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The Death of the Record Store
Inspired by another thread it's been brought home to me that large areas of the country now lack any credible alternative to the chainstores when it comes to shopping for records.
Yes, there's always the internet, but, it's never going to replicate that feeling you get when you're flicking through the racks, chancing upon something you'd forgotten you wanted, bumping into somebody you haven't seen for a while, perusing the 'Bassist Wanted - Influences Slayer, Daphne & Celeste, Kriss Kross' adverts on the wall, etc etc
There are now no decent record shops in Hampshire or Dorset (once you exclude specialist dance music retailers and sketchy second hand shops in obscure suburbs).....I reckon that Stand Out in Salisbury is now the only credible independent record store between London and Cardiff (does Bath still have any?).
I'm sure the picture is the same elsewhere in the country. It seems that outside of London/Birmingham/Manchester/Nottingham/Leeds/Sheffield/Edinburgh/Glasgow you're pretty much screwed these days. There are a few exceptions, Brighton seems to be keeping a disproportionately large number in business, but, then that city has it's own unique demographics.
So, do you know of a genuinely good independent record store outside of a major city?
Let's compile a list!
Stand Out (Fisherton Street) - Salisbury, Wiltshire