TV killed the radio star, but at least hipsters brought back vinyl records. As CD sales continue to drop, vinyl sales were up 32 percent in 2015 — their highest level since 1988. These days, you can buy LPs while picking up salsa mix at Whole Foods, and music companies are releasing records with new features you’d never find in grandpa’s stash. Think: Ghostbusters limited editions that actually smell like the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man and an LP from Jack White that summons up a holographic angel as it plays.
If you haven’t already wiped off the dust on turntable stored away in the basement, here’s three reasons why it’s time to get spinning.
They Let You to Step Away From Screens
Your cell phone is stressing you out and killing your relationship. Shut off your phone for the night, and turn to something a bit more old-fashioned.
Vinyl records release you from the work of curating a perfect playlist or skipping over a bad song. You can make yourself a drink, deplug, and focus on the valleys and crescendos of an album in full.
They Add Character to Your Apartment
Place a record player on an end table, tuck a crate of records underneath, and bam—never struggle for a conversation starter when guests come over again. Learn about new friends through their selections, and warm your home with the crackling sound of a spinning record.
To liven up bare walls, you can frame and hang the sleeves of with the best album art. Just be sure to store the actual records in replacement sleeves to prevent scratches ($15, amazon.com).
Before you go crazy buying and hanging limited edition Prince albums, determine what caliber of turntable fits in with your lifestyle.
This Shinola turntable ($2,500, shinola.com) and this glossy red Thorens option ($1,499, soundstagedirect.com) both cost as much as a piece of art, but they look like ones, too. They’re also built to last and built to suit any vinyl expert—or allow them to swap in even higher quality parts until their ears are tickled pink.
At a far lower price (and consequently, lower quality), the Crosley record player ($99, urbanoutfitters.com) is the right piece for the casual, first-time record buyer. Unlike a turntable, a record player has a built-in amplifier and speakers. Just plug it into the wall, and you’re good to go. What you gain in convenience though, you lose in sound quality. The weight of heavier than normal cartridge (the piece attached to the needle) will also wear down your records faster.
For a perfect mid-point, go for this Audio-Technica turntable ($299, amazon.com), and make sure to only hook it up to high-quality speakers.
It’s a Great Hobby
Loneliness is nearly as likely to kill you as smoking, and isolation increases your risk of a heart attack by 29 percent.
Point being: You need to get out there and make more friends. Buy a record player, and you’ll find yourself spending Saturdays in music stores and flea markets swapping collector’s stories with fellow audiophiles as you dig through crates of legends gone by.
It’s a lot harder to meet your next best friend comparing Spotify playlists, and records will give you something new to talk about with family members of any age. Finally, no more political talk at the summer cookout.
Similarly, “Want to come up and see my record collection?” Not a bad line at the end of a date, if you ask us.
