No, it’s not because I think I’m some hipster who enjoys such anomalies as Trappist beer and a finely waxed mustache. And no, it’s not because I’m some audiophile dedicated to the quality of analog, spending over $5000 a year on Hi-Fi equipment - I am a college student after all. I buy vinyl because it lets you connect more with the music.
Today, over 40 million people use streaming services such as Spotify and Apple Music as their primary source of music - even more use YouTube. These services are great for quickly finding and cataloging your favorite music as well as creating playlists, however, they create a certain detachment from the music. With the advent of streaming services, music has become intangible. It has become something that is borrowed and disposed of once it has served its purpose.
But think back to that collection of CD’s that you had (or maybe still have). I particularly remember the CDs that I kept in my car, before I finally got a vehicle with an aux input. Jewel cases were always falling apart, especially the ones with two discs. I remember quickly trying to change the CD I was listening to - most of them not in their proper case - before the traffic light turned green. And I always knew when a certain CD would start to skip so I could fast forward past it. Sure it was a clunky and sometimes unpleasant experience, but it was ultimately personal. There’s something more satisfying about placing a disc into a CD player than there is with pressing a button to play a song that’s stored on some massive database whose whereabouts are unknown.
Vinyl serves the same purpose. There’s something comforting in the act of placing a record on the mat of a turntable and moving the stylus over. You know that the sound is created by minuscule grooves that are engraved in the vinyl. You can even hear the crackles created from dust and dirt particles embedded in those grooves. Vinyl can also historically connect you with the music. It’s possible to own a 1970 pressing of The Beatles’ “Let It Be”, the year that the album was released. It’s something that can be passed down from generation to generation. This past year, my parents gave me some of their records and shared with me some of their favorite songs as well as some memories that they had while listening to them. The experience that vinyl brings is altogether more intimate and unique.
Vinyl also brings with it an entire community. There're numerous forums dedicated to discussing vinyl, not to mention there're record stores everywhere, usually closer than you think. These communities give you places to not just talk about vinyl but also to talk about music in general with people who are extremely passionate about it.
I’m not saying that you should abandon streaming services altogether. In fact, I use Spotify for most of my daily music needs. But I like to think of the difference between streaming services and vinyl as similar to the difference between fast food and a home-cooked dinner. Fast food is efficient and gets the job done, but I think everyone would prefer a nice home-cooked meal shared with family and friends. They both provide you with food, the latter is simply a far more enjoyable experience.
