The owner was this cool old dude who used to hold stuff back for me, loan me a few bucks when I was down and let me hang around his shop for ages just chatting.

But since then I haven't had that experience. I guess that stems from moving around from state to state and country to country that I haven't been able to develop that sort of relationship with a shop. Now and again I will venture into a local place, but half the time they don't carry what I want, their prices are more than I want to pay and the kid behind the counter doesn't seem to care if I'm there. I suppose if I went more I might develop the kind of relationship that Mark mentions, but it honestly has never really seemed worth it.

I download most of my music now. I like the physical media too. I like the artwork and the linter notes. But not usually enough to spend 18 bucks on it.

I like good sound quality too, but I still download lots of mp3s. Honestly I don't have the machinery to make up the difference. Currently I listen through my iPod either through buds or some cheap speakers I bought at Carefour. I knew I'd only be here for a year or two and I simply wasn't gonna throw down big cash on souped up speakers.

Back home my speakers aren't that much better. I've simply never been able to afford to spend hundreds or thousands of dollars on a system. I've never been settled enough either.

Maybe someday I'll be able too. Maybe then I'll regret the inferior quality mp3s I own.

Does that make me an inferior music fan? Does that kick me out of the cool kids sandbox? I still love music. I spend the bulk of my life obsessing over it.

I understand folks wishing the brick and mortar stores would stick around. I dig on the feelings Mark just wrote about. They just don't really belong to me anymore.

sacd never took off because only a tiny portion of the buy public cares about good sound.

Man..Are you kidding? Where do you get your info?

SACD never took off because of DVD-A for a number of reasons but maybe you should do some research.

Most of the public doesn't care about good sound because they haven't heard the difference for themselves. It's not because they can't hear it or they don't care. Most of your Mp3 players are now offering flac,wma(lossless)& aac(lossless) and have been for awhile.

Like DVD-A took off. Neither took off because of buyer apathy. The public doesn't care, Brian. They just plain don't. I don't know anyone in real life who actually gives a dump about sound quality. That I can only find a small handful of people on the internet who care enough to argue about things such as this says it all - we are in the extreme minority.

SACD is alive, by the way - several labels are still producing new titles, and Mobile Fidelity just started producing titles in SACD. Those who care about the difference in sound quality already know.

You know, I'm tired of being told by you that I'm an idiot for any opinion I express - do you ever get the feeling that people are getting really tired of you jumping all over them every damned time they try to have a civil conversation on Blogcritics? Because it is so tiring. Jesus, man, it gets OLD.

You know, I'm tired of being told by you that I'm an idiot for any opinion I express...

Tom?? When did I EVER call you an idiot?!?!

I don't call people names on this board..I JUST DON"T!!!
Why should I stop posting passionate comments about music & technology on blogcritics just because YOU(nobody else) get insensitive about someone disagreeing with your remarks & comments?!


SACD is alive, by the way

And sure enough, it will lose that format war against DVD-A...There you go! I'm calling it!

SACD only has any real distinction in sound in the lower frequencies compared to PCM(CD)other than the surround sound mix. SACD in the high frequency range is quite mediocre, even compared to a good CD-system one-bit DAC, and of course clearly inferior to a CD-player with a real multi-bit converter.
On the contrary, DVD-A is in theory 250 times better than the CD-system at all frequencies!
AND, it includes artwork,lyrics & linear notes on the actual DVD.

Give me a break. If people cared about so much about audio quality, they wouldn't listen to music on AM.

And sound quality wasn't the only reason CDs took off. They are more durable, are portable, and take up less room at home and in the stores. None of which has to do with sound quality.

You can be passionate all you want, but it doesn't give you any extra insight as your comments bare out.

This whole thread has gotten really stupid. Let the smoke clear. In a few years we'll see who is eating their words. I know that my words will stand.

geez,
DM

I don't think there's any smoke to clear - the majority of us just expressed a love of the physical, tangible side of music, and someone else rampaged us for caring about things, which is just an utterly ridiculous thing to attack people about. I would love to see this person's home - I am hoping his house is devoid of all posters, paintings, sculptures, books, and especially CDs and DVDs, since all are so ridiculous and so easily duplicable in the digital medium.

As for SACD vs. DVD-A, who gives a dump? I simply stated that SACD is alive and doing pretty well, all things considered, and those who care already know, or should have, if they truly cared. It's not like HDDVD vs. Blu-Ray - one doesn't have to win. They can and will coexist side by side. Given the choice, I'll take whatever I can use in a car without having to install any aftermarket players, thanks. (Hybrid SACD, I know.) But, overall, I don't care. CDs suit me fine.

"In a few years we'll see who is eating their words. I know that my words will stand."

Then apparently we don't need to wait a few years.

"If people cared so much about audio quality, they wouldn't listen to music on AM".

Listen to music as their main source on AM? Who does that anymore? Only those who only have access to AM. AM now comes in stereo. That is a technical advancement. The computer is merely a glorified transistor radio.

Yeah, give it a few years for the smoke to clear. It will take a while for something to take control of the situation.

DM.

and someone else rampaged us for caring about things, which is just an utterly ridiculous thing to attack people about...

Really,Tom... You definitely have lost it. I don't see anywhere on this thread where I have "rampaged" anyone who cared about things.

Holy Jebus, forgive me for not going along with the glorified nodding session in this thread. And just an FYI... I started my comments in a positive manner about the return of Blind Melon but no one cared to comment on that. I personally think that you guys do the same thing. You look for the comments that I make that don't agree with your opinion 100% and try to spin it like I'm all jaded & negative. I'll move on... I don't wanna upset the ladies.

I don't wanna upset the ladies.

very classy.

oh, and not at all negative either!

and sorry, i forgot about the Blind Melon comment, and meant to say that i don't think i've ever heard one of their tunes outside of "No Rain". i never really liked that song and did no further investigations.

Yea.. I really didn't like their first album. Maybe just a few songs and they weren't the hits. This new album is pretty cool because it sounds,to me, like they aren't trying to please everyone or be the next "big thing".

does the rest of the album with "No Rain" on it (i'm assuming it's on the first one?) sound a lot different than that song?

If I remember correctly, the other songs were more the jam band type of songs & they had some good energy. "No Rain" was definitely NOT a song I liked.
But, you should check out the rest of the album. I may have not liked it but I don't think it got the credit it deserved for being different. Though it did get lumped in with the "Alternative" crap of its time...That's the tragedy.