Record Store Day – Is Vinyl Really That Great?

 This Saturday record stores across the US and UK are opening early, hosting in-store parties, and generally selling a lot more records than usual – all because of Record Store Day.

Started in 2007, the event was created in the US in order to help independent record stores in their plight against dwindling sales and encourage people to return to the old form of music consumption. The event centres around bands releasing limited edition vinyl records that can only be bought in person during Record Store Day, forcing fans into stores on mass. Previous bands that have contributed include Daft Punk, Metallica, Florence and the Machine, and David Bowie just to name a few.

So what’s so great about vinyl anyway?

Entertainments writer Hannah Barnett doesn’t see the point of them;
“I understand that record players and vinyls produce good quality sound and make you actually listen to the song, but if I were ever to get one it would be merely for the novelty of it. I’m not good enough at making decision to choose just a few special records, and past that space becomes a real issue. Personally, I will always prefer the iPod because of its flexibility, ease of use, and capacity to hold thousands of songs. You can’t take a record player to the IC or on a long train journey!”

Charlie Mayer on the other hand appreciates their size;

“These days, music artwork is just that tiny little square in the corner of your Spotify window. No wonder no one seems to put any effort into making great covers anymore. One of the best things about vinyl is that it blows up the canvas and lets artists be, well, artists – for better or worse.”

Personally I think it comes down to how much you like listening to music. Flicking through itunes is fine but if you want to fully appreciate a song, much like with a good cup of tea, you have to sit down and consume it properly – without a skip button.

Words by Jamie Doherty