JIM CARROLLon music
IT'S RECORD Store Day tomorrow. And the day after that and all next week and all next month too.
I know, you thought it happened last week, but that's the problem. Record shops are not just for Record Store Day (or Christmas).
As the annual hoopla about celebrating independent record stores fades for another year, many at the coalface will wonder, as they look at empty stores and deserted tills, whether they will still be around for Record Store Day 2013.
Having a nominal day that focuses on independent music retailing doesn't change the bigger picture and an annual Record Store Day cannot and will not bring the good times back.
The game has changed and your average music consumer is not returning. Special in-store performances and limited vinyl releases (as if you have to be a format snob to frequent record stores) are not going to save the sector.
For those of us who grew up in those stores, spent all our money in them and can remember exactly where we purchased which album, it's a sad state of affairs. You don't like seeing your old haunts disappearing.
Yet for those who still love new music, the arrival of the internet means having a record store on tap 24/7. (It's at this point that someone will mention the social aspects of stores and it's at this point that we will point them towards Twitter and gigs.)
Music has always been about community, but that community has simply moved elsewhere.
Some will still frequent bricks-and-mortar stores, but that diminishing number is probably not enough to keep the doors open in the long run.
Start planning now for iTunes Day 2020 and Beatport Day 2025.
Now playing
Los Miticos del Ritmo Otro Muerde El Polvo(Soundway) Will "Quantic" Holland and his Colombian cats give Queen's Another One Bites the Dust a funky makeover.
AlunaGeorge Just A Touch(TriAngle) Beautiful sample of 23rd century r'n'b pop from the duo behind last year's stonking You Know You Like It.
Homeboy Sandman Cops Get Scared of Me (Stones Throw) The Queens rapper who’s getting better and tougher with every release scores with this sparse, moody, Exile-produced beaut.
Twerps Twerps(Chapter Music) Breezy melodies and lovely hooks galore from the Melbourne band.
No Don't Worry, You'll Be Here Forever (Origami) One of our favourite acts from this year's SXSW festival make their case with songs like Another Life and Stay With Me.
NEW MUSIC
YOU CAN CALL ME FRANCES
The only group to feature in New Music to date who saw wood, trampoline and play badminton rackets and hairdryers onstage, You Can Call Me Frances are Dublin-based dancers who have a penchant for dark, post-punk, minimal electro.
[ facebook.com/groups/121394091240945Opens in new window ]
YELLOWBRIDGE
Originally from Seoul and Waterford, Dublin-based duo Yellowbridge have the potential to wow folks, thanks to a combination of Ciara Donnelly’s powerful, distinctive vocals and neat, nimble pop hooks and subtle musical suss from producer Kyle Hyunsing Kim.
[ Yellowbridgemusic.comOpens in new window ]
KO KO
Another week, another Los Angeles band to fawn over. Fronted by Californian brothers Ryan and Taylor Lawhorn, KO KO only began producing tunes earlier this year, but are already perfecting gorgeous, sunny vibes such as Float and So Strange.
[ longlivekoko.bandcamp.comOpens in new window ]
For more, see: irish times.com/blogs/onthe record
