More than a year ago, the “New York Times” published an article declaring that vinyl is back. The article was littered with numbers, sales statistics, a whole bunch of information that no one (except maybe a record label or a pressing plant operator) would care about and even a Daft Punk reference (ew), but it was at the forefront of an unexpected major comeback.
No, not a celebrity comeback like Britney Spears circa 2008, following her infamous 2007 bald-headed, umbrella-wielding breakdown, but more along the lines of the return of an era.
The music industry has noticed resurgence in demand for vinyl records. Fans aren’t only demanding the classics, but also vinyl copies of their favorite artist’s new material as well. Gainesville’s music scene, which I’ve noticed in my year of living here, is mighty impressive. It caters to the needs of the vinyl-collecting millennials at the forefront of this movement, myself included. If you’re looking for re-issues of some of the classics, such as Nirvana or The Beatles, Hear Again Music and Movies, quaintly situated between Dragonfly and the Hippodrome, has what you’re looking for.
Hear Again also caters to the trendier crowd, carrying albums like Grimes’ “Visions,” which seems to always sells out before I can get my hands on it, and Arctic Monkeys.
Via: rebloggy.com
Despite an increase in sales, I think it’s safe to say the days of aimlessly shifting through shelves and racks, looking for records, are pretty much done. What was so appealing about the MP3 format was that you could just do it instantly. We’re a society used to instant gratification, always looking for the quickest way about something, like downloading an album on iTunes or using a Fast Pass at your favorite theme park. Hear Again has, however, figured out a way to please those quick-witted thumb typers by boasting an impressive social media presence, keeping you updated on the newest arrivals. Seriously, follow them on Facebook.
Another Gainesville gem, admittedly a bit duller in my eyes, is Arrow’s Aim.
While Hear Again carries a wide array of records for us normies who like our tacky synth-pop, or even the grandpas out there listening to jazz, Arrow’s Aim has its sights locked on the punk crowd, which is an undeniably large portion of Gainesville’s population. That’s not really my taste, however, so I can’t do the store justice or award it the commentary it likely deserves.
The triumphant return of vinyl, which has spawned a massive increase in production and sales numbers following the long period of dormancy brought on by the CD, was a little too late for some local businesses that just, for whatever reason, couldn’t keep their doors open. Two of the four Gainesville record stores listed on Yelp, namely Hyde & Zeke Records and Wolfwax Comics and Records, have closed down in recent years.
Via: alligator.org
This city is somewhat of a void when it comes to the market. I imagine it’s hard to build a steady clientele when people are always coming and going for short periods of time. Every week it seems like something or someone had to close up shop (RIP, Sarkara Sweets). However, it seems Arrow’s Aim and Hear Again Music and Movies have managed to figure it out. Arrow’s Aim is very crowd-specific, and thanks to the thriving punk scene, their business will thrive as well. Hear Again, on the other hand, is so broad in their offerings that there’s something for everyone, making them a one-stop shop for buyers.
So do yourself a solid, fellow Gainesvillians, and treat your ears to the sweet sound of vinyl. It looks like it’s here to stay.
