Record store day

Last Saturday was the 4th annual Record Store Day and you know I was there! For some context, Record Store Day is an annual event held on the third Saturday in April at independent record stores all over the world. It's accompanied by special limited releases and in-store appearances by DJs and musicians.

This was the first year that I participated in the event, as I haven't really known about it in the past. Still, I knew to come prepared. I consulted the list of special releases and decided what I wanted to make sure to get. I settled on a vinyl E.P. of Franz Ferdinand covers. It was one of the few items that I felt would be fully worth the search. Many of the releases were artists I didn't care much for, consisted of remixes (which I also don't generally care much for), or involved only one or two songs. In the case of one of my favorite bands, Fleet Foxes, who released a 12" vinyl with only two songs, I didn't see the point at all, especially since those two songs will be on their full-length album out in a couple of weeks.

All that aside, I set out Saturday morning for Landlocked Music in Bloomington, IN (where I was in town visiting friends). The store was packed. After squeezing past the people crowded at the door, I set out to find my precious Franz Ferdinand. I first looked in the 'F' section, nothing. Looked in the compilation/various section, no luck. Finally, I searched through the new releases. About three-quarters of the way through, I found it. I very excitedly yanked it up, yelled "Yes," and elicited a small smile from the man standing next to me.

Clutching my treasured find, I decided to pick up a few things I had my mind set on for a while. I picked up a copy of LCD Soundsystem's This is Happening and James Blake self-titled album and got in line. After about fifteen minutes, I got to the front of the line and made my purchases. The clerk put them in one of the coolest shopping bags ever (it had a side pocket!) which included a pair of 3D glass for Pitchfork 3D, a copy of Sub Pop's CD sampler and tons of mini magazines. I was a happy girl.

So, that is my story of Record Store Day. The Franz Ferdinand album is great, though a little disappointed at only five songs. I haven't checked out the sampler yet, though I know what's there (the track list was posted online a few days before). I can't wait for next year!