Back to the future: vinyl
offers new spin on music
by Robin Scott
Are records making a comeback?
Or have they never gone away? It
seems that records never really fell
out of style, but were merely being
pushed to the back of the mainstream
listener’s mind due to technological
updates.
It appears tha t younger genera
tions still enjoy vinyl records even
though they d id n ’t grow up w ith
them. The overall feeling they have
towards records is that they like the
feel of vinyl in their hands, the look of
the artwork on the sleeve and know
ing they are listening to that whole
album instead of listening to only one
song at a time, or skipping through
to certain singles.
For some, listening to vinyl is an
experience more than just listening
to music. It’s not just something there
in the background, it surrounds their
whole world.
“You listen to it when you’re in any
sort of mood and the graininess of
photo by Matt R ow ning
People wait In line outside Music Millennium on 30th and Burnside for Record Store Day.
the record takes you away to another
world," Corey Herron said.
“You can hear the instruments bet
ter,” Marissa Saban said.
For some, buying rare albums on
vinyl is the draw.
“For me it’s kind of fun to try and
find a copy that not as many people
will have,” John Fenton said.
Robbie Smith explained that most
people who enjoy vinyl buy it as often
as they can. If a band they like is put
ting out a new album but only a few
will be pressed onto vinyl, they will
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pay that extra few dollars to get the
album on vinyl, instead of getting the
instant gratification of downloading
straight to their phone or iPod.
Not only do people purchase new
records, but many go to th rift shops,
trade shows and used record stores
searching for the perfect records.
“I like to find them in and out of
town thrift shops, oddity shops, what
have you," said Jakob Grimm.
Some buy albums after they see a
band live and will purchase them at
the show.
Vinyl is not a lost medium; vinyl
never went anywhere, but was merely
overshadowed by MP3s with this new,
younger generation.
Check out CCC student
Matt Rowning’s story on his
record store experience on:
theclackamasprint.com