The Joy Of Record Addiction: Jeremy Bolm, Touché Amoré

Touché Amoré frontman Jeremy Bolm extols the virtue of vinyl addiction ahead of Record Store Day this Saturday.

Posted Wednesday, 13 April 2011 by Rock Sound in

Blog

My name is Jeremy and I am a record addict. There's nothing more satisfying to me than spending hours and hours digging through rows or crates in search of an incredible find. You might spend a few hours and find nothing, but when you come across something grand for dirt cheap, the whole day is made.

The art of the "dig" is achieved by serious dedication and a well rounded and studied photographic memory. You can flip fast as lightning until some cover art catches your eye as something you've seen or maybe something you already own (better check the vinyl color and remember pressing info), or maybe the art catches your eye and you take a risk and buy it in hopes it delivers something new and exciting. I know it's completely snobbish to say, but you cannot fully appreciate an album till you have it on your turntable and you're reading along with the liner notes. We're stuck in the download generation and I hope with things like Record Store Day will inspire kids to get off their computers and start digging.

After working at an Independent record store in Burbank, CA (Backside Records) for almost six years, I understand the struggle of keeping a store open. Through the years I got to witness first hand the business dwindle as the download era came in. Half the shops that I frequented then are now long gone. I chose working there and playing music instead of attending college. I believe I learned more in those years than I would have in an actual learning institute, the relationships between customers and employees are unlike any other workplace. I walked away with knowledge and a terrible record addiction. The employee hold piles were massive. Any time an ex-DJ from the 80's would come in to part with his collection, we'd all swarm in hopes for rare Smiths 12"s.

Look, we're all guilty of downloading. CDs aren't the most exciting format, I get that...But now with the resurgence of vinyl, there's no better time to get a collection going and help your favorite bands/labels/distros. I encourage everyone to get out and support your local stores. It's one of the few businesses that have any soul left.

Saturday April 16 is Record Store Day worldwide, to find out more go to www.recordstoreday.co.uk