Record Store Day 2013

As I write this feature, a stack of vinyl sits beside me.  The selection ranges from classic records of the 1970's to pristine new releases pressed on various shades of color.  You guessed it, yesterday was Record Store Day, an idea that was born in 2007 and has since become one the most anticipated events of each year.  Independent record stores, musicians, and listeners around the world celebrated with an enormous variety of exclusive releases.

This year, I made my way to three record stores in Richmond.  First up was BK Music, followed by Plan 9 Music, and finally ending with Deep Groove Records.  The selection at each location seemed to be a game of luck.  One store would sell out of that special 12" instantly while the next one would have a stack waiting to be touched.  How exciting.

To keep things a bit more interesting, the remainder of this post will be pictures of every record in my bag along with a small caption of some sort.  You know how it goes.  The majority of the records I picked up had white sleeves for some reason, so some of the albums kind of blend in with the background.  Bear with me here. Everyone likes pictures of vinyl, right?

David Bowie's "The Stars (Are Out Tonight)" 7" pressed on white vinyl.  I mean, it's Bowie.  This seemed to be the one record that every single person picked up as they went through the store.

The xx's "Jamie xx Edits" 12" in a die-cut sleeve.  Thanks to what appears to be a manufacturing error, the label on the front cover is upside down.

Ra Ra Riot's "Binary Mind" 10", which includes a new track and several demos.  This one came with a digital download code, something you don't see very often on RSD.

Yeah Yeah Yeahs' "Sacrilege/Mosquito (Live At Area 52)" single pressed on red vinyl.  While it wasn't a RSD release I had to pick it up along with the new album.

The much talked about Brian Eno/Nicolas Jaar/Grizzly Bear collaboration.  Nicolas Jaar remixed one track from each of the other artists for this 12".

Here's another non-RSD exclusive selection, Carole King's "Tapestry".  When you're around so much vinyl all day, random purchases are bound to be made.

Free CD samplers!  Sub Pop, Def Jam, and other random labels!

Free Charli XCX, Devendra Banhart, and Sugar posters!

Free Toro y Moi keychain!

And that's the haul!  Well, I also picked up that nice Jack White pin at the very top of the page.  As you can probably see, the shops went overboard with random giveaways.  But enough about what I found, what did everyone else buy?  Feel free to leave a comment with your favorite #RSD13 purchases.  If you couldn't find that treasure at the top of your wish list, like myself and countless others, what were you searching for?

Record Store Day 2012

I had always been a CD person.  Unless you count my cassette listening days of the mid-nineties, I've always bought CD's.  I never liked the idea of buying music digitally, and yes, I buy my music.  But over time I've started to make the switch over to vinyl.  Within the last year or so in particular, I started going for vinyl whenever possible.  Something about playing a real record is amazing and I now believe that nothing beats it.  Depending on where you shop, it can be the most cost efficient method as well.

Between that last paragraph and now, I've walked over to my turntable and switched records.  From Chaka Khan to Eurythmics, if you were wondering.

Record Store Day was last Saturday, and this vinyl habit made it mandatory that I attend.  With it being my first year, I wasn't quite sure what to expect.  I could either go to DC or Richmond, seeing as they had the best distance to record store count ratios.  I chose Richmond out of convenience and after discovering that many of the DC stores had closed their locations.  You see! Go out and support your local record stores!

On the morning of RSD12, I headed out to three stores.  With an overly optimistic "Most Wanted" list in hand, I scoured the shelves.  Two of the three stores had lines that wrapped the building, and I missed out on several of my most wanted titles (I'm looking at you, David Bowie picture disc), but overall, I'd say RSD12 was a success.  The Feistodon vinyl pictured above is one my favorite purchases.

I'll have you know that it's extremely difficult to photograph black etched vinyl with minimum glare, so don't cringe at the upcoming photo.  I also picked up a ton of other records, but I'm only posting pictures of the RSD12 exclusives.  I'll feature the other vinyl in future posts.  Keep reading for the remaining pictures of my haul.

Garbage "Blood For Poppies" White 7"

Florence + The Machine "Shake It Out" 7"

Regina Spektor "Bulat Okudzhava" White 7"

Katy Perry "Part Of Me" Pink 12"

Lana Del Rey "Born To Die" 7"

Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros "One Love To Another" 7"

M83 "Mirror" Etched 7"