It's weird to think that people don't hangout in record shops the way they used to. Actually, it's kind of sad stepping into record shops these days. They feel like morgues. I wonder if my kids will watch movies like Pretty in Pink or High Fidelity and understand what it meant for those characters to be hangig out at a record shop? The whole attitude of it.

These days, gigantic chains are closing key stores like Virgin Megastore Times Square (and possibly their Union Square location as well), and indie shops like Sound Fix and Mondo Kim's in NYC are also shutting their doors.

Those record shops that can survive will try to boost their sales with the second Record Store Day, taking place on April 18th. Among the one-day only items that stores will be receiving for this event, so far announced, are:

>>Kill Rock Stars artists The Thermals and Thao with the Get Down Stay Down split single. The Thermals are debuting two (demo) versions of songs from their forthcoming KRS debut, Now We Can See due out April 7, 2009. Thao with the Get Down Stay Down will contribute a new song and a cover of a track by 60's era band Lovin' Spoonful.

>>Wilco will release their upcoming live DVD early to participating Record Store Day shops.

>>Matador will release a special split featuring Jay Reatard and Sonic Youth titled 'Hang Them All/No Garage"

>>Matador will also release a Pavement Live in Germany on LP

>>And finally, Matador is putting out a second split single for Record Store Day with Sonic Youth and Beck.

Lots more to come....