Penrose Record Room invites vinyl lovers to rediscover the ritual of record-playing with turntables and music accessories, perfect for holiday gifting. (Ken Crawford)
Record players are hot for the holidays. It's been the case for a few years. I think most people assumed the re-emergence of vinyl records was a nostalgia play and would go the way of the Furby. Vinyl records are still around, and sales are still growing. Technologies rarely get a second chance, so why is it that vinyl records, well down the road to obscurity, get sucked back into the cultural milieu?
Humans are bad at predicting the future. Flying cars and robot maids for everyone seemed inevitable in the last century but are now no more than dead fantasies. Isn't it a little interesting that the technologies that seemed like logical progression never came to be and the truly revolutionary advancements that DID happen weren't ever on our radar? In 1970 flying cars were an inevitability but a tiny computer that could access nearly every song and movie from your pocket was never mentioned.
Streaming music is a big part of my life. It is my main method of consumption. I listen to music mostly in my car, and I'm not embarrassed to admit I had a 100 CD sleeve in my car, filled to capacity, plus extras and stragglers tucked into every extra space in my 91 Ford Explorer. Some of my best memories are of driving around with friends and listening to music, but toting my CD collection all over Riverside certainly wasn't the most elegant way to manage my music. Streaming has exploded my opportunity to listen to and discover music anywhere I might be. "Asking Siri" is a truly mind-blowing way to interface with music, but mind-blowing and soul-filling aren't the same thing.
Placing a record on the platter is more than an interface; it's a ritual. It's an intentional act with a tangible object. The ceremony begins with the selection and ends at the needle drop. Whether listening in headphones or in a room full of friends, the process of playing a record is a sacrament. Placing the needle on the record is an act of revelation. There is always a chance that what is in those grooves might change your life, and there really aren't many things we can do to bear that load.
In our effort to encourage our readers to shop locally, here are a few local record stores.
Riverside's own Altura Credit Union earns a prestigious spot in Newsweek's 'America's Best Regional Banks and Credit Unions 2024' list, highlighting its financial stability, excellent lending practices, and high Member satisfaction.
