Tag Archives: record stores

Platterpus Records, Addison Illinois

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by Joe Wallace

So it begins–the Vinyl Road Rage updates move into record store review territory now because if I don’t start writing ’em, they will NEVER get done. There’s already a massive backlog of great indie record stores to cover and you have to start sometime so we begin with the great Platterpus Records in Addison, Illinois.

Platterpus sells online and does not have a storefront per se, but they do have a bi-monthly warehouse sale where they invite the public to come and browse literally thousands of records. You can also come out and look by appointment, which is how I enjoyed my first visit.

Platterpus is challenging for non-crate digging obsessive record shoppers going by appointment because the stock is literally boxed and waiting the warehouse sale–but the persistent digger is soon rewarded with plenty of delicious finds.

I strongly recommend searching the site’s online stock–which is not available for crate digging–before going to the warehouse. I was rewarded with a couple of wonderful finds using this approach–a Coil 12-inch I’d been long seeking and some other beauties.

Crate digging at Platterpus is a wonderful way to spend an afternoon. I have yet to experience the warehouse sale but the Platterpus folks tell me it’s organized and fun. They’re friendly, very helpful and I will definitely be going back out to Addison at some point soon for more digging.

In the world of storefronts, Platterpus Records is a bit of an anomaly, but it’s definitely working for them, and any warehouse sale that also features cocktails  and live bands (as advertised in their last flyer) cannot be a bad thing at all. I REALLY want to try the warehouse sale version of Platterpus Records . Cocktails and vinyl? Oh yes, please.

The View from Vinyl Road Rage

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Here’s a collection of images taken along the way from Vinyl Road Rage. The record shop reviews begin with our very next post, so stay tuned for a long series of ’em!

Coil Panic EP

An absolutely fabulous find at the Columbus record store Magnolia Thunderpussy, which wins some kind of prize for the most uniquely left-field company name, ever.

I love it. Not “attention record lovers” or “vinyl junkies” but, “record nerds“. A lack of tact makes the world go round…and yeah, I’ll say it. I AM A RECORD NERD. But like all nerds everywhere, we prefer something a bit more idealized like “vinyl junkie” or “collector” rather than “subhumanoid cellar dweller”. But we smile as we know it’s all in good fun.  You’re laughing WITH us, right? Say you’re laughing with us. Yeah, ok. Heh.

Spoonful Records Columbus Ohio

Seriously, every record store should have pinball. Spoonful Records in Columbus get my vote for all-time greatest record store decor concept ever with these two machines. The only thing a record shop could do that would be one better would be free pizza and beer. Daily. For breakfast. But it would have to be served next to the pinball.

Lost Weekend Records

Lost Weekend Records is another shop that demands a visit. It’s clearly a labor of love and gives me hope that vinyl is here to stay–as long as there are people who love it this much, we’re golden.

Next up–the Vinyl Road Rage record shop reviews begin! Stay tuned folks, there’s plenty of great stuff ahead.

–Joe Wallace

Vinyl Road Rage #3: Images from the Trip So Far

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Vinyl Road Rage is Turntabling’s annual indie record store blogging road trip, where we search for the coolest record shops in the USA, rare and bizarre vinyl, and all the madness that goes with it. One of the best things about these trips–aside from the vinyl itself and the great people met along the way– are the photos. Here are some of the images collected so far. At the time of this posting, it’s Day Three and Cincinnati/Columbus are next. These pics are from Illinois, Indiana, and Kentucky.

Oh, it’s one of THOSE record stores. Got no time for percussion purists, ESPECIALLY when the shop in question had “We Built This City” by Jefferson Starship playing at top volume. My stomach did a nine-G turn when I heard that walking in the door.

Louisville Kentucky’s Ear X-Tacy gets massive points for having vinyl listening stations so you can hear what your investment sounds like before dropping the cash. Guessing this applies to used titles only? I love the “no scratching” bit.

I love a shop that has EVERYTHING on sale. Yes, please. That box to the right of the sign is a Creeple Peeple box. Sweet.

The title says it all. Brilliant.

Vinyl Road Rage Day #2: Bloomington Indiana, Louisville Kentucky, Cincinnati Ohio

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by Joe Wallace

Day Two of Vinyl Road Rage #3 was filled with highway hypnosis. I went from Bloomington Indiana to Cincinnati Ohio, hitting a LOT of indie record shops along the way.

There are pictures, but they will be posted tomorrow–my camera is charging now and I’ll extract the images later. Suffice it to say that the trip so far has uncovered plenty of great shops.

I can tell you that Bloomington Indiana is great place to stop all around, but especially TD’s CDs and LPs at 322 E Kirkwood Ave. Not only did this shop have no fewer than four Goblin titles on vinyl (more? I lost count!) they also had a copy of the Terror soundtrack, which I have been lusting after for quite some time after letting a copy slip away ages ago, thinking “I’ll grab it later.” Foolish mortal!

Also great–Landlocked Music at 202 N Walnut Ave in Bloomington. Lots of new vinyl, but plenty of used titles to browse too. Like TD’s, this shop has a respectful section of experimental records that deserve a long look if you’re into those sounds (I am). I’ll have more in-depth reviews of these shops and others individually but I HAD to touch on some of the highlights.

Bloomington was much more clean-cut than Louisville, KY, which has a more Austin, Texas vibe to it. Sadly, there were no real rare, bizarre or otherwise lustworthy titles in Louisville. Record shops there seem to emphasize new titles more, and while there are plenty of used bins to pour over, my own personal obsessions went un-fed. Fans of 60s and 70s psych, garage and hippie titles will be pleased and any jazz fan will probably have a lot to crate-dig for.

Cincinnati record shops had to wait–there was a parking lot-style standstill just outside the city and I missed the shops thanks to the traffic. Tomorrow I will hit them and write up some notes later in the evening. Vinyl Road Rage #3 wraps up for the day on Saturday in Columbus where there are more record shops than police officers, near as I can tell.