Yes, vinyl is cool again. Record sales continue to rise each year. Current artists are releasing new albums on vinyl. I recently jumped into the hobby after my parents gave me their record collections. It gave a me place to start and before long I was buying records of my own. Vinyl is great because it's everything digital is not. It's physical. You have something tangible to hold on to. There is the record itself, the album cover, the liner sleeve. Plus, it's nostalgic and cool. Record Store Day is Saturday, April 16th. It's the perfect time to go out and pick up so new, or new to you vinyl for your collection! Not every town has a record store anymore. Here in Cedar Rapids, we don't have a store that is only dedicated to vinyl. I go to Half Price Books a lot. They recently upgraded their record selection. You can find an all vinyl record store in Iowa City, and that is Record Collector.

 

While I do still download and stream digital music, there is just something about putting on a record, hearing an occasional crack and pop, and then having to flip it in four songs. Audiophiles will tell you the sound is better, and it very well may be. But its more than the sound that draws me to vinyl. It's being able to hold and touch a piece of music. That's as sacred as it gets.

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