Comment Re:Admitting the votes are still coming in... (Score 1) 570
I constantly get asked "why records?"
How about the fact that a record is a physical analog of sound, as opposed to a representation of an abstract mathematical code which then must be converted to an analog signal? Somehow it's a more aesthetically pleasing to think that the record really has the waveform right there in the groove, sculpted out of plastic. Also, records are often cheaper. Also, records are big, and come in a big beautiful sleeve. Also, many artists on independent labels only release on vinyl, or release vinyl with bonus tracks/instrumentals/a capella tracks (in the case of hip-hop, the 12" is an essential format, and in the case of punk, the 7"). Also, the surface noise of vinyl has a certain endearing quality which any vinyl freak can attest to. CD players are out now with scratch/pitch shift settings, but these sounds absolutely unlike a record being deejayed. CDs are just fine, but I think they are just one in a long line of formats that will be replaced with something better later on (such as 8 track, cassettes, minidiscs, or mp3). Records aren't going anywhere despite what people seem to think.
The portability issue sucks, but to the vinyl freak that just means that the music is more special, since you have to be near your tables in order to listen to it. It is a ritualistic and irrational love, the love of vinyl.
Matt
How about the fact that a record is a physical analog of sound, as opposed to a representation of an abstract mathematical code which then must be converted to an analog signal? Somehow it's a more aesthetically pleasing to think that the record really has the waveform right there in the groove, sculpted out of plastic. Also, records are often cheaper. Also, records are big, and come in a big beautiful sleeve. Also, many artists on independent labels only release on vinyl, or release vinyl with bonus tracks/instrumentals/a capella tracks (in the case of hip-hop, the 12" is an essential format, and in the case of punk, the 7"). Also, the surface noise of vinyl has a certain endearing quality which any vinyl freak can attest to. CD players are out now with scratch/pitch shift settings, but these sounds absolutely unlike a record being deejayed. CDs are just fine, but I think they are just one in a long line of formats that will be replaced with something better later on (such as 8 track, cassettes, minidiscs, or mp3). Records aren't going anywhere despite what people seem to think.
The portability issue sucks, but to the vinyl freak that just means that the music is more special, since you have to be near your tables in order to listen to it. It is a ritualistic and irrational love, the love of vinyl.
Matt
