As a music enthusiast, I always debate whether I should fully commit to my music obsession and purchase a record player, or if my iTunes purchases played over the car stereo or my computer speakers are satisfying enough.
There’s something really hipster-ish and cool about having a record player and records, like it’s proof that says you’re really committed…or at least that’s what it says to me. That imperfect, static sound that emanates off the player when the needle glides across the shiny vinyl signifies to me that you’ve really achieved something. It indicates that you are truly dedicated to the sound of the music and not just one piece of a band, but the entirety of an album you may find particularly awesome.
If you do decide to commit, though, where do you start? Do you go hunt down the old, classic albums at thrift stores and music shops, looking for special editions and rare finds? Or do you start with the new stuff that maybe you are listening to now, that might be a tad bit simpler to find in stores like Urban Outfitters?
Many bands have vinyl records, regardless of if they were around when that was the only way of recording and listening to music there was or not. See, even bands view records as a way to make something profound out of their musical accomplishments. No exception to this trend of releasing vinyl records for the true hipster to enjoy is Fall Out Boy.
Illinois pop-punk band Fall Out Boy has recently released their album, “From Under the Cork Tree,” on vinyl according to Alternative Press on Monday.
The album was originally released in 2005, and is now available on a translucent maroon vinyl. It is limited to 1,500 copies for those serious music enthusiasts who snatch it first. This vinyl also includes five songs from the “Black Clouds and Underdogs” version of the album.
If you’re a fan of Fall Out Boy and want to believe in those reunion rumors through your record player, despite guitarist Joe Trohman’s tweet stating it was not going to happen, you can order the vinyl through Hot Topic.
But wait, from the time I read the news on Alternative Press to the time I wrote this up, the vinyls are already SOLD OUT on Hot Topic’s website.
What do you think? Do record players and vinyls signify a true passion for music, or are they just a thing of the past?
This article appears in Jan 24-30, 2013.
If you listen to music on your computer and car stereo only I hardly think you can call
your self a music enthusiast. Go out and buy your self a real 2 channel amp and some
shit kicken speakers and a turn table. Listen to them for 25 years, then come back and
write an article on music, other wise stop wasting our time. Thank,s Doug.
Being an music enthusiast doesn’t necessarily mean that you have to be a snob about someone else who claims to be but doesn’t meet your standards. For all we know, the writer of this piece may own a few cds or cassette tapes; maybe the stereo in her car has kickin’ speakers. (I will not ever label speakers as shit kicken [sic] because that to me implies that you are a fan of Country & Western music, which for the most part I am not; especially what passes for contemporary mainstream C & W music.) Maybe she’s been into music as early as she can remember.
Hell, I’m a music enthusiast and I haven’t owned a turntable in over 20 years; I still purchase vinyl as collector’s items though. I understand the argument supporting their better sound quality & larger artwork, but that was never enough to make me stay committed. To me, vinyl was always sort of a hassle. You couldn’t play records in your car and I always worried about playing the damn things too much & possibly damaging the grooves. Plus, when all new vinyl releases became expensive, hard to find (pre-internet boom) limited-edition imports in the early ’90s, it made economical as well as practical sense to switch over to the compact disc.
I myself am a snob in certain ways though. I have never downloaded a song and probably never will. If the artist cannot make the effort to release their recordings on a viable media format, then the music can’t be all that great as far as I’m concerned. If I cannot hold their products in my hands, then I will not bother to spend my money on these bands!
I also find it strange that there are cassette only releases/music labels, this tells me that the people involved in this aren’t too concerned that the music reach a wide audience, which should be the only goal a music artist/label should have. The artist/label may think they’re making a statement about how underground, trendy and/or unconventional they are, but all I’m seeing is a group of people who are going to have trouble making even the smallest amounts of money. As an artist or label I do believe that you should never sacrifice your visions, but this concept should never apply to the format that the music is presented on. This is a very strange concept, considering these artists/labels may assume that most people who never even owned a cassette deck would all of a sudden go out and purchase one because of music they like being released as cassette only products. What’s next, reel-to-reel & 8-track only releases? Cookooo!
I think it’s cool that Megan is expanding her horizons by considering the purchase of music media. I would highly suggest starting with cds though if she hasn’t already and I would also suggest starting with artists that have more depth and talent than (ACK!) Fall Out Boy. Okay, maybe there is a connection between that enthusiast & snob thing. Thanks for reading.