In November's "Aural Robert" (p.154 in the print mag), music editor Robert Baird sees technological advancement as the major cause for the decline of the independent record store. He writes:
Autumn came without calling first. It snuck its way in through the cracks of my old kitchen windows and made itself at home. I've asked it to spend nights on my orange couch, but, while I sleep, it comes into my bed and hogs all the blankets. It's cold in my apartment.
Over on our eCommerce page, you can now purchase gift certificates. Give as little as $10, and as much as you want. There's no limit to the giving. You know there's that audiophile friend of yours who's wanted that $600 set of every back issue we have in stock.
Besides dumpsters and dust, IN New York magazine left us with some profound silence. We spent much of the morning admiring it. Today, the ninth floor of 261 Madison Avenue, which can comfortably accommodate nearly 100 dedicated employees, saw only seven.
On this grayest of Fridays, the City's streets are wet with such strange sadness. How could it have happened? I, and many others, wake still stunned. How is it that their season is already complete, without ring, without title?
I got scooped on this by Josh Ray over at Sonic Flare, but, in my defense, I did manage to tell my sweetheart about it. My priorities are in place, indeed. I told her, "You might be interested in this." Kelli owns an iPod, you see. I do not. "I don't know anything about TL Audio," I continued, "but I am familiar with Bluebird Music. I'm a fan of their products as well as their business philosophy one that emphasizes system synergy and value for money. At home, I'm using their Exposure integrated amp and CD player. Good stuff."