Record Store Day
This is a little bit after the fact, but last Saturday April 19, 2008 was Record Store Day across the nation. As I've mentioned here on my blog previously, the independent record store is something that is in decline with online downloads (iTunes, etc.). Hopefully, you all had a chance to go to your local record store and support the local business. I even saw some stores had performances by bands. Unfortunately, I didn't get to see any. I contributed by forsaking my urge to buy a few CDs at the Virgin Megastore.. and ended up buying a few CD's at my local store. If you didn't get a chance to share in this great endeavor.. not to worry. You can still participate now by going down to your local CD store! Check out the website for a review of the event from around the country: http://www.recordstoreday.com The website also has a good listing to find your local CD store (if you don't know already). If you want to cherish the whole indie record store vibe, might I suggest renting or buying the following movies: "Empire Records" and "High Fidelity". They should get you in the right mood! Oh and your welcome!

Post-punk music...
Lately, I have started reading a book called "Rip it up and start again : postpunk 1978-1984" by Simon Reynolds. According to the inset, the author is a senior editor at Spin magazine. I was perusing the music section one day at my local bookstore and this book jumped out at me. Perhaps of all the music styles from this time period I find that post-punk (click here for a definition of post-punk) to be the most interesting to me. After all, this style was influenced and based in punk music, but it later blossoms into other styles such as new wave, college rock, alternative, and indie. Most modern alternative music can be considered punk based and post-punk is the first step towards what we now understand as "indie" music. The author of the book seems to have lived through a lot of this musical time period and offers a great history from his own experience and interviews with the artists from this period. I have started learning more of the post-punk 'scenes' at this time. Most of which took place somewhere in England (where a majority of these bands were from). The book contains an insightful look into all these bands. Some of the most famous bands of this style include bands such as Joy Division, Talking Heads, Public Image Ltd., Gang of Four, Mission of Burma, Wire, Devo, etc. The author gives the history of most of these bands and their scenes throughout the time. In addition, the author discusses the reasons and shifts in sound for post-punk's rise and fall. The book lists that the author's website contains lots of extra footage, news, links, blog and info on his website. If you are at all interested in this style I would recommend checking out his website (http://www.simonreynolds.net) or grab his book to read. Both are packed with great information on modern day indie music origins and history.