I hate

GP phone appointments. nurse casually mentioned I had an appointment showing on the system for today to go over some recent test results when I was there for something else last week, no time specified and haven't had any notification to tell me about it actually happening.

called up yesterday and they were like "oh it's a phone appointment, there's no time. we'll call you sometime between 8am and 6pm."

guess I'll just waste my entire day doing nothing that might risk me not being able to answer the phone at the precise moment they decide to fit me into their schedule.

If only there was a way appoint a nominated time in their calendar so they know they'll then have time to call me and I would be able to plan accordingly without wasting my entire day. nah a laughable idea, not even sure what you would call something like that.

Something akin to that, I received a couple of calls a few weeks ago, no message, unable to call back because it’s a one way line. Through google and reddit I discovered it was the hospital calling. I called my doc and he confirmed that some tests have been scheduled. I eventually got a letter giving me the details. Is the caller too idiotic or busy to leave a message, knowing that I will have no idea what this is about? I tend to automatically block these kinds of calls…

Chef Reacts? Also on TikTok and YouTube.

Chef Reacts?

Yeah, I figured he's on most things, I like him a lot.

Record Store Day. What, are they closed every other day of the year? Oh, it’s a cynical cash grab by the major labels disguised as a cool grass roots record store driven event? Gotcha 👍

(I’ve been monkied by it before too)

My daughter has replaced “yes and no” with “uh hu and uh uh”.

uh oh

Hands up, I contributed to it today!

Saw a limited edition new album release I really wanted and queued for it.

I was flipping between queuing or buying it on discogs next week for probably twice the price. My wife was working this morning so I decided to go and queue.

I got there just before 7.30am and there was at least 100 people in front for an 8am opening.

I would have thought it keeps some of the smaller record shops going. Most people were coming out with 2 or 3 albums at £40++ quid each.

My mate was telling me about an article he read saying it was just a con by the industry.

Anyway, I am very happy with the three bits I bought and glad I went.

Parked on a quiet residential street in Coulsdon yesterday for a kids party. Parked legally, not blocking anyone. Came back 3 hours later to find my car had been keyed.

Cnuts.

Compared to previous generations, almost no one buys physical copies of music anymore, so surely anything that helps keeps independent record stores going is a good thing. It's the busiest time of the year for my local shop - Banquet in Kingston. If they think it's a good thing then who am I to disagree.

I've not read up on the criticisms - but the main one to me is that while it might support the shops, it only really supports artists that have already done very well, rather than the type of artists that cannot sell out an arena tour on a whim and are therefore mullered by the lack physical sales and hardship of smaller scale touring.

Banquet in Kingston

Ha! We rode past and I wondered wtf all the people were lined up outside for. I assumed some gig tickets were on sale there or there was an instore appearance by some muso. Never heard of record store day. I don't buy vinyl any more but I do like physical media for music, just most of what I listen to doesn't exist in anything other than download formats.

It's been a few years since I engaged with RSD but I thought it was also a thing for smaller bands to release specials?

Relatedly-ish, I want to buy a physical copy of an album that was out a few years ago. Not super obscure, but might not just be walk in to the shop and expect it to be there. CD and/or vinyl. Where should I put my money?

Yeah, here's the full queue. 3 hours plus at one point....

https://twitter.com/BanquetRSDfeed/status/1781929497849135333

I'm not really one for a big queue, but whatever floats your boat.

Bandcamp direct from the artist?

Wow. Either I didn't clock where it turned the corner or we went by much earlier. I thought it was maybe 30-50 people. Even that was too many for me to bother with. Life's too short for waiting in queues.

Maybe it is - but the big names seem to be the most sought after. This may have increasingly become the case over time, hence some disatisfaction with what its become?

Variety has this : Record Store Day 2024’s Most Wanted: Olivia Rodrigo & Noah Kahan, Talking Heads, Laufey, Pearl Jam, Ateez, David Bowie, Beatles, Wilco and More

Those folks are doing just fine or dead.

Good shout - I seem to only find download there though

Banquet will order anything you want in and post it to you I think...

Or lots of artists sell direct from their website.

Rough Trade (in London East more so than West) has a pretty hefty stock of stuff. My dad heads there every time he's down to see me to pick up some random thing that he's after. Flashback is pretty good for second hand I think too.

The last time I went to rough trade it felt that their shops predominantly stock legacy artists. If you want Beastie Boys, Beatles, My Bloody Valentine then it’s great. But if you want new music it feels like online/bandcamp etc is probably a better bet.

First went to RSD in 2013. Went to Reflex, RPM and Beatdown in Newcastle and picked this selection up. Have been to some since but not really got anything. Was thinking of going this year to try and get the Team Sleep record but didn’t bother in the end. My dad prints off the list every year and highlights his targets. I think it worked there, he’s got a big record collection from growing up then quickly moved to CD and quickly onto download when they both came about. He didn’t have an interest in records again until I started showing him what I was getting when I’d gone to university and RSD introduced him to his local record store which he was a big fan of (unfortunately now closed due to the passing of the owner). He often tells me of the stuff he’s ordered from Banquet so I plan to take him there next time he’s down in London like a pilgrimage.

1 Attachment

I’ve only been a couple of times since covid myself, and one was for an in store so not sure what the selection is. A shame if it’s shifted as I recall there being a good amount of new stuff around.

When I was there a small fraction of the music was new.

I remember record shops as a kid had a limited back catalogue but loads of new stuff, these days the inverse is true.

But this was much more independent music and then dance 12”s with a much more rapid turnover. Whereas at £40 for a quality vinyl pressing you want to be buying something with a sense of longevity.

I remember record shops as a kid had a limited back catalogue but loads of new stuff, these days the inverse is true.

Doesn't that just reflect the demographic that buys physical copies of music?