I wish I had thought to post this earlier in the day. Today is National Record Store day. Tragically, I didn’t even make it out of the house. However, in honor of the day, I have been listening to some great music on and off all day. All of the music I listened to was purchased at Graywhale, our best local record store by a long shot. Here are some my favorite CDs purchased from them so far:

• Underwater Cinematographers
• Danielle Howle and the Tantrums – Do a Two Sable
• Nina Nastasia – The Blackened Air
• The Early November – For All of This
• The Apples in Stereo – Pretty much everything of theirs
• Orenda Fink – Invisible Ones
• Scout Niblett – This Fool Can Die Now
• The Raveonettes – Whip It Up
• The Caribbean – Plastic Explosives
• 1090 Club – Shipwrecked
• Land of Talk – Applause Cheer Boo Hiss
• Samantha Crain – Songs in the Night
• Alela Diane – To Be Still
• Death by Chocolate – Death by Chocolate
• The Dears – Gang of Losers
• Beep Beep – Business Casual
• Beak – Beak>
• Plasticines – LP1

Independent music stores are definitely the way to go. I can’t stand places like FYE or whatever because they’re ridiculously expensive AND they’re practically useless when it comes to asking questions. My boys Kyle and Jon at the U of U Graywhale know their music inside and out in just about every genre. It’s great talking with them and picking their brains for new music. You just don’t get that at national chain music stores. “Hey, I’m looking for the latest CD by Beth Orton. Do you have it?”

“Uhhhhhh …. whuuuuuu … buuuuuuuh ….”

“Right. Thanks. Tell ya what: I’ll bring you a bottle of formula if you can just tell me if you have it.”

“da ba ma ma ma ma baaaaaaaa ……”

*smack*

At least that’s been my experience with those kinds of stores. Not at Graywhale. They know what they’re talking about!

Support your local music shops! They’re where the real action is.