by Carrie Brownstein

The New York Times: On the Heels of Monitor Mix

Not that writing about record stores is a new topic, but I thought it was interesting that after a fairly interesting discussion this week here at MM, none other than The New York Times wrote a seemingly random article about vinyl, specifically the Princeton Record Exchange.

Readers of the MM comments section will note that Antony mentioned the Princeton Record Exchange yesterday.

Coincidence? Well, yes, probably.

Anyhow, check out the completely unrelated (or is it?) article in The NY Times here.

Tags: NY TIMES VS. MONITOR MIX

11:54 AM ET | 04-10-2008 | permalink

Comments (Send a comment)

Well I might add the www.soundopinions.org show Saturday was about audio quality with a heavy emphasis on vinyl.

Sent by Steve | 12:50 PM ET | 04-10-2008

This just strengthens my belief that the death of the album is a myth. People come into Plan 9 looking for the new single by so-and-so, and we tell them that it's only available online. They look at us like we're nuts, because they expect us to have everything. Of course consumers are going to buy their music online if that's the only place you release it. Music is going digital because they're ramming it down our throats. People still want to buy their albums. Thank you so much for mentioning indie record stores. More people would come out if they knew we still existed.

Sent by Nick L. | 2:13 PM ET | 04-10-2008

tangible vs. tactile
& bicoastal parallels.

Sent by Zia | 6:04 PM ET | 04-10-2008

I work for the newspaper in Lake Havasu City and I just wrote an article on vinyl and our local record store too. Must be the hot thing right now.

Sent by Luke | 6:21 PM ET | 04-10-2008

It definitely won't "save the music industry" but I believe a good way to sell music is to sell vinyl and allow the user to get a legal high quality download of the the album with it.

There you add collectibility to the disposable nature of the industry. What a concept.

Sent by Oli | 8:24 PM ET | 04-10-2008

I schlep down to the PRE about once a month from my central Jersey apartment. It is a pretty fascinating place to browse, but I've always found the clerks that work there to be epitome of snobbishness. If you give someone at the counter a quiet hello upon entering, you're likely to get a smirk in return, and a poorly hidden haughty sniff when they ring your choices up for purchase (you have to hand your choices up to them like you are a supplicant in the temple of music.) Be that as it may, it is the Mecca for bin scavenging in this area, so I just grin and bear it. Regardless of how arrogant the crew may be, there is a certain joy of flipping through records and CD's with other music fans that online shopping just can't replace.

Sent by Tim | 10:35 PM ET | 04-10-2008

PREX! A record store at which I have shopped in the past and, at some point in the near future, will shop again! I comment to indicate my otherwise contentless approval of this blog, that article, and the aforementioned exchange. (Athough for those of us more interested in cee dees than vinyl, the savings are still generally just modest, depending on what you're seeking.)

Sent by Yossarian | 2:16 AM ET | 04-11-2008

Since I live and work nearby, I go to Prex quite often and have been a customer for years. The best thing you can do is not talk to the staff-just look for your music, take all the time you need, but do not ask them a question. Like Tim said, most of the employees are pretty unfriendly, though a few of the newer guys treat you with respect.

Sent by jayme | 9:11 AM ET | 04-11-2008

You get 'tude? Politely ask for a blank sheet of paper, describe the incident and the clerk and send it by mail--so it'd be a federal crime to f*** w/ it--to manager and owner alike, and that shit'll evaportate like kerosene on a hot summer day.

Sent by nsf | 4:00 PM ET | 04-11-2008

See also: Jan, 10 Time Magazine article "Vinyl Gets It's Groove Back." It's a good thing these kids are only listening to Vampire Weekend, The Mars Volta, and The Faint. My Jesus and Mary Chain records are safe, for now....

Sent by Chad | 4:05 PM ET | 04-11-2008

Michael Stipe also mentioned the resurgence of vinyl and albums in general on Fresh Air this week. Viva la vinyl!

Sent by Sam | 9:08 PM ET | 04-11-2008

Oh Please, 'poorly hidden haughty sniff when they ring your choices up for purchase' do you really think they care what you buy or, more to the point, even notice. Talk about haughty--do you think everyone is so interested in you as to note AND comment?

The clerks are just fine--they ignore me, I ignore them and all of us are happy.

Sent by Cynthia | 3:11 PM ET | 04-16-2008

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Carrie Brownstein

Carrie Brownstein is a writer and musician. She was a member of the critically acclaimed rock band Sleater-Kinney. Her writing has appeared in 'The New York Times,' 'The Believer,' 'Pitchfork,' and various book anthologies on music and culture. Read Carrie's F.A.Q.

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