Every Day Should Be Record Store Day
Last year, a couple months before the first Record Store Day, my favorite Atlanta record store closed. (Yes, I'm still grieving.) It happened again this year: Ella Guru closed in March. But there's also good news for record store shoppers. Reactionary Records reopened in East Atlanta (at 465a Flat Shoals Avenue, across from the EARL). As a service to Atlanta visitors, here are the remaining independent retailers of CD's and vinyl in the ATL area:
Audio Alternative website
Book Nook review
Circle Sky myspace
Criminal Records website
Decatur CD website
Fantasyland review
Feed Your Head myspace
Full Moon Records review
Low Yo-Yo Stuff myspace
Moods Music website
Reactionary Records myspace
Records Galore review
Secur Music website
Stickfigure website
Sweet Melissa website
Wax N Facts myspace
Wuxtry website
Check out this documentary about Rough Trade, founded on the idea that (in Geoff Travis' words) "a record shop could be a lot more than just a place where you bought records". The film is about the birth of independent labels, and about the contradictions between idealism and commerce. I love the part when Mayo Thompson muses that Rough Trade's ambitions to balance the two may have been a case of "drinking too much of your own piss".Labels: ATL record stores
I Want My Record Store Back
My local independent record store closed last week. It had been open almost thirty years. The owner has been ill for several months, which may have been the deciding factor in closing the store. But I have no doubt that the store was mortally wounded by the popularity of downloading music, and the stifling grip of the big box retailers (who are now devoting less shelf space to CD's). Only another music nerd could understand how deeply saddened I am about losing my favorite record store.
My twelve year old son is bummed out too, because his favorite radio station is gone. I haven't listened to 99x in years, but my son listened to it every night. Now he gets new music from Youtube, or he hears new songs on TV commercials, movie soundtracks, and video games. Radio stations used to "break" new bands. Then it was MTV. Nowadays, I guess we are all arbiters of taste: anyone can have an mp3 blog, or post a podcast. But once we listened to the opinions of radio DJ's, record reviewers, and record store clerks. Sure, they could be a-holes, but they could also turn you onto something new (or something old) that you would really like.
April 19, 2008 has been designated Record Store Day. It will come too late to save my local record store, but I appreciate the effort to encourage people to patronize independent retailers. Here are some quotes from musicians about why independent record stores are an important cultural resource. I mean that sincerely. Now go buy a record!
Supersuckers: Rock N Roll Records Aint Sellin This Year (buy)
Weston: Record Shop (buy)
Peck of Snide: Record Store Guy (buy)
Fellaheen: Record Collector (buy)Labels: ATL record stores
Underneathica's Guide to Atlanta Record Stores, part 4
I can't conclude this series without mentioning my favorite haunt, Eat More Records, though it is a bit of a drive from Atlanta. Countless musicians, gypsies, tramps and thieves have made the trek from Atlanta to Athens, and Eat More Records is midway along that route. If you are traveling north from Atlanta on I-85, and you bear right onto Highway 316 (to go east toward Athens), take the first exit (Sugarloaf Parkway) and turn right. You will pass a Publix shopping center, and then another Publix shopping center (both on the right). Eat More Records is adjacent to the second Publix (in a strippe mall called the Village Shoppes).
Eat More first opened in Norcross in 1979, and they moved to Lawrenceville about three years ago. They sell new and used CD's and movies, but the glory of the store is its wealth of 12", 10", and 7" vinyl. Craig (the owner) loves Dylan and the blues; Cliff is the expert on power pop and synth-pop; and Jeremy is the go-to guy for all things REM-related. 3370 Sugarloaf Parkway, Suite G-3, Lawrenceville (678-442-9530). Hours: Mon-Thurs 11am to 8pm; Fri-Sat 11am to 9pm; Sundays 12noon to 7pm.
While you're in the area, there are a couple more places to find good music. From Eat More Records, head back toward 316 on Sugarloaf Parkway, but turn left onto Lawrenceville Highway 29. Go about 7 miles south, and you will see Book Nook II on your left. This is a spin-off of the Book Nook in Atlanta, and I think there's more vinyl here than at the Atlanta location (plus CD's, books, movies and comics). 4664 Lawrenceville Highway, Lilburn (770-564-9462). Hours: Mon-Sat 10am to 8pm, Sundays 12noon to 8pm.
From Book Nook, continue southwest on Lawrenceville Highway to the first light, and turn left on Indian Trail Road. Go a little over a mile, and on your left (just past the Burns Road intersection) is another goddam strip mall. There you will find Audio Alternative, a retailer of high-end audio equipment with a modest but intriguing selection of vinyl and SA-CD's. Try not to drool on the vacuum tube amplifiers. 895 Indian Trail Road, Suite 15, Lilburn (770-931-0606). Hours: Tues-Fri 11am to 7pm, Saturdays 10am to 6pm.
Longtime WREK DJ Jon Kincaid recently reminisced about Atlanta record stores that have closed their doors in his "Personality Crisis" blog. He mentioned Rowan's in Marietta as a good place where you can still buy records. There is also a Book Nook in Marietta. I haven't been to either of these stores.
The growth of online CD sales, as well as legal and illegal download sites, has contributed to the decline of the independent music retailer. Atlanta has its own online CD store, Joe Rockhead. I'm not saying Joe Rockhead is causing record stores to close. It's a great site for independent music that features a lot of Athens and Atlanta bands, plus some of the hard to find titles from (Joe Rockhead owner) Steve Pilon's label, Long Play Records. If you're going to shop online, you can still buy from an independent local retailer. Thanks for shopping Atlanta's record stores with me. Now go buy some music!Labels: ATL record stores
Underneathica's Guide to Atlanta Record Stores, part 3
Atlanta has an interstate called I-285 that circles its perimeter (wouldn't that make it an intrastate?) If we look at I-285 as the face of a clock, today we're covering the area between twelve and two o'clock.
Fantasyland Records has been open in Buckhead (Atlanta's uptown shopping district) for almost thirty years. They stock new and used CD's and vinyl, plus cassettes and VHS tapes, old rock posters and t-shirts, music mags and porn. Randy Johnson (the Big Unit) has been spotted buying records here. 2839 Peachtree Road (404-237-3193). Hours: Mon-Sat 11am to 7pm.
When I planned this article, you could go from Fantasyland to Tower Records by traveling north from Peachtree to Roswell Road, and Town Cryer Records was about a mile north of that. But Town Cryer closed this year, and Tower is on its way out. Instead, drive north on Peachtree Road from Fantasyland, bear right at the "Buckhead split" and go past Lenox Mall and Phipps Plaza. Peachtree Road eventually becomes Peachtree Industrial Boulevard. When you are within spitting distance of I-285, turn left on New Peachtree Road (at the CVS on your left). Low Yo Yo Stuff is just past Brown & Brown's junkyard on the left.
Low Yo Yo Stuff's owner, Todd Ploharski, moved his store from Athens to Atlanta last year. He bought another record store here, brought in his inventory from Athens, and he's been trying to sort it all out ever since. He's got twice the space that he had in Athens, and he's trying to get even more space from another tenant in the building who is being slow to move out. Low Yo Yo Stuff has an incredible selection of CD's and vinyl, but it's so disorganized that it's best to either give yourself lots of time to browse, or call ahead to ask Todd if he can put his hands on something specific that you're looking for. I've tried e-mailing him with a want list, but he seems to be computer-phobic. 3854 North Peachtree Road. 706-207-7014 (cell) Hours: 12noon to 6pm, Fridays and Saturdays.
From Low Yo Yo Stuff, get back on Peachtree Industrial heading north, and take I-285 West past I-85 to the Chamblee-Tucker Road exit. You will find Circle Sky Records in the Embry Village Shopping Center (facing the Goodyear store). Circle Sky opened four years ago, and they carry new and used CD's, plus a healthy selection of new and used 12" and 7" vinyl. They have some music DVD's; VHS, cassettes, and 8-tracks; magazines, t-shirts, and other memorabilia. If you are a fan of the music on labels like Sundazed, Norton, and Bomp, you will find a lot to like at Circle Sky. 3633-E Chamblee Tucker Road (770-491-2100). Hours: 11am to 7pm Mon-Sat, 12noon to 6pm Sundays. In our next (and final) installment, we'll venture into the suburbs!Labels: ATL record stores
Underneathica's Guide to Atlanta Record Stores, part 2
Today, our record hunt takes us to Little Five Points, which has been Atlanta's version of Greenwich Village for the last few decades. Travelling west on Ponce de Leon Avenue from Decatur (where our tour ended last time), turn left on Moreland Avenue and go half a mile south. Criminal Records is on your right. Criminal opened 15 years ago as one of the first post-vinyl independent music retailers in Atlanta. There is a decent selection of audiophile and local vinyl, but no crates of dusty old LP's. The store specializes in new and used CD's, plus music and lifestyle magazines, books, DVD's, comics and collectibles. The staff (which includes Tessa) is friendly, which more than compensates for the occasional lapse (I found Thin Lizzy filed under L). Frequent instore performances, and a website that puts other Atlanta online stores to shame. 466 Moreland Avenue (404-215-9511). Hours: Mon-Sat 10am to 10pm, Sundays 12noon to 7pm.
From Criminal, it's just a block south to Wax'n'Facts, opened in 1976 by Danny Beard. Danny is also the founder of DB Recs and its sister label, Press Records. Wax'n'Facts has an exhaustive selection of new and used CD's, vinyl, and cassettes. You need to give yourself a couple hours here. 432 Moreland Avenue (404-525-2275). Hours: Mon-Sat 11am to 8pm, Sundays 12noon to 6pm.
While you're in Little 5 Points, you can visit two of Atlanta's remaining independent bookstores, A Cappella Books(where Richard Buckner once worked) and Charis Books. And you can listen to WRAS (88.5FM), WRFG (89.3FM), or WREK (91.1FM).
At the next light south of Wax'n'Facts, turn left onto McLendon Avenue, and go about a mile. Just past Candler Park, look for a row of shops on the right. Full Moon Records has a small selection of new and used CD's, which is dwarfed by the surprising range of their vinyl collection. There's a nook upstairs with used LP's for $1 each. 1653 McLendon Avenue (404-377-1919). Hours: Fridays and Saturdays from 12noon to 8pm, and Sundays from 12noon to 6pm.
Ready for more? Find your way back to Ponce and go west to Midtown. Cross Peachtree Street and you'll spot the fabulous Fox Theater, where Lynyrd Skynyrd recorded their double live album. Ponce dead ends on Spring Street at the backside of the Varsity (largest fast food restaurant in the world!) Here once stood the 688 Club, where Richard Hell and the Voidoids recorded their live album. Turn left on Spring Street and go south a few blocks. Earwax Records is on your left. Catering primarily to hip-hop fans, Earwax also carries rock CD's, DVD's and rare vinyl. Their inventory and their busy schedule of instore appearances are detailed on their website. 565 Spring Street (404-875-5600). Hours: Mon-Sat 12noon to 8pm.
If you continue south on Spring Street, crossing under the interstates (75/85 and I-20), turning right on Fulton Street and left on Metropolitan Parkway, your next right is Shelton Avenue. You're in the historic West End neighborhood, the home of Joel Chandler Harris and Stickfigure Distribution. Stickfigure is a record label, a show promoter, and a distributor of music, books, films and magazines. The website says that their store is open "most Saturdays" from noon to 6pm. 712 Shelton Avenue SW (404-752-7399). In our next installment, we hit the north! Stay tuned.Labels: ATL record stores
Underneathica's Guide to Atlanta Record Stores, part 1
Like any metropolitan area, Atlanta has its chain stores that sell cd's, and its thrift stores that sell old vinyl. This guide for those music buyers who aren't mall shoppers or crate diggers. It is arranged geographically, so that you can hit the stores in closest proximity to each other if your shopping time is limited. Please don't hold me responsible if hours of operation change since I checked them. This first installment will feature the Emory/Decatur area.
Let's start with A Book Nook, because it opens earliest. Book Nook is open every day except Thanksgiving and Christmas Day. As the name suggests, Book Nook is primarily a used bookstore which also trades in CD's, LP's, DVD's, VHS and cassettes. Book Nook first opened in 1973. Four years ago, the main store moved down Clairmont Road from Buford Highway to the intersection of North Druid Hills Road (just downhill from the BP station). David T. Lindsay works there, and he oversees the substantial collection of new and used comic books, and a nice section of rock-related literature. Most of the used vinyl LP's are priced at $5. Book Nook has a couple of suburban locations in Marietta and Lilburn. The main store is at 3073 North Druid Hills Road (404-633-1343). Hours: Mon-Sat 9am to 10:30pm, Sundays 10am to 10:30pm.
From the Book Nook, go west on North Druid Hills. Less than a quarter mile on the left, you'll see the Toco Hills Shopping Center. Ella Guru is located there, and sells new and used CD's. It's a friendly place, with in-store listening stations. Ella Guru is the first of Atlanta's two record stores named after Captain Beefheart songs. 2993 North Druid Hills Road (404-325-1350). Hours: Mon-Sat 11am to 9pm, Sundays 12noon to 6pm.
Turn back toward Book Nook, then make a right on Clairmont Road and go a mile and a half south (past the VA hospital) to the corner of North Decatur Road. Wuxtry Records is in a strip mall on the left (along with Rainbow Foods, where you may run into an Indigo Girl). Wuxtry has a sister store in Athens, where Peter Buck first met Michael Stipe. Atlanta's Wuxtry is notable for its jazz selection, and it has lots of rock (new and used CD's, vinyl, and cassettes). You can search their vinyl inventory on their website. 2096 North Decatur Road (404-329-0020). Hours: Mon-Sat 11am to 8pm, Sundays 12noon to 6pm.
Continue south on Clairmont Road a little over a mile, and turn right on Ponce de Leon Avenue. Go about three blocks and look for a sky blue single story building on the left. It's Decatur CD! Listening stations and in-store performances (with free beer!) from both local and touring musicians add to the selection of new and used CD's. Decatur CD has its own blog, and Austin works there. 356 West Ponce de Leon Avenue (404-371-9090). Hours: Mon-Sat 11am to 11pm, Sundays 12noon to 5pm.
The vinyl hound will want to track back east on Ponce. It's about five miles (across I-285 and through Scottdale) to the town of Clarkston, home of Records Galore. There's a mixed bag here, a lot of 12" rap singles and country LP's, and loads of pre-rock vinyl, but I've found some good stuff here, and the prices are low. 4148 East Ponce de Leon Avenue (404-294-5271). Hours: Mon-Sat 11am to 6pm, closed Sundays.Labels: ATL record stores
