Put a record on

Slate.com, an excellent political and social commentary blog, dedicated one of their daily photo journals to the (almost) long-lost record store. Our generation and the generation before us have all but put out record stores, favoring digital music and cds before that. Our generation prefers ipods because of their convenience and portability. I like my ipod, but downloading music instantly doesn't quite have the same effect as thumbing through stacks of old records.

I remember when I first heard Paul Simon's Graceland on record. It was the spring of 2008 and I was sitting outside in a Burlington yard, having dinner with friends. The sound was robust and beautiful and did proper justice to Simon's terrific album. The sound that resonates is what sets records apart from your computers and ipod docks; records recreate an unadulterated sound that unique to records. Admittedly, listening to records is about the whole experience. There is something very charming about placing the needle on the grooved record and the crackling noise the record makes as it begins to spin.

Interestingly enough, the generation that killed the radio star, is also bringing records back. Our generation is incredibly nostalgic, even for things that we didn't experience the first time around, like records. Luckily, in Burlington, records are not hard to come by. Burlington has an abundance of music and thrift stores, most that sell records.
Burlington Records, on Bank Street opened last spring and sells records and record players (there is also an awesome thrift store on the second floor). If you're looking for cds, don't bother: Burlington Records sells records exclusively. Pure Pop, on N. Winooksi (at College Street), has older records and a great collection of newer music released on vinyl. Pure Pop also has an huge selection of new and used cds. Downtown Discs on College Street also sells cds (mostly used) and also has a small collection of records. Off the beaten path is Speaking Volumes on Pine Street (across from Battery Street Jeans and Great Harvest Bread Co.). Speaking Volumes is an awesome book/antique/record store in Burlington's South End. Speaking Volumes' collection rivals Burlington Records' collection with rare records. It's a bit expensive, but if you're looking for something unique, you can find it at Speaking Volumes.
You'll find records popping up at thrift stores, yard sales, and perhaps in your parent's house. Wherever you find them, give them a second look. Soon, you may be asking your dad for his old record player.