Paste's Guide to Record Store Day 2010

Last year, we declared that every day should be Record Store Day, and we stand by those words. Despite our ever-more-technological times, it’s important to remember that the record store is a good thing. In its third year, Record Store Day continues to champion these necessary institutions, and the result this year is bigger than ever. Here are few reasons why you should spend money in your locally-owned, independent music emporium today:

There are Tons of Exclusive Releases You Can Take Home With You

This is probably the biggest draw for most folks, and the selection is especially massive this year. Whether you get down to Fela Kuti or Beach House, Fucked Up or Joan Baez, LCD Soundsystem or Tom Waits, there’s a RSD2010 release for you. Check out the gigantic list in full.

You Could Get a Cool Record Store Day Shirt Like the One Wilco’s Glenn Kotche Has

Wilco – Country Disappeared – A Take Away Show from La Blogotheque on Vimeo.

Paste has Spent an Inordinate Amount of Time Covering Record Store Day Over the Past Few Years

For real.

You’ll Accumulate Awesome Memories Like This One From Andrew WK

“One of the most amazing places in the world is a record store called either Liberty Street Recordings or Encore Records. It’s located in the great town of Ann Arbor, Michigan. Many of my friends worked there and I spent a lot of time there during high school. One time I went in, and this woman who I think owned the place was listening to Black Sabbath’s, “Sabbath Bloody Sabbath” very loudly. She was probably the same age as my Mom and looked like a librarian, and after the album side finished she said, ‘God, I just love what that man’s voice does to me.’"

(There are plenty more artist quotes, by the way.)

There is Only One Documentary Starring Noam Chomsky, Thurston Moore, Ian MacKaye, Patterson Hood, Mike Watt, Chris Frantz, Glenn Branca and Legs McNeil…

…and that documentary, I Need That Record! The Death (or Possible Survival) of the Independent Record Store, will be available exclusively at Record Store Day locations today.

Queens of the Stone Age’s Josh Homme isn’t the Ambassador of Any Other Holiday

“You’re probably asking yourself, ‘What is Independent Record Store Day and how does it affect me?’ Well, allow me to splain some shit to you. Indie record stores are a hot bed of discovery—and bacteria—for music lovers both young and old.”

It only gets better, and honestly, this list could’ve been about this clip alone:

You Just Might See an Awesome, Free In-Store Performance

A few notables…

Smashing Pumpkins – Amoeba Music in Hollywood, Calif.
Janelle Monae – Criminal Records in Atlanta, Ga.
Drive-By Truckers – Harvest Records in Asheville, N.C.
Yo La Tengo – Rhino Records in Claremont, Calif.
Josh Ritter – The Record Exchange in Boise, Idaho
Mastodon – Schoolkids Records in Raleigh, N.C.
Black Francis – CD World in Eugene, Ore.
Reigning Sound – Horizon Records in Greenville, S.C.
Roky Erickson and Okkervil River – Waterloo Records in Austin, Texas

…and the full list.

Carly Simon Says That, Um, Remember All Those Great Songs Carly Simon Wrote Back in the Day?

Widespread Panic is Giving Away a “Digital 45” in Honor of RSD

You can download the songs “North” and “Dirty Side Down” now. Both songs are from Widespread Panic’s forthcoming album, which you can purchase at indie record stores on May 25.

This is just a sampling, of course. Check out the RSD list of participating stores to find one in your area and get to spending, people! These excellent shops couldn’t do it without you.