Music collection to fund U scholarship: After decades of collecting music, a local critic is giving philanthropy a spin. Jon Bream, the Star Tribune’s music critic since 1974, sold part of his collection, totaling 22,000 vinyl records and 6,000 CDs, and is using the profits to start a scholarship for arts criticism at the University of Minnesota.
10 Awesome Christmas Vinyl Records: The holiday season brings out the nostalgia in most of us, and nothing seems quite as cool as breaking out the Christmas wax with a few friends and sharing some good tunes. Since the tactile nature of vinyl makes it a great sentimental gift, here are some great records to acquire for (yourself or) others as you celebrate the holidays.
Teens driving vinyl renaissance at America’s oldest record store: “I don’t think there is anything different between the kids in the 1960s or the kids today,” George said. “They realize they can’t get this sound on CDs and on the Internet. People line up here on Record Store Day, which is in April. I’m the only record store between Pittsburgh and State College. A lot of people come in here from Altoona, too.”
Luna Record Shop brings new spin to The Factory: Sisters Brenna Gentry and Calvert Gentry-McMahan have put a new spin on The Factory at Franklin with their new vinyl record shop, Luna. Gentry and Gentry-McMahan grew up around Franklin and wanted to bring their passion for physical forms of music to the area like fellow record shop Carpe Diem located next to Kimbro’s on South Margin. The sisters bonded over their admiration of vinyl and music in physical formats.
Why I’ve fallen out of love with shopping for vinyl: I’m not cheap and have been known to shell out for records that are worth the cost. But I’m not a sucker either, and I’m starting to think that record vendors are looking at all of us like suckers.
