Why I Don't Like Record Stores

I never have. I know that I should have a particular reason, but until recently I didn't. All I knew was that I have never felt quite comfortable perusing around the stacks. I never felt like the staff made me uncomfortable (usually it's quite the opposite). It was never the other consumers, although some of them -whom I presume are "regulars" - have quite a habit of throwing sneering glances across the room.



It came to me today. The reason that I don't like record stores is because they all organize their music in the same way - by genre. This is a very intuitive way to organize such a vast collection, and I don't have any suggestions for alternative methods, but it's always bothered me because I don't know exactly how to classify the kind of music I like. Probably because there are many influences from different genres in the music that I tend to find appealing (and most current music). In any case, I usually leave a record store completely unsatisfied, and even more befuddled about genres than I had been before I went in the place.



So let me save you a trip to the record store if you share my qualms. These are some of my favorite songs from a bunch of artists (most of which I recently discovered). No genres. No classifications. No explanations. Just songs =)

The only thing I'll say about this list is that none of the songs are particularly happy. In fact, most of them are languid and some of them are sad.

1. Mynabirds - What we Lose in the Fire


2. Horse Feathers - Belly of June


3. Mumford & Sons - White Blank Page (among so many others)


4. Villagers - Becoming a Jackal


5. Villagers - Twenty Seven Strangers


6. Sarah Jaffe - Before You Go


7. Dave Matthews Band - Funny the Way it Is


8. Griffin House -


9. Mayer Hawthorne - Maybe So, Maybe No


10. The Unthanks - Here's the Tender Coming

Autumn Changes

School is back in session! I can't wait to get back into a real routine! School always brings out the hyper-organized, almost anal part of my personality. And right now, I'm having a ton of fun organizing things and getting my life and surroundings into something that resembles a structure. Look at all these lists I started keeping! (I LOVE lists.) These don't even include my to do list in my planner (which is by far the lengthiest).

I don't know if you can tell, but I'm wearing my hair parted in the middle today. This is a huge change for me. I don't think I've done that since I was 8. I probably won't be doing it often, but it's funny how something so small can make a person feel so different!

I knew it wouldn't take long, but I am forced to change my 4 Simple Goals for autumn. My camera was stolen from me by my mother, and by stolen I do mean I willingly let her borrow it for a while. And my Holga, which I just bought, already seems to be in disrepair. (Matt has vowed to help me fix it.) Also, when I said that I would stretch every morning, I didn't fully take into account that I have work at 8 in the morning twice per week. So I think that stretching any time throughout the day will suffice.

In place of taking a picture everyday (at least until I get my camera back) I hereby vow to do something crafty every weekend. I have a whole list of crafts that I've been dying to try out & I haven't and I won't unless I make time for it! So that's that.

I've been doing really well with my Sunday to-do list (except for this past sunday because I had a very impromptu, very long trip to see my dad and my list usually takes the whole day to complete), and I've also listened to a ton of new music that I plan to share in a separate post someday soon.

Also, I'm thinking about getting myself a time-slot on the student radio station here at school. I wouldn't be on the FM channel, but on the online streaming channel - a little less pressure. I need a good overall concept for my show, and perhaps a co-host. But I think that I'll do a different musical concept every week. This plan is contingent upon a lot of things, especially my clearing time in the good old schedule. But I think it will be a worthwhile thing to do, and it will make me happy.

There are so many things I am looking forward to this autumn. Pumpkin spice lattes and leaves changing colors, a challenging (but hopefully rewarding) semester, turning 21, the delivery of a very special little blessing, figuring out life plans and taking the first real steps to making my dreams come true. It is going to be such a magical time, and I couldn't be more thrilled that it's all happening so soon!