Why records are better than CDs in the streaming age
Why records are better than CDs in the streaming age
Vinyl is the most popular way to buy music and that's a good thing.
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For active bands, the artist makes (actual) money and I get a treat. Plus I like to look at the art.
Also, buying used records is a cool way to discover new older music without some algorithm shoving it down my throat.
I also just think they're neat. And I actually do treat albums like a thing to sit down and pay attention to with a record. Big album art is a plus.
And, with streaming you don't get to read the liner notes and the stuff the artist/liner writer wanted to say there.
Also, buying used records is a cool way to discover new older music without some algorithm shoving it down my throat.
Yeah, having a couple of record stores nearby that stock stuff you like is fun. Especially when you can see flyers of local shows and stuff there, too.
But that’s not any different than a used cd. You can do nearly all the things you listed, just substitute CD instead of vinyl and it still works. Aside from art. And even then, there are boatloads of albums with no real art beyond the name of the band, the albums name, and the record label.
I also collect CDs. But there is something ineffable about Vinyl records that makes it easier to focus on one for me. It is part of the ritual.
Maybe it's because I tend to rip CDs immediately, but I rarely sit down to listen to them. I do listen to them more overall after they are added to my Plex server.
If you (can) do those things with CDs or streaming, more power to you. Theoretically I COULD simply not digitize my CDs and then I'd have to treat them like records. But I've never thought to do so before now.
Also, don't get me wrong, streaming (services or my own server) is very convenient and it makes up probably 80% of my listening.
Lastly, some stuff was never re-released on CD (and therefore isn't streamable) and is still worth tracking down or stumbling upon.
Often, I listen to a record, hear an instrumental part I like, look up who they are in the liner notes, and see what that person did as a band leader or who else they played for. You can do that online, but it's annoying and people rarely do.