[KarmaContestant]

Originally Posted by PenguinHead

I have dozens of crates full of albums I've collected over the decades. I cherish them, but they weigh a ton when you have to move them, and I have moved at least a dozen times.

I'm stunned that vinyl has come back in vogue, especially with a younger generation who grew up in the digital age. A large music store I frequent has two stores back to back - one with CDs, and the other with just vinyl. It's heaven to me.

The amount of vinyl being issued now is astounding. The artwork is so alluring; along with vintage artists, there are so many obscure bands and artists whose music is being issued and reissued on vinyl, and the imagery is intoxicating. These albums are like visual/sonic works of art.

If I had a super-sized wealth of money, I'd be amassing a large amount of these platters. Unfortunately, vinyl is super expensive, being commensurate with smaller lots and increased quality. I have only several new albums on vinyl -- Stevie's new album, Aimee Mann's last album, and The Mamas & Papas infamous "toilet cover" first album. I would love to have Tom Petty's and U2's new releases, as well so many others.

Aside from the warmer tones, there is an increased intimacy and investment to the music when you can physically hold it in your hands, pouring your eyes over the accompanied imagery, lyrics and liner notes. You give the music more attention; receiving it as a complete body of work. You learn accept, and maybe come to appreciate songs you might otherwise quickly dismiss. They might never be your favorites, but they are part of that family! It's a very different concept and experience from listening to random, hand-picked songs on an ipod.

All I can say is, ditto. So well written. For the last three years or so, almost every new album I've bought has been purchased on vinyl when the format was an option. My favorites are the records that include a CD copy. I have passed on a few titles, and only bought the CD, but that's usually because I procrastinated, like on the latest Mazzy Star or the blue vinyl reissue of Portishead's Dummy.

My favorite aspect of music on vinyl is that it feels more interactive. There's a ceremony to removing the album from it's packaging each time, and the ritual of cleaning the records to preserve their quality, and of course having to flip sides. Listening to an album becomes something I do, if that makes sense.