Can anyone explain the vinyl renaissance?

[Leporello]

Here’s a very typical thread from the Reddit vinyl forum, of somebody discovering vinyl playback:

Just got my first vinyl and it's a whole new experience.​

https://www.reddit.com/r/vinyl/s/bBqbxhR2My

It is certainly typical - from the same stamper as most of the vinyl discoveries. Not only did he purchase his first vinyl, he also purchased the required pre-worded experiences and feelings. It really is a bit depressing. What happened to appreciation of music?

 

[IPunchCholla]

It is certainly typical - from the same stamper as most of the vinyl discoveries. Not only did he purchase his first vinyl, he also purchased the required pre-worded experiences and feelings. It really is a bit depressing. What happened to appreciation of music?

It is terrible when people enjoy something differently from how you do. Kids these days!

 

[DarkKoala]

So inconvenient… changing 2 disks to listen to one album …. standing up 4 times …. and you can spill your beer on the thing while changing the disks while listening with friends

Now I can not just download the entire discography and never listen to the mist things I have …. I spend 50€ on a thing …. I‘ll listen to it.

This banana Album …. everyone tells me, I need to have it …. is terrible … I listen to it anyway … even though I can play better then those efs.

And I always made fun of those vinyl people …. and even tried many times to listen to records at the dealer … and they have this cleaning machine and just looked so old people thing …. and the selection they had …. blahhhh … with my music without cleaning machine …. much more fun. Colorful big disks or even plain black boring ones …. is enjoyable

 

[egellings]

So inconvenient… changing 2 disks to listen to one album …. standing up 4 times …. and you can spill your beer on the thing while changing the disks while listening with friends

Now I can not just download the entire discography and never listen to the mist things I have …. I spend 50€ on a thing …. I‘ll listen to it.

This banana Album …. everyone tells me, I need to have it …. is terrible … I listen to it anyway … even though I can play better then those efs.

And I always made fun of those vinyl people …. and even tried many times to listen to records at the dealer … and they have this cleaning machine and just looked so old people thing …. and the selection they had …. blahhhh … with my music without cleaning machine …. much more fun. Colorful big disks or even plain black boring ones …. is enjoyable

Don't spill the beer! That's alcohol abuse.

 

[Snoopy]

One bad thing about the vinyl revival is the exclusive tracks and store exclusive releases.

So now I have to buy 3 LPs for 40-50€ a piece and sometimes import them .


Or / and

still buy a 5 CD and bluray boxset for ~150€ to make my own atmos downmixes to get the best dynamic range of some new material and buy the hires streaming version for stuff that’s not on the Blu-ray?

Really nuts what’s going on.

Just release the same stuff on all platforms where it’s reasonable (these 7 LP sets are silly) with the same dynamic range .

 

[Leporello]

It is terrible when people enjoy something differently from how you do. Kids these days!

It is not solely about youth. Later in the same reddit thread we read:

Vinyl is not just about the music. But the experience. The act of lookin through the collection, picking and taking out the record, gettin the player to spin, placing the needle… hearing those first initial cracks while the track comes on. I could stream whatever song I want anywhere I want. But I can’t replicate the experience of getting home after a long day and choosing the right record to compliment my mood, my pipe, & my whiskey. Cheers & happy listening!

Does he not have anything original to say? Just a sorry collection of trite ChatGPT platitudes, it seems.

Elsewhere in the same thread people congratulate each other for their common addiction for a piece of plastic and liken themselves to fine gourmets (instead of fast food, of course). Warmth, experience, engagement, cover art, sleeve, taking the record out from the sleeve, warmth, authentic, experience, ritual, cover art, warmth, crackle. It goes on and on with complete lack of innovation and originality. Why did this vinyl resurgence become such a kitschy phenomenon?

 

[MattHooper]

It is certainly typical - from the same stamper as most of the vinyl discoveries. Not only did he purchase his first vinyl, he also purchased the required pre-worded experiences and feelings. It really is a bit depressing.

Someone enjoying something you don't is "depressing?" Why?

What happened to appreciation of music?

What? Do you think people didn't appreciate music before CDs came along? Somehow that long vinyl era impeded the appreciation of music?

You've left out that the Reddit poster specifically talked about how playing the records made him more engaged and listening to the music! So your post doesn’t even make sense.

Does he not have anything original to say? Just a sorry collection of trite ChatGPT platitudes, it seems.

With a similar dismissive attitude, one could say exactly the same about any number of “platitudes” the constantly appear on ASR - e.g. How sighted listening affects perception, the reliability of measurements over purely subjective assessment, the constant appeal to the work of people like Floyd Toole, etc.

Does the fact the same themes continually arise, mean they are not true or relevant? Of course not. They keep arising because they are relevant!

That’s the same for the theme that keep arising when people get into vinyl records and describe how it affects their relationship to music and listening to music.

We know scientifically as well as through our own daily experience that all sorts of factors can influence experience and perception. It’s so strange to see people on “science” oriented form suddenly downplay this as mere “ hipster talk “ when they have a bias against something like the record revival.

It’s not unusual at all that when something becomes utterly ubiquitous and easily accessed, that can change the way SOME people feel about it. Not a few people have found that once practically all
music became instantly accessible virtually anywhere, it could feel less special more disposable or more about background listening. This Reddit poster discovered like many others that the physical aspects of playing a record led him to give more deliberate attention to the music, and listen through an album rather than skipping or searching around for other songs, or just having music playing in the background when streaming.

If you don’t think this could be the case, or simply poo poo it, then you were simply ignoring facts about human psychology.

This of course, doesn’t mean that absolutely everybody feels the same. I love fine dining and I’m a foodie, and I’ve had the misfortune of dining with somebody else who had no interest in fine dining, and found the expense, the presentation of the food to be gratuitous and unnecessary, and “all the portions were too small.” Many of the elements that he disdained where ones that I find elevate my dining experience. To each his own. But it would be simply ignorant to dismiss the peoples experiences can be quite profoundly affected by all sorts of factors, where they happen to be important to you or not.

 

[Anton D]

So inconvenient… changing 2 disks to listen to one album …. standing up 4 times …. and you can spill your beer on the thing while changing the disks while listening with friends

Now I can not just download the entire discography and never listen to the mist things I have …. I spend 50€ on a thing …. I‘ll listen to it.

This banana Album …. everyone tells me, I need to have it …. is terrible … I listen to it anyway … even though I can play better then those efs.

And I always made fun of those vinyl people …. and even tried many times to listen to records at the dealer … and they have this cleaning machine and just looked so old people thing …. and the selection they had …. blahhhh … with my music without cleaning machine …. much more fun. Colorful big disks or even plain black boring ones …. is enjoyable

One of the best albums of all time.

Sometimes, I put Teardrop on the streamer without telling anybody and they all complain about vinyl noise.

Your post is terrific.

Another great thing about vinyl is that when you are play records at your party, no drunken dumbass can pull out his (it's always a he) cell phone and try to hijack the playlist.

Thanks for the great post and the great pic!!!

 

[Anton D]

The funniest thing about vinyl these days is that a turntable and records have become the de rigueur symbol for cool characters in movies.

I mean, if Bosch didn't have Walsh speakers, a Mac 240, and a Marantz 6300 table, I wouldn't watch.

My main man, Jason Statham, in The Mechanic...

His record collection is like John Wick's dog, by the way.

Or, this bit of awesomeness that digital will never match...

Please keep in mind (especially the guy from Seinfeld) that this is all tongue in cheek.

 

[Axo1989]

Looks like they have the first edition! I only have the third.

 

[Robin L]

The funniest thing about vinyl these days is that a turntable and records have become the de rigueur symbol for cool characters in movies.

Please keep in mind (especially the guy from Seinfeld) that this is all tongue in cheek.

Nevertheless, it's still true. Whether it's an advertisement, a television series or a movie, everyone is playing LPs, nobody's playing CDs. Every once in a while, a cassette deck will appear as an obvious throwback, but otherwise turntables and LPs rule the airwaves.

 

[MattHooper]

The funniest thing about vinyl these days is that a turntable and records have become the de rigueur symbol for cool characters in movies.

Very true. It’s like they are trying to shove references to vinyl everywhere they can. When I watch a TV series, I almost expect a record player to show up at some point. And they are all over commercials as well.

Even as someone who works in POST PRODUCTION sound, my recordings of needle drops, ticks and pops, and general record artefacts have been coming into more use since more characters are playing records and scenes, both movies and TV shows.

That vinyl has come back to this level of cultural presence is pretty wild.

 

[Leporello]

Nevertheless, it's still true. Whether it's an advertisement, a television series or a movie, everyone is playing LPs, nobody's playing CDs. Every once in a while, a cassette deck will appear as an obvious throwback, but otherwise turntables and LPs rule the airwaves.

This may actually mean that the fad is reaching a saturation point. What is cool now will inevitably feel cheesy and dated in ten years time.

 

[Axo1989]

Nevertheless, it's still true. Whether it's an advertisement, a television series or a movie, everyone is playing LPs, nobody's playing CDs. Every once in a while, a cassette deck will appear as an obvious throwback, but otherwise turntables and LPs rule the airwaves.

Yes, phones occupy media mostly as a narrative device displaying text message dialog, not quite so much as music players. Playing a record on a turntable usually signals a change of pace. Not unlike life, as the argument (for the renaissance) here goes.

 

[MattHooper]

Yes, phones occupy media mostly as a narrative device displaying text message dialog, not quite so much as music players. Playing a record on a turntable usually signals a change of pace. Not unlike life, as the argument (for the renaissance) here goes.

“ Why would anybody ever buy a book now that we have Kindles and iPads and you can even just read a book on your phone? It doesn’t make sense!”

 

[Brian Hall]

“ Why would anybody ever buy a book now that we have Kindles and iPads and you can even just read a book on your phone? It doesn’t make sense!”

I agree. It doesn't make sense to buy or own any paper books now except for books that would be useful in a real SHTF situation where electronic devices no longer function. Reading on a Kindle or tablet is better in every way.

Comparable to how CDs and streaming formats are so much better in every way than vinyl records.

The only physical books I still have are the FoxFire series, edible plant guides and the SAS Survival Guide.

 

[MattHooper]

I agree. It doesn't make sense to buy or own any paper books now except for books that would be useful in a real SHTF situation where electronic devices no longer function. Reading on a Kindle or tablet is better in every way.

Comparable to how CDs and streaming formats are so much better in every way than vinyl records.

The only physical books I still have are the FoxFire series, edible plant guides and the SAS Survival Guide.

Ha! I Didn’t think anyone here would take that seriously. Your post just exemplified the view I was lampooning, which is the refusal to see how other people find value in things you may not.

Axo1989 indicated the turntables are often used as a change of pace. Likewise, many people still buy real books because they like the form factor, the continuity with what they are familiar with, and also it’s a way to unplug from digital life and not have to look at another goddamn screen like we are dealing with all day long with our phones or our computers.

I personally get tired of dealing with computers and screens and use both turntables and actual books as a way of unplugging from digital life. And I much prefer the feel of a book over my iPad - I’ve read a book or two in my iPad and did not like it nearly as much.

Further, even right now I’m reading a variety of books that no kindle or iPad could reproduce in terms of the same experience: big beautiful coffee table sized books on architecture, the history of sci fi mags, a compendium of Ray Harryhausen artwork, a beautiful, large densely illustrated book on one of my favourite bands, etc. It’s far from true, from my perspective (and that of many others) that “ reading on a Kindle or iPad is better and every way.”

(Just like that Reddit post found that the digital streaming he was used to was not “better in every way” then playing records)

 

[Anton D]

This may actually mean that the fad is reaching a saturation point. What is cool now will inevitably feel cheesy and dated in ten years time.

My hallmark of a fad is when it strays from an easily obtainable good into something that is marketed with ‘artificial rarity’ and purposefully planned variations to try to force collectors into to buying the same product multiple times.

So, your call may be long!

 

[Robin L]

“ Why would anybody ever buy a book now that we have Kindles and iPads and you can even just read a book on your phone? It doesn’t make sense!”

A: My phone doesn't work anymore.
B: My wife took over my Kindle.
C: I have an endless supply of $1 books thanks to a volunteer job at the local library.
D: The local library.

 

[DarkKoala]

The one genre I think is not suitable for records is true ambient stuff like this. I enjoy the album and have it in all forms, but the interruption ruins the experienc.

I think I might enjoy Derelicts more in record form, because resembles album with different songs a bit more