Vinyl will be king when somebody invents an affordable way to (a) store vinyl; (b) rip vinyl to digital and/or (c) sells vinyl with a link to a digital copy (which I know already happens with some releases). I like the idea of a vinyl resurgence, except of course the moving costs of a collection of records ...

Quite right, Erik. Re:(c) - I think it's brilliant, and have heard talk of several local bands continuing to release new material in this manner - and excluding cd's entirely! As for (b)- Target recently had an amazingly tempting player that allowed for recording cd's from vinyl for just $300!

While I'll be the first to admit that vinyl is getting more popular, but how much of that do you think is because all these opportunistic record companies have figured out if they press one album in standard black then four or five different fancy colors, they'll get that core of record-geeks who pick up all six copies?

Really, though, I don't get the appeal of vinyl. Albums that were originally mastered primarily for CDs sound better on CD. Albums that are originally mastered for vinyl sound better on vinyl. And, sorry, but vinyl hiss/pops sucks just as much as tape hiss to me.

Don't get the appeal of vinyl? I guess maybe it's for purists but I think vinyl is the ultimate way to listen to music. It's full and there is just a sense of organic "realness", for lack of a better word. Vinyl takes music back to it's more primal beginning.... and that's all right with me.

I think it really depends on the artist. I love going through Easy Street's vinyl section, it's full of fantastic (and cheap) surprises! I just picked up an Elliott Smith LP the other day, but when I saw Beck (one of my dearest loves), I passed him by, because Beck is NOT someone who should be on vinyl, in my opinion. Elliott Smith most definately is.

I grew up with nothing but vinyl. I actually used to give a great deal of thought to things like whether I preferred a direct drive or belt-drive turntable, the correct way to use Discleaner, what stylus to buy, and even what friggin' weight the stylus should exert on the record surface (yes, I had a little stylus scale). It was great; at the time. And since then, I've lugged around a collection of thousands of albums. And yet I never listen to them. I've got a turntable, but I have no idea if it still works. The old music that I still like, I've picked up the digital versions. I don't feel like I'm missing anything at all important. Those of you who are obsessed with vinyl now, I think a lot of it is novelty and because it sounds slightly different, it must be better. For me though, listening to music is just so much less cumbersome now than it used to be, that I'll never go back.

Oops, Discwasher! Yes, I'm glad I don't have to deal with that shit anymore.

I think your prefered mode of listening to music is based on context. If you grew up with vinyl, you grew up with vinyl. If you're a digitalized late echo boomer, it's all in the 'pod.

As for me, well, I always feel triumphant that I have profoundly listened to my music once the tape has worn down...

we just got "either or" on vinyl and it does indeed sound amazing.

Oops, I meant Discwasher, not Discleaner.
Yeah, definitely glad I don't have to deal with all that anymore.

Oh Dana! I just got that exact same album this weekend! And yes, it sounds amazing!

Well, I wouldn't say that one is either a vinyl OR a digital lover. I'm an avid vinyl buyer, constant music downloader, incessant iPod listener and occasional cd buyer. I just happen to love, appreciate and support vinyl. Yea, there is something different about it. And yes digital (technically) sounds better. But when you go to a show are you really that concerned with how accurate the band sounds? I think not. Vinyl is the same way... it doesn't (technically) sound better, but man, it sure does sound better. :)

When I received gift certificates this Christmas for music stores, I decided to hit up the vinyl for the reason that with iTunes, if I buy a CD, I'll just rip it on to the computer..and then the CD will just sit on my shelf forever on while I use the computer version. Why use $15 of the money on a dust collector? Plus, now that I'm not so much into "scratching" anymore, I need to use my turntables for something!

Which reminds me, I haven't been able to use my tables as I have no speakers, the ones currently are crappily rigged computer speakers whose wires are loose now. Does anyone know a good deal on some speakers?

Thrift store aren't just a great place to buy records!

Elle, you can find great old QUALITY speakers at thrift store for Cheap!

thanks jesse! I have my record player hooked up to my guitar amp, and for some reason this situation doesn't allow me to adjust the volume at all. My parents are not pleased.