Metamatic Forums Socialising The Green Room cd/album stores -- getting less and less

It's also happening in The Netherlands (oh my goodness, the circle is closing in!). Shops that sold cd's only, now also sell computergames, dvd's, mags and other stuff that have almost nothing to do with music. Big cities here have one or two specialized cd shops, for now ... In Eindhoven I have one and a half. But to get a JF for example, I'll have to go to Amsterdam. Or surf for it on the net ...

En daar was de beste ook al jaren niet meer de beste
Rotterdam is ook niet veel beter zie ik
groeten!
fons

Hey! this thread must have brought me some good luck!

The vinyl gods were definitely at work, because tonight when I went in to the Amoeba in Berkeley, all of a sudden there it was ....a Japanese vinyl pressing of Metamatic (which I have been after for years!)

It didnt have the obi strip but otherwise it's in beautiful condition with the Japanese lyric sheet and colored center labels etc.

and imagine my surprise when I discovered inside it as well was the "church" booklet!


Well, a lovely early birthday present is what it is. Hooray! *doin my happy dance*

When I was in college (in Chicago) I worked in record stores, and it was wonderful -- to take risks on cool obscurities, to be around people who could turn you on to new things, to talk customers out of buying crap and have them come back a few days later to ask for more recommendations. It was an environment about curiosity, discovery and sharing. All of our big record stores are gone now, and we have bookstores that sell CDs but the sales clerks there don't know anything aside from their own favorites. Some smaller shops do sell non-mainstream stuff but they're pretty unpleasant. You are discouraged from random browsing and hanging out, and are treated disdainfully if you ask for info or a recommendation. Who needs that kind of attitude, especially when they don't recognize the names of the artists you're asking for? I still like to have physical copies of music, but it's not fun to look for CDs anymore, so now probably 97% of my music shopping is online.

Living in London, I've noticed stores come and go other the years - from small independents to large chains.

I think longevity might come down to location - Hoxton is incredibly fashionable at the moment, but regular businesses are struggling to survive because, day-to-day there's not a culture there - it's mostly a 'night' place to go. Consequently at least 3-4 small record shops have come and gone in the last 4 years. The ones that are able to stick it out are the ones based on Berwick Street near Oxford Street; places such as Sister Ray, Sounds of the Universe and new kid on the block Phonica – are thriving.

As Alex has mentioned, several shops in Sheffield have gone but places such as Rare and Racy and Jack’s will hopefully thrive because they’re on Division Street – Sheffields ‘Hoxton’, but very much a part of local businesses.

What I can't understand is why the large chain stores price things very high compared to the the smaller independents. The new edition of Metamatic is £10/£14 in various HMV stores, but only £8 in Sister Ray.

Sister Ray --

it was my favorite shop in London. Good staff, great collection. I know they have an on-line site, and I am tempted to only order from them if I need something.

Who knows RadioBeach, we might have been shopping one day next to each other years ago.

Blue P

Hi Blue,

Since my missus calls it my second home - the liklihood is...very likely!

Somewhere in Japan there's a garden with no church!

I really need to check this place out. RadioBeach has mentioned it time and time again and it sounds great!

Sister Ray is indeed great!

Record shop shopping has certainly declined: I find that a good thing ultimately. The excitement of going to London to check the big stores and the indies has gone, true, as has the thrill of record fairs to an extent, but I save so much money these days. Ebay etc have completed holes in my collections and sometimes I can download something and have it in a few minutes while I make a cup of tea! I'm all for that kind of experience. You can also listen to what YOU want to while shopping. It's all good progress to me ...