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Rough Trade Shops 08

That's Entertainment - Rough Trade Shops

Rough Trade Shops: Counter Culture 08

First of all Ι would like to make it clear that I do not have any relationship with the Rough Trade record shop, or any other foreign or local record shops for that matter, except of being a customer. But having spent literally thousands of hours (I did the math) seeking treasures on their dusty shelves, I must say that I will certainly miss them if they are to disappear.

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Rough Trade Shops: Counter Culture 08

Rough Trade Shops 08

First of all Ι would like to make it clear that I do not have any relationship with the Rough Trade record shop, or any other foreign or local record shops for that matter, except of being a customer. But having spent literally thousands of hours (I did the math) seeking treasures on their dusty shelves, I must say that I will certainly miss them if they are to disappear. And the word "if" in the previous sentence seems increasingly likely to be replaced with "when", as the crisis caused by the internet and mp3s, was deepened due to the general economic collapse leading to the closure of one music store chain after the other.

However, despite of the times, the well-known to indie music fans London shop seems in good health, going strong after more than 30 years since its foundation in 1976, and a couple of years back it even opened a new, larger store. The main reason for its survival is the worldwide fame that it has gained as a music store that doesn't just sell records, but also offers music knowledge and opinions on good music. I do not know what their recruitment policy is, but I think that an applicant should excel in music history to get a job there and to certainly have a very  good grasp of what is going on in the global music scene right now.

For these reasons when, at the beginning of each year since 2003, the next installment in the Counter Culture series of compilations is released with the record shop's staff selections for the best songs/albums of the year, I always make sure to order my copy as soon as possible.

The 2008 compilation is a double cd (as always) and is divided into two sections. The first cd is the  quiet one (they suggest to listen to it in your bathtub!) with mainly introspective lo-fi and folk sounds and the second one is more noisy and experimental (more fitting to listen to while getting ready for a night out). Among the more well known names we have Fleet Foxes (the only one of the 44 groups in the collection to have gained mainstream appeal), Bon Iver (excelled in many of last year's "Best Of" lists and was the album of the year for the store with " For Emma, Forever Ago "), my personal favourites Telepathe ( with the excellent single "Chrome's On It"), and the fast rising The Pains Of Being Pure At Heart (for whom I was writing in the previous "That's Entertainment"). But the real value of the collection lies in the names that you most likely haven't heard yet, and now you'll be given the chance to discover. The range of music covered is impressive and, depending on the listener's taste, each can find and appreciate different things. My personal choices/discoveries include: Indian Jewelry , Gun Outfit , Correcto , Yo Majesty, Tobacco , Softboiled Eggies (with a name like that, they are certain to become massive!), Shitty Limits (same here!), Zombie Zombie and about twenty more other bands.

For more information on the Rough Trade shop and the collection, visit: http://www.roughtrade.com/

Song of the week : The brand new discovery for 2009 and the rising stars of the Rough Trade Shops: Counter Culture 08 compilation, The Pains Of Being Pure At Heart and the song "Everything With You" from their self-titled debut album:

 

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