Why I love vinyl records (22nd Feb 2008)

I thought I'd take a little time out of my busy schedule of doing absolutely nothing to explain why I like vinyl records so much.
They're out of date? They're bulky? They're impracticle? Shut up!
Not only do they look massively cooler than cds, they are also collectors items and have exclusive B-sides that the cd singles do not. Sure, you could download them, but that is the polar opposite of why I love records.

1: I guess it's a purist wanky DJ thing. I think it's just the experience of listening to the music, instead of just turning on my mp3 player and putting the 'favourites' playlist on. You have to put effort into vinyls, and I like that. The album has been carefully laid out track by track- I think some people forget.

2: Beautiful massive album art, and also how visually pleasing the records are. You want to protect them, and believe me- even down to your cheapest single, you will not want some randomer picking them up and playing with them, unlike cds. When I was DJing a few months ago, something was threatening to land on my favourite Flaming Lips EP and I just turned round, had a massive go and forbid anyone to touch any of my records.. erm.. yeh lol, slight over-reaction >_<

3: Setting them up will never get boring. Listening to an album on vinyl record really makes you appreciate it. Unlike a cd or a MP3 album on your computer, it is very hard and also inadvisable to 'pause' a record. Sure, you can lift the needle up while you go get a drink or whatever, but you can't leave it for too long- it will inevitably get dusty or damaged by random nosey people wondering what it is.
You have to stay in the room and listen to the full album. This makes me only buy outstanding albums on vinyl, as it's no good getting one with that one track you always skip- because it's really hard to!

4: You literally have to look forward to hearing certain music. I have this thing where I never buy a cd and vinyl of the same album, so with a lot of my albums, I have to wait til I get home to listen to them!

5: From a purely self-advertising POV, it's much more interesting to say you are a vinyl DJ! Then when asked if you can scratch, you reply that if anyone attempts to scratch with your kit, decks or records, you will personally shove said vinyl up their arse, regardless of the sacrifice in doing so.

6: Oh come on, look how pretty they are, and how nice they sound :) It's interesting to actually 'see' where the music comes from. Did you know that if you stick your ear next to the needle and record, you can hear a tiny version of the song playing? :D This is the song that becomes amplified to the version you would hear on your speakers. Also the song combined with the going-round-ness of the vinyl can sometimes be really effective!

Interesting, huh?