On Buying Music
My first job after moving to Cologne, Germany in 2000 was to work for a record store called Underdog Records, a smallish type of record store that you hardly find anymore today, independently-run for over ten years by my friend Hoffi. It’s probably the best record store in Germany and attracts music & vinyl lovers from around the world.
Working for a record store was the best way to stay updated about new bands and music. You could follow which bands and records were getting traction, we’d promote shows, have music-nerd conversations with customers and get invited to pretty much every show in town.
Fast-forward ten years, a lot has changed. Many record stores like Underdog are gone and only few remain in business. Digital has taken over, people who still buy records mainly buy digital records. (Side note: a while ago, Hoffi mentioned that vinyl was still the main revenue driver and that has been for years. There are still vinly-lovers out there)
Which brings me to the point.
Last week, I finally managed to set up my turntable, amplifier and a pair of new speakers. I moved from Cologne to Munich to Berlin, the stuff still in boxes, listening to music on my iPod, laptop or the web.
Friday, I hopped on a Skype chat with Hoffi and asked him if he could put together a package for me with a set of vinyl I’d like to buy. Of course he said yes so I’m expecting a nice box full of the following records sometime this week.
Elliott Smith - Figure 8
Elliott Smith - From A Basement On The Hill
Elliott Smith - Either/Or
Owen Pallett - Heartland
Daniel Benjamin - There’s A Monster Under Your Deathbed
Get Well Soon - Angry Young Man 7”
Midlake - The Courage Of Others
Kristofer Aström - Sinkadus
(Completing my Elliott Smith collection as you can see)
There is something religious about putting up a record and headphones to listen to a record you cherish, standing up to switch to the B-side and start over again. I forgot how much I love it.
I’m buying more music than ever before and I am happy about it.
