When I read "Tower Records - the end of an era?" I felt like I might burst with glee! It's the beginning of a far better one...one you will like too, Stymee007!

I stopped buying CDs too long ago to remember, but you know what I do buy? Records. You are right on the money. I haven't stepped foot in a Tower Records in years, but a year ago I got an idea - what would the music sound like on a record player. I got a cheap player for $80 at K Mart that had CD and TApe deck and even a coverter to play my Ipod. Then I went to Spinners, a used records store. I didn't go to Tower for Records either because $18 for a Beck LP is ridiculous. I got the same LP for $7 at the collectors place. The truth is, MP3 technology makes CD quality sound, but nothing can duplicate vinyl's graining hissing and deep grooves. So if I want the physical version of music I buy records. Also, CD cases are small and annoying. I prefer big record jackets - I've even framed a couple records and put them on my wall as art. My prediciton? Resurgance in people's interest in vinyl.

It's spreading. Many of my college friends are also buying vinyl and at parties my record player is the center of attention. People gather around the record collection in anticipation of what their favorite bands are going to sound like on vinyl. My friend in Indiana is giving LPs as gifts this year. When my new roomate moved in he brought his own set of Vinyl and his own record player! Can you imagine early 20 somethings transporting their Detrolas and Petrolas around? He had a great collection too. The great thing about used record stores is getting the obscure stuff. My roomate had three Django Reinhardt albums. I couldn't believe it.

Vinyl has already resurged in the UK creating Vinyl stores with a few Cds supplementing their inventory. New bands, mostly Indie are making 7'' and 12'' available now too, such as Devenfra Banhart, the White Stripes, The Strokes, The Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Belle and Sebastian, Beck and so on and so forth. The used record shops sell them for a way better price then Tower's old record section did....which was like three rows and looked very sad in the back corner of the store in the dark.

Amoeba records is by far the greatest of all mixed media record stores with like three or four rows dedicated to Vinyl. One whole row of $1 vinyl. Very awesome.

I like the throw back to vinyl because it feels pure. it's like returning to recorded music's roots while still being able to tranfer music through cyberspace.

So my prediction for the new generation of music lovers:
Records (Thumbs Up) they're not just for scratching anymore!

--Sue Stone