Music Matters?

yankeefan

I’m just curious how many people here go to Music Matters on 7th ave by 14th st? I recently stopped there and couldn’t help but wonder how much money they make these days. The guy in there is so friendly. And I’d like to see neighborhood music stores like that survive, and not have nothing but chains like Sam Goodys or ordering online as your only options for buying CDs.

possibly_maybe

I've only been there a couple times, but the last time I went I wound up spending about $130.

I've read something really negative about them somewhere (forgot where), but my experiences have been real good. Super friendly and helpful, and really personable in a genuine way, not the I'm-nice-to-you-so-give-me-your-money way.

t-fal

I haven't heard of the place, what is their vinyl selection like?

longtimesloper

Vinyl? Who sells vinyl anymore except for specialty used shops?

Anyway, it's a really nice place, the owner is a great guy and all, i just think all CD stores will be closing soon-with ipods and such, who is really buying discs anymore?

yankeefan

LongTimeSloper wrote: i just think all CD stores will be closing soon-with ipods and such, who is really buying discs anymore?

I hate reading that, but you’re probably right. Even though Holy Cow Records wasn’t there all that long, that place really became a classic part of Park Slope in 90's. So when it closed down a few years ago I was shocked. Now as far as I know, Music Matters is the last music store left in Park Slope. I would really like to see a neighborhood music store like this stay around, and not see all of 7th ave become nothing but restaurants and real estates.

garfunky

vinyl (78 to 45 to 33)/8track/cassettes/CD/mini-disc (sort of) /
DAT players (sort of)

and now its mp3/ipods

in another 5 years or so theyll come up with yet another completely independant new format to play music on anyways doncha think ?

Music Matters has been there about 10 years. "Keep on keepin on !"

longtimesloper

YankeeFan wrote: [quote=LongTimeSloper] i just think all CD stores will be closing soon-with ipods and such, who is really buying discs anymore?

I hate reading that, but you’re probably right. Even though Holy Cow Records wasn’t there all that long, that place really became a classic part of Park Slope in 90's. So when it closed down a few years ago I was shocked. Now as far as I know, Music Matters is the last music store left in Park Slope. I would really like to see a neighborhood music store like this stay around, and not see all of 7th ave become nothing but restaurants and real estates.


I hope he stays around too, it's a cute store and Jason is a nice guy who started out up there way before it was popular to be up there. It's just the way the world is going that makes me make that statement

possibly_maybe

MM does have a smallish vinyl collection, actually.

As for CDs... I buy 100% of my music in that format. I don't like the idea of paying for crappy 128kbps downloads. Sure, some are offered higher, but then there's the bunch that don't even exist on iTunes at all. I'd rather get myself the "master" of sorts and rip em my self at 256/320 LAME.

And yes, there is a clear difference in quality between 128 and 256 (listen for the cymbals). No way I'll pay any amount of money for that junk that's passed off as the norm.

j0518

i've never been in there. i absolutely should. it's just on the opposite end of the slope for me.

we need to support, not only local record stores, but Brooklyn record stores.

the closest store with a solic backcatalog that i can think of is J&R, and that's in lower Manhattan. the two big box abominations in the Atlantic Center are so disorganized, and music is such an afterthought there, that you can't even find a new release easily.

i absolutely still support CDs. i really only download music in a lossless format with flac or wav because of a side hobby in which i upmix stereo cds to surround. you need CD quality for that. besides, mp3s on anything other than an Ipod are terrible. i can't believe people willingly pay money on Itunes for quality that awful.

we need both local and Brooklyn record stores. i was shopping at Cutler's, on the Yale campus in New Haven, a few weeks ago, and got into a conversation with one of the employees as to Dennis WIlson of the Beach Boys. you just don't have conversations like that with record store employees anymore. it's a little lost form of magic.

j0518

possibly_maybe wrote: MM does have a smallish vinyl collection, actually.

As for CDs... I buy 100% of my music in that format. I don't like the idea of paying for crappy 128kbps downloads. Sure, some are offered higher, but then there's the bunch that don't even exist on iTunes at all. I'd rather get myself the "master" of sorts and rip em my self at 256/320 LAME.

And yes, there is a clear difference in quality between 128 and 256 (listen for the cymbals). No way I'll pay any amount of money for that junk that's passed off as the norm.

i'll willingly downsample something to 128kps mp3 for storage on my IPhone, but that's about it. pay for it on ITunes? never.

the real crime is that they expect people to pay even $.99 for that junk.

agitpunkt

I buy something there at least once every six weeks. I tend to do a lot of my used CD shopping in the city, but for all the new stuff, I'll go to Music Matters.

I was just in there yesterday as a matter of fact.

yankeefan

With J&R, F.Y.E., Sam Goodys, or any chain store like that, if you go in and they don’t have what you‘re looking for, it’s too bad. But at Music Matters if they don’t have what you’re looking for, you just tell the guy and he’ll order it for you. If they’re selling a used CD and you ask him to play it because you’re unsure yet if you want to buy it, he’ll gladly play it….. That’s why I like this type of neighborhood music store as opposed to the chain stores.

rtraindweller

LongTimeSloper wrote: Vinyl? Who sells vinyl anymore except for specialty used shops?

Tons of places sell vinyl, old and new. There's a great spot on 5th Ave and 9th St. Mostly used but has some new. For newer stuff there's a ton of shops in Williamsburg, and Greenpoint.

j0518

YankeeFan wrote: With J&R, F.Y.E., Sam Goodys, or any chain store like that, if you go in and they don’t have what you‘re looking for, it’s too bad. But at Music Matters if they don’t have what you’re looking for, you just tell the guy and he’ll order it for you. If they’re selling a used CD and you ask him to play it because you’re unsure yet if you want to buy it, he’ll gladly play it….. That’s why I like this type of neighborhood music store as opposed to the chain stores.

I used to work for Peaches when I was in college, which was a chain that did things right. We absolutely special-ordered for people all the time.

Those were the days...

longtimesloper

rtraindweller wrote: [quote=LongTimeSloper]Vinyl? Who sells vinyl anymore except for specialty used shops?

Tons of places sell vinyl, old and new. There's a great spot on 5th Ave and 9th St. Mostly used but has some new. For newer stuff there's a ton of shops in Williamsburg, and Greenpoint.

Right, i forgot about that "store' on 5th Avenue & 9th-I guess I would consider that a specialty shop

yankeefan

J0518 wrote: I used to work for Peaches when I was in college, which was a chain that did things right. We absolutely special-ordered for people all the time.

Those were the days...

Fair enough. But my feeling is: when I support local business, the money I spent makes a difference for them. When I support big chains, the money I spent doesn’t make a big difference….. I also think local businesses help give a neighborhood it’s character, in a way chain stores do not.

j0518

YankeeFan wrote: [quote=J0518]I used to work for Peaches when I was in college, which was a chain that did things right. We absolutely special-ordered for people all the time.

Those were the days...

Fair enough. But my feeling is: when I support local business, the money I spent makes a difference for them. When I support big chains, the money I spent doesn’t make a big difference….. I also think local businesses help give a neighborhood it’s character, in a way chain stores do not.

oh, i absolutely agree. i just wanted to point out that there were chains, back in the days where there were chains that would sell you CDs, tapes, and vinyl, without trying to sell you a fridge as well, which definitely did special orders and deep back catalogs.

i love local record stores with music nerds that know everything about everything and can get you anything in print. i miss the dynamic in places like that. i also miss used CD stores like crazy and the "will I find something good today?" excitement you encountered walking into them.

sharpie

I buy most of my music there, support them as often as I can. Love the frequent buyer card -- one free CD for every 15 you buy. I always have that card on me and I always let my son get the free CD.

brooklynpotter

J0518 wrote: [quote=possibly_maybe]MM does have a smallish vinyl collection, actually.

As for CDs... I buy 100% of my music in that format. I don't like the idea of paying for crappy 128kbps downloads. Sure, some are offered higher, but then there's the bunch that don't even exist on iTunes at all. I'd rather get myself the "master" of sorts and rip em my self at 256/320 LAME.

And yes, there is a clear difference in quality between 128 and 256 (listen for the cymbals). No way I'll pay any amount of money for that junk that's passed off as the norm.

i'll willingly downsample something to 128kps mp3 for storage on my IPhone, but that's about it. pay for it on ITunes? never.

the real crime is that they expect people to pay even $.99 for that junk.

am i the only one whose home burned CDs skip more than store bought ones? what am i doing wrong?