“I didn’t have a record player in my room growing up—which now it’s common for kids to have both turntables, phones, iPods, etc…. lucky basterds.”
“I had a Popples cassette player that I’d stolen from my sister to play my latest mix tapes that I had conjured up from my parents’ record collection until I got my Walkman. But until then, to get the Led out in my bedroom, I played Physical Graffiti in real-time and bounced it down to tape. I was fascinated by these relics of my father’s glory days and spent hours listening to them and recording them, unbeknownst to him, or so I thought. I’m sure he knew but didn’t give me too much shit ’cause at least I was listening to something other than MC Hammer.
It wasn’t until college that I started collecting my own vinyl but I’ve never bought it like I did CDs in Jr. High and high school. I’m not sure you could even buy vinyl in East Central Indiana at that time unless you wanted to smell like nag champa or moth balls.
For me to buy something on vinyl, it has to be a fave or a highly recommended artist or album from a trusted source—for a couple of reasons. One, shit can get expensive. Two, if I purchase that record, I’m keeping it. Forever. I’m not trading it in. I’m not ripping via USB to my computer. I’m not going to scratch it and throw it out in my garage sale.
There’s just something about vinyl that is timeless. I’ve had titles on CDs I’ve bought several times over. They are cheap and replaceable. You can upload and duplicate and it’s about the same fidelity.
Vinyl records are fucking trophies. I only want the ones I consider to be first place. So my (purchased) record collection may not be as astounding in quantity but I don’t buy crap just to put on my shelf so it can collect dust and prove to your girlfriend that I too have been to Urban Outfitters.
Listening to records takes time and some effort—at least more than hitting the space bar. So, it might as well be worth listening to. I mean really listening. Save your background music for your digital collection.
Listen to your favorites on wax in your cans!”
—Clint Culberson
MODOC’s self titled release is on store shelves now. On vinyl.
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