Mega stores and iTunes killed the Record Store

Apr 19th was celebrated as the Record Store Day, or more appropriately - an obituary to the dying neighborhood/independent record stores.

Some relief to the folks in Bangalore - Habitat is still there on Church Street. I am grateful to them for organizing the CDs so meticulously, playing good music on their stereo (usually jazz), the unpretentious atmosphere and non-intrusive staff.They also have the best collection of DVDs in Bangalore.

Looking at it from a different angle, some people love to visit a mega record store chain, without any hassles of familiarity, walk in, buy the record you like, pay and walk out. You can buy a Pet Shop Boys album and don't have to hear the rant of the rock-snob record store employee who swears by Nick Drake. They usually are a pretentious lot, like the DJs in a rock pub- remember Jack Black in Hi-Fidelity (as a independent record store clerk) yelling at a customer who asks for a Stevie Wonder album!